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Oakland

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Things to do in Oakland

Attractions (38)

Tours (3)

Nightlife (10)

Shopping (4)

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All hotels in Oakland (46)
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Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo: 12/3 – 1/2, Oakland Zoo’s ZooLights features festive music, a meadow light show, and an atmosphere that will put the holiday spirit into your step.
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Description provided by: Oakland Zoo
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Oakland weather essentials

Month
High
Low
Precip
May
65°F 18°C
49°F 9°C
0 in 1 cm
Jun
68°F 20°C
52°F 11°C
0 in 0 cm
Jul
69°F 20°C
53°F 11°C
0 in 0 cm
Aug
69°F 20°C
55°F 12°C
0 in 0 cm
Sep
71°F 21°C
54°F 12°C
0 in 1 cm
Oct
68°F 20°C
50°F 10°C
1 in 1 cm
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Traveler recommended attractions
Oakland Museum of California
Oakland Museum of California
Map | Photos
Ranked #1 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
5 of 5 stars 36 reviews
Owner description: A museum that displays nature, art and the history of California, and which is known for its re-created "environments" rather... more » Owner description: A museum that displays nature, art and the history of California, and which is known for its re-created "environments" rather than its exhibits. « less
Attraction type  History Museums; Art Museums; Natural History Museums; Museums
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre
Map | Photos
Ranked #2 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 23 reviews
A throwback to the 1930s with its art deco architecture.
Attraction type  Movie Theaters
Distance  0.4 miles from city center
Fairyland
Map | Photos
Ranked #3 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 22 reviews
Owner description: Children's books come to life at this ten-acre outdoor park that displays 30 colorful sets depicting make-believe lands of... more » Owner description: Children's books come to life at this ten-acre outdoor park that displays 30 colorful sets depicting make-believe lands of Alice in Wonderland, Captain Hook and others. « less
Attraction type  Amusement/ Theme Parks
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
Oakland Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Map | Photos
Ranked #4 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 52 reviews

The Oakland Zoo is a great family/children's zoo. It's located in a nice hilly/tree area which has made a great habitat for the animals they have. They have a small amusement park... more »

Attraction type  Zoos
Distance  7.6 miles from city center
Old Oakland
Old Oakland
Map | Photos
Ranked #5 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 7 reviews
Attraction type  Neighborhoods
Distance  0.3 miles from city center
Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt
Map | Photos
Ranked #6 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 45 reviews
Saltwater lake in the middle of the city.
Attraction type  Bodies of Water
Distance  0.8 miles from city center
The Cathedral of Christ the Light
Map
Ranked #7 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 10 reviews
Attraction type  Architectural Buildings
Distance  0.6 miles from city center
East Bay Regional Park District
Map
Ranked #8 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 4 reviews
The official designation given to the numerous parks found in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Attraction type  Parks
Distance  8.2 miles from city center
Chabot Space & Science Center
Chabot Space & Science Center
Map | Photos
Ranked #9 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 26 reviews

Surround yourself with dazzling sights of the universe at Chabot Space and Science Center, located in the Oakland hills, just 10 minutes from downtown Oakland. The Center features... more »

