Eclectic Escapades:

East of San Francisco (what locals refer to as the East Bay) are the diverse cities of Oakland and Berkeley. Home to world-class food and art, as well as socio-political movements and activists, these two cities each have a vibe all their own, offering two seriously unique experiences.

There’s so much to do in Oakland, it’s hard to know where to start.

Dine and stroll along the waterfront at Jack London Square, walk in the footsteps of the Black Panthers in West Oakland, discover Bay Area history at the Oakland Museum of California, meet native California wildlife (and exotic creatures) at the Oakland Zoo, or visit Oakland’s Chinatown (one of the oldest in the United States).

As the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement, Berkeley maintains its free-spirited energy to this day. Catch a performance along theater row in downtown Berkeley’s Arts District, wander the enormous University of California, Berkeley campus (make sure to visit Sather Tower, also known as the Campanile), get introspective at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, or take in a concert at the classic amphitheater-style Greek Theatre.