Oakland is a beautiful port city that has all the makings of a quintessential tourist destination. Be its lush green parks across the city’s landscape that will soothe your riddled heart and mind or be its telesmatic skyscrapers that will leave you spellbound. And not to forget the vibrant lifestyle that always adorns this port city thanks to its exquisite collection of multi cuisine restaurants, huge pool of ingenious artists who’ve decorated this city with their imagination and of course melting and harmonious blend of diverse ethnic population.
Image Courtesy: Damon Tighe at panoramio.com
History of Oakland
Documented history of Oakland starts from year 1851 when three local native gentlemen - namely Horace Carpentier, Edson Adams, and Andrew Moon – started developing what is now downtown Oakland. Oakland’s slumbered history, however, came on its own only in year 1854. This is when Oakland was re-incorporated as the City of Oakland, with Horace Carpentier elected as the first mayor. Although Horace Carpentier’s tenure was terminated in first year itself owing to financial scandal, but this hardly stopped this city from propelling towards great era of development.
Within less than a decade of being incorporated as a city, Oakland witnessed many massive developmental activities that literally changed its fortune. Some of these important developments being this city becoming a major railway terminal and construction of Oakland Long Wharf that later initiated construction of all important Port of Oakland. These activities coupled with many other important development activities laid the foundation of industrial development that was witnessed through the 20th century.
Important Locations in Oakland
Today Oakland city is able to lure millions of American tourists every year because of its many beautiful locations. Ranging from art and museum to beautiful parks, lakes to sports stadiums, theaters and not to forget its eccentric and maddening nightlife.
Lake Merritt: It is located in the very heart of Oakland, just east of Downtown. This famous & historical lake offers a perfect setting for a picnic spot with its surrounding public parkland & picturesque neighborhood.
Address: 568 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
Phone no: 510-238-3187
Website:
http://www.lakemerritt.org/ Oakland Museum of California: One of the most visited museums of Oakland city. It is an interdisciplinary museum that has over 1.8 million objects spanning across Art, History, and natural science. Through these mind-boggling 1.8 million objects this museum covers entire history and many extra ordinary stories of California.
Address: 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
Phone no: 1 510-318-8400
Website:
http://museumca.org/ Redwood Regional Park: This beautiful Redwood Regional Park is located just few miles away from downtown Oakland, just adjacent to Redwood Road. Home to largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in East Bay, this park is absolute treat for any nature & wildlife enthusiasts.
Oakland Zoo: It may be relatively small zoo for a big city like Oakland, but its collection of exotic wildlife animals is known for infusing unbelievable enthusiasm for nature & wildlife among kids. Especially wildlife elephants that are allowed to roam freely in this zoo evoke awe among kids & visitors alike.
Address: 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605, United States
Phone no: 1 510-632-9525
Website:
http://oaklandzoo.org/ San Francisco Bay Ferry: A ferry travel for stress free ride with your family & loved ones. If this sounds perfect for spending your leisurely time, then San Francisco Bay Ferry is a destination that is tailor made to refresh you up. Not to mention some of the great views that you’ll get to witness in this ferry ride will let you encounter San Francisco in the most beautiful way.
Address: 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, CA 94590, United States
Phone no: 1 877-643-3779
Website:
http://sanfranciscobayferry.com/ Jack London Square: A popular entertainment and business destination where waterfront fun and cuisine delight abounds. Drawing thousands of people every day from every nook and corner of Oakland city, who simply fall in love with this waterfront destination.
Address: Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
Phone no: 415.391.9800
Website:
http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/ Chinatown: Located in downtown Oakland, this is a small neighborhood where Chinese community settled when they arrived for the very first time in Oakland in 1850s. However, during past few decades this neighborhood has gone from being merely symbol of thriving Asian community into a popular tourist destination. Bringing forth exotic mix of multi cuisine restaurants, affordable shopping and great sightseeing.
Chabot Space and Science Center: Encounter the surreal world of our galaxy and enigmatic universe in this famous and state-of-the-art planetarium. A perfect place for your kids to make them fall in love with wonder world of science.
Address: 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619, United States
Phone no: 1 510-336-7300
Website:
http://www.chabotspace.org/index.htm Oracle Arena stadium: Home to Golden State Warriors NBA team, this 19,596 capacity indoor stadium is one of the largest NBA stadiums in California state. It’s a place where die hard NBA mad lovers of Oakland city gather every week to watch Golden State Warriors NBA team. Transforming into a place that epitomizes sporting madness that Oakland city is so much synonymous with.
Address: 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621, United States
Phone no: 1 510-569-2121
Website:
http://www.coliseum.com/venues/detail/oracle-arena Temescal Regional Recreation Area: Laden with scenic beauty, this is a beautiful picnic spot where people come to enjoy host of recreational activities like swimming, fishing, biking & trekking. Its another beautiful place in Oakland city that will calm, soothe and will make you peace with yourself. It is located just next to junction of highways 24 and 13.
Address: 6502 Broadway Terrace, Oakland, CA 94618, United States
Phone no: 1 510-652-1155
Woodminster Amphitheater: Nowhere in Oakland city will you get to watch an engrossing play in a beautiful setting but in Woodminster Amphitheater. Its an open theatre that is magnificently set in the midst of lush greenery and open sky.
Address: 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd, Oakland, CA 94602, United States
Phone no: 1 510-531-9597
Website:
http://www.woodminster.com/ Morcom Amphitheater of Roses: A beautiful rose garden that is unlike any other in Oakland. To put it simply it is one of the best gardens in Oakland city. Decorated with roses everywhere, graceful stairways & dramatic water features, this rose garden is like a miniature paradise that is waiting to be experienced.
Address: 700 Jean St, Oakland, CA 94610, United States
People and Culture of Oakland
Oakland city takes immense pride for being one of the most diverse cities in United States. For many centuries different ethnic races and communities have harmoniously melted together in Oakland city to create a diverse culture. A culture that can’t be paralleled and matched by any other city in America. The 2010 United States Census report clearly brings forth this unparalleled diversity of this port city.
According to this census report, Oakland’s nearly 4 lakh population is a heady mixture of white people, African American community, Non-Hispanic, Hispanic or Latino and Asian communities that hail from Asian countries like China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Japan and India.
English is the most common language among all these diverse communities making it the most spoken language of Oakland city.
Time Zone and Phone Codes of Oakland
Oakland city falls in the Pacific Standard Time Zone (UTC−8). The Summer Daylight Saving Time (DST) is Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7).
Phone Codes of Oakland
Oakland Area Code: 510
International Area Code: 1
Best Time to visit Oakland
Generally fall season, i.e. September & November, are considered as the ideal months to visit Oakland city. The weather is generally sunny and warm during this period of the year. Creating a perfect weather for enjoying all the famous tourist sights that the city offers.
Annual events and festivals in Oakland
Jack of all trade markets Friday nights Festival
Oakland International Film Festival
Montclair Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival
Pedalfest ART Soul festival Oakland Dragon Boat Festival Oakland Chinatown Street festival
Autumn Glory Festival
First Fridays Oakland Music festival
Oakland Running Festival 