Attraction type  Science Museums; Observatories/ Planetariums
Distance  5.1 miles from city center
Chinatown
Chinatown
Map | Photos
Ranked #10 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 18 reviews
Attraction type  Neighborhoods
Distance  0.3 miles from city center
USS Potomac
USS Potomac
Map | Photos
Ranked #11 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 9 reviews
Attraction type  Ships; Specialty Museums
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
Jack London Square
Map
Ranked #12 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
3.5 of 5 stars 33 reviews
Shopping, restaurants, and Jack London's cabin.
Attraction type  Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
Mazzariello Labyrinth: Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
Ranked #13 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 3 reviews
Owner description: A true California Labyrinth! Uniquely wild and untamed, in a wilderness setting, at a geologic cross-roads where the orient... more » Owner description: A true California Labyrinth! Uniquely wild and untamed, in a wilderness setting, at a geologic cross-roads where the orient meets the American west. A fascinating, fun and informative webspace about a remote wilderness labyrinth located in the San Francisco bay area. Includes a spiritual primer as well as rich visual imagery and sound tracks. « less
Attraction type  Mysterious Sites
Oracle Arena
Oracle Arena
Map | Photos
Ranked #14 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 15 reviews
Attraction type  Arenas/ Stadiums/ Fields
Distance  5.4 miles from city center
French Trail Connector
Map
Ranked #15 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
5 of 5 stars 1 review
Located in Redwood Park Skyline Gate, this 6.1 mile trail has been rated as medium to difficult.
Attraction type  Jogging Paths/ Tracks
Distance  0.0 miles from city center
Lakeside Park and Garden Center
Lakeside Park and Garden Center
Map | Photos
Ranked #16 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 2 reviews
One of the best public gardens in the state offers Japanese, Polynesian, and many other types of gardens.
Attraction type  Gardens; Parks
Distance  0.8 miles from city center
Dunsmuir House
Map
Ranked #17 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4.5 of 5 stars 4 reviews
A prime example of Victorian taste and wealth.
Attraction type  Historic Sites
Distance  8.2 miles from city center
Camron-Stanford House
Map
Ranked #18 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
5 of 5 stars 1 review
Restored Victorian home of Leland Stanford's brother.
Attraction type  Historic Sites
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
JC Cellars
Ranked #19 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
5 of 5 stars 2 reviews
Attraction type  Wineries
McAfee Coliseum
McAfee Coliseum
Map | Photos
Ranked #20 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
3 of 5 stars 23 reviews
Attraction type  Arenas/ Stadiums/ Fields
Distance  4.9 miles from city center
Preservation Park
Preservation Park
Map | Photos
Ranked #21 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 3 reviews
Location of 16 restored early Oakland Victorian homes.
Attraction type  Historic Sites
Distance  0.2 miles from city center
Embarcadero Bay Bicycle Trail
Map
Ranked #22 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
4 of 5 stars 1 review
Three-mile bike trail that zips cyclists along Oakland's waterfront.
Attraction type  Biking Trails
Distance  0.0 miles from city center
Oakland Aviation Museum
Oakland Aviation Museum
Map | Photos
Ranked #23 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
3.5 of 5 stars 2 reviews
Attraction type  Museums
Distance  6.0 miles from city center
Jack London Cinema
Map
Ranked #24 of 38 Attractions in Oakland
3 of 5 stars 8 reviews
Nine state of the art movie theaters.
Attraction type  Movie Theaters; Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Distance  0.7 miles from city center
Fortune Cookie Factory
Map
Attraction type  Factory Tours
Distance  0.4 miles from city center
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Oakland History Room
Map
Attraction type  Libraries; History Museums
Distance  0.6 miles from city center
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Lafayette Square Park
Map
Oakland's historic "Old Man's Park" is a favorite for local residents.
Attraction type  Parks
Distance  0.2 miles from city center
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Rotary Nature Center and Waterfowl Refuge
Rotary Nature Center and Waterfowl Refuge
Map | Photos
Attraction type  Nature/ Wildlife Areas
Distance  0.8 miles from city center
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Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center
Map
Owner description: Located across from Laney College near Lake Merritt and the Estuary at 10 10th St Oakland, CA 94607 the Oakland Municipal... more » Owner description: Located across from Laney College near Lake Merritt and the Estuary at 10 10th St Oakland, CA 94607 the Oakland Municipal Auditorium (a.k.a. The Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center) includes the 1,900 seat formal Calvin Simmons Theater, and a multi-purpose arena, which seats up to 4,500 people. The Oakland Municipal Auditorium was opened in 1914 has been used for everything from the provision of emergency medical services in the Flu pandemic of 1918, to Grateful Dead and Oakland Ballet performances to the Black Panther Party Black Community Survival Conference and the Green Party Presidential Campaign of Ralph Nader.Mayor Jerry Brown closed the auditorium in 2006, allegedly because of a slight operating deficit, but more likely in an attempt to set up the sale of the property in the booming real estate market of the time. The Convention Center was one of the few large venues staffed by Union workers and many labor unions and left political groups used the hall because it paid the workers decent wages. When Brown closed the hall 20 workers lost good paying union jobs and the community lost a locale for everything from high school graduations to AC/DC concerts. The supposed annual budget savings were $300,000 a year. (City staff recently estimated that in the intervening five years $5,000,000 to $9,000,000 worth of decay had occurred in the property. ) Jobs, public service and economic stimulus of a vital downtown jewel were destroyed due to property speculation. (Even the Citty’s 1% were hurt—the Oakland Ballet which used the Calvin Simmons Theater in the Center became homeless and went out of business for over a year.) The property has been left largely vacant, except for some isolated event rentals since then. In 2011, in a paperwork shuffle the City of Oakland sold the property to its the Redevelopment agency (the City Council is the board of the Redevelopment Agency). « less
Attraction type  Convention Centers
Distance  0.9 miles from city center
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Museum of Children's Art
Museum of Children's Art
Map | Photos
Attraction type  Children's Museums
Distance  0.3 miles from city center
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