from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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| Bay
Bridge |
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Warm temperatures, world-class
arts and entertainment, specialty restaurants, and an abundance of recreational
activities all describe the vibrant city of Oakland.
A center for international trade, the Port
of Oakland is the nation's fourth busiest container port in the Bay
Area. Hillside neighborhoods and the San Francisco-Oakland Bridge all offer
stunning views of Oakland, San
Francisco and the Bay Area. Oakland's proximity to San Francisco, the
surrounding wine country and Silicon Valley make it an ideal location for leisure
and business travelers alike. The architectural attractions and historical sites
throughout the city educate on the past and are enjoyed by numerous visitors
every year.
ORIENTATION
Oakland is located on the
east side of San Francisco Bay in northern California.
Berkeley lies six
miles (ten km) to the north while San Francisco is to the west, across the Bay
Bridge. The city is surrounded by five East Bay Regional Parks which offer an
array of recreational activities to those in Oakland and the surrounding area.
Lake Merrit is located in the city and offers leisure and watersports to visitors.
Located in the very center of Oakland is the independent city of Piedmont.
HISTORY
American Indians have inhabited
the Oakland area for over 5,000 years. The Ohlone Indians once lived throughout
the area where they would hunt, fish and live off the fertile land. Spanish
explorers visited the region in the 1770s, and eventually claimed domination
in the area. Within the next fifty years Asians, Africans and many northern
Europeans settled in the area.
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Chinatown
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In 1822 California gained
independence from Spain and joined Mexico. On its way to becoming an independent
state, Mexico ceded California to the United
States of America in 1848, shortly after the Mexican American War.
After California became
a state, it did not take long before many of the cities, including Oakland,
experienced a population increase. Many businesses flourished with the California
Gold Rush and the city continued to prosper.
Oakland was granted a charter
on May 4, 1852, and two years later became an incorporated city with an elected
Mayor and Council. Comprised of the area west of Lake
Merritt, Oakland was the home of numerous manufacturing industries,
including automobiles, metals and ship building by the 1920s. This area is now
known as Chinatown.
The Central Pacific Railroad
ran daily through the city and in the 1860s and 1870s, Oakland became a major
rail center. As a booming economic city, the Central Pacific Railroad selected
Oakland as the terminus of the new Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed
in 1869 and provided a vital link to the east for trade and distribution of
goods.
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
42°F(5.6°C) |
55.2°F(12.9°C) |
98mm |
| Feb |
45.2°F(7.3°C) |
59°F(15°C) |
69mm
|
| Mar
|
46.6°F(8.1°C) |
61.2°F(16.2°C) |
61mm
|
| Apr |
48.7°F(9.3°C) |
64°F(17.8°C) |
34.5mm
|
| May
|
51.7°F(11°C) |
66.6°F(19.2°C) |
9.1mm
|
| Jun
|
54.6°F(12.6°C) |
69.5°F(20.8°C) |
3.3mm
|
| Jul |
56.1°F(13.4°C) |
70.9°F(21.6°C) |
1.3mm
|
|
Aug |
56.9°F(13.8°C) |
71.5°F(22°C) |
1.3mm
|
|
Sep |
56.7°F(13.7°C) |
73.5°F(23.1°C) |
6.1mm
|
|
Oct |
52.8°F(11.6°C) |
69.9°F(21.1°C) |
28.4mm
|
|
Nov |
47.5°F(8.6°C) |
62.6°F(17°C) |
65mm
|
|
Dec |
42.8°F(6.1°C) |
56°F(13.3°C) |
81.3mm
|
|
|
Climate
data from the
Western Regional Climate Center |
|
Since the 1800s, Oakland
has grown in population and prosperity. Oakland is home to shipyards, chemical
plants, food-processing establishments and high-tech companies. Oakland also
features a major shipping port that contributes to the economic state of the
city. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and connects Oakland
with the other nearby cities. The Bridge is an effective example of the architecture
and beauty that the Oakland area has to offer.
CLIMATE
Oakland's average temperature
of 55°F (13°C) is a little lower than many other California cities. With its
location directly inland from the Golden
Gate Bridge, the city gets a significant amount of nighttime fog during
the summer. Oakland's average high is 62°F (17°C) and the average low is 48°F
(9°C) with the warmest month being September, and the coldest month being January.
An average of 584 milemetres (23 inches) of rain falls each year, almost all
of it between October and May.
