With a population of more than 213,000, Fremont, California is the San Francisco Bay Area's fourth most populous city. While Fremont is mostly known as a sleepy suburb full of chain restaurants and strip malls, it does have several attractions where you can appreciate the natural surroundings and take a step back in time.
Central Park offers many recreational activities for visitors. Within the 450-acre park are soccer fields, softball fields, tennis courts, a golf course, a skate park and a dog park. The main attraction is the 83-acre Lake Elizabeth, popular with joggers and families out for a pleasant stroll. On a warm day, the lake is filled with kayaks and paddle boats, which are available for the public to rent. Even if you do not feel like taking part in an active sport, you can simply enjoy a snack or lunch on one of the many picnic tables spread throughout the park.
Train enthusiasts will want to take a ride on the historic Niles Canyon Railway. Built in 1866 as part of the Transcontinental Gateway to the San Francisco Bay, it helped connect the Bay Area to the rest of the country. No longer in commercial use, the railway is now maintained by the Pacific Locomotive Association as a tourist attraction. Every Sunday, visitors can ride in a historic steam or diesel engine locomotive departing from Fremont's Niles Station. A round-trip ride, going from Niles Station through the canyon to Sunol and back, takes about an hour-and-a-half. There are no tickets sold for the Sunday trains, although donations are requested.
The Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum provides a taste of 1800s California ranch life. From 1860 to 1968, three generations of the pioneer Shinn family lived on the estate. Past a small cottage that sits at the park's entrance is the main house, a rare Victorian farmhouse with Bavarian influences. On the grounds remain some of the rare plants and trees that the family imported from all over the world. You can visit the park every day from sunrise to sunset. For a look inside the house, the Mission Peak Historical Foundation provides tours on the first Wednesday and third Sunday of every month.
You can spend a whole day exploring all that the Ardenwood Historic Farm has to offer. Spread across 205 acres, Ardenwood is a working farm where you can try your hand at some old-fashioned farm chores, crop planting and crafts. Children love taking the horse-drawn train ride and seeing animals such as sheep, rabbits, pigs and goats. Adults appreciate touring the Victorian garden and the Patterson House, which looks just as good as it did in the late 1800s.
