Oakland, California Overview

Its neighbor across the bay, San Francisco, tends to garner more of the area's publicity, but Oakland is a destination in its own right. More dollar-friendly, with ample cultural, historical, and family attractions - the Oakland Zoo and the U.S.S. Potomac are popular picks - the city often surprises visitors with its wealth of activities.

The city of Oakland is a keystone in Bay Area history. Originally established in 1852, the city has seen its share of visitors and residents. Each parcel of history left an indelible mark on this metropolitan shipping city. A walk though Old Oakland, Preservation Park, or Jack London Square brings its vibrant history to the forefront - a trend also evident in its modern distractions, including shopping and sightseeing. It's not often that one has the exceptional opportunity to shop boutiques housed in pre-World War I structures, or see a live show at a beautiful historic theatre like the Fox or the Paramount. Oakland is well known for its professional sports teams, the Oakland Athletics, the Oakland Raiders, and the Golden State Warriors, all of which play at the ORACLE Arena and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum facility.