Oakland is the county seat of Alameda County located in Northern California. Also known as Oaktown, it is the third largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the eighth largest city in the state. Incorporated in 1852, Oakland is the principal city of the East Bay Area Region. The port city covers a total area of 78 square miles.
How to Reach Oakland
Three major airports serve the area: Oakland International Airport (OAK), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and San Jose International Airport (SJC).
The train station near Jack London Square is served by Amtraks Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquins routes.
The lies six miles (9.7 km) east of San Francisco. Interstate 580, Interstate 880, and the Eastshore Freeway traverse the city.
Best Time to Visit
The city has an average of 260 sunny days annually. Spring and Fall offer warmer temperatures and fewer crowds. Summer is the most popular season to visit San Francisco Bay area as people travel west looking for sun and sand.
Things to Do in Oakland
The city is definitely less cosmopolitan and bohemian than its western neighbor San Francisco; but that doesnt stop techies and hippies from visiting Oakland. From beautiful hillside neighborhoods to eccentric shopping districts, and from parks to waterfront, Oakland has its own distinct voice that even San Franciscos counterculture or fog cant match. Given its colorful history, Oakland remains a cultural mosaic and is in the midst of reinventing itself.
Bounded by abundant trees, verdant lawns, and Victorian mansions, Lake Merritt is an idyllic playground in summers. Unveil the citys rich heritage at Oakland Museum of California, catch a movie on Friday at Paramount Theater, breathe in the pine-scented air at Redwood Regional Park, stroll along the waterfront or through Oakland Rose Garden; theres plenty to explore in Oaklands 50 neighborhoods.
Higher Education Institutions in Oakland
Peralta Community College District operates two out of countys four community colleges in the city. Lincoln University, California College of the Arts, Holy Names University, and Patten University are some of the top-ranked institutions of higher education in Oakland.
Facts about Oakland
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Oakland has the busiest port in the San Francisco Bay and the fifth busiest in the United States.
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It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the US.
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There are more artists per capita in Oakland than any other American city.
