Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 11:39 am
With so many fun things to do in San Francisco, it is tempting to never venture beyond the city limits. But if you are looking for a fun excursion, consider a day trip to Oakland! Jack London Square is located right across the bay and there are lots of fun, family-friendly things to do on an Oakland day trip.
Day Trip to Oakland, California
Oakland is often overlooked for more sophisticated Northern California locales such as Napa Valley or Monterey. But a day trip to Oakland is a fun and easy jaunt, offering lots of activities and great places to eat, as well.
The scenic ferry ride from San Francisco to Oakland is more than transportation; it is part of the adventure! Boats depart from the historic Ferry Building throughout the day and drop you right at Jack London Square.
The 25-minute boat ride offers sensational views of the Port of Oakland, Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Ferry Building. I especially love the view of the downtown San Francisco skyline this vantage point provides!
And – taking the ferry to Oakland actually costs less than train fare or paying the bridge toll. (And I won’t even mention the cost of parking in the San Francisco Bay Area!)
About Jack London Square
Situated along the Oakland waterfront, Jack London Square has been a well-known landmark since the mid-1800s.
Jack London Square is named after American novelist Jack London, author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang among many other works.
He was raised in Oakland and spent much of his childhood at the waterfront. As a schoolboy, London often studied at Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, a port-side bar in Oakland that still stands in his honor.
Just outside of Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, youāll find Jack Londonās cabin, which was transported here from Alaska.
Jack London Square is a hub of outdoor recreation, dining and entertainment. It sits right on the water, offering views of the marina and San Francisco skyline across the bay. There are a number ice cream shops, stores, coffee houses, restaurants, bars, wine tasting, pedestrian areas and even a movie theater.
Start your one day in Oakland with a cup of coffee. Jack London Square is known for its many independent coffee shops. Some top picks include Blue Bottle Coffee, Bicycle Coffee, and the cafƩ at the Waterfront Hotel. And if you really need a Starbucks, there is one right across the street.
Dining Options in Jack London Square
Jack London Square is ā at its roots ā a dining destination.
I say āat its rootsā because Jack London Square is home to Heinoldās First and Last Chance Saloon. This landmark opened in 1884, making it the oldest bar in Oakland. It is the actual spot where Jack London frequently visited and wrote about in some of his works.
Heinoldās First and Last Chance Saloon maintains some of its original features, such as the gas lighting. You will also notice a dramatic slant when you enter the saloon, a result of the 1906 earthquake.
Another great spot to visit is Plank. Located in the heart of Jack London Square, Plank is a restaurant and bar with a bowling alley and large arcade.
Its expansive outdoor area has patio seating, bocce ball, fire pits, and a bar with big screen televisions. Itās a great place to gather for some family fun along with your meal.
Yoshiās is another popular dinner spot, combining sushi and Japanese food with live music.
For seafood, salads and burgers, enjoy lunch at Scottās Seafood Grill & Bar. They have great food and a waterfront patio offering lovely views of the marina.
I ordered the pear & walnut salad and it was exceptionally tasty. Best of all, they bring fresh sourdough bread to the table for everyone to enjoy!
Souley Vegan is a few blocks up from Jack London Square, but a quick and easy walk if you are looking for great vegan food. They take traditional soul food recipes and make them vegan, but the flavors are amazing and worth a try whether you follow a vegan diet or not.
Jack London Square is also home to a number of wine bar and cellars, part of the Oakland Urban Wine Trail. There are also some breweries in Jack London Square, if beer is more your thing!
Things to Do in Jack London Square
Though dining options may seem like the lionās share of things to do in Jack London Square, there are some great activities, as well.
Rent a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboards at California Canoe & Kayak to explore the waterfront by boat. In addition to rentals, they also offer guided excursions.
Jack London Square is home to the USS Potomac. Affectionately dubbed the Floating White House, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidential yacht is one of the few floating museums in the country.
The restored 165-foot vessel, a national historic landmark, is a memorial to FDR and his accomplishments. The USS Potomac is open for dock-side tours.
