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Five blocks east of Broadway, the eastern third
of downtown Oakland comprises Lake Merritt, a
three-mile-circumference tidal lagoon that was bridged and dammed in the
1860s to become the centerpiece of Oakland’s most desirable
neighborhood. All that remains of the many fine houses that once circled
the lake is the elegant Camron-Stanford House, on the southwest
shore at 1418 Lakeside Drive, a graceful Italianate mansion whose
sumptuous interior is open for visits (Wed 11am–4pm, Sun 1–5pm; $4).
The lake is also the nation’s oldest wildlife refuge, and migrating
flocks of ducks, geese, and herons break their journeys here.
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north shore is lined by Lakeside Park, where you can rent canoes
and rowboats ($4 per hour), and a range of sailing boats and catamarans
($4–10 per hour) from the Sailboat House (summer daily
10am–5pm; rest of year Fri–Sun 10am–4.30pm; tel 510/238-2196),
provided you can convince the staff you know how to sail. A miniature
Mississippi riverboat makes thirty-minute lake cruises ($1) on
weekend afternoons, and kids will like the puppet shows and pony rides at
the Children’s Fairyland (summer daily 10am–5.30pm; rest of
year Fri–Sun 10am–5.30pm; $3.25), along Grand Avenue on the northwest
edge of the park. Every night, the lake is lit up by its Necklace of
Lights, a source of local pride, and on the first weekend in June, the
park comes to life during the Festival at the Lake, when all of
Oakland gets together to enjoy nonstop music and performances from local
bands and entertainers. |
