• Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard, (510) 336-7300, [9]. Opened in August 2000, the new Chabot Space and Science Center is a state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site in the hills of Oakland. Visitors can watch planetarium shows and/or Megadome movies, simulate space missions in the Challenger Learning Center, explore a variety of changing hands-on exhibits, observe the sky through the center's telescopes, and much more. In addition, the Science Discovery Lab (for children 7 and under and their parent/guardian) is fantastic.

• Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland (near MacArthur Blvd and 580), [10]. This beautiful Art Deco theater (built in 1926) shows first-run movies. It has a spectacular neon sign that is lit on weekends, and is famous for the ultra-liberal (and sometimes conspiracy-minded) weekly sign proclamations from the theater owner. At Friday and Saturday evening shows, an organist plays standards in the main theater.

• Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway (downtown, near 19th Street), (510) 465-6400, [11]. This gorgeous Depression-era theater, completed in 1931, has been completely restored and is maintained in almost mint condition. It's worth just looking at the sculpture, the paintings, even the carpets. Shows include classic movies, concerts, and other live performances.

• Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Boulevard (near Lake Merritt), (510) 814-2400, [12]. An absolutely fabulous second-run movie theater, the Parkway has two huge screens with large comfy couches to sit on. Best of all, they serve pizza, salads, and beer that you can eat and drink while you watch the movie. A funky, laid-back staff and good karma all around. Why aren't all movie theaters like this? The Parkway also hosts many special events, sing-alongs, B-movie nights, and lectures. $5 ($3 Sa matinée, food and drink not included).

• Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue (enter via Grand Ave near Lake Merritt), Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 452-2259, [13]. Mixed seasonal hours, almost always open on weekends. Amazing, dynamic playground and destination for children, right on Lake Merritt. Please note that only adults with children can enter. Make sure you get a Magic Key.

• The Oakland Raiders (NFL), McAfee Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way (connected to Coliseum BART) (510) 569-2121, [14]. Known as "The Team of the Decades," The NFL's Oakland Raiders have a long tradition of victory, commanding the fierce support of Oaklanders and enjoying a large fan base across America. Be sure to enjoy the famous pre-game tailgating scene in the Coliseum parking lot, as well as the Black Hole of hard-core fans in the endzone section. Most home games are not sold out, so it should be possible to buy tickets up until game time. However,

• Oakland Athletics (MLB), McAfee Coliseum, [15]. In their third home after Philadelphia and Kansas City, the A's have what done their cross-bay rivals have not: bring the World Series trophy to the Bay Area. With nine trophies to their name, and four in Oakland, they are one of the most successful franchises in baseball. While they are not currently considered a playoff contender, the AL West is the smallest division, so a playoff appearance is always possible and the competition goes down to the wire. The A's also have the best deal in baseball: $2 tickets and $1 hot dogs for nearly every Wednesday game. During the rest of the week, tickets are a great deal, too, ranging from $9 to $55. The cheap tickets sell out quick, so buy a day or two in advance.

• Golden State Warriors (NBA), Oracle Arena (adjacent to McAfee Coliseum, connected to Coliseum BART), [16]. After a sensational run to the playoffs and an historic victory in the first round in the 2006/2007 season, the Warriors are the hottest ticket in the NBA right now. They play a fast, loose, and fun type of basketball, a departure from the stereotypical NBA team. After moving from Philadelphia to San Francisco, the Warriors settled in the East Bay and won their second championship in the 1970's. With their recent successes come a declining availability of tickets. Prices are on the lower end for the NBA ($15 to over $250), though cheaper tickets sell out for most games and all tickets sell out for big games up to a week before.

