San Francisco gets all the glory from tourists, but Oakland doesn’t get enough of it. People who cross the Golden Gate Bridge into Oakland have already soaked up enough of the color and culture of San Francisco. But, they’ve only experienced a fraction of the surprises the East Bay Area has to offer.
If you and your family did go the other direction, then you’d see how Oakland is the better option. While San Fran appears big, Oakland is actually the biggest. Oakland boasts a population of over 400,000 people, and that’s not counting the 300,00 tourists who pass through. Not to mention the emerging tech industry. There are so many good places that would make Oakland a great destination for your next family trip. We’ve narrowed it down to the big four.
Established in 1870, Lake Merritt is the oldest nature preserve. The lake itself is a tidal lagoon fed by seawater, making it a perfect place for migrating Canadian geese, snowy egrets, and black cormorants. Merrit is encircled by a scenic 3.2 mile walking path and event areas. Young children will enjoy Children’s Fairyland amusement park. Fairyland has so many fun rides and one-of-a-kind puppet shows that Walt Disney himself used it as inspiration for Disneyland. Also, be on the look-out for the lake’s kaiju mascot, “Merritzilla.”
