Things to do in Oakland

Oakland is a nice town to hang out in and find things to do. I originally ended up here several times on ships and managed to return twice since. Some parts of Oakland are somewhat sketchy, but overall it has lots to offer.

Quick Tips:

Jack London Square is a really nice place to spend an afternoon. It has changed a lot since the first time I was there about seven years ago. Nearby, in the downtown area, there is another really nice outdoor mall that isn't a bad place to sit and people watch. Here, there are a lot of interesting little stores, restaurants, and coffee bars. In addition to this, there are a lot of great small bars downtown that get more lively in the evening.

Best Way To Get Around:

At Jack London Square, you can park and walk, but you'll need a car to get out of town. You can also park in the downtown area, but it is slightly harder to find a spot. I ended up parking in one of the local garages and it worked out well. Walking between Jack London is possible and not very far, but is somewhat seedy. You can get into a nasty area quickly, so be careful. In addition to all of this, the BART station is close by and can get you out of town without a car. You can get to San Francisco rather cheaply and quickly using the BART. The BART is pretty safe, but watch where you get off. I got off at the West Oakland station by accident once late at night. We couldn't get a cab to come, and found ourselves walking through bad neighborhoods. Have fun but be careful!

I have stayed in the Executive Inn on two different occasions. Once for two weeks, and once on a road trip passing through. The motel is in a really nice setting on the waterfront directly accross from Coast Guard Island. The other side is unfortunately facing the highway. This makes it convenient, but not attractive. It is situated about a mile from downtown Oakland and several nice restaurants, but you do need a car to get anywhere. The drive is very easy because Embarcadero Drive is rarely full. The area is safe, but the roads don't have good sidewalks and the scenery isn't attractive. The motel itself is excellent. Their friendly staff and very clean rooms make the place an excellent spot to stay for a business trip or just a night spent in Oakland.

The rooms and bedrooms are both very large. You can request to be on the waterfront side for a little extra, but I think it is worth it. What a difference in scenery! A pool and hot tub are on the premises, and there is a bar that is open nightly for guests. Every morning they provide a small grab and go breakfast in the bar/restaurant area.

Overall, this motel is an excellent choice if you're looking for somewhere to stay in the Oakland area and don't mind driving to get where you're going.

I have eaten at Quinn's on several occasions. The restaurant is not in the Jack London area, but instead, about a mile and a half south on Embarcadero Drive. The original lighthouse was built in 1890. Quinn's is pretty cool because they somehow manage to pull off a fancy atmosphere with a real sailor bar feel. They have quite a selection of beers available, and the food has always been excellent there. Upstairs, the servers provide peanuts when you sit down. Everybody throws the shells on the floor and it gets deep. I've been there several nights when local bands are present singing sea shanties. Downstairs provides a more formal atmosphere, but I've never eaten down there. If you stumble into Oakland I'd suggest finding Quinn's for the unique experience. I've found few pubs that have this kind of feel to them.

I wasn't quite sure whether to list this little bar under bars and pubs or historic sights. I decided that it's more of a historic spot than anything else. If you stroll down to the southern end of Jack London Square by the parking lots, you can't miss this little pub. It looks like it was taken directly out of the 1800s. Actually, it was.

The building was built in 1880 out of the wood from an old whaling ship. It is positioned on the dock where the ferry used to cross to Alameda. It is for this reason that it is named "First and Last Chance." In the early 1900s, Alameda was a dry town and this was the last spot to buy alcohol before crossing on the ferry, and the first spot returning. The name applied later to the various military personnel deployed from the Oakland/Alameda area.

In addition to all of this, the bar was a favorite childhood hangout of Jack London. He returned to the spot to write several works later in life.

The first thing you notice when you walk into Heinold's is the floor. It leans dramatically due to the settling which occured in the earthquake of 1906. When the earthquake struck it caused the clock to stop. It still hangs on the wall remaining suspended at the exact time it stopped.

This is a great place to stop in and just hang out. It's a really small building, and is sometimes hard to squeeze into. Everything inside is very rustic. The bartenders are really unique people, full of information. I'd recommend stopping in if you're ever in town and sitting at the bar listening to the stories. Sit and be entertained and stop to enjoy the step back in time.