• City of Oakland Walking Tours, (510) 238-3234, [3]. 90-minute tours of downtown Oakland (including Chinatown) offered Wednesdays & Saturdays, May through October. Reservations are recommended but not required. Free.
• African American Museum & Library at Oakland, (at 14th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way), [4]. Check the AAMLO web site for information on special exhibits, programs and events, such as an African American walking tour of downtown Oakland.
• Jack London Square, (west end of Broadway), [5]. Open 24 hours. Oakland's principal tourist destination, Jack London Square has seen serious renovation over the years. Named after writer Jack London, the city's favorite son, the area was the original wharf district of Oakland and retains some of its maritime feel. The main attractions today are shopping and restaurants, though, and you may find yourself wondering how exactly JLS differs from a large waterfront mall.
• Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street (at 10th; Lake Merritt BART station), (510) 238-2200, [6]. W-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 12PM-5PM. A startlingly good museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of California. The building itself is an admirable piece of architecture, and the exhibits are almost uniformly excellent and engaging. Well worth a visit. $8 ($5 for seniors and students; free second Su each month).
• Joaquin Miller Park, Joaquin Miller Road (entrance about 1 mile from highway 13), (510) 238-3481, [7]. A beautiful park in the Oakland hills, made up in part of "The Hights", the old estate of California poet Joaquin Miller. The park has some of the few remaining old-growth redwood groves in the East Bay. Lots of hiking and bike-riding opportunities. Free.

• USS Potomac, Water Street (adjacent to Jack London Square), (510) 627-1215, [8]. Originally built as a Coast Guard Cutter, the Potomac was remodeled as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht in 1936 and served in that role until his death in 1945. In 1941, a fishing trip on the Potomac served as a cover story for Roosevelt's secret meeting with Churchill in Newfoundland waters; this meeting led to the allied partnership during World War II and eventually to the formation of the United Nations. The ship is available for dockside tours We 10:30am-3:30pm, F&Su noon-3:30pm. Historic cruises on the bay are available Apr-Oct Th&Sa; these must be booked with TicketWeb or by calling (866) 468-3399.

By plane

Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK) is served by many domestic and international carriers, including Southwest Airlines and JetBlue. There is private shuttle service ($10-$25) to hotels in Oakland and San Francisco, and public transit service (AirBART, and AC Transit Route 50 or Route 805) to the Oakland Coliseum BART Station (which is adjacent to the similarly named Amtrak Capitol Corridor station).

Other air travel options include the San Francisco (IATA: SFO) and San Jose (IATA: SJC) International Airports. SFO, with its BART station, is the more convenient of the two. Those flying into San Jose might have to battle significant traffic, pay for an expensive van or taxi ride, or take VTA's Airport Flyer (Route 10) to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, then Caltrain to the Millbrae Intermodal Station, and then BART toward Oakland. (From SFO and Millbrae, BART provides direct service to West Oakland, Lake Merritt, Fruitvale, and Coliseum stations; those traveling to other Oakland stations, such as Oakland City Center/12th Street, must change trains no later than West Oakland.)

For private pilots, Oakland Airport (ICAO: KOAK) has a separate General Aviation area "North Field", essentially the equivalent of another airport to the north of the commercial facilities, with separate tower, taxiways, and radio frequencies. Its long runway is frequently used for jet travel, and Oakland makes a far better GA destination than San Francisco's (ICAO: KSFO) complex, heavily trafficked field.

By train

Oakland is served by the regional rail system Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the nationwide, long-distance rail service Amtrak, with the Bay Area's largest Amtrak station located in the neighboring city of Emeryville.

BART connects to Oakland from stations in San Francisco, the Peninsula, Contra Costa County, and the far northeastern reach of Silicon Valley. Prices vary by distance, but a one-way ticket to Oakland is usually $2-4.

The following Amtrak lines serve the Oakland station at Jack London Square, an easy twenty-minute walk away from the center of Downtown:

• Capitol Corridor (San Jose to Auburn via Sacramento). The route also includes a stop at the Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station, adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum BART station. The Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station has no station agents. Passengers may board the train and buy the tickets from the conductor at no surcharge.
• San Joaquins (Oakland to Bakersfield, California)
• Coast Starlight (Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California)

The California Zephyr route (Emeryville, California to Chicago, Illinois) starts and ends at the nearby Emeryville Amtrak station, accessible on public transit by AC Transit lines 19 and 57 and by the Emery-Go-Round shuttle to the Macarthur BART station in the Temescal neighborhood.

