Photo: Basil D Soufi / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Oakland is one of the beautiful cities found in the great state of California in the United States of America. The city of Oakland in California is home to various museums, recreational parks, zoos, and home to great football, baseball and basketball teams. During your visit to the city, you should visit beautiful scenery or stadiums to enjoy yourself.
Here are the 10 best things to do in Oakland, California:
# 10 – Redwood Regional Park
If you are looking for a place to visit while in Oakland, California, then this is one of the best. The regional park has mostly third-growth trees making it over 100 years old. You can come here with your friends or family to enjoy a peaceful environment while hiking and exploring. Additionally, you can enjoy your picnic in this regional park due to the availability of picnic area.
Planning for a camping trip? Do not worry. This regional park features camping areas that put up your camping tents. There is also a playground area for kids in this regional park. Moreover, you can enjoy watching different types of animals like deer, rabbits and squirrels, among others in this 1830 acres forested park. You can also have a glace of the rare species of the golden eagle and the Alameda striped racer while visiting this regional park based in Oakland, California. Finally, the regional park has well-groomed paths and detailed trail maps that you can use.
# 9 – Morcom (Oakland) Rose Garden
Do you love flowers or taking pictures? This rose garden in Oakland, California, is a place to be when you visit Oakland. The garden has thousands of roses in different colors and varieties planted in it that you will enjoy viewing during your visit. You may take a stroll in the garden admiring the beautiful landscaping around the stairways and walkways. Besides, this garden is full of a profusion of fragrant roses with beautiful sceneries that you will enjoy taking lovely photos in. During the spring or early summer seasons, this is an enchanting spot that you will not want to miss. Last, the bright roses in this garden will help improve your mood even on a bad day.
# 8 – Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate
This historic mansion was built by a wealthy coal baron called Alexander Dunsmuir in the year 1878. If you are in Oakland and you don’t this visit this mansion is like not being or not visited Oakland California at all. The historic landmark mansion is parked on a 50-acre spacious land at the edge of Chabot Park. Further, the building was built in the Neoclassical style hundreds of years back, and it features 37 rooms, Tiffany-style dome, wood-panelled reception halls and ten fireplaces among others that you will enjoy seeing during your visit. While in Oakland you can take a stroll or enjoy a picnic lunch in this beautiful historic mansion.
# 7 – African American Museum & Library at Oakland
This unique museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in northern California and the Bay Area. You will enjoy reading the stories of prominent families and pioneers from over 160 collection documents found in this museum. Additionally, you will also get to know the history of churches and social and political organizations from the documents that are found in this museum. In the library you there is microfilm collection that you can use to research on and learn about special topics like African American enslavement, key historical figures like W. E. B. Dubois and Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement among others.
http://oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
# 6 – Oakland Zoo
If you love seeing the animal and you want to have fun with your kids, the Oakland zoo is a must place to visit while in the region. The 490-acre zoo is found along Links Road. This zoo is a home to over 660 native and exotic species of animals that you will enjoy watching while in the zoo. Additionally, the zoo has bats, lemurs, river otters, a petting zoo and a wildlife theatre that you and your kids will love watching. You will also have quality time seeing native species like the grey wolves, mountain lions and both black and grizzly bears. Inside the zoo, there are various amusement rides and adventures including a carousel, a roller coaster and jeep safari among others.
# 5 – Oakland Aviation Museum
The museum is located on a historic airfield that is located in the outskirts of Oakland. While visiting this museum, you will be able to see a bevy of old, decommissioned aircraft, super old military and private passenger planes. Additionally, you will have a chance to see the nose section plus a cockpit of the famous Douglas DC-6B. You will also have a chance to see flight simulators and a gigantic Solent III Flying Boat. The flying boat is among the only two in the world, and one of them is found in this aviation museum. The museum is always open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
# 4 – Lake Merritt
Visiting this lake is a must for you while in Oakland. The lake was established in 1870, making it one of the oldest designated wildlife refuge in the United States of America. The lake features tranquil scenery that is suitable for picnics, and if you are visiting Oakland as a couple, you can take a romantic gondola ride across this lake. Moreover, the lake is home to a variety of birds,’ i.e. Canadian geese, pelicans, the snowy egret and black cormorants, among others that you will enjoy seeing while relaxing along the lake. The lake is surrounded by Lakeside Park that you can enjoy walking or jogging while in the region. Lastly, when hungry, there are restaurants along the lake that you can visit to get a bite.
# 3 – Jack London Square
Have you ever heard of the historic USS Potomac vessel famously known as ‘The Floating White House’? Well, a visit to the lack London Square will give you a chance to see the vessel as well as get the dockside tours and sightseeing tours while on board of the presidential yacht. On Sundays, you may get a chance to shop at the farmers market from 9 am to 2 pm. During your visit to the square when hungry, you can get a bite and taste the traditional Oakland dishes that are made in the nearby restaurants.
# 2 – Lake Temescal Recreation Area
Oakland is a blessed city in California. After a long day in the city or during the afternoons, you can visit this recreational area to relax and cool off your mind. The recreational area is peaceful and has beautiful sceneries that you will enjoy relaxing in when in the region. Additionally, the recreational area’s gorgeous scenery is suitable for individuals that like hiking. Sunbathing and picnicking are also common events that take place in this recreational area and therefore, during your visit, you may take your time to enjoy yourself by doing the same.
During the months of April to October, you can come to the recreation area to swimming plus there are lifeguards on duty during the scheduled hours for your safety. Furthermore, the recreational area has paved wheelchair-accessible trails making it suitable for every individual. You can enjoy walking along the grassy lawns. Finally, the recreational area has paved biking paths that you can use while riding your bike while touring the area.
# 1 – Oakland Museum of California
A visit to the Oakland museum of California will provide you with a variety of things to learn about. If you want to learn about Oakland then this is the best place to go to during your visit. The museum has engaging exhibits extensive and permanent collection that unveils the rich heritage and culture of Oakland California. Additionally, in this museum you will be able to entertain yourself with various galleries like natural sciences, California arts and the history of California among others. The exhibits in this museum features the history of the political activism, artifacts and the city’s social justice movements. You can get a chance to combine museum with entertainment plus mingle with local communities every Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm.
