Enjoy a flat, family-friendly ride along Oakland’s Martin Luther King Shoreline. Explore the Bay Trail and learn about the birds that live in this coastal habitat. Continue to Drake’s in San Leandro for post-ride snacks and brews outside.
This ride and the points of interest below are available here as a PDF.
Points of Interest
Fruitvale
Whether you prefer beignets or burritos, grab a delicious treat in Fruitvale to fuel your ride. For a cool treat, we recommend mangonadas at Nieves Cinco de Mayo.
Welcome to the MLK Shoreline!
The Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline is the site of major wetland restoration. Thanks to these efforts, it is home to a wide area of bird species, including great egrets and herons, snowy plovers, the American avocet, and the California clapper rail. Check out the East Bay Regional Park District website for all the wildlife information, and make sure to stop to read interpretive signage to guide your ride.
Save the Bay Native Plant Nursery
Operated by Save the Bay, the MLK Shoreline Native Plant Nursery serves as a propagation station for wetland restoration projects throughout the East Bay. Peek through the fence to see all the baby native plants getting ready for their habitats.
Arrowhead and New Marsh Observation Tower
From the East Bay Regional Park District: San Francisco Bay has lost much of its natural wetlands. These historic wetlands were home to millions of water birds and were an integral part of the ecology of this region. Pieces of the original landscape are being restored through projects such as this one at Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline. By removing fill, breaching artificial levees, and reconstructing tidal channels, this landscape will have the opportunity to function as it once did. This wetlands restoration project was completed in 1998. Over time, colonization by plants and animals will continue the process of restoring this site to a healthy ecosystem.
Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
Still under construction and restoration, Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline is a great place to spot birds of prey like red-tailed hawks and osprey. The site also has a layered history of environmental impact and advocacy. You can also see beautiful new public art pieces and a view of the San Leandro Marina.
Drake’s Barrel House
With outdoor seating and tasty bites, Drake’s is the perfect place to relax at a distance after a beautiful ride. Be sure to try the tater tots! When you’re done, you can continue up Williams St. to San Leandro BART, or ride back the way you came.
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