Old San Leandro - San Leandro, CA

San Leandro’s history dates back thousands of years to when Native Americans first settled along San Leandro Creek. In more modern times, the city emerged as an agricultural center famed for its cherry orchards, but with the coming of the railroad in 1869, industry and new homes soon replaced the cherry trees. Today, San Leandro celebrates its roots with an annual Cherry Festival, and wall-sized murals and portraits of the city’s earliest inhabitants entertain visitors at the San Leandro History Museum and Art Gallery.

San Leandro entered the 21st century with a new vision, positioning itself in the high-tech, clean-tech business world with “Lit San Leandro”, a 288-strand, 11-mile fiber-optic loop that allows businesses to connect to the Internet at some of the fastest speeds available anywhere in the United States. City planners designed the loop to help attract even more business to the city's downtown area.

Due largely to its diversity, San Leandro boasts an interesting array of restaurants serving a wide assortment of ethnic cuisines. Whether you're in the mood for pasta, burgers, Chinese take-out or Indian food, you can find it within a few minutes of Old San Leandro and downtown.

Take the whole family to Paradiso, located in the heart of Old San Leandro on Parrot Street. With an eclectic Mediterranean menu that includes steaks, pizza, pastas and some vegetarian meals, the restaurant serves a great dinner at a reasonable price. Try the savory linguine with clam sauce or the Chicken Paradiso, a house specialty made with sautéed chicken breast, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and basil in a flavorful cream sauce. A local favorite since 1996, Paradiso features a full bar and an extensive wine list, including California varietals and some fine imports from Italy, France, Chile and Spain.

For something a bit more exotic, stop in at Lotus Leaf for some traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The filet mignon pho, a savory broth with rice noodles, herbs and tender strips of beef, is a must-try, as is the seared salmon in ginger sauce with stir-fried vegetables and fried rice with pineapple. The tiny bar boasts a surprisingly extensive wine list, and first-time visitors get a free glass of spiced Thai iced tea. If you love breakfast, head to the Fifth Wheel Food. A tiny cafe nestled in a quiet corner of San Leandro Boulevard, this establishment has been a favorite of the locals since 1946. Delicious three-egg omelets, apple-chicken sausage and the best French toast west of the Rockies mean long lines on the weekends, but the great food, fast service and out-of-this-world coffee make the wait worthwhile.

The nightlife in Old San Leandro tends to be on the quiet side, but that doesn't mean you have to sit at home alone and watch TV. The Englander Sports Pub & Restaurant offers three big-screen TVs featuring sports, comedy and special events in a casual old-English atmosphere, and it serves food until 10 p.m. On Washington Street, The Washington Club gives off a friendly neighborhood vibe with free pool, a DJ, dancing and half-price drinks at happy hour. Enjoy a glass of wine and some light appetizers at The Vine Wine and Tapas, then get your groove on at Club Caliente, a Latino-style dance club where live bands play cumbia, salsa and merengue every Friday through Sunday night.

San Leandro sits directly between two Bay Area freeways, I-580 and I-880, both of which offer convenient access to Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose. However, Bay Area rush hour can be very long and arduous, so opt for public transportation if you possibly can.

Bay Area Rapid Transit runs from San Leandro to downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland and other communities in the East Bay, offering an easy alternative to a long commute by car. Take San Leandro’s free shuttle, San Leandro Links, to the station, or hop on an Alameda Country Transit bus if you can't get on Links. AC Transit buses also crisscross the city on the way to Oakland, Hayward and the Oakland International Airport, offering a second convenient public transit option for getting around town. Hours of operation on BART and AC Transit are limited, but you can call Uber or one of any number of local taxis from your cell phone if you need a lift late at night.

Own a bike? You can ride through San Leandro safely on the city’s network of bike lanes, or put on your walking shoes and stroll through town. You will need a car to get to some locations, but many of the city’s attractions and businesses can be accessed on foot.

A family-oriented community with a great year-round climate and casual atmosphere, San Leandro prides itself on its 23 community and neighborhood parks. Walk down almost any street, and you'll a park with children playing, families enjoying each other's company or someone throwing a Frisbee for a dog.

Located on Estudillo Avenue and Sylvan Circle, Chabot Park offers 10 acres of great hiking and a woodland feel. With a large group picnic area, picnic tables, a playground and volleyball court, there's something for everyone, and parking comes free to the public. Closer to downtown, you'll find Memorial Park, a small park with a nice playground, picnic tables and barbecue grills.

For the best outdoor fun in San Leandro, head to Marina Park, located just off Monarch Bay Drive. A 30-acre regional park on the scenic San Leandro shore, it has picnic areas with barbecue grills, lots of room to run around and a mile-long par golf-course. At the south end of the park sits the San Leandro Dog Park, offering 58,000 square feet of open space and separate large and small dog areas for your canine companions to play.

By Bay Area standards, Old San Leandro offers an affordable cost of living, with rent for a one-bedroom apartment hovering at $1,382, hundreds of dollars less than in San Francisco, parts of Oakland and other locations in the East Bay.

Commodities and other goods cost about the same here as they do in the rest of the country, but gas sits about 11 percent higher than the average price throughout the United States. A trip on BART to downtown Oakland costs $3.50 each way and $5.55 to San Francisco. A bus ride to the BART station and other locations in San Leandro cost $2.10; double fare applies if you ride to downtown Oakland, San Francisco or the Oakland International Airport.

Expect to pay about $40 to $50 for a meal for two in a nice moderately priced restaurant in San Leandro and $4 to $5 more if you order a domestic beer. A California Chardonnay will run about $40 to