From the downtown arts scene to the vast forests of the hills, there are places that we cherish in Oakland. Sometimes, it’s for the culture. Other times, it’s because we need a respite from city life, and conversing with the majestic redwood trees or listening to the creeks that run through the town can bring us a sense of peace.
Our Oakland Voices correspondents shared some of their favorite spots in Oakland.
Downtown Arts Scene
I love that the Oakland artist community has grown to support each other. This became most apparent in attending the Throughline exhibition, an art exhibition honoring Black women of Oakland. Several times in the same week I had been back to Throughline which hosted some panel discussions while being immersed in the art of Brandon Ruffin, Taylor Smalls and Sir Michael Wayne. The first event was for Dr. Akilah Cadet’s book release event, White Supremacy is All Around: Notes from a Black Disabled Woman in a White World. The second time was for the HiiWave fundraiser with co-founder Bosko Kante and actor- activist Kendrick Sampson, with songs from Martin Luther McCoy and DJ sets from Nina Sol and Daghe. The ticket price, which was part of the fundraising efforts, was accessible so that I could experience the night without worrying if it was going to hurt my already low pocketbook. It was great that artists came together to have some discussions about how they can build together and share resources. Seeing the photography and art dedicated to Black women reminds me that not everything is so bad in what feels like the longest apocalypse ever. – Brandy Collins
Joaquin Miller Park and Its (Furry) Friends
One of the many beauties of Oakland is the diverse activities you can do in “The Town.” You can travel to Jack London Square and watch the ripples of the Bay, you can stroll around Lake Merritt, or visit the winding mountains of Oakland.
Joaquin Miller Park has always been one of my favorite places to spend my time. It is located behind the Latter Day Saints’ temple in the hills of Oakland, and each time I’ve visited, I always find a sightly green nature. Over the years, I’ve created memories with many people in this park, including a four-legged furry friend.
Armon has been my companion for the last 13 years; we adopted him from the Oakland Animal Shelter in late December of 2012, and we’ve had so many memories together at Joaquin Miller Park. It’s been a delight to watch him grow from a puppy and run through the grass in the spring, and fall in the mud in the winters. Armon has also loved Joaquin Miller Park – even now as an adult dog hitting 14 years, he somehow finds the energy to hit a zoomie through the wilderness.
The parks in Oakland not only create memories for the community members of Oakland, but it also creates memories for our furry friends as well. – Sandra Muniz
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and Views
This park is a little hard to find, as it’s kind of in the middle of the Port of Oakland. But if you are persistent, there are rewards for finding it.
There are broad sweeping views of both San Francisco and the Bay Bridge, and you get close up to the famous cargo cranes at the Port of Oakland. Large ships laden with cargo come in and out of the Port near here, so it also holds that as a surprise for unsuspecting kids. Boats, birds, and bridges. They will love it.
There are picnic areas and also the Chappell Hayes viewing tower a short walk away. Consider that a second destination.
With a bit of decent weather, the views are more than satisfactory. Bring a camera and snacks, dress in layers. You will enjoy it. – Howard Dyckoff
Chinatown
Oakland Chinatown holds a special place in my heart. I enjoy walking through the few commercial blocks, picking up a giant bag of baby bok choy that will last me a week, maybe some pastries like egg tarts, and visiting the Asian Branch Library. There’s nothing quite like being able to walk through a neighborhood, seeing strangers or running into longtime friends, and feeling connected in a way that is not possible through a screen.
Sausal Creek and Basking in Nature
Living in Huichin/Oakland has reminded that connecting is the most essential antecdote to living in a settler-colonial world, where isolation reigns.
In the midst of it all, connecting with my fellow neighbors by greeting/saludos, listening to the nurturing sounds of Sausal Creek, along with the bird/tree relatives outside my bedroom window, and the privilege of running in the sacred hills. Connection is ripe with good medicine, and Huichin/Oakland has it in abundance. – Patricia Contreras-Flores
Lake Merritt and Fresh Air
Walking around the lake at any time of the day is always filled with awe-inspiring views of beautiful foliage, exquisite reflections and the many feathered friends, the multitudes of geese, ducks, herons, pelicans, often swimming in single file, to name just few of the 91 species known to frequent the lake. Sometimes there are beautiful memorials for those who have passed on. I also have come to know many of my fellow walkers, and we have often stopped for brief conversations.
I, too, have frequented the lake, often in the early morning before heading to work, and I often wondered if the walk was just an excuse to take photos of the sunrise over the lake, the trees in all stages of leaf development and eventual tumbling to the ground, the birds, the columns at the far end of the lake, and much more.
No matter one’s state of mind, from flashes of joy to moments of despair, walking at the lake will nearly always be a breath of mental as well as literal fresh air; a reminder and gift from nature, in the middle of a city, that beauty, splendor and possibility are always there. – Debora Gordon
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