Oakland, CA

Oakland is San Francisco’s punk-rock cousin, intent on being DIY while San Francisco goes silicon. All the artists and musicians who can’t afford San Francisco live in Oakland. That makes it an edgier but still relatively laid-back place, where you can find record stores and galleries, and later on go to a concert in a warehouse and meet hip people with a couch to crash on for the night. The Uptown District has plenty of cultural highlights, including Art Murmur, which hosts an evening art walk every first Friday of the month. There are movies at the historic Grand Lake Theatre, live concerts at the famous, newly restored Fox Theater, and while you’re downtown be sure to check out Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café, which is co-owned by Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt.