BART (tel. 511; www.bart.gov) connects San Francisco and Oakland through one of the longest underwater transit tunnels in the world. Fares range from $3 to $4 one-way, depending on your station of origin; children 4 and under ride free. BART trains operate Monday through Friday 4am to midnight, Saturday from 6am to midnight, and Sunday from 8am to midnight. Exit at the 12th Street station for downtown Oakland.
By car from San Francisco, take I-80 across the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and follow signs to downtown Oakland. Exit at Grand Avenue South for the Lake Merritt area. Note: Make sure you have a map of Oakland or GPS device—you do not want to get lost in Oakland and end up in a bad neighborhood.
For a calendar of events in Oakland, contact the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau, at 463 11th St. (tel. 510/839-9000; www.oaklandcvb.com). The city sponsors eight free-guided tours (Wed and Sat at 10am), including African-American Heritage. Call tel. 510/238-3234 or visit www2.oaklandnet.com, and click on “free walking tours” found at the bottom left.
Downtown Oakland lies between Grand Avenue on the north, I-980 on the west, Inner Harbor on the south, and Lake Merritt on the east. Between these landmarks are three BART stations (12th St., 19th St., and Lake Merritt), City Hall, the Oakland Museum, Jack London Square, and several other sights.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
