For those that have caught the shopping bug, there are few places where you can feed your addiction as well as in Oakland, California. While with many cities of its size you're stuck in big box stores and malls to get your aquarium fish foods or find a new top, Oakland is a city full of smaller neighborhoods. And each of them has its own unique shopping district. This short guide to shopping in Oakland should highlight all of its most popular spots and a few of the hidden treasures.
City Center is a great downtown location with a number of 19th-century inspired plazas and buildings. Here you can shop for the afternoon and then get a bite to eat or a drink at one of the many small restaurants or bars. Or, for another popular plaza you could visit Pacific Renaissance Plaza in the heart of Chinatown. You may not find your standard Dunlop boots there, but you will find a wide variety of unique food and clothing items at great prices.
College Avenue is more than two miles of some of the city's best specialty and independent shops. Whether you're in the market for gourmet food items or cloth diapers, this street definitely has all of your shopping needs covered. Market Hall is a great spot for the food lover. It includes fresh bread, fish, flowers, and even a wine market for local vineyards.
Fruitvale is a great growing district with a distinct Latin flavor. The area hosts a number of festivals that will make you feel as if you have crossed the Southern Border and there are many ethnic shops and eateries to choose from. The wall words in this area will tell you stories of the land when it was still part of Mexico and you may learn a little something about the area's heritage as you eat.
No trip to Oakland would be complete without visiting Jack London Square. You can head to one of the high-end shops to try on Mon Cheri bridal dresses or head to a store like the Timeout for an afternoon of fun among some of the world's best toys and gadgets. This neighborhood is full of great coffeehouses where you can spend a weekend morning people watching. There are also several lofts available for those who want to work and live in the area.
These are just a few of the options when it comes to shopping in Oakland. There is more than enough to keep a tourist busy for the day and even enough to keep locals coming back. Whatever your shopping needs, you are sure to find what you're looking for in Oakland.
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