For a scenic walk, the San Francisco Bay Trail ā a bicycle and pedestrian trail that (when finished) will circle the entire shoreline of San Francisco Bay ā passes right through Jack London Square, so you can get some exercise while enjoying stunning views along this easy urban trail.
If you are planning a day trip to Oakland on a Sunday, youāre in luck! Every Sunday, a farmers market takes place in Jack London Square from 9 am to 2 pm. Browse an assortment of freshly baked bread, fish, fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.
More Things to Do on an Oakland Day Trip
If time is of the essence, you donāt need to venture beyond Jack London Square to enjoy a day trip to Oakland, but if you want to explore Oakland more fully, here are some other spots and attractions worth checking out.
Please note, some areas of the city can be a bit sketchy. But to be fair – overall Oakland is fine if your use common sense precautions while walking around.
Redwood Regional Park
For mountain biking, hiking and picnicking, plan a visit to Redwood Regional Park!
Much of the current park site was extensively logged in the 1800s, but is again full of beautiful redwoods, some almost 150 years old. The park is easy to get to from anywhere in the city, and offers a great opportunity to see Northern Californiaās famed redwood trees without having to venture far.
Lake Merritt
Located in the center of Oakland, Lake Merritt boasts three miles of shoreline and is the United States’ oldest designated wildlife refuge, dating from 1870. It is the largest lake of its kind in an urban area.
There is a nature center, gardens, jogging paths and walking trails, as well as the Lake Merritt Boating Center, where you can rent rowboats, kayaks, pedal boats, and canoes.
Children’s Fairyland
Located on the shores of Lake Merritt, Children’s Fairyland is a whimsical 10-acre park designed especially for young kids. It features nearly 60 storybook sets, kid-size rides, friendly animals, and 10 acres of gardens. Childrenās Fairyland is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Oakland Zoo
Home to more than 850 animals, the Oakland Zoo is tucked away on 525 acres in Oakland Hills. In addition to its animal exhibits and habitats, the zoo hosts many interactive and educational programs, and features a butterfly garden and some fun rides for kids.
Oakland Aviation Museum
Located in a vintage hangar at Oakland International Airport, this museum houses aircraft displays and artifacts. An interactive play area at the Oakland Aviation Museum lets children experience sitting in a plane as well as standing in the control tower listening to real-time air traffic controllers.
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)
With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCAās collection of art, photos, historical artifacts and natural science showcases Californiaās history and culture within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus and gardens.
Chabot Space & Science Center
Chabot Space & Science Center is one of the best museums in the San Francisco Bay Area. It features interactive exhibits, a planetarium, theater, hands-on activities for kids and three powerful telescopes.
Chabot’s full dome Planetarium features Northern Californiaās only Zeiss Universarium star projector that can illuminate 9000 stars and celestial objects as well as a digital sky projector.
Getting to Jack London Square Oakland
If you are visiting Oakland on a day trip from San Francisco, taking the ferry is the most convenient and inexpensive (and also the most fun!) way to get there.
Catch the Jack London Square Ferry from San Francisco to Oakland via the San Francisco Bay Ferry. The San Francisco Bay Ferry departs from the Ferry Building in San Francisco (as well as Alameda in the East Bay).
The ferry runs seven days a week, all year long.
Travel time for the ferry between San Francisco and Oakland is 25 minutes. The ferry ride costs less than $5 if you use a Clipper card. Children under 5 ride free.
If you prefer to take the train, the closest BART stop to Jack London Square is the 12th Street/City Center station. You will need to walk just under a mile from downtown Oakland, or you can take the bus or order a ride share.
BART trains run from all corners of the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Oakland airport and San Francisco airport.
āŗ Planning a visit to the San Francisco Bay Area? Be sure to check out these 30 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids & Teens.
Save These Oakland Day Trip Activities for Later!
Planning a visit to the Bay Area? Pin the image below for future reference!
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