AC Transit Route 50 (day) and Route 805 (owl) provide fast, frequent, inexpensive, 24-hour bus service between the Oakland Coliseum area and the Oakland International Airport. Amtrak Capitol Corridor customers pay $0; ask your train conductor for a Transit Transfer. BART customers pay $1.50; take a BART-to-bus transfer from the white machine, before leaving the paid area of the BART station. The second part of either transfer is valid for a discounted return trip within several days. Otherwise, AC Transit's regular cash fare is $1.75.

AirBART is a direct bus shuttle between the Oakland International Airport and the Oakland Coliseum BART train station. The shuttle costs $3.00 for adults and $0.50 for children, seniors and persons with disabilities. AirBART accepts fare payment in the form of prepaid BART tickets, available just inside the BART station's entrance; you can also pay by inserting two $1 bills into the machine on the bus.

By car

From San Francisco, Highway 80 east over the beautiful Bay Bridge leads to Highways 580, 880, and 980, which go to east, west, and downtown Oakland respectively.

From Marin, Sonoma, and other counties along the northern coast of California, take US-101 to Highway 580 and cross the Richmond Bridge. 580 leads directly into Oakland.

From Monterey, Salinas, and the Central Coast, follow US-101 to San Jose and connect to Highway 880, which leads to Oakland.

From Modesto, and the Central Valley's southern portion (Southern California, too), take the scenic Highway 580 over the Altamont Pass.

From Stockton, either follow the Altamont Pass route or take Highway 4 through Contra Costa County to Highway 242, then to Highway 680, which connects to Highway 24.

From Contra Costa County, Highway 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel leads to north Oakland.

From the northern Vallejo, Fairfield, and the greater Sacramento, Highway 80 west leads directly to Oakland.

Most northern entries to Oakland go through the heinous MacArthur Maze, a spaghetti-like mashup of four freeways trying to merge and pass each other. It's got terrible traffic during commute times (7AM-10AM, 4PM-8PM), so you might want to avoid driving on the freeways at these times.

By bus

Specific AC Transit Transbay bus routes run between San Francisco's Transbay Terminal and different parts of Oakland. Some run as often as every 15 minutes. The Transbay All Nighter (Route 800) serves (San Francisco's) Market Street, the Transbay Terminal, Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond. Additional All Nighter routes link other areas with Oakland, after BART shuts down for the night.

Greyhound [2] has a terminal conveniently located in downtown Oakland, on San Pablo Ave. near 20th St. It's notorious -- be careful.

By ferry

The Alameda-Oakland Ferry has departures from both Pier 41 and the Ferry Building in San Francisco, weekdays year-round and weekends except for mid-winter. Its Oakland terminal is at the foot of Clay St. in Jack London Square. (On summer weekends there are also trips to Angel Island, an island park in the middle of the bay, formerly an immigration station.)

The AC Transit bus system service is a good way to get around if you're headed for downtown Oakland, Jack London Square, the Grand Lake district, or Temescal. Otherwise, depending on where you're going, it can seem like you're waiting for a long time for the bus to arrive. The AC Transit costs $1.75 for adults. Add $0.25 for transfers. BART provides easy access to the Downtown, Fruitvale, and Rockridge areas, and makes for an easy day-trip from San Francisco. The last return train runs at about 12:15.

BART has 8 convenient stops on major areas on visitor interest, which makes it perhaps the best way for a non-local to experience Oakland. A majority of these stations are adjacent and of walking distance to popular neighborhoods, eliminating car and parking hassles. Furthermore, BART stations are usually named after the neighborhood they are located in. For example, to visit the chic Rockridge neighborhood, exit the Rockridge BART station, conveniently located steps from this area. Same goes for the Fruitvale District (Fruitvale BART station). Lake Merritt BART station is only a block away from the Oakland Museum of CA. Chinatown is 3 blocks from the 12 Street/City Center BART station.

Those hoping to go to the hills are probably best off in a car, as bus service to these areas is sparse.

• The Hat Guys, 1764 Broadway, (510) 834-6868, [17]. The type of classic men's hat store you can't find anymore -- except here. First-class service and a contagious passion for hats. The largest inventory of hats on the West Coast -- hats in all sizes and hats for women and children, too.

