Things to Do Near Jack London Square, Oakland

The USS Potomac: FDR's Former Presidential Yacht

Docked adjacent to the ferry terminal, the USS Potomac -- Franklin D. Roosevelt's former presidential yacht, sometimes called the 'Floating White House' -- offers narrated tours and cruises around the bay, a genuine, documented historic attraction unique to this waterfront.

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon and Jack London History

Open since 1883 and built from salvaged whaling-ship timbers, Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon is Oakland's oldest continuously operating bar and a real, physical piece of Jack London's own history -- the author referenced it by name seventeen times in his memoir "John Barleycorn," and by several accounts its owner, Johnny Heinold, personally helped fund London's education. Visiting the bar itself is a genuine, low-cost way to experience this district's literary history firsthand, covered in more detail on the hub page and Neighborhoods page.

The Sunday Farmers Market

A year-round Sunday waterfront farmers market runs from 10am to 3pm, with a Kids' Corner, stroller-friendly paths, and water-shuttle access -- a real, recurring weekly activity distinct from a one-time tourist attraction, and a genuine community gathering point for residents.

The SF Bay Ferry to San Francisco

Beyond its practical commute function (covered on the Practical Living page), the SF Bay Ferry's roughly 15-25 minute crossing to San Francisco's Ferry Building is itself a genuine, scenic way to spend part of a day -- a real bay-crossing experience that doubles as transportation to San Francisco's own much larger array of attractions, museums, and dining.

Kayaking, Paddleboarding, and the Bay Trail

California Canoe & Kayak rents kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes at the marina for exploring the Estuary and the waterfront Bay Trail on foot or by bike -- a real, accessible recreational option covered in more detail on the Boating & Water Access and Seasonal Recreation pages.

Howard Terminal: A Redevelopment Story Worth Watching

Just west of the main square sits Howard Terminal, a 55-acre Port of Oakland-owned parcel whose proposed Oakland Athletics ballpark collapsed as a deal in 2023 when the team moved toward Las Vegas via Sacramento instead. As of early 2026, the Port has reportedly selected the Oakland Roots soccer club as a redevelopment finalist, with a phased stadium plan reportedly starting around 15,000 seats and potentially expanding to 25,000. This is a genuinely unresolved, live story -- not a settled new attraction -- and this page tracks it as exactly that rather than promising a stadium that hasn't been built.

Downtown Oakland and Beyond

A short walk or transit ride north opens up downtown Oakland's own attractions -- Old Oakland's historic district and Oakland's Chinatown among them -- genuinely beyond the scope of this waterfront-focused page but worth knowing sit close by for a resident or visitor wanting more variety than Jack London Square's own footprint offers.

Walking and Cycling the Waterfront Boardwalk

The waterfront boardwalk connecting the historic square, the marina, and the broader Bay Trail is itself a genuine, no-cost activity -- a walkable, bikeable stretch along the Estuary that offers views of working marina slips, passing boats, and (further along) active Port of Oakland infrastructure. For a visitor or resident who simply wants to experience this district's working-waterfront character without paying for a specific attraction, walking or cycling this boardwalk is a real, accessible way to do it.

Rowing and Watching Estuary Boat Traffic

Beyond active participation, watching the Estuary's rowing clubs practice, boats maneuver in and out of the marina, and (further out) commercial vessels move through Port of Oakland channels is itself a genuine, low-key waterfront pastime that many residents and visitors engage in without necessarily boating themselves -- part of what makes this specific waterfront feel like a real working place rather than a purely decorative one, covered in more detail on the Waterway Living page.

Day Trips Beyond the Immediate District

Because Jack London Square sits at a genuine transit hub -- the SF Bay Ferry, Amtrak, and proximity to BART via downtown Oakland -- it functions as a real, practical base for day trips well beyond its own footprint: San Francisco's full range of attractions via the ferry, wine country and other Northern California destinations via Amtrak's Capitol Corridor connections, and the wider East Bay via BART. This regional-hub character is itself a genuine 'thing to do' advantage of basing time here rather than a more isolated coastal market elsewhere on this site.

What This Page Does Not Know

This page does not have a resolved outcome for Howard Terminal's redevelopment, confirmed current hours or ticket pricing for USS Potomac tours, or a comprehensive current list of every seasonal event this district hosts.

Check the USS Potomac's own site and the Jack London Improvement District's event calendar for current hours, pricing, and events, and follow official Port of Oakland channels for Howard Terminal updates. Nothing on this page is a comprehensive or current events guide.