Cabrillo - Fremont, CA

Fremont came into being after its namesake, settler John C. Fremont, created a trail through the Mission Pass so travelers could get to the southeast Bay Area. Originally consisting of several townships, Fremont merged its five districts in 1956 to form the current city. Cabrillo lies within Centerville, a multicultural district with many ethnic groups living in close proximity.

Fremont history fans like to visit the Museum of Local History off Mission Boulevard, which features changing collections of historical artifacts. The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Niles District shows off its status as the original location for silent movies.

Art buffs have a few options in Fremont — Color Me Mine allows visitors to take art classes and paint cups and other pieces. For more art, stick around for the Fremont Festival of the Arts, the largest annual festival in the city.

Restaurants, bars and music in Fremont mostly lie around Fremont Boulevard in the city’s center. Cabrillo residents find nightly entertainment and food along Thornton Avenue as well, only a few minutes’ drive away from their neighborhood. The majority Asian population in Fremont led to a growth of restaurants with Asian cuisine, so locals have many options to choose from. Some other restaurants feature typical American fare as well.

One of Fremont’s only Italian places, Massimo’s, gives Cabrillo residents an option to indulge in Italian fine dining. Plates from veal scaloppini to prime rib delight those who come in for a hearty meal. Locals praise the nine-ounce filet mignon, as well as the Bananas Foster-flambe for dessert.

The Afghan-American population in Fremont has also contributed to the opening of many halal, falafel and kabob restaurants in the city. De Afghanan, one of the best Afghan restaurants of its kind, satisfies customers with its tender and rich kabobs and combination plates. Patrons can choose between the sit-down restaurant and its adjacent to-go location. Try the leek bolani to indulge in authentic Afghan bread.

Lunch fans rave about Bob’s Hoagy Steaks on Fremont Boulevard, where patrons can get everything from teriyaki hoagies to chicken udon and rice plates. Try out a Philly cheesesteak hoagie with hot sauce, or go for a fresh plate of fish and chips. Some locals like to take home leftovers from the big portions in order to enjoy Bob’s Hoagy Steaks for the rest of the week.

Going out to get a drink in Fremont can be pretty fun, especially for locals who go to O’Sullivan’s Sports Bar. Taste one of the many beers on tap and watch a sports game with fellow Bay Area locals. Residents like to order pub wings to keep their fun time going. For a real Fremont experience, residents like The Mojo Lounge, a dive bar that attracts longtime locals as well as Fremont bands. Tourists who really want to get to know Fremont like this hangout.

Find more nightly entertainment at Dream Hookah Lounge, or go dancing at The Saddle Rack, a Western-style dance club. Most Cabrillo locals travel to Hayward, Oakland or San Jose for the bigger clubs.

The self-contained, residential neighborhood of Cabrillo proves to be a decent neighborhood for pedestrians. Due to its proximity to Fremont Boulevard, walkers can stroll along the street to get to some shopping or to local restaurants. However, Cabrillo residents generally use their cars to go to shopping malls and to undertake major errands.

Locals find parking easy in Fremont most of the time, especially in Cabrillo, but mall lots become crowded on the weekends and Mission Boulevard can accrue traffic because of its connection between 880 and Interstate 680.

Commuters in Fremont use the BART train to get to work in the East Bay Area and in the peninsula. Employees in Silicon Valley, located in San Jose, can jump on Interstate 880 right next to Cabrillo. The highway also takes drivers to San Francisco. A few buses run along Fremont Boulevard and other main roads to facilitate travel for those who prefer public transit. Cabs, Lyft and Uber all help travelers get around Fremont for a fee.

Cabrillo has become more bike-friendly in recent years, and the flat land and bike lanes allow bicyclists to travel in relative safety. The overall good weather in Fremont helps to encourage bicyclists to go out for a ride year-round.

Cabrillo locals benefit from being close to the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, which gives kids and adults alike a chance to swim in the lake. Most visitors pay $5 to enter with a car and $2 to bring a dog along. Adults can swim for fitness as well as hike and check out the regional wildlife. Fishing and boating also prove to be popular activities during the summer at Quarry Lakes.

Ardenwood Historic Farm, located just next to Cabrillo, teaches kids about the history of agriculture in Fremont while allowing visits to the Patterson mansion. Families can board the horse-drawn train to tour the grounds, or check out the Victorian Garden when the flowers bloom. Farm animals still make their home at Ardenwood Farm, so dogs must stay at home. Expect to pay $3 to $6 for an adult entry fee, and slightly less for children.

Both Ardenwood Farm and Quarry Lakes host events year-round. Go to Quarry Lakes to view marathons and other sporting events, and head to Ardenwood for naturalist programs and holidays.

Residents in Fremont have a higher cost of living than the national average. Locals find other costs to be higher than the national average as well — the typical one-bedroom apartment in Cabrillo costs $1,625 per month, and the price of gas tends to be 9 percent more than the U.S. average.

A Fremont resident looking to get to San Francisco via train pays about $6 for a one-way trip to “the City.” Others like to stay in Fremont for their entertainment and cheaper beers — the average glass of beer costs about $4.

Cabrillo locals don’t have to travel far to do their shopping at NewPark Mall, which features Macy’s, Sears, Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret and many other mall retail staples. New York & Company gives residents a chance to shop for high-end clothes, as does Nordstrom Rack, located in nearby Pacific Commons.

Women can find a number of clothing boutiques in Fremont. One of them, Krishna Creations Boutique, sells fashionable and traditional Indian clothing. Another boutique, Armadillo Bay, displays handbags and designer clothes for affordable prices. One of the closest specialty stores to Cabrillo, Fremont Flowers & Gifts, functions as a reliable florist for weddings, dances, arrangements and more.

Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Lucky and more stores provide bulk grocery shopping opportunities for Cabrillo residents. Maiwand Market in Centerville, one of the better-known Afghan stores, sells Afghan bread for an affordable price. Locals also like to pick up meat and pastries at Maiwand Market. Fremont features a few farmers markets, and the closest to Cabrillo, Centerville Farmers Market, displays a few organic produce stands. Cabrillo folk go to the Irvington Farmers Market for a larger variety.