Shopping for Gifts in the Bay by Taking BART
In fact, you don’t even have to pull the car out of the garage.
That’s right. Not only does Oakland have plenty of original gifts for every taste, age, and interest, but many of them can be obtained by a quick and easy ride on BART.
Let’s start with the Coliseum Station. Steps from both the Oakland Coliseum and Oakland Arena, this is the place to get the sports fan in your life everything she or he has ever dreamed of — and more.
The next stop, Fruitvale BART station, is conveniently adjacent to both Fruitvale Village and the surrounding Fruitvale neighborhood, full of original stores and restaurants.
One quick hop, from the Fruitvale to the Lake Merritt stations, puts you within a few blocks of the Oakland Museum of California. In addition to memberships and passes being available for the Museum itself, the facility also has an excellent gift shop, full of possible gifts you won’t find anywhere else.
Heading into Downtown Oakland, a stop at the 12th Street BART station yields access to a number of great shopping locations. CityWalk, the pedestrian shopping and restaurant district right off Broadway at 13th Street, is nearby, as are the shops and restaurants encircling Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Old Oakland is a short, two block walk, while Jack London Square is about a five minute walk (or very short bus ride) away. Of course, if one of your gift recipients is a die-hard rail fan or regular commuter, you might want to purchase something from Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor collection. Visit www.cafepress.com/capitolcorridor to see the latest prints, bags, shirts, and other gifts that are perfect for the transit enthusiast on your gift list.
One stop down from City Center is the 19th Street BART station, flanked by retail and entertainment opportunities. Sears and Men’s Wearhouse anchor many smaller, mom-and-pop stores, while the Fox and Paramount theatres are also nearby. (After all, what is a better gift for someone who “doesn’t want a thing” than a theatre or show experience they will thoroughly enjoy?)
Getting back on BART, a stop at Rockridge is almost a must. Just steps away from the BART station is College Avenue, and a long street of shops, restaurants, and gourmet items of almost any and every taste.
So there you have it. Shop Oakland, avoid the traffic, and enjoy the best shopping venues Oakland has to offer.
For more information, visit ShopOakland.com.
For BART schedule and fare information, visit www.bart.gov.
