Oakland Gondola 5Is Oakland the new Brooklyn? Many tourism industry experts think so since the city and its businesses have been making some major investments into the area, including a brand spanking new, $6 billion Bay Bridge which now takes people to and from another world class city: San Francisco.

When I got invited to Oakland to do my weekly #TravelSkills Twitter chat, which I co-host with Chris McGinnis, I decided to make a long weekend out of it. When I told a few friends who live in the San Francisco area my plans, they told me I was crazy! They said that Oakland is dangerous and that it’s always—and still—featured in one of the lead stories on the local news for murders.

I regretted my decision—until I arrived. Sure, Oakland has some rough spots, but what U.S. city doesn’t? I invited some of those weary San Francisco friends who hadn’t been to this part of the Bay Area in ages to join me and they discovered, like I did, that Oakland actually may indeed be the Brooklyn of the west coast.

So why would you want to go? Obviously, Oakland can’t compare with its big sister San Francisco just as Brooklyn can’t with Manhattan (in certain ways at least). But one of the main reasons you’d want to go there, besides the weather being nicer, is that it’s much cheaper. Especially hotels. In fact, with San Francisco’s rising hotel costs, many travelers, pursuing both business and leisure, are actually booking their hotels outside the city everyone leaves their heart in.

Getting to and from Oakland from San Francisco is easy. Just hop on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and you’ll be in the heart of San Francisco in less than twenty minutes and for under $4. Not too shabby, eh? But if you do go, don’t just commute to and from Oakland. Be sure to spend some quality time at a few of Oakland’s attractions and restaurants. Some of them are world class. Here’s what to do, what to see and where to eat and sleep in Oakland.

WHAT TO DO IN OAKLAND

Oakland Urban Winery Bike Tour 2Urban Winery Bike Tour
One of the most unusual things I did was go on an urban winery bike tour. Apparently many winery owners decided that up in the winelands, they were missing the urban life. They realized that they can do everything they can up in Sonoma or Napa that they can in Oakland, except grow the grapes. So now they just purchase grapes from different vineyards and ship them down (it’s an hour’s drive). This gives them the freedom not only to live the city life again but to make different blends since they aren’t just confined to one vineyard.

Oakland Urban Winery Bike TourEast Bay Winery Bike Tour offers the urban bike tour I did and it costs $90, a price that includes visits to three of Oakland’s 20 wineries. It takes five hours and includes a gourmet picnic lunch. I didn’t have a lot of free time so I only visited two of the wineries and skipped the lunch, and I still loved it. FYI: The wineries I visited were Stage Left Cellars and Urban Legend Cellars, named after the theory that George Lucas came up with the inspiration for the AT-AT Walkers from Star Wars from the cranes in Oakland’s port. He didn’t.

The Crucible Glass Class Oakland 2013 1The Crucible
Another fun thing I did was go with Natalie to get hands-on at The Crucible for one of their classes. This industrial arts organization is home to innovative classes in mediums such as welding and neon sign-making for community events and festivals such as the Fire Arts Opera and Burning Man. The organization promotes collaboration and expression through materials and innovative designs. We took a three-hour flameworking class where we made paperweights. When we walked in, Natalie had the same feeling as I did—we weren’t really jazzed about doing the class but it turned out to be a lot of fun and was surprisingly relaxing. The three-hour introductory class costs $125.

Oakland Gondola 4Gondola Servizio Gondola Cruise
Yes, my brain had to work overtime when I was told that we could go on an authentic Gondola experience without traveling to Venice. The Italian owners brought their two boats over from the Floating City in 1999 and started offering gondola cruises for two to four people soon after. Gondola Servizio (1520 Lakeside Drive; 510-663-6603) operates on Oakland’s Lake Merritt where they offer 50-minute rides that begin at just $70. Of course, you don’t have the same views as Venice but it sure is unique and a lot more private. The Gondoliers even sing, which they don’t in Italy.

Oakland Art Murmur 2013Art Murmur Walk
If you happen to be visiting at the beginning of the month then be sure to visit Oakland’s free monthly First Friday gallery walk, known as the Art Murmur. Twenty-one member galleries and nine mixed-use venues are open to the public and hold artists receptions. The event takes place on the first Friday of the month from 6 pm-9 pm and the streets are packed. Each Art Murmur draws up to 10,000 people and includes food trucks, street vendors and other exciting installations.

Grand Lake Farmers Market Oakland 3Farmers Market
I love farmers markets and Oakland has one of my favorites. There are 11 of them in total each week. Arguably the biggest and best is the Grand Lake Farmers’ Market at Splash Pad Park. It’s been voted the best of the East Bay for several years in a row. The market is held every Saturday from 8 am-2 pm and takes place near the Grand Lakes Theatre.

Localite’s Maker Tour in Temescal
I didn’t get to go on the Localite’s Maker Touran—an insider’s tour to Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood—but it’s supposed to be the city’s best. You meet artisans, enjoy a light lunch (among other treats) and gain a deeper understanding of the city of Oakland’s history. Wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes. It takes place every Saturday from 10 am-12:30 pm and costs $45 per person. Starting Location: Frog Park, near Claremont Ave and 51st Street map.

