A tidal lagoon right in downtown Oakland, ringed by a 3.4-mile walking path that fills with joggers, dog walkers, and weekend picnickers. The north shore has a boathouse where you can rent kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats. The surrounding park includes a bonsai garden, a bird sanctuary (one of the oldest in North America), and the pergola-framed columns of the Camron-Stanford House, the last of the Victorian mansions that once lined the lake.
Lake Merritt
Downtown tidal lagoon with walking path and boat rentals