Toasting the Moon in Oakland, CA

Travel for 2 cost breakdown (at the time of writing this post):

Oakland Marriott City Center: $140 per night
Food/Entertainment/Transportation/Souvenirs: $800
GRAND TOTAL FOR 2 TRAVELERS – 4 days: $1360

***At this time, we are not endorsed by any outside affiliates. That said – when booking our trips, we have had a lot of success with Hotels.com, Skyskanner, and Tripmasters.

Booking

Toast the Moon always recommends using a passport. We also recommend TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry, because who wants to waste their vacation time in an airport line, am I right? Traveling around the United States is not difficult, but changes are in the air. Please be advised that as-of October 1, 2020 – basic drivers’ licenses will no longer be valid for identification in airports. Sign up for a passport or Real ID now to avoid complications later!

Bay Area — Want Less Bougie and Basic? And More Trending and Thrifty? Meet Oakland!

Oakland has a long standing bad reputation in the Bay Area. The media constantly reminds us about crime and violence. Real Estate markets throw around homelessness numbers like scare tactics. Bay Area natives don’t even mention Oakland when they are talking about the Bay. But, I’m here to put a lot of myths to rest. Oakland is quite possibly the best part of the Bay Area in 2020. All I can think about is that song…

Oakland and the East Bay has never really cared what the rest of the Bay (or world) thought. And, Oaklanders are effortlessly cool, artistic, aware, and alternative. And THEY ARE NOT San Francisco. For proof, check out Green Day, Machine Head, En Vogue, Tower of Power, and the franchise formerly known as the “Oakland Raiders”…All effortlessly cool, aware, artistic and NOT San Francisco. They are connected by a bridge and surrounded by the same Bay, but the likeness stops there.

I never had a chance to visit New York’s Lower East Side (L.E.S.) in its heyday, but I can only imagine that modern day Oakland comes close…

You aren’t going to find a better party, concert, sporting event, or night on the train that you’ll find in Oakland.

Noah and I attended one Raiders game while living in the Bay Area. That crowd was amazing!! I think that I was likely the whitest person in attendance and definitely the least cool – BY FAR!

Upon entering the Coliseum for the first time, I stood in the middle of the entry, mouth agape, because the police had a guy shoved up against the wall removing a fire arm from his waistband. Later, the group one row ahead of us lit up the biggest spliff I’d ever seen in my life. I should’ve been very uncomfortable by my surroundings, but the camaraderie of the people (along with what was most certainly second-hand high) had my normal anxiety-ridden self so chill that I was actually napping during the football game. Needless to say, I’ve never lived that one down…

We thoroughly enjoy going to the Fox Theater for up-and-coming bands. It’s probably a lot like your Fox Theater, except that the seating has been replaced with a mosh-pit and the velvet has been replaced with multiple bars and bartenders lining all of the walls. Again, what I can say – effortlessly cool, aware, and artistic.

The Coliseum is on its way out, but honestly, there was nothing like seeing Green Day in the East Bay at that old, terrible Coliseum. It was slightly different than our Raiders experience *ahem*, but still held that vibe of community friendship, closeness, and artistic flair.

We also LOVE hitting up the island of Alameda. Spirits Alley is still a locals-only secret in the Bay Area. Old military hangers now host more than a mile of bars, restaurants, distilleries, breweries, and wineries. It makes for a fun day, especially during fleet week when you can escape the crowds in San Francisco and enjoy a pint while watching the Blue Angels. Nothing is better than spending a day looking at “The City” from a cooler, more vibrant, and more chill city in its own right.