Alameda, California: A Guide for New Residents and Visitors

Alameda, California, is an island community, situated on San Francisco Bay just across the estuary from Oakland. Many people who live in the Bay Area aren't aware of its existence - or haven't until recently. Previously the best-kept secret on the housing market, the Island City's charm and miles of shoreline have made it an increasingly popular destination for visitors and new residents alike.

As an island, Alameda is reachable through Oakland via the Webster/Posey tubes to the west, the Park Street Bridge, the Fruitvale Bridge, the High Street Bridge to the center-east, and Doolittle Drive from the east/Oakland Airport direction. However you get there, do check out Mapquest.com or some similar navigational tool. Alameda is easy to find once you know where you're going. Until then, it's easy to miss. Consider taking the Alameda/Oakland Ferry from San Francisco, and walking and taking the AC Transit 50, 51, and 63 buses around the Island. (For ferry and bus schedules, visit www.transitinfo.org.)

Once you arrive, visitors and potential residents alike will want to check out the Island's highlights. Starting in the West End, a visit to the USS Hornet Museum is a must. This WW II aircraft carrier offers an in-depth look into the US involvement in World War II, as well as the Hornet's other duties, which included picking up early astronauts after they splashed down from a mission. See uss-hornet.org for more information.

Moving east, head down Webster Street and head towards the beach. For a relatively small island, Alameda has miles of beaches with wonderful Bay views. Great weather makes for wonderful strolls along the shore nearly any time of year. Bird-watchers will love the variety of waterfowl easily seen with the naked eye, including pelicans, cormorants, pipers, mallards, and coots. A visit to Crab Cove visitors' center is a great side trip, and a must if you have small children. (See www.ebparks.org/parks/crab.htm for more information.) Windsurfers particularly love the area around Crab Cove for its ideal conditions.