Oakland CathedralCathedral of Christ the Light
One thing I wanted to do but didn’t find time for (sorry, God) was attend mass at Oakland’s Cathedral of Christ the Light. From the street it looks like a funky office building but once I found out what it was, I popped in to see this $172 million treasure. They have free docent-led tours, every Monday-Friday at 1 pm.

More on Oakland, the “new Brooklyn”:
Where to Eat in Oakland, California
Where to Stay in Oakland, California

Oakland's Bay Bridge
Oakland's Bay Bridge
Welcome to Oakland
Welcome to Oakland
Oakland California Mormon Temple
Oakland California Mormon Temple
View from Oakland California Mormon Temple
View from Oakland California Mormon Temple
Autumn in Oakland, California
Autumn in Oakland, California
Ben & Jerry's sign in Oakland
Ben & Jerry's sign in Oakland
Historic house in Oakland
Historic house in Oakland
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur
Oakland's art murmur fashion show
Oakland's art murmur fashion show
Oakland's art murmur street comedy show
Oakland's art murmur street comedy show
Grand Lake Farmer's Market
Grand Lake Farmer's Market
Free samples at Grand Lake Farmer's Market
Free samples at Grand Lake Farmer's Market
Grand Lake Farmer's Market
Grand Lake Farmer's Market
The Crucible
The Crucible
The Crucible Glass Class
The Crucible Glass Class
The Crucible Glass Class
The Crucible Glass Class
Our almost finished product
Our almost finished product
Urban Winery Bike Tour
Urban Winery Bike Tour
Oakland Urban Winery Bike Tour. Stage Left Cellar. Credit: Johnny Jet
Oakland Urban Winery Bike Tour. Stage Left Cellar. Credit: Johnny Jet
Chris M wine tasting in Oakland
Chris M wine tasting in Oakland
Oakland's Urban Legend Cellar
Oakland's Urban Legend Cellar
Urban Legend Cellar
Urban Legend Cellar
Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt
Gondola on Lake Merritt
Gondola on Lake Merritt
Gondola cruise in Oakland
Gondola cruise in Oakland
Peaceful
Peaceful
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Inside Cathedral of Christ the Light
Inside Cathedral of Christ the Light

11 Comments On "Oakland: What to Do, Where to Eat and Sleep"
  1. Anonymous|

    Thanks for the great article. I have lived in Oakland for 5 years after living in San Francisco for 28 years. Everything you said is so true and what I say to my ffriends, especially the weather and the value. Really appreciate you spreading teh good on oakland. Come back anytime. BTW love your website and your great facebook posts.

  2. Gram-Gram|

    That “Historic House in Oakland” is the Camron-Stanford House which is on the shores of Lake Merritt…

  3. Karen|

    Too bad I didn’t bump into you! I arranged the great weather for you! ;) I live dtwn and work by the lake. I’m a 2nd generation Oaklander and quite happy to be here. As you could see, it would be very difficult to be bored!

  4. Anonymous|

    thanks. my daughter lives there and it’s a lovely place. where did you stay?

    1. Johnny Jet|

      All three of the places I included in the article. The link to them is at the bottom of the page

  5. Jon|

    Thank you, Johnny! Even though we are entering winter, East Bay Winery Bike Tours will schedule some rides during our slow season to accommodate your readers. Enter ‘Rooster’ for 10% off on any scheduled tour or contact us for private group tours! http://eastbaywinerybiketours.com/

  6. RdrRx|

    New and Old Brooklyn! Ironically enough – way back in the day (like pre-earthquake) parts of Oakland were actually a unincorporated township called Brooklyn.

  7. Roni Faida (@RoniFaida)|

    Oakland is a cool place. I have been going there for years because my family lives in the Bay Area. I prefer flying into Oakland Airport because it’s less crowded, easy to get to by Bart and security lines are always shorter. I think it totally is the new Brooklyn.

  8. Paul|

    Oakland is home of the Raiders – ’nuff said. I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 40 years and I still can’t say much good about Oakland. Most of the town is a dump. They built two high rises with towers on top and are affectionately known as the “needles” (as in drug needles) – an appropriate symbol for Oakland. It’s downtown is pitiful – bunch of government brown baggers make it feel deserted even at lunchtime. Oakland is the place you drive past on your way to somewhere nice.

    1. Gram-Gram|

      I beg to differ!!! I have lived in Oakland for 45 years and I LOVE it here. (Maybe you should move…?) I know NOTHING about the “needles”. Are you referring to the Federal building? There are office buildings higher than that. AND they are quite squat. I drive downtown all the time. I see all types of folk…which is why I LOVE my town… No place else in the world has such diversity!

  9. Mayor Quan|

    Sounds like Paul hasn’t been in Oakland for 40 years. Great restaurants, music and arts. Great natural beauty and a city that speaks over 130 languages.

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