4 Best Sights in The Bay Area, California

Your senses will immediately perk up as you enter this upscale market that has everything to go, from impeccable sushi to decadent gelato. Outside, you can find a terraced garden—the only place to sit—that winds up four levels and ends at the Imperial Tea Court.

Stop for a spell at Harley Farms, a restored 1910 farm and fully operational dairy that stretches over 28 acres and houses 165 goats on 9 acres of pasture. Two-hour weekend tours follow the milk trail as it moves from goat to dairy, then from curd to cheese (Harley's is renowned for its chèvre, fromage blanc, ricotta, and feta). You can walk around the yard, spy on goats and llamas, and read detailed signage describing the buildings and operations. The Harley Farms Shop sells cheese, lotions, soaps, and gift items. Monthly dinners, conducted in the old hayloft showcase local, in-season produce and book up fast.

Shops, minor historic sites, restaurants, recreation, and the venerable Yoshi's (510 Embarcadero W) jazz club line Jack London Square, named for the author of The Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf, and other works. London, who was born in San Francisco, also lived in Oakland, where he spent many a day boozing and brawling in the waterfront area, most notably at Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (48 Webster St., at Embarcadero W). The wonderful little saloon has been serving since 1883. Next door is the Klondike cabin in which London spent a summer in the late 1890s. The cabin was moved from Alaska and reassembled here in 1970.

Weekends at the square are lively, with diners and drinkers filling the many outdoor patios and bars, and shoppers perusing Sunday's farmers' market, from 9 am to 2 pm. Catch a movie at Regal Jack London (100 Washington St.), sample local wines at Rosenblum Cellars (10 Clay St.), play some bocce in Plank's beer garden (98 Broadway), or plan an adventure with California Canoe & Kayak (409 Water St.).

The restored Victorian storefronts that line the four historic blocks of Oakland's original downtown now contain restaurants, cafés, offices, shops, galleries, and a Friday morning farmer's market. Architectural consistency distinguishes the area from surrounding streets, giving it a distinct neighborhood feel. Old World–inspired Caffè 817 (817 Washington St.) serves poached eggs and polenta, fresh-pressed panini, and bowls of café latte in an artsy atmosphere. Stop in for a deli sandwich at Ratto's International Market (827 Washington St.), an Italian grocery that's been in business for more than a century, or head over to the renovated Swan's Market (538 9th St.), where you can choose from an array of high-caliber multicultural eateries that offer takeout. Pacific Coast Brewing Company (902 Washington St.) pours a mean microbrew, while The Trappist (460 8th St.) wins loyalty for its exhaustive selection of Belgian ales. Various pop-up boutiques and permanent shops throughout the neighborhood are reinvigorating the storefront scene.