Like many US cities, Oakland has broad, well-maintained roads and plentiful connections to nearby towns and points of interest. The airport itself is a nine-mile drive from the centre of Oakland – simply join the I-880 and head north. Depending on traffic, you’ll be in the city in around 15 minutes.

As you’re in the US, you’ll be in a left-hand drive car, driving on the right-hand side of the road. All overtaking is on the left. Other driving rules will be familiar: seatbelts are compulsory for all, you can’t use a mobile phone while driving and speed limits are strictly enforced.

American motorways are called freeways. On rural stretches in California, they have a top speed of 70mph, dropping to 65mph where they pass through urban areas. In towns, cities and residential areas, speed limits are generally 30mph, occasionally lower in school zones.

The centre of Oakland has a grid system, with numbered streets, making it easy to keep tabs on where you are. There are plenty of large car parks, as well as meters for street parking. Some offer free parking on Sundays. However, the city operates a coloured curb system – steer well clear of parking on red curbs.

Oakland is served by several interstates, such as the I-80 that will take you west over the bay to San Francisco, but also runs north from the city to take you past Berkeley and on to Vallejo and Sacramento.

The I-580 also crosses the bay to the north-west, transporting you to San Rafael, while the fantastic city of San Jose is south on the I-880.

Oakland has been built with care. Wise town planning has prevented sprawl or urban blight, it’s a bright and approachable place with pretty parks and waterfront areas. This East Bay gem is compact compared to its noisy neighbour, but packs plenty in.

Merritt-ocracy

Oakland may share a bay with San Francisco, but Lake Merritt is all its own. Close to the centre of the city, it’s an oasis of calm lined with excellent things to do.

For the little ones, there’s Children’s Fairyland with gentle rides based on classic children’s books, puppet shows and domestic animals such as miniature ponies. There are botanical gardens to wander through, gondola rides on the water, plus numerous perfect picnicking spots. Add in a bird sanctuary and proximity to the superlative Oakland Museum of California, and it’s a day-trip winner.

Next to the bay, another noted waterside spot is Jack London Square, named for the author who once frequented the area. There’s a marina, plus shops, restaurants and a farmer’s market on Sundays. The presidential yacht moored here, the USS Potomac, was Franklin Roosevelt’s - and is available for cruises.

A sense of space

Up in the Oakland Hills, the Chabot Space and Science Center is one of the city’s best family-friendly attractions. They do a superb job of explaining space to children, and the laser shows and planetarium are hugely popular. On clear summer nights, they run ‘Slumber with the stars’ events where you can sleep under the firmament and gaze up at the galaxy.

Learn about the state and get a dose of art at the inventive Oakland Museum of California. There’s local history and ecology, plus some creatively programmed exhibitions which might take in palaeontology, Black Power movements and locavore food.

Take on Temescal

The hippest neighbourhood here is Temescal, found in North Oakland. North of 40^th, park up on Telegraph Avenue and explore from there – you’ll discover handsome streets full of independent stores, boutiques, bookshops and eateries. Creative cafes sit next to artisan doughnut spots and record shops where you can hunt for vintage vinyl.

It’s a multicultural place, reflected in its broad range of restaurants. Head to Abesha on Shattuck Avenue for a taste of what the large local Ethiopian and Eritrean community eat – aromatic lentil dishes and plenty of vegetarian options.

On a hot day, an ice cream sandwich from Curbside Creamery is heavenly (they also have vegan options) and can be enjoyed while window shopping outside apothecaries and bookshops.

For dinner here, consider the Filipino flavours of FOB Kitchen, inventive Latin cuisine at Cholita Linds or the legendary tonkotsu at Marufuku Ramen on Telegraph Avenue.

Such is the area’s diversity, you’ll be able to find something for everyone – true of Oakland itself. And with Oakland Airport car hire, you’ll be able to see all of this exciting city with ease.