Assumption Parish - San Leandro, CA

In 1772, a Spanish soldier and explorer named Pedro Fages arrived in what is now San Leandro. He and his party climbed Mount Diablo and were the first Europeans to view the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Central Valley. Today's San Leandro was once a 6,830-acre land grant called Rancho San Leandro. It was given to Jose Joaquin Estudillo by Governor Juan Alvarado in 1842. Estudillo built a 14-bedroom mansion in 1850, but it was torn down in 1948. The St. Leander's Church rectory is now located on the site, which is part of the city's San Leandro History Walk.

Assumption Parish hosts Casa Peralta, a small Spanish settlement turned into a museum, where you can learn about the area's history while taking a tour of the restored building. The free San Leandro Historical Railway Society features a carefully-detailed model rail system bound to be a hit with kids.

Nearby Castro Valley hosts the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade in May, including a chili cook-off, pancake breakfast, and rodeo fun.

Assumption Parish is a quiet, residential area -- but it is close enough to Old San Leandro to provide nearby coffeehouses, cafes, and restaurants.

Taqueria Los Pericos provides personal service and serves a wide selection of Mexican classics. From burritos, tacos, and nachos to creative specials such as camarones a la diabla, this taco shop has captured locals' hearts with its kicked-back atmosphere.

Estudillo Produce & Deli may sound like a place to grab picnic supplies before an impromptu gathering with friends, but this shop's sandwiches have locals talking. Cajun turkey kicks it up a notch. Try one of the seven types of salami the shop carries. Mix and match to your heart's content, and with a frequent buyer card, you get a discount every time you eat.

If you're in the mood for some American food, Hoagy Steak brings a taste of Philly to the Bay Area with cheesesteaks, grilled chicken hoagies, and chicken, fish, turkey, or traditional hamburgers. Locals love the Mexicana cheesesteak with curly fries and the chicken pizza hoagie in this warm, friendly place for true comfort eating.

Since Assumption Parish lies close to Interstate 580, most residents prefer to drive in this area. You can find parking generally easy to locate and inexpensive here.

Public transportation options include BART trains stopping at San Leandro and Bayfair, as well as San Leandro LINKS shuttles and AC Transit buses. Senior citizens can choose Flex Shuttles that take them around to various stops.

You are likely to find it tough to hail a cab on the street here, unless you're near one of the BART stations. One call to a local cab company fixes that, or arrange for an Uber pickup online.

Some areas of Assumption Parish are considered walkable, though most still prefer to do their errands by car. With some bike lanes here, cyclists can feel safe on the streets.

Assumption Parish's closest park, Halcyon Park, consists of a tree-lined space spread over five acres of land. Picnic tables and a volleyball court welcome kids, dogs, families, and fitness buffs alike. It's one of those quiet places you can go to spend your lunch break, read a book, or just zone out in the sunshine.

The San Leandro Marina has gorgeous views of the bay and walking/jogging paths, as well as a free indoor gym with workout equipment.

Lake Chabot Regional Park features hiking trails, some of them steep and challenging, around a scenic lake. Here, locals bike, picnic, fish, or rent paddle boats and canoes to enjoy the water on a sunny day. Bring your dogs, too, though you have to pay a small fee in addition to the parking charges.

Neighboring Union City hosts the Annual Adobo Festival in August, celebrating Filipino heritage with an adobo cook-off, music, arts, and games.

Assumption Parish's cost of living sits higher than the average cost of living in Oakland, with a typical one-bedroom apartment in Assumption Parish renting for around $1,451 per month. It costs $2.40 to get from the San Leandro BART station to Oakland's city center on the subway. Gas prices hover around 17 percent higher here than the national average.

Assumption Parish offers a variety of nearby shopping, including box stores like Target and Costco and the outlet stores at Marina Square Center. Nearby Nordstrom Rack outlet provides high-end name brands at a discount.

Neighboring Hayward and Union City provide a variety of charming consignment and vintage places, including Vintage Alley, selling men's and women's clothing from the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, and Chloe Urban Chic Boutique, which features local artwork and gifts.

Assumption Parish residents have a few choices when it comes to grocery shopping. Head to chain stores in neighboring Hayward or Castro Valley. Locals also love smaller places such as Grocery Outlet, a small local chain with incredibly low prices. If you're seeking sandwiches, meats, and other grocery items, try Terrace Market on Foothill Boulevard.

The San Leandro Farmers Market on 14th Street opens on Saturdays, selling cravable focaccia bread and pies in addition to the regular fresh produce. San Leandro's other farmers market takes place on Wednesday afternoon on Parrott Street. Here, locals focus on the BBQ stand and other amazing goodies in addition to the fresh flowers, local honey, and organic fruits and vegetables.