Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA

[stepper77]

Lake Merritt, which is a large tidal lagoon, is, I think, the crown jewel of Oakland and I am privileged to get to look out at it everyday at work from my cubicle window. The lake is lined with 3+ miles of walking/jogging trails and is a designated wildlife refuge (the first in the US, according to wikipedia).

These photos, taken during my lunch over a couple of days last week, are a product of testing out my new camera (after I worked my poor Fuji to death last month).























People aren't the only creatures who enjoy the benefits of Lake Merritt



















































































































































My office building…I guess I better get back to work



If you're interested in seeing more of Oakland, I did a HUGE thread here.

________________________________________________________________
Tour of California
1: Los Angeles, 2: Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, 3: Riverside, Santa Ana, Long Beach, 4: San Jose, 5: San Diego, 6: Fresno, 7: Stockton, Modesto, 8: Gold Country, 9: Eureka, Arcata, 10: Monterey, Carmel, 11: Santa Cruz, 12: Sacramento Pt One, 13: Sacramento Pt Two, 14: Roseville & Folsom, 15: Concord & Walnut Creek, 16: Tri-Valley, 17: Berkeley, Emeryville, 18: Fremont, 19: Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, 20: Redwood City, Foster City, San Mateo, 21: Oakland, 22: Benicia, Vallejo, 23: Napa, St. Helena, 24: Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, 25: San Rafael, 26: Larkspur, Mill Valley, 27: Sausalito, Tiburon, 28: Hollister, San Juan Bautista, 29: Long Beach 2008, 30: Venice, 31: Santa Monica, 32: Sacramento Pt 3, 33: Solvang, 34: Alameda, 35: Knights Ferry, 36: California Zephyr, 37: Colfax, 38: Davis, 39: Oakdale, 40: San Francisco Pt 1, San Francisco Pt 2, 41: Chico, Redding, 42: Kings Beach, 43: Merced, 44: Gold Country pt 2, 45: Gold Country pt 3, 46: Sonora, 47: Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, 48: Orange, Fullerton, 49: Anaheim, Irvine, 50: Newport Beach, Laguna Beach,51: San Francisco, Pt 3, 52: Lodi, 53: Martinez, 54: Ft Bragg, Mendocino, 55: San Luis Obispo, 56: Sacramento River Pt 1, 57: Sacramento River Pt 2

[Clevelumbus]

Awesome shots! I just moved to Oakland (Alcatraz & Telegraph) and I'm loving it so far.

[oak-sea]

Mmm mmm! I miss this place every day. I noticed a crane in the pic below that must be near Kaiser hospital where I was born. I wonder what that is. Thanks for the memories, its awfully cold and dark in Seattle right now.

[OhioGuy]

Great photos of what appears to be a very nice spot! I can't recall seeing much coverage of the Lake Merritt area of Oakland here on SSP in the past, so these photos are very much appreciated.

[Jarrod]

Oakland doesn't look as god-awful as people say it... maybe this is just the nice areas but it looks nice.

[ChrisLA]

Very nice, I love this part of Oakland. Often I visit the Whole Foods in the area, you can probably walk to it from your office right.

[whatsthepoint13]

Absolutely beautiful area. I love the Bay Area. Thanks!

[simms3_redux]

Wow I have never seen Oakland like that. It looks amazing! Thanks

[sabotai]

I love my second favorite city in California!

[xzmattzx]

Nice pictures. Lake Merritt just doesn't seem right in my opinion. I realize that it's a tidal lake and that it's built up around it, but it just lokos so bare without many trees around it (or with the trees being dwarfed by buildings). I guess I'm just used to lakes that block out the outside world, rather thn integrate the outside world.

[gtbassett]

I love Oakland, I believe it's one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in California, if not the country. It still has a lot of work to do, but I have high hopes for what Oakland can become.

[Danny]

Thanks a lot for your photos!

Fantastic pictures. Wonderful lake and city, Oakland, Calif.

I´d like to visit it. I´ve never been in California.

Congratulations and greetings from Madrid, Spain!

[Cory]

Originally Posted by gtbassett

I love Oakland, I believe it's one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in California, if not the country. It still has a lot of work to do, but I have high hopes for what Oakland can become.

Thanks. That means a lot. Maybe I'm in the clouds but Oakland is a city that is closer to my heart than my own hometown. This city has great bones and attributes even in the most mundane of neighborhoods and I do not know too many other cities that have such a large population as progressive and socially conscious although drowned in many in your face social issues that need attention. There are still many pockets of the city that struggle with grasping and embracing the definition of community but there are many existing examples throughout the city that make you hold onto your civic pride.

Nice pics btw.

[edsg25]

Proving that there is a lot more to see in East Bay than Cal's campus.

Gorgeous pictures looking up the hills toward Piedmont with the city below.

[stepper77]

@Clevelumbus, Welcome to Oakland! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

@oak-sea, They are building either an entirely new hospital at Kaiser or, at least, a brand new addition. It's a big construction site. So, good eye, it is going on right where you were born!

@ChrisLA, Yes, Whole Foods is less than a 10 minute walk. I went there today, in fact. Such a nice addition to the area.

@xzmattzx, Aside from our naturally drier environment, there is developed land virtually all around Lake Merritt with the exception of Lakeside Park (see below). I would imagine in its native environment, there were lots of shrubby trees near the lagoon, but, much of the land surrounding the bay is naturally more of the grassland variety.



Thanks to all the rest for the comments and praise of Oakland. It really is one of the most underrated cities and this is merely one of its many great neighborhoods. I'm looking at possibly moving into this area next year if I can stand being so close to work.

[fflint]

Awesome, evocative photos of Lake Merritt and the lakeside districts.

For a long time I didn't know Oakland well, but as soon as I got a bike and could go anywhere (BART + bike), I started exploring. I found solid architecture, old-school urbanity, excellent subway/el service, distinct and vibrant neighborhoods, a fun and lively culture and, to be honest, a better downtown than many more prominent US cities have.

That crane is for the new Kaiser Hospital. The old one will be torn down (hasn't that process already begun?).

[ColDayMan]

Easily one of the best parks/areas in California and Oakland is certainly underappreciated.

[mSeattle]

Looks real nice! What camera did you get?

[LAsam]

I approve of this message! Not too shabby of a place to walk out to from your office building...

[dktshb]

Great photos! That was an amazing thread of a beautiful part of the city. I had to go to Oakland a couple times for work and each time I was cooped up in an office all day that overlooked beautiful Lake Merritt. I remember wishing I could have been walking around the lake with my camera instead of being held up in the office all day.