Eauty of Oakland

and visitors to experience the wonders of the urban wildlands. From the entrancing redwood groves of 500-acre Joaquin Miller Park and sports amenities at Arroyo Viejo Park to the Jack London Aquatic Center and Mosswood Park, a popular spot for softball and basketball. The Hellman Dunsmuir Estate and Lake Merritt Garden Center and Sailboat House offer beautiful venues for groups combining outdoor adventures with meetings and special events. Visit www.oaklandca.gov.

EXPLORE OUR TRAILS

For those who want to enjoy hiking with their pups, the East Bay Regional Park District has an experience for any level of adventurer. The district is a system of 73 parks, including Redwood Regional Park, just a few miles from downtown Oakland. Spanning 1,830 acres, the redwood forest includes peaceful groves and dog-friendly trails.

Other parks in Oakland that are perfect for hiking, picnicking and even riding a segway include Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Huckleberry Botanic Re- gional Preserve, Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve, Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, Redwood Regional Park, Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, Roberts Regional Recreation Area and Temescal Regional Recreation Area. Visit www.ebparks.org/parks.

ENJOYING THE WATER

Oakland offers many opportunities to enjoy the water. Surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods, Lake Merritt is an oasis, a gorgeous tidal lagoon ringed in a 3.4-mile heart-shaped shoreline. It’s home to the oldest official wildlife refuge in the United States, designated in 1870, and and over the course of a year, more than 100 different types of birds visit the lake.

The Lake Merritt Boating Center allows visitors to get out on the water, whether it is on a kayak, canoe or one of the center’s pontoon tours. Another ideal place to launch is in the Oakland Estuary, where you can rent a kayak from Jack London Square while enjoying breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline. Visit www.lakemerritt.org and www.calkayak.com.

VISIT OAKLAND

BRIAN FEULNER ay. Left: Cyclists cross the bike path on the Bay Bridge from Oakland to Treasure Island.

VISIT OAKLAND Above: Oakland offers many opportunities to explore local waterways through a kayak or canoe. Below: Visitors can enjoy the redwood groves at the 500-acre Joaquin Miller Park.