Cheap train tickets from Detroit to Oakland

Often stigmatized as a dead city, Detroit is making a huge comeback, and it is fast becoming a hidden gem among travellers. Your first stop should be at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the city’s foremost cultural destination. Featuring more than 100 galleries with artworks from masters such as Van Gogh or Diego Rivera, the museum offers tourists hours of artistic immersion and enjoyment. For those wishing to learn more about the history of Motown or Black American communities, the city’s Motown Museum and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will be top-tier destinations. Finally, don’t miss out on the chance to catch a performance at the lavish Fox Theater, a national landmark.

As Detroit is the birthplace of Coney dog, it would be a huge miss if you pass up the chance to try out this masterpiece. One of the locals’ favourite Coney dog establishments is Lafayette Coney Island. Detroit’s craft beer scene is also quite lively, and some famous local brands include Batch Brewing Company and Detroit Beer Co.

The principal bus terminal in the city is on Howard St, where travellers can catch buses run by Greyhound, Indian Trails or Barons Bus. You can also catch Amtrak trains at the train station in New Center, north of downtown Detroit. Detroit is served by Amtrak’s Wolverine line. The city’s main airport is the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which is located in nearby Romulus.

Oakland, CA is a port city that is beginning to step out of the shadow of San Francisco, its neighbour to the west. Every visitor should start their Oakland trip in the downtown area and Old Oakland, the city's historic quarter full of quaint old buildings. While here, don't forget to take a short detour to Oakland's famous Chinatown as well. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland tells the history of Black communities in the area and is definitely worth a stop. For those who would prefer to stay close to nature, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park's abundance of redwood groves will offer amazing views.

Oakland's food scene is vibrant and diverse, with a wide range of offerings for all budgets. Enssaro is a popular local name with mid-range dishes that will whet your appetite. For an excellent haute-cuisine dinner, head towards The Wolf.

It's easy to get around the Bay Area on local public transit (called the BART, for Bay Area Rapid Transit). Getting to Oakland from further afield is also a breeze thanks to many intercity bus routes in the area and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train, which stops in Oakland. Flights arrive at the Oakland International Airport, but several additional airport options in the larger Bay Area are also available.