Oakland
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
There is no there there | Gertrude Stein on her childhood Oakland (often misread)
Why visit
Oakland is one of the most underrated US cities. Walk Lake Merritt's necklace of lights, North America's first wildlife refuge. Eat across cultures in Old Oakland, Temescal, and the Vietnamese pho corridor on East 12th. The Oakland Museum of California traces state history beautifully. Watch a sunset from Mountain View Cemetery's hilltop or hike Joaquin Miller Park's redwoods. The city's mural and street-art scene rivals any in the US. Drink at the Trappist (Belgian beers) or Heinold's First and Last Chance (a leaning 1880s sailor's bar Jack London frequented). Easy day-trips reach Napa, Berkeley, and SF.
When to avoid
Oakland's reputation for crime is partly earned and partly overblown, stay aware in West Oakland, Deep East Oakland, and around BART stations after dark. Car break-ins (often called 'auto burglary') are a real epidemic. Never leave anything visible in your vehicle, even briefly. The cheap motels around International Boulevard can be rough. Homelessness and visible drug use have grown sharply. Don't drive across the Bay Bridge during rush hour. Use BART instead. Real estate prices and restaurant costs rival San Francisco.
