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Complete our 100 Things to Do List


Check out the full list of fun activities to do in Oakland so you and your family can start planning your visit! Please note, some event dates are subject to change.
 

Arts & Culture
 

1. Find a unique exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California (Lake Merritt) 

2. Pop in to Hello Vintage for a blast from the past, and a new look to rock

3. Stroll down Temescal Alley for a sampling of Oakland’s hip creative shops

4. Celebrate the soul of Oakland’s diverse art scene all year long

5. Honor, and educate yourself on Black history at the African American Museum and Library (Downtown) 

6. See the best dragon murals by Dragon School 99 on a walking tour in Chinatown 

7. Visit the Women of the Black Panther Party Mural by muralist Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith (West Oakland)

8. Honor the history of our local ancestors at  Peralta Hacienda Historical Park (Fruitvale) 

9. Grab some swag to rep the Town from OaklandishDope Era and Beast Oakland (Laurel)

10. Witness the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ before a Saturday evening film at the Grand Lake Theater 

11. Enjoy the sounds of music and theater with sweeping views of the bay at  Woodminster Amphitheatre (Oakland Hills) 

12. Celebrate Oaktoberfest and learn about the Dimond District’s rich German history 

13. Learn the art of fruit and vegetable carving or a variety of cultural dance at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (Chinatown) 

14. Ring in the New Year at the Lunar New Year Bazaar in Chinatown 

15. Tour the Hodo Soy Beanery and witness the tofu masters at work (West Oakland) 

16. Play with fire at The Crucible, Oakland’s own industrial arts school (West Oakland) 

17. Honor the champions of humanity at the Remember Them bronze statues (Uptown) 

18. Become an actor for the day with Oakland’s  Pan Theater improv group (Uptown) 

19. Fly through the sky at the Trapeze Arts circus school (West Oakland) 

20. Catch a show at the iconic Paramount Theatre of the Arts (Uptown) 

21. Sing along to live piano and guitar music at The Alley (Grand Lake) 

22. Learn about Hoover-Foster's multi-generational Black history by taking the Black Liberation Walking Tour

23. See your favorite music performances live at the Oakland Arena (East Oakland) 

24. Take in architectural greats like the Oakland Mormon Temple and Cathedral of Christ the Light  

25. Relax in the age-old meditative tradition of Japanese wooden spoon carving 

26. Visit Oakland’s architectural past at  Preservation Park (Old Oakland) 

27. Visit the permanent home of the oldest bonsai tree in the U.S. at the Bonsai Garden near Lake Merritt 

28. Groove to live reggae, roots, and world music at The New Parish


Family-friendly

 

29. Lace up and roller skate on the waterfront at Brooklyn Basin (Oakland Estuary)

30. Be delighted by an inspiration for Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Children’s Fairyland (Lake Merritt) 

31. Mingle with the monkeys, and sit back for a gondola ride with a view of the expansive Oakland Zoo 

32. Do the Bernie Lean at an Oakland A’s game at RingCentral Coliseum (East Oakland) 

33. Relive the sweet ending from the movie Up! with a cone at Fenton’s Creamery (Piedmont Ave) 

34. Test your balance with a stand-up paddleboard lesson at California Canoe and Kayak (Jack London) 

35. Spend the night under the stars at  Chabot Space and Science Center 

36. Spend a few hours putting to get a hole-in-one at Metropolitan Golf Links, Lake Chabot Golf Course, or Montclair Golf Course

37. Retrace Amelia Earhart’s flight route at the  Oakland Aviation Museum (Airport) 

38. Write your own future with custom fortunes at a  cookie factory tour in Chinatown 

39. Discover the history of video games at The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (Piedmont) 

40. Learn to juggle at the Kinetic Arts Center (West Oakland) 

41. Cheer for the Oakland Roots at one of their home games at Laney College (Lake Merritt)

42. Stand with giants, and find some peace in the Redwood Regional Park 

43. Walk the labyrinth at Sibley Volcanic Preserve in the Oakland Hills 

44. Bird watch at Lake Merritt’s  Rotary Nature Center, the country’s oldest wildlife refuge 

45. Travel presidential style with a cruise on the USS Potomac, FDR’s “Floating White House” (Jack London) 

46. Pose in front of Visit Oakland’s Selfie Mural at the Oakland Marriott City Center to commemorate your time in the Town! 

47. Captain a kayak on the Oakland Estuary, and paddle over to Oakland’s Local German beer garden, Brotzeit Lokal 

48. Stroll through the beautiful maze of roses at  Morcom Garden of Roses (Grand Lake) 

49. Relish in a moment of peace on the  Kaiser Rooftop Garden(Downtown) 

50. Cruise the Bay as you travel to and from Oakland and San Francisco via the ferry 

51. Savor some souvlaki at the annual  Oakland Greek Festival (Oakland Hills) 

52. Munch on food truck treats and see the latest exhibits at Oakland Museum of California’s Off the Grid event every Friday (Lake Merritt) 

Food & Drink

 

