About Oakland
Here we are in Oakland – on the estuary to the Bay. We revere that estuary. Many of us in the East Bay learned how to row, kayak and sail on this “calmer” waterway between Oakland and Alameda. Besides a place for water sports, Oakland’s estuary is also a deep-water port. Dredged to handle the largest 1000’+ container ships, it’s a busy import/export scene here in the midst of one of Oakland’s most fun venues, Jack London Square.
The fun waterfront shops and restaurants are a subculture of the more urban Uptown and Downtown Oakland and reflect Jack London’s footprint and a lot of history during WWII. The waterfront is a place to chill, dine, taste wine or beer and plan an evening of great food, boat-watching and blues and jazz.
On the promenade along the water, the White Fang sculpture greets you outside of Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon. This fun bar with crazy slanted floors has served up drinks since 1883 and bartenders will tell you that Jack London used to visit often and supposedly wrote The Call of the Wild while he was here.
Oakland is beautiful, dynamic and diverse. It’s diversity is reflected in the whole experience of entrepreneurialism, innovative dining, trails to hike, lake trails for running- Lakes Merritt & Temescal, sailing and boating, refurbished theaters –Fox & Paramount, urban farm to table, farmers markets, lots of music venues and events rooted in jazz and blues, eclectic shopping districts, wine bars, craft beer breweries and of course all the beautiful views of San Francisco Bay from the hills.
You will find gondolas on Lake Merritt with secret dining finds close by the Grand Lake Theater, great Mexican food and shopping in the Fruitvale District, restaurants and shopping in the Montclair Village District, clothing ‘Made in Oakland’ (along with great restaurants!) in the Rockridge District and Food ‘Made in Oakland’ in West and Downtown Oakland. As Oakland says – Manufacturing is Back! And the locals support it.
Oakland is such a dynamic place, many tech and biotech companies moved their businesses here, including Uber and Pandora, whose employees hang at all the new restaurants and brewpubs.
Besides all that paints Oakland an exciting place to land, you probably already know Oakland through the great feats of the Warriors, Raiders and Oakland A’s over the years.
If you would like an overview of Jack London’s writings, visit here. Hiker? Check out the ten best hiking areas around San Francisco Bay & beyond.
