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Oakland

Day 1 / Friday

Check out of work and check in to the lush Claremont Hotel & Spa - a Fairmont Hotel – a beautiful property in the hills of Oakland overlooking the city and even with a view of San Francisco in the horizon. 

Once settled into your Deluxe Bay View Room, drive down to the trendy Temescal neighborhood for dinner, driving past The White Horse Inn, America’s oldest gay bar. 

Swing by Bird and Buffalo for some “Thai Soul Food” and take it to Temescal Brewing's beer garden, a local brewery that also hosts Queer First Fridays the first Friday of every month. Be sure to reserve a spot in advance (all rules including time limit apply).

For dessert, take a short trip over to Fenton’s Creamery on Piedmont Ave for a large scoop of old-fashioned homemade Rocky Road ice cream. Did you know Rocky Road was invented in Oakland?!  

Day 2 / Saturday

After enjoying complimentary breakfast at the Claremont, walk (or run) around the beautiful Lake Merritt – America's oldest wildlife preserve. 

The Lake Merritt neighborhood, teeming with unique specialty shops, restaurants and bars is also home to the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. After a walk around the tree-lined Lakeshore Ave., stop by for lunch at celebrity chef Jen Biesty’s Shakewell restaurant. The lesbian chef runs a popular Spanish/Mediterranean restaurant with a scenic outdoor parklet, and also has a digital LGBTQ guide to Oakland

After lunch, leave nature in the heart of the city behind for some urban exploration in the Uptown and Downtown Districts. Flanked by a mix of art-deco buildings and new builds, the city center is also home to the famed Tribune Tower – once the tallest building in Oakland. 

Swing by Oakland’s queer/POC-owned adult store Feelmore for a peek or to stock up on any supplies. Stop by Oakland’s downtown gay bar Port Bar which does outdoor drag brunch on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons. In the mood for street tacos? Stop by Que Rico for some Latin flavor. Or swing by the outdoor patio of black and queer-owned Miss Ollie’s for some Caribbean food that draws locals and politicians alike. 

Day 3 / Sunday

Finish off the weekend with a visit to Oakland’s waterfront at Jack London Square. Visit the iconic Home of Chicken and Waffles - owned by gay community leader Derreck Johnson – for some famed Oakland Soul Food.    Wash it all down with a virtual class from Queer Gym, which you can join from anywhere.  


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