Oakland does not have oaks as the name suggests. The city is not flashy like its neighborhood, with neon light casinos or steel and glass skyscrapers to boast of, but it has a lot of nature and scenic landscapes to talk of. Surrounded by redwood hills, it offers hiking trails and camping areas. The Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is where old volcanic eruptions have covered over 660 acres of Oakland. The Round Top peak is 10 million years old. The shifting layers of the earth have some beautiful geology sights to offer. The Lake Merritt Park &Wildlife Refuge, serene and beautiful offers sanctuary to birds and waterfowls. The lake also facilitates canoeing, sailing, and jogging along the lakeshore. The Fairyland kid’s amusement park is located here.

The USS Potomac built in 1934, converted into a Presidential yacht by President Roosevelt in 1936 is docked here. History cruises are conducted in spring and summer. The city has inns, hotels and suites at convenient locations. The Claremont Resort & Spa in between the hills of Berkeley and Oakland since 1915 is one of the oldest hotels. It is a curved castle like building with its own private sauna, gym and yoga.