Rebecca Billings

It's a race to the finish line at the International Dragon Boat Festival. Come watch spectacular boats adorned with colorful dragon heads and tails manned with 20 or more paddlers as they reenact a Chinese tradition to appease the river dragons. Today it's one of the fastest growing watersports in the world.

Life is a fairytale at Children's Fairyland. The 10-acre park rests on the scenic shores of Lake Merritt and is a children's imaginative playground dotted with giant whimsical storybook sets, fun amusement rides and attractions, funny puppet shows, and magical entertainment for hours of fun for the whole family.

Pick up tickets to the Oakland Ballet. From opening night to closing night, you'll be poised to experience classical ballet entertainment, including performances of favorites like The Nutcracker. The stunning shows are made even more dramatic by the accompaniment of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Your trip to the ballet will be made even more memorable because the performances are at the historic Paramount Theater.

Explore man's concept of flight at the Oakland Aviation Museum. Hang around with the Wright Brothers and other high-flying greats to hear about their flights and see their planes. The museum hangers hold a varied and extensive collection of aircrafts, along with models, books, and other related aviation paraphernalia available for the pilot in you.