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When visiting Oakland, guests may be drawn to a variety of activities and entertainment. The only city in California with three professional ball teams is a popular place to see a game. Beyond the sports, the science museums, arts, culturally-diverse mix of population with hundreds of events to celebrate everything from Christmas to Kwanzaa, you'll find dining, shopping and the ever-present bay alluring.  Don't hesitate to hop on a plane or go out of your way to visit Oakland on your next exploration. Having experience Oakland many years ago, we were delightfully surprised at its transformation into a tourist-friendly destination. 

Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
(510) 336-7300
www.chabotspace.org
The 86,000-square-foot center houses the largest public telescope in the United States, a 230-seat planetarium, and the large-screen Tien MegaDome theater. There are also numerous hands-on science and technology exhibits.

Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue Ave.
(510) 452-2259
www.fairyland.org
Young children will enjoy this enchanting, three-dimensional fantasy world where popular nursery rhymes come to life, set in picturesque Lakeside Park.

Chinatown
Broadway, Alice, 13th, and Seventh Sts.
Experience Asian culture and character by exploring the restaurants, specialty shops, markets, and bakeries in this vibrant neighborhood. Be sure to visit the elegant Chinese Presbyterian Church (265 Eighth St.) and Pacific Renaissance Plaza (388 Ninth St.), which houses shops, restaurants, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

City Center
Broadway and 14th St.
Glimpse a mix of 19th-century buildings standing proud alongside modern skyscrapers and elegant landscaping. Eye-catching buildings of note include Tribune Tower, the art deco financial center building, the federal building, the historic and recently restored City Hall, the Rotunda, and Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. The City Center pedestrian plaza boasts outdoor seating, restaurants, shops, and summer concerts.

Gondola Servizio
568 Bellevue Ave.
(866) 737-8494, (510) 663-6603
www.gondolaservizio.com
Glide across Lake Merritt in a beautiful Venetian gondola accompanied by a serenading gondolier. Enjoy an evening cruise.

Jack London Square
Broadway and Embarcadero
(866) 295-9853, (510) 814-6000
www.jacklondonsquare.com
This busy site at the water's edge has dining, entertainment, shopping, and more than a few spots for daydreaming. Take a ferry ride, stroll the scenic boardwalk, catch a movie, or just relax at a sunny sidewalk cafe.

Jack London Water Taxi
Foot of Broadway, Jack London Square
(510) 839-7572
Take a relaxing ride on the estuary on this pontoon boat and see the city from a unique perspective. Enjoy views of the waterfront, harbor facilities, and estuary wildlife.

Lake Merritt/Lakeside Park
Grand and Bellevue Aves.
(510) 238-7275
This large saltwater lake-one of the largest in the country-and the adjoining 122-acre park are home to wildlife, formal gardens, and a children's amusement park, all of which draw scores of walkers, joggers, bikers, rowers, sailors, and windsurfers. See also Children's Fairyland and the Rotary Nature Center.

Morcom Amphitheater of Roses
700 Jean St.
(510) 238-3187
Opened in the late 1920s, this eight-acre municipal rose garden features more than 6,000 rose bushes of all varieties. Bloom season is late April through October.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 Ninth St., Ste. 290
(510) 637-0455
Located in Chinatown's Pacific Renaissance Plaza, this organization is one of the largest pan-Asian cultural centers in the country, offering classes, art and photography exhibits, and cultural events.

Oakland ART Gallery
199 Kahn's Alley (across from City Hall)
(510) 637-0395
www.oaklandartgallery.org
This recently opened gallery offers a diverse range of contemporary artwork in a range of media.

Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St.
(888) 625-6873, (510) 238-2200
www.museumca.org
Surrounded by 51/2 acres of landscaped greenery, this museum is devoted to the arts, environment, and history of California. Wed.-Sun. Free second Sunday of the month.

Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd.
(510) 632-9525
www.oaklandzoo.org
Nestled in the 525-acre Knowland Park in the Oakland Hills, the zoo houses more than 400 native and exotic animals. The exhibits are organized geographically and reflect the ecosystems of the animals' native habitats. Visitors can enjoy rotating cultural exhibits in the education center, and kids will love the new butterfly garden and the "rides area," with a roller coaster, an "endangered species carousel," and a train. Daily.