Alameda is set on an island in San Francisco Bay and combines beautiful beaches with a lively downtown district. Relax in waterfront parks, climb aboard a former US Navy aircraft carrier vessel and visit a museum dedicated to pinball machines.
Things to do in Alameda
Shop, dine and play in Downtown Alameda. The Historic Park Street District is filled with beautiful Victorian and Art Deco buildings. Admire the handsome Old Masonic Temple and watch a film at the beautifully restored Old Alameda Theatre. From trendy cafes and bubble tea shops to burger bars and Italian eateries, there are plenty of places to satisfy your appetite in Downtown Alameda. Head to the western end of the island to find hip craft breweries and taprooms.
Visit the USS Hornet Museum and climb aboard a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier. The ship is reimagined as an interactive maritime and military museum. Venture below deck to walk through the cavernous boiler room, peer into the sickbay and find out more about life onboard the USS Hornet.
Sand dunes frame Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach. The beach stretches for four kilometres along San Francisco Bay and is fringed by grassy lawns and picnic areas. Relax on the honey-coloured sand and enjoy fantastic views of the San Francisco skyline. Head to the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary at the eastern end of the beach to spot plovers, turnstones and other saltmarsh birds.
Get a fix of old-world nostalgia at the Pacific Pinball Museum. Test your skills on more than 100 colourful pinball machines from throughout the decades. The museum moonlights as a venue for pinball-themed exhibits and art shows.
Getting around Alameda
Downtown Alameda is easy to get around on foot. The city is on Alameda Island, a 20-minute drive from Downtown San Francisco. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains run between Downtown San Francisco and Oakland in under 15 minutes. From here, buses run to Downtown Alameda in 20 minutes. San Francisco International Airport is a 40-minute drive away.