montague blundon Oakland Gertrude Stein s famous dictum about her home town, that there is no there there, is being c

Oakland Gertrude Stein s famous dictum about her home town, that there is no there there, is being challenged montague blundon these days by a very proactive new mayor, Jerry Brown (see p39). Oakland montague blundon s image, notorious for racial unrest and crime in the past, is being cleaned up to present a more visitor-friendly face, and there has been an influx of creative types who have moved here to flee the high rents of San Francisco. Oakland s attractions include huge Lake Merritt, which offers a range of recreational possibilities, a beautiful Mormon temple and its Museum of Cali fornia (see p126). d BART 12th St

! Wine Country Taking at least a day to drive up into the Napa-Sonoma hill country should be on everyone s list. Not only is the countryside beautiful, but you can also sample some of the best wines in the world, and dip into the restorative volcanic hot springs that feed the area (see pp32 5).