Alameda is a beautiful island situated in the San Francisco Bay next to Oakland. It is home to many popular sights and attractions, as well as some great shops and restaurants. As the largest island in the Bay, it’s a great place to visit for its picturesque viewpoints, Victorian architecture and many attractions.
Some of the island’s top attractions include the Alameda Museum, the USS Hornet Museum, and the Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach.
The small island is also home to many great shops and restaurants, so if you’re looking to spend a leisurely day sightseeing on one of the Bay’s best kept secrets, make your way to Alameda.
Once you’re in town, visit Embarc Dispensary on the West End and we’ll help you find the perfect cannabis products to pair with your day adventuring on Alameda.
For some background on our Alameda island community, Alameda is the largest island in the San Francisco Bay, it’s 3 miles long and 2 miles wide.
There are about 75,000 full-time residents on Alameda and they’re blessed with scenic views and mild year-round weather, with an average temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The island is divided into a few general areas, including the East End, the West End, and the South Shore. Each section of the island is home to its own unique flair and due to the island’s relatively small size, visitors can explore the entire city in a day.
Bring a bicycle and an infused preroll along with you for a breezy and enjoyable day on the Bay. Let’s dive into visitors’ guide to Alameda.
Though Alameda is a small island community, there’s a bunch of things to do and see here.
The first thing in the visitors’ guide to Alameda is Alameda Museum. You can visit the Alameda Museum, which is dedicated to the history of the city of Alameda and the surrounding area. The museum has a small collection of artifacts from the city’s history which spans from the early days of the city’s founding in 1853 to the present day. The museum is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday and is free of charge.
If you’re still looking for more history, check out the USS Hornet Museum. The museum ship is the former aircraft carrier USS Hornet, which served in World War II and the Vietnam War. The museum ship is open to the public for tours and features exhibits on the history of the ship and its crew.
Visitors to the museum can also see the ship’s flight deck, hangar deck, and engine room. The USS Hornet Museum is a great place to learn about the history of the US Navy and see a piece of American history up close.
The Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach is a 3.5-mile long stretch of state beach that’s known for its stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The beach is a great place for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, fishing, and windsurfing.
There are also several hiking and biking trails that offer beautiful views of the bay, so if you’re into biking, it’s definitely worth bringing your bike out to Alameda. Pop a gummy and catch some rays before jumping on a bike to explore the area.
The Crab Cove Visitor Center is housed at the state beach, which is a great place to learn about the local marine life and the history of the area. The visitor center offers interpretive programs, exhibits, and a gift shop.
The heart of the visitor’s guide to Alameda is Pacific Pinball Museum. For some kitsch and nostalgia, head to the Pacific Pinball Museum. The Pacific Pinball Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of pinball machines.
The museum features over 100 pinball machines from the 1950s to the present day including some famous games like The Addams Family, Attack From Mars, and The Twilight Zone.
The museum also offers classes on pinball machine repair and hosts tournaments and events like the annual Pacific Pinball Expo.
There are several ways to get to Alameda. You can take public transportation – a ferry from San Francisco or Oakland, or hop on a bus across the Bay Bridge. Or you can opt for the Posey or Webster Tubes from Oakland, or drive across the Park Street or Fruitvale Bridges.
One of the best ways to experience all that Alameda has to offer is by taking a leisurely stroll down its streets.
There are many historic buildings and homes to admire, as well as plenty of green space to enjoy. While the island is small enough to explore in a day, it’s also perfect for a weekend getaway.
There are many hotels or inns in Alameda that offer wonderful views of the Bay Area. Many hotels are located right on the water, where guests can enjoy stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.
Try a popular hotels like the Alameda Marina Hotel that offers beautiful views of the bay, or if you prefer a more intimate setting, there are a number of bed and breakfasts on the island.
Our dispensary in Alameda is located at 1616 Webster Street, shop with us for a large selection of high quality cannabis products from trusted brands across California.
We’ve committed to reserving half of our shelfspace to diversity and inclusion, so if you’re looking for a dispensary that prioritizes an equitable cannabis industry, look no further than Embarc. We’re community-focused, mission-driven, and ready to serve Alameda.
