Oakland is connected with San Francisco by the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and located only 8mi/12km east of the metropolis on the west bank of the great bay, the lumberjacks lived here and were who determined the big oak-forests near the bay and the beautiful redwood stands in the nearby hills, very few of them continue today. Then came the gold-diggers, and Oakland grew in importance in 1869 when the transcontinental railway was finally constructed. The construction of piers and a ship-canal confirmed the important role which Oakland had to play as a traffic junction.

Though it's lower than a twelve miles from San Francisco, Oakland is worlds apart from its sister city across the bay. Originally small more than a cluster of ranches and farms, Oakland exploded in size and stature practically overnight, when the last mile of transcontinental railroad track was laid down. Major shipping ports soon followed and, nowadays, Oakland continues being one of the busiest industrial ports on the West Coast.

The price for economic success, nevertheless, is Oakland's lowbrow reputation as a predominantly working-class city; it is always in the shadow of chic San Francisco. Nevertheless, as the City by the Bay has become crowded and costly in the past few years, Oakland has experienced a haste of new residents and businesses. Consequently, Oak-town is in a renaissance, and its future continues to look brighter and brighter.

Rent a sailboat on Lake Merritt, stroll along the waterfront, and explore the fantastic Oakland Museum: They're all good reasons to hop the bay and spend a fog-free day exploring one of California's biggest and most ethnically several cities.