53. Check out one of Oakland's James Beard nominated restaurants Wahpepah’s Kitchen, Horn Barbecue and Commis

54. Enjoy the vibrant vegan food scene in Oakland and explore the Oakland Vegan Trail.

55. Eat your way through Oakland’s foodie neighborhoods with  Local Food Adventures tours 

56. Groove to live Jazz music while enjoying modern Japanese cuisine at  Yoshi’s Jazz Club Oakland (Jack London) 

57. Drink local brews at  Drake’s Dealership taproom at The Hive Oakland 

58. Indulge in a variety of Dim Sum at  Shan Dong or Peony Seafood in Chinatown 

59. Sip on the island drink with Oakland roots! Kick off your sandals, and grab a Mai Tai from The Kona Club 

60. Enjoy regional Vietnamese dishes such as Bun Cha Hanoi at Tay Ho Oakland (Chinatown) 

61. Peruse fresh produce and local goods at the Grand Lake and Temescal Farmers Markets 

62. Start your Uptown bar-hopping adventure with a delicious fresh-squeezed greyhound from Cafe Van Kleef 

63. Tap into your inner coffee and tea aficionado at the Peerless Coffee Museum (Jack London) 

64. Grab a cocktail and draft beer in the funky Old West at  Heinold’s First & Last Chance Saloon, where Jack London did some writing (Jack London) 

65. Imbibe on a specialty cocktail (or two) from one of Oakland’s LGBTQ+ hotspots, The Port Bar (Downtown) 

66. Get buzzing with a one of a kind coffee tasting at The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room (Uptown) 

67. Stuff your face with tacos any day of the week from Fruitvale taco trucks like Taqueria Sinaloa or Aguachiles el Tamarindo 

68. Indulge in delicious vegan soul food at Souley Vegan (Jack London District) or Vegan Mob (Grand Lake)

69. Delight in cocktails al fresco along the dock at  Lake Chalet on Lake Merritt 

70. Stuff your face, and sip bottomless mimosas on the weekends at Home of Chicken and Waffles(Jack London) 

71. Wine and dine with your sweetie at  Pizzaiolo  in Temescal for a romantic dinner outing 

72. Enjoy a nice refreshing brew at Temescal Brewing, where they feature a different food truck every day to feed your inner beast

73. Fill your belly with mouth-watering BBQ from Horn Barbecue, Everett & Jones and Smokin'Woods

74. Indulge in the cheesy goodness of Oakland’s own Mac n Cheese restaurant, Homeroom (Temescal) 

75. Fill up a crowler with the beer of your choice at West Oakland’s metal-themed brewery Ghost Town Brewing (West Oakland) 

76. Trek the Oakland Ale Trail, and enjoy sips of the finest East Bay breweries 

77. Bring a couple friends to Calavera on a Wednesday evening for a special menu celebrating the states of Mexico, and tequila tasting! (Uptown) 

78. Pair the spices of East African cuisine with Ethiopian honey wine at Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant (Adam’s Point)  

79. Relish in some R&B, and pair wine selections with a spread of charcuterie and fruit during a Private Wine Tasting for R&B Lovers 


Urban Lifestyle

 

80. Let your truest self shine at the Oakland PrideFest

81. Be creative, be open, be present, be free, and celebrate the Black experience and community at Black Joy Parade (Downtown) 

82. Marvel at the Space Bears, murals honoring California’s extinct icon, the grizzly bear (Laurel) 

83. Giddy up to the Black Cowboy Parade in October, and learn about the contributions of POCs in the settling of the West 

84. Celebrate Happy Hour at Plank in Jack London Square for their spacious beer garden, bocce courts, and bowling/arcade 

85. Celebrate the Day of the Dead at the Fruitvale’s Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival 

86. Warm up with a round of bocce ball and cocktails at  Make Westing 

87. Get a classic straight razor shave at the Temescal Alley Barbershop 

88. Cozy up on a couch with your favorite movie snacks and drinks at New Parkway Theater (Uptown) 

89. Catch the iconic cranes in action at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park (West Oakland) 

90. Picnic lakeside and then rent a paddle boat for two at the Lake Merritt Boating Center (Lake Merritt) 

91. Try your hand at rock climbing at the Great Western Power Company climbing gym (Uptown) 

92. Know every character from Rugrats? Can you sing along to the All That theme song? Throw it back to your favorite decade at the 90s Experience with colorful, Instagram-worthy interactive exhibits 

93. Pick up wine, cheese, and other gourmet goodies from Market Hall, and then take a stroll through the Rockridge neighborhood 

94. Every King and Queen needs a crown! Design your own flower crown at The Headdress Workshop (Jingletown)

95. Engage in a local, cultural exploration of the beautifully diverse Fruitvale neighborhood, located in East Oakland.

96. Take an evening drive along Skyline Boulevard for an amazing view of the sun setting over the Bay 

97. Explore the Secret Stairs of the East Bay as you wander through the city 

98. Soak in incredible Bay Area views from the top of Mountain View Cemetery (Piedmont) 

99. Lace up your running shoes for the annual  Oakland Marathon & Running Festival 

100. Hangout on Telegraph Ave during Oakland's First Fridays and explore our creative community through arts, food, music and more! (KONO)


Try to conquer them all.