Alameda Travel Guide

Alameda is an island city in Alameda County of California’s Bay Area, making it is close to both Oakland and San Francisco. A few hundred years ago the island was actually a connected to Oakland via a peninsula of marshland, but by the time the city was founded the sea had covered it. Alameda has a very popular beach called Neptune Beach, which is often compared to Coney Island. Interestingly, Neptune Beach is said to have served the first ever snow cone.

Things to Do in Alameda

Famous landmarks, museums, stadiums, and beaches await visitors in Alameda. Alameda is set between some beautiful hills and the bay to its west. Check out the USS Hornet Museum, an educational space that highlights sea, air, and space travel milestones. The USS Hornet, a former operational aircraft carrier, is a national landmark. Guides give daily tours about the ship’s history. Those interested in the specific history of Alameda make sure to visit the Alameda History Museum where lovely historical art pieces are on display. Downtown Alameda also has plenty of historic buildings and small landmarks that add to the historic flavor of the city.

For some nature visit Crown Memorial State Beach, which is a very beautiful beach area, where white sand beaches, clean waters, and lots of seagulls await visitors. From the beach visitors can get a view of San Francisco from across the bay; the city lights are simply breathtaking at night. Also travel to the Tilden Nature Area where forested canyons, meadows, and great park facilities are available. The views from the top of the hiking trails are fantastic.

Best Places to Stay in Alameda

The best areas to stay in Alameda are Woodstock or Leonardville where plenty of great restaurants, cafes, and bars await visitors.

Best Time to Visit Alameda

Alameda is afflicted by the infamous San Francisco Bay Area weather, where some summer months are buried in fog and winter months randomly reveal warm blue skies. The moral of the story is that weather up here can be unpredictable. But don't be concerned a sweatshirt is going to be enough cover for most of the year.