• College Avenue is well-known for its shopping and food. Easily reached from the Rockridge Bart station [18], one can enjoy delicious food hailing from various continents, take in a yoga class, go book shopping at friendly independent book stores, buy artisan crafted jewelry, treat oneself to gourmet chocolate and sweets, or take a break with a pint and some pub grub. Family friendly and easily reached, College Avenue is a destination for many Oaklanders.

Downtown Oakland

Downtown Oakland contains some excellent Asian foods that are as authentic as anything else you'll find in the Bay Area.

• Restaurant Peony, (2nd Floor of Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388-9th Street, between Franklin and Webster), (510) 286-8866. [19] Serves Cantonese-style dishes and dim sum. One of the most popular Chinese restaurants on the East Bay. Big crowds on Saturdays and Sundays.

• Golden Lotus, (at Franklin and 13th). Serves vegetarian Vietnamese food, considered by some to be some of the best vegetarian food in the Bay Area.

• Shanghai Restaurant, (on Webster between 9th and 10th). Serves Shanghai-style food that rivals the best you'll find in Shanghai. The decor is minimal but the staff is friendly. Xiao Long Bao (Steamed Dumplings) and Si-chuan style shredded pork are two highlights

• Battambang, (on the corner of Broadway and 9th). Serves Cambodian cooking. The food is excellent but the portions are slightly smaller than might be expected.

• Breads of India, (on the corner of Clay and 10th). Serves Indian food.

Grand Lake

The Grand Lake neighborhood contains an eclectic mix of restaurants, from high-end to drive-thrus.

• Mezze, 3407 Lakeshore Ave., (510) 663-2500. [20] High-end Mediterranean cuisine, with a good bar and occasional live music.
• Spettro, 3355 Lakeshore Ave., (510) 451-7738. [21] A neighborhood favorite, with cuisine ranging from Italian to Mexican to Thai. Order the Coconut Lime Mussels, and save some rosemary rolls for dipping. No corkage fee.
• Mijori, 3260 Grand Ave., (510) 465-8854. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Usually a long wait for a table on the weekend.
• Miss Saigon 3345 Grand Ave., (510) 835-3474. Great family-run Vietnamese restaurant with good food at good prices, and a ridiculously good beer selection. Local delivery, but it's always better fresh out of the kitchen.
• Michael Mischer Chocolates, 3352 Grand Ave., (510) 986-1822. [22] Incredible gourmet chocolate and gelato.

Piedmont Avenue

The Piedmont Avenue neighborhood is a foodie's delight. From gourmet Bay Wolf and Jojo to Baja Taqueria great food abounds.

• Bay Wolf Restaurant, 3853 Piedmont Ave., (510) 655-6004, [23]. A Bay Area tradition for almost thirty years, Bay Wolf offers an elegant and relaxed setting in which to enjoy fine cuisine inspired by the regions of the Mediterranean.

• Jojo Country French Cooking, 3859 Piedmont Ave., (510) 985-3003, [24]. One of the true jewels of the San Francisco Bay Area's fine dining scene, Jojo Restaurant thrives as an elegant but comfortable home for exquisitely prepared, gourmet country French cuisine.

• Fentons Creamery and Restaurant, 4226 Piedmont Ave., +1-510-658-7000, [25]. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight. This hundred-year-old ice cream parlor is a cornerstone of Oakland culture -- one of those places that East Bay folks point to as making the region special. Huge bowls of ice cream and sundaes of various sorts are served in this always-crowded eatery. Sugar-amped kids roam the aisles all day and into the evening, and although the place attracts a cannabis-enhanced college crowd towards the end of the night, it always has a sweet and wholesome atmosphere. $5-15 (large sundae or entree).

• Baja Taqueria 4070 Piedmont Ave. 510-547-2252. An avenue institution with lines sometimes out the doors for their great and innovative Baja style seafood and other Mexican food. The fish tacos are legendary and the lobster burritos hit home like nothing else. Service is fast and friendly. The portions are big and the prices are reasonable. Try the agua frescas too.

tumble & tea cafe 4210 Telegraph Avenue, 510-601-7378. At tumble & tea café, we only serve the freshest food made from the best ingredients. We make mouth watering breakfast, paninis, salads, soups, espresso drinks & desserts. Our bread, pastries and produce are delivered daily. Coffee snobs need not to worry at tumble & tea café.

