What’s there to do when you take the Woodstock water shuttle to Oakland?
The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle, aka Woodstock, launched in mid-July and after some opening day drama, it’s been relatively smooth and joyful sailing. It’s a short and scenic ride, and we highly recommend trying it if you haven’t yet. If you’re looking for pointers and suggestions for what to do once you get to Oakland, read on!
The Basics
Bathrooms: Public restrooms are available at Clay and Water Street (in the building near the ferry dock, just behind Rosenblum Cellars), and at various establishments in Jack London Square.
Bike parking: There are standard bike racks scattered throughout Jack London Square; the nearest ones are on the west side of Plank. Unfortunately, there are no bike lockers on the Oakland side near the dock. The nearest ones are at the Amtrak station.
Bikeshare: You don’t need your own bike to get around Oakland – they have bikeshare! And Bay Wheels has a bikeshare dock conveniently located in Jack London Square, at Clay and Embarcadero.
Mapping your route: Figure out the best way to get to your destination before heading out: check out the freshly-minted Oakland Bikeways Map or pick up a hard copy at the Bike East Bay office (466 Water Street, just steps away from the dock), local bike shops, or libraries.
What to do in and Around Jack London Square
A sampling of nearby activities and services you can enjoy during shuttle operation hours:
- Numerous restaurants in and around Jack London Square, Chinatown, and at Swan’s Market in Old Oakland.
- Heinhold’s First and Last Chance Saloon and nearby breweries, wineries, and dispensaries.
- Cafes, notably Bicycle Coffee, where a portion of your purchase supports World Bicycle Relief.
- Farmer’s Markets (Fridays on 10th Street in Old Oakland, Sundays in Jack London Square and West Oakland).
- Plank – bocce, bowling, arcade games.
- Oaktown Jazz Workshops – non-profit organization dedicated to passing on the tradition of jazz music to young people.
- California Canoe and Kayak.
- The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment – video game history.
- Escape Room.
- Oakland Museum.
- African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
- Lake Merritt — Children’s Fairyland, the Bonsai Garden, pedal boats, scenic Lake Chalet dining on the lake or at its 80-foot bar, and more.
- The Crucible – industrial arts and crafts classes.
- Oakland Ballers/Raimondi Park, with free staffed bike/scooter valet parking.
- Multiple BART stations to get you to other fantastic Bay Area destinations.
- Amtrak to get you much further afield, perhaps Sacramento, Truckee, or even Santa Barbara.
- Although we have ferry service and AC Transit in Alameda, an additional ferry terminal in Jack London Square and a gazillion bus lines along Broadway might make your trip faster or more convenient when coupled with the water shuttle.
This article was originally published in the August 2024 issue of the Bike Walk Action Alameda Newsletter and is reproduced with their permission. Bike Walk Alameda advocates to make Alameda a safe and enjoyable place for cyclists and pedestrians. Learn more at https://bikewalkalameda.org.
