Oakland, California

Oakland is a major West Coast port, and is situated on the mainland side of San Francisco Bay, across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. Oakland's position between the bay and coastal hills means that it enjoys a sunny, mild climate and rare fog. A good place to sit and enjoy the weather – and maybe take a stroll, do some shopping, and have some dinner – is at the waterfront's Jack London Square.

This city of 399,484, is ethnically diverse, artsy, and filled with history. You can hear over 100 languages and dialects in Oakland. And according to the Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau, the city is ranked second only to Manhattan for the number of artists per capita, and it is the home of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Oakland Youth Orchestra, galleries, festivals, and more! And for history, start at the downtown area's Preservation Park, which contains 16 restored Victorian homes that are now used as commercial buildings.

Sports fans can enjoy home games of the many teams in the Bay Area, including: the NBA's Golden State Warriors; the NHL's San Jose Sharks; MLB's Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants; and the NFL's Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.

If you have kids, spend days off with them at the Oakland Zoo. If you like the outdoors, head out to the coast. Or if you want to spend a lazy – or romantic – day, rent a gondola and cruise Lake Merritt. This saltwater lake, which is popular for boating, has adjoining parkland that includes gardens and a children's amusement park. For something more energetic, head out to the hills to hike amongst the redwoods. And if you like golf, there are excellent courses in the area.

These are just some of the things that you can enjoy by moving to Oakland. Come and see for yourself what else the area has to offer you.

See our 16 Jobs in Oakland, California