We also pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service. To create a comfortable environment for all of our customers (adults, kids & adults with kids) we built a fabulous play space for children ages newborn to 5 years of age. Let your kids play on the train table, castle or climbing structure while you relax and have time to take care of you. Breakfast, lunch & weekend brunch- Kid friendly cafe- FREE WIFI www.tumbleandteacafe.com

Old Oakland

• Le Cheval, 1007 Clay Street, (510) 763-8957. Dinner nightly, lunch on weekdays. Outstanding yet very affordable Vietnamese cuisine (in a Chinese-ified style) makes this currently one of Oakland's trendiest restaurants. VERY attractive hostess. Closes 9:30pm.
• Caffè 817, 817 Washington Street (in the Ratto's building), (510) 271-7965. Mo-Sa breakfast & lunch. Stylish Italian caffè where patrons line up patiently for capuccini, chorizo & eggs, polenta, fresh fruit granola, panini sandwiches & salads.
• New World Vegetarian, 464 8th Street (off Broadway), (510) 444-2891. Lunch & dinner daily. Completely renovated in spring 2003, New World Vegetarian offers an eclectic and broad array of sumptuous and satisfying vegan dishes -- Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Chinese, American, even Brazilian.
• TJ's Gingerbread House, 741 5th Street (a few blocks from Old Oakland), (510) 444-7373, [26]. Tu-Sat breakfast, lunch & dinner. TJ's calls itself "a fairytale come true" -- and chef/owner/diva TJ Robinson's Cajun/Creole specialty dishes will not disappoint. If you're headed for TJ's for dinner, call ahead for reservations and order your entree at least a day in advance if you're going to have the cherry duck, sauteed quail, pheasant bon temps, squab cassoulet, rabbit piquante, or Dungeness stuffed crab in seashell. Be sure to try TJ's world-famous sassy cornbread and leave room for dessert!

North Oakland

• Supreme Vegan, 906 Stanford (at Market), (510) 655-0132. Lunch, weekend brunch & dinner; Cooked and Raw foods, soul food, sandwiches, smoothies, juices (try their own brand of ginger drinks), soups and salads, and lunch and dinner specials. Friendly and relaxed neighborhood hangout serving a variety of innovative foods made to order. Southern-influenced cooking, but there's a variety on order.

East Oakland

• Champa Garden, 2102 8th Avenue [27]

Located in a residential neighborhood, you will find this cozy restaurant that has a flair of Southern Asia flavors. The mix of Vietnamese, Lao, Thai and Mien cuisine makes this restaurant a unique one. Make sure to get an order of Pad Thai, the best in Oakland!

Fruitvale

Oakland's vibrant Latino community, a 10 block strip located on International Boulevard adjacent to the Fruitvale BART station, is a host to some of the best (and most inexpensive) Mexican food in the Bay Area. Although the recently built "Fruitvale Village" shopping area next to the BART station has several new restaurants, they are probably worth visiting. If one prefers real local flavor, one should visit the following:

Essential eateries are:

• San Jose Taqueria, corner of International Blvd and 35th Avenue.

Widely regarded to have the best tacos, but offers a wide array of options (burritos, enchiladadas, tortas, etc) and dinner plates. Most items are less than $5, have medium-large portions, and have generous ingredients (dinner plates are less than $10 and are "a la carte"). Another plus is the free self serve restaurant-made tortilla chips and delicious salsa and guacamole. Plenty of room to sit inside this historic and creatively decorated restaurant, or sit outside on the patio and enjoy the sunshine. Good for lunch or dinner, and open until 10 pm.

• Taqueria La Costa, corner of International Blvd and 37th Avenue.

A small, outdoor patio restaurant that features seafood but has the regular fare of typical Mexican restaurants. All items are less than $5 and are generally spicy, so make sure you request no salsa or jalapenos if that is your preference. A former burger joint turned-taqueria, this eatery is good for lunch and best enjoyed in fair weather with a refreshing agua fresca, as tables are exclusively on the outdoor patio. Open until 7pm.

