Oakland sights and landmarks guide

Sights to see in Oakland, CA US

California is one of the culturally richest states and Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in US as more than 100 dialects and languages are spoken here. Unsurprisingly, restaurants in the area reflect the different tastes of its residents and entertainment and shops provide wide choices to match almost everyone’s taste.

 Situated close to the sea, the city offers various opportunities to the visitors for boating and water sports adventures. The Western Aerospace Museum, the Oakland Museum of California and Oakland Zoo draw people from around the world every year. To enjoy fantastic shopping, you can flock to the Jack London Square which is a waterfront place with various restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and outdoor markets.

Some of the must see places in Oakland include:

Chabot Space and Science Center: It is a practical center which features interactive exhibitions, digital planetarium, large screen theatre, practical activities and 3 powerful telescopes.

Children's Fairyland: It is the first amusement park of the USA created for catering to families having young children. The Fairyland includes small rides like Jolly Trolly, carousels and spider web Ferris wheel, 10 acres of play sets and various animals. The park also houses the Open Storybook Puppet Theatre which is the oldest operational puppet theatre in the US.

Chinatown: It is a pan-Asian neighborhood of Oakland reflecting the diverse American-Asian community of Oakland. Because of its diverse population, many Asian dialects and languages may be heard in Chinatown.

Dunsmuir House: Located on a 50 acre site, this house has neoclassical-revival style of architecture and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Now, it is primarily used for weddings, business gatherings, receptions and historical events of re-enactment.

Jack London Square: It is a popular attraction among tourists as it is home to various stores, hotels, restaurants, ferry dock, Amtrak station, First and Last Chance Saloon and a movie theatre.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: It is a stadium used for football, soccer and baseball games.

Oakland Museum of California: It is a museum for art, natural science and history.

Oakland Zoo: The zoo contains various modern exhibits along with interactive exhibits, play areas for children and top class facilities for animal housing. The zoo has been known for its fabulous elephant exhibits and is praised to allow its elephants to roam freely. Today, it is home to more than 440 exotic and native animals and has been a member of AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).