YOU’d be forgiven for travelling to California and not setting foot outside Los Angeles or San Francisco.

But it’s a state bursting with undiscovered gems.

With Norwegian offering one way tickets from Gatwick to Oakland from as little as £159, trans-Atlantic travel to the West Coast is no longer reserved for the elite.

Oakland itself is a gritty paradise.

As a port city, it has transformed into one of the most ethnically diverse in the US, which is mirrored in its cosmopolitan culture.

The food is a fusion of American, Mexican and Asian cuisines and there is no one music scene, with jazz, blues, pop and rock all prevalent.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city is Jack London Square – an area of transformed waterfront boasting sports bars and restaurant.

Although a little sanitized, it offers three things California does best – wine, food and sport.

But the real beauty of this place is the fact it’s not manicured in anyway, unlike some of it’s Californian counterparts.

Temescal Alley is Oakland’s answer to The Lanes in Brighton and the up-and-coming, alternative vibe is no better portrayed than Drake’s Dealership – the former parts and services department of a Dodge dealership which has been converted into a bar.

With the brickwork and beams still intact, the nightspot is lit by the setting sun and open fires as revellers tuck into pizzas and home-brewed beers.

The city is summed up by Off The Grid Friday nights at Oakland Museum of California, where dozens of food trucks park up outside and hundreds of families line the street to gorge on the countless cuisines.

In the basin outside the museum, a salsa band is the soundtrack to a sea of bodies of all shapes, sizes and colours dancing the night away.

Owing to the city’s equivalent to the London Underground – the BART – San Francisco is 12 minutes away.

World-famous attractions such as Lombard Street, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf are all walkable from the train’s most popular station Union Square.

The pictures on posters and the footage on TV of vintage trams crammed with passengers climbing near-vertical hills is seen in full HD in the flesh.

Such is the quaintness of the city, it’s easy to forget the people on the trams are commuters.

And the people who go about their work in San Francisco do so with more gusto and pride than most places in the world.

If they’re selling you jeans – they’ll be an expert in the field and they’ll do it with a smile on their face.

If they’re cleaning the streets – the expertise and the smile remains – and it’s infectious.

This coastal stretch of California is also a hotbed for sports.

The hottest name in the basketball and two-time MVP Stephen Curry plies his trade for the Golden State Warriors, who are chasing their second consecutive NBA Championship.

Their training base can be found above the Oakland City Center Marriott, and the area is home to a number of other leading sports teams.

American football fans can find both the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers nearby while San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics cater for baseball fans.

The Athletics’ history is a fascinating one, depicted by Brad Pitt in Hollywood hit Moneyball, telling the rags-to-riches story of general manager Billy Beane’s reliance on statistical analysis to recruit players.

The newest stadium in the US major leagues will be ready in October too in nearby Sacramento, home of the NBA’s Kings.

It is also the home to Old Sacramento – the city’s historic district which is, minus the bloodshed, as the cowboys left it.

As you walk the charming streets, where you can grab a sarsaparilla for 25 cents in one saloon bar, it’s as if you’ve walked on to a Western film set.

Minutes away in Downtown Sacramento, the nightlife roars into action with the streets laced with indie bars, sports hang-outs and beer gardens that clog your senses with constant smells of brisket barbeques and music.

But it’s not all beer, wine, parties, food and cowboys.

The California State Capitol is in the heart of Sacramento and walking tours are available of the corridors once graced by two-term serving Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.

His legacy lives on inside the building, with his $20,000 bronze bear still plonked outside his old office weighing in at 57 stone.

There’s more to California than San Francisco and Los Angeles – you just need the take yourself off the trodden tracks to find it.

FACTBOX

London Gatwick – Oakland-San Francisco

• Norwegian fly a direct year-round three times weekly service between London Gatwick and Oakland International Airport - 35 minutes from downtown San Francisco

• The flights are operated by a fleet of brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with two cabins - Premium and economy

• Fares start from £179 one way in economy and from £499 in Premium at www.norwegian.com/uk or dial 0330 828 0854 (option 1)

The onboard experience

• Norwegian’s flights to the U.S. are serviced by brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliners offering a Premium and economy cabin. These technologically advanced aircraft are faster, greener and help reduce the effects of jet lag.

• All passengers can benefit from an inflight entertainment system

• Passengers travelling in the Premium cabin can enjoy spacious seating with extra legroom, complimentary drinks, dinner, inclusive luggage, fast track security and access to select airport lounges.

For more details about visiting Oakland go to www.visitoakland.org 

For more details about visiting Sacramento go to www.visitsacramento.com

Gareth stayed at The Marriott in Oakland and The Marriot in Sacramento