1. Every type of commuting option possible, even the ferry. Public transportation includes the AC Transit buses (which include express buses to San Francisco) and two ferry services — the Alameda-Oakland Ferry and the Harbor Bay Ferry. Alameda is also close to the BART (closest station is Lake Merritt).

2. Alameda is a bike and pedestrian-friendly island community. Even though the island is just minutes off Interstate 880, the speed limit for the city is 25 mph on almost every road.

3. It is by the beach. Enjoy Alameda’s proximity to the Bay - windsurf or even kite surf along Crown Memorial State Beach and Shoreline Drive.

4. There are great views in Alameda. Enjoy the look to the San Francisco skyline and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge.

5. Check out the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a museum ship now moored at the former Naval Air Station as the USS Hornet Museum.

6. There is incredibly cool Victorian architecture and tree lined neighborhoods. Nine percent of all single-family houses (1500) in Alameda are Victorians. It is said that Alameda has more pre-1906 earthquake era homes than any other city in the Bay Area.

7. Home to the official offices and training facility of the Oakland Raiders American football team. The Bay Farm Island training facility also contains The Raider Image, the merchandise arm of the franchise, which all the public can visit.

8. Alameda is still a small quaint town. It is famous for its Fourth of July parade which is three miles long. The parade features homemade floats, classic cars, motorized living room furniture, fire breathing dragons, and marching bands.

9. Alameda has been home to many movie sets including Bicentennial Man, The Net, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix: Revolutions, Bee Season, Flubber, What Dreams May Come, Mission: Impossible II, Matrix.

10. Enjoy the really neat historic Art Deco city landmark Alameda Theatre, which was restored in 2008.