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Oakland's Waterfront Plaza, The Jack London Experience

Where: Jack London Square [map], Oakland, CA, United States, 94601

Now that Jet Blue flies into Oakland, you may want to look into staying on the east side of the bay when making hotel plans. If you do, check out Jack London Square in Oakland Harbor, which is a flutter with activity both night and day...in a good way. The Waterfront Plaza Hotel puts you in the midst of it all, ferries to SF, BART, the Bay, are all at your mercy. The hotels design theme is nautical, highlighted by colorful, airy rooms reminiscent of a beach resort. Most have balconies with views of the San Francisco Bay, or Oakland, depending on which side of the hotel your room is on.

The amenities include free wireless Internet, a fitness center with pool and sauna, though walking Jack's Square will keep you suitably toned. You'll need it too, breakfast in the hotel's Jack's Bistro, where tasty pancakes and eggs are served in full view of the harbor...mmm pancakes.

What's to do? Catch a flick at the multiplex Jack London Cinema, stroll a short distance to Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, where London himself once held court. As a youngster, he'd pass hours here, soaking up the dubious tales of sailors and longshore roughs. The yarns served as material for his literature.

Book a date to see a jazz great at nearby Yoshi's nightclub- Oakland Mayor (and former California Governor)Jerry Brown was dining there when I visited. For families, the Square itself has shops, bookstores, and in the harbor you may tour Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential yacht, The Potomac.

Come on back for dinner at Jack's Bistro, wood-fired rotisserie style, or dig in to wood-fired pizza with the kids. See, and you thought Oakland was nothing more than San Francisco's ugly, drugged out, once convicted, twice condemned step sister.