• El Gordo, corner of International Blvd and 40th Avenue.

Could be considered the best taco truck in Oakland, with fare that by far beats any restaurant. Their burritos are over 12" and unbeatable. Contrary to popular belief, taco trucks (especially this one) are sanitary and have much better food than what one can usually find in standard restaurants. As there is no where to sit, one must eat food standing next to the taco truck (which is the option of many workers who have lunch/dinner there) or eat elsewhere, preferably on a bench in the pleasant "Fruitvale Village" adjacent to the Fruitvale BART station 5 blocks west.

• Saigon Wraps, located inside the Fruitvale Transit Village.

This is home of the original Banh Mi Sandwich. The restaurant's origins and claim to fame is that they introduced banh mi sandwiches to California in the early 80s. The $2.50 sandwiches are cheaper than many taco-truck burritos.

Rockridge

• A Cote, 75478 College Avenue, (510) 655-6469. Lunch & dinner; Charming small portion French meals in great ambiance.
• Soi Four: Bangkok Eatery, 5421 College Avenue, (510) 655-0889. Expansive selection of dishes at affordable prices especially given prompt service, simple and pleasant ambiance, solid wine by the glass list. A weeknight favorite. Seafood items among strongest on menu.
• Rockrigde Longs Drugs Top Dog, Rockridge Mall, (510) 548-8453. This eccentric store is a know hang out of the hipster crowd,and trans gender community. Grab a lawn chair and hang out in this 24 hour store and chat it up with the locals. Discuss the "scene" with the college students from the CCAC. Hang out at the Tog Dog and enjoy the local fauna at the garden section of lawn.

Chinatown

To get the real essence of "Chinatown," Oakland rather than San Francisco is your best bet. There are innumerable places to eat, not only Chinese restaurants, but Japanese and some Vietnamese as well. Chances are, any place you choose to venture in will have inexpensive and great food.

• Vien Huong Restaurant, 712 Franklin St

This is the best restaurant in Chinatown for a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Be sure to order a noodle soup and fish cake(with a sweet and sour salad)!

• Shan Dong Restaurant

Although Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown has visited this place (a framed picture of him and the restaurant owner is proudly displayed), this restaurant has the characteristics of a local, "dirty but delicious" gem. Entrees are inexpensive and flavorful. Often crowded with local Chinese, and so when busy one may have to wait a while to get a table. And another note; that manager in the framed picture with the Mayor? Yes, that was the same man that led you to your table and gave you the menus.

San Antonio District

The neighborhood centered on International Blvd and 8th Avenue is not officially named "Little Saigon" but may as well be, as this area has predominantly Vietnamese shops and restaurants. As Vietnamese is the language of choice, it will take some creativity when seeking restaurants and ordering food, but it's well worth the effort for those unbeatable $2 French-inspired Vietnamese sandwiches and the infinite varieties of Pho.

• Easy Lounge, 3255 Lakeshore Avenue (at Lakeside Drive, next to Arizmendi), (510) 338-4911, [28]. The reigning see-and-be-seen king in Oakland.

• Pacific Coast Brewing Company, 906 Washington St. (at 10th St. in Old Oakland), (510) 836-2739, [29]. A popular brewpub.

• Radio Bar, (13th Street between Broadway and Franklin). A small hipster bar with a cool DJ.

• Ruby Room, (14th Street Between Madison & Jefferson, across from the Central Library). A larger bar with a similar ambiance to the Radio Bar.

• Lucky Lounge, 3332 Grand Avenue. A more upscale bar with a mixed crowd of people.

• Pat's, (on Franklin near the corner of 15th street). An ordinary after-work bar with a really cool Blues Open-mic night on Wednesday nights, hosted by the charismatic Bird Leg. If you like live music, this is a highlight of the Bay Area.

• Cato's Ale House, 3891 Piedmont Avenue (near Montel street on Piedmont Avenue), (510) 655-3349, [30]. A popular pub with a great local feel.