I live in Oakland. You'll find Oakland to be more walkable than the rest of the bay area (although you'll get robbed by the end of your walk, but that's not the point here). A rather strange concoction of terrible local politics, great food, crime through the roof, homelessness everywhere, distorted views of the rest of the world and even the rest of the bay area, very smart people working on great ideas, very smart people on ideological crusade, deep history of multiculturalism and great beer.

Oh, and potholes. I feel like it is a secret plot by the city to punish car owners.