Are you planning a fun-filled family trip to Oakland during the fall? We know that planning for a trip is a daunting task that requires a lot of brainstorming and research, but don’t fret! We have compiled a list of the five best things to do in Oakland during the season. 

Oakland is a culturally diverse city that boasts numerous events that showcase this diversity, which range from festivals and sports games to overall family bonding activities. Keep reading to find out about your next potential activity!

Oakland’s Best Fall Activities

1. First Friday Street Festivals

Every first Friday of each month, Oakland holds a street festival celebrating the city’s rich art culture. It’s a venue for enjoying the true essence of Oakland, where you stroll through the streets enjoying: 

• Good food made by local culinary artisans
• Great music produced by DJ’s and musicians
• Performance pieces by street performers and dancers
• Amazing art made by local artists
• Cultural diversity. 

Next month’s first Friday theme is “Giving Thanks,” where we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving and the wonderful community that supports the First Friday Street Festivals.

2. The Dia de los Muertos Festival

A great example of the well-diversified culture of Oakland, the Dia de los Muertos festival is a Mexican festival that commemorates the lives of the departed — where the people welcome back the souls of the dead for a reunion that includes live music, food, games, rides, activities, and stunningly decorated altars. 

The festival will be held outdoors, so you can really appreciate the culturally rich background of the Fruitvale neighborhood. Oh, and you can experience all these for free! You can experience all the festivities of Dia de los Muertos, learn about a great cultural celebration, have fun with your family, and meet new people from different walks of life. What more could you ask for?

3. Hiking at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

Nature lovers rejoice! Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is home to coastal redwoods — which are the tallest trees in the world — and it is truly a magnificent sight to see if you haven’t seen them in person already. 

Reinhardt Park is the place to be if you want a calm, peaceful, and refreshing environment. You can hike, go cycling, or even ride horses! Horseback riding is the best option with kids though, as it saves them the hassle of walking a steep trail during your sight-seeing adventure and is just a great experience in and of itself. 

During the ride, you can see various species of wildlife, like deer, rabbits, squirrels, eagles, and snakes. Rainbow trout can also be spotted at the park’s creek during the species’ migration period. Overnight camping is an option, and you don’t have to worry about restrooms, water fountains, picnic areas, picnic tables, or a camping site because these are all available throughout the park!

4. Spooky Scavenger Hunts: Boo at the Zoo

Scavenger hunts are a nice way to enjoy an Oakland trip with the family. Scavenger hunts at the zoo are even nicer! Boo at the Zoo takes place at Oakland Zoo every day from October 22-31, 2022. Tons of prizes will be available to win during the costume contests within the scavenger hunts. Here are come of the themes for these contests:

• Twinning: Where you wear the same costume as your child
• Monster Squad: Where you dress up as one of your favorite monster squad members
• Favorite Animal Friends: Where you pick a costume based on your favorite animal in the zoo
• Wild Card: Where you dress up as anyone or anything you like

If you get lucky enough to win “Best Costume” in one of the costume contests, you’ll have the chance to win tickets to GLOWFARI, which is a nighttime lantern festival starting in November!

5. Watching a Golden State Warriors Game

This one’s for Dad and his son! Watching an NBA game is as amazing as it gets; the screams of the crowd, the suspense, the thrill, and the surprises all scream excitement. 

Chase Center is about 25-30 minutes away from Oakland. The Golden State Warriors are currently the defending champions of the NBA, and their fans are known to rock the stadium better than any other fanbase in the NBA. Every time the Warriors play a home game at Chase Center, the entire experience of world-class players — like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — and world-class fans is truly breathtaking.

Conclusion

It is evident from the number of festivals and events to choose from that Oakland is one of the most culturally diverse cities in America. Experiencing even one of the aforementioned fall activities in Oakland would surely make your trip worthwhile. 

Of course, being a tourist means going through all that research and decision-making to pick a place to stay in. Don’t fret! Here at Executive Inn and Suites, we offer a convenient location to stay in, since we’re just five minutes away from downtown Oakland, with gorgeous views of the bay, clean and sanitized rooms, fair and reasonable rates, and a warm, welcoming, and highly accommodating staff. 

We are proud to be a top rated hotel on TripAdvisor — and it’s mostly because of how we care for the wellbeing and experience of our guests. Book a room now and always remember that we’re #1 because we care. Happy Thanksgiving!!