TRANSPORTATION
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Bay
Area Rapid Transit (BART)
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Getting to Oakland is relatively
easy due to the great number of transportation options. The Oakland
International Airport makes flying to the city convenient and accessible.
Alaska Airlines, Aloha, American, Continental and Delta are just some of the
many airlines that operate out of the Airport. The Bay
Area Rapid Transit light rail (BART) connects the city to nearby destinations
and offers service from 43 stations all over the city. Amtrak has a modern passenger
train station making it a great transportation option for visitors.
Driving is another way to
access Oakland, with Interstates 24, 80, 580 and 880 all intersecting in the
city. The Oakland International Taxis are plentiful from the airport as well
as throughout the city and it is easy to catch a shuttle bus to downtown and
other parts of the Bay Area. A number of car rental companies also service Oakland
and offer everything from economy vehicles to luxury cars.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Neighborhoods
Oakland's Jack
London Square commemorates the famous author who once called the area
home. A popular destination along the waterfront of the city, the Square features
venues for world-class jazz performers as well as the Jack London Cinema, which
offers a choice of first-run films.
The Downtown
Oakland Broadway District is home to a number of buildings constructed
between 1900 to 1949. The 21-story Tribune Tower offers Renaissance/Baroque
style with Spanish and colonial influences. The beaux arts Broadway Building
constructed in 1909 was once considered a skyscraper but today is best known
for its Gothic Revival architecture. Examples of classic Art Deco-style are
visible all around town, but none is as grand as the Paramount
Theatre which opened in 1931 with 3,000 seats. Nearby, the neon sign
and marquee of the Fox
Theatre at Telegraph is a popular attraction that draws visitors around
the corner from the Paramount.
At the heart of Oakland
in the the late 1800s, Old Oakland offers several blocks of hotels built to
house people traveling from the east coast on the Transcontinental Railroad.
These buildings are among the finest examples of Victorian commercial architecture
on the west coast, and the area is now home to a unique collection of restaurants
and shops. Also found in Oakland is Swan’s
Marketplace, a major shopping destination that was built in several
stages between 1917 and the1940s. Every Friday a farmer's market is hosted in
the Swan's Market Place.
The 25-block commercial
and cultural district of Chinatown
is a broad reflection of Oakland's diverse Asian community. The district offers
specialty shops, restaurants, markets, bakeries and attractions. This area attracts
over 100,000 visitors annually. A great way to learn about and experience Asian
culture is to visit the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, one of the largest pan-Asian
cultural centers in the country.
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| City
Square Plaza in Oakland |
|
Museums
Oakland's many museums are
a great place to learn about the history and activities of the city. At the
Oakland
Museum of California, visitors find exhibits of national importance,
including the USS
Potomac, once the floating White House of President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt.
The African
American Museum and Library is dedicated to researching, preserving,
interpreting and sharing the historical and cultural experiences of Black Americans
in California and the West. Children enjoy the Museum
of Children's Art, that feature hands-on exhibits and a number of galleries.
Arts and Entertainment
Oakland boasts a flourishing
arts and cultural scene, which visitors experience first hand at the Oakland
East Bay Symphony and the Oakland
Ballet. All types of music including jazz, blues and hip-hop can be
heard at the Paramount Theatre.
Sports fans can enjoy watching
the NBA's Golden
State Warriors at Oakland Arena where they play their home games. The
Oakland
Raiders please football fans throughout the fall season at the McAfee
Coliseum.
Attractions
There are many historic
homes and estates in Oakland. Dunsmuir
House and Gardens Historic Estate features a turn-of-the-century mansion,
carriage house, farm buildings and landscaped grounds, all located in a secluded
valley in the Oakland Hills. The 37-room home was built in 1899 by Alexander
Dunsmuir for his wife Josephine Wallace. The 16,000 square foot mansion features
a Tiffany-style dome, ten fireplaces and inlaid parquet floors, and is one of
the best examples of Colonial Revival architecture in the Bay Area.
The historic Children’s
Fairyland was created in 1950 for the educational benefit of children.
The ten-acre outdoor park and educational facility brings children’s literature
to life through fairy tale exhibits, animals and talking storybooks.
A recreational haven nearby
the city of Oakland is the saltwater Lake Merritt. Its surrounding park boasts
the nation's first wildlife refuge, founded in 1870, and one of Oakland's original
theme parks, opened in 1950. Visitors have the option of participating in lawn
bowling and walking amongst the many show gardens. The lake area also features
a children's art and science center that hosts events throughout the season.
Boat rentals and water sports are available at the lake front and a light show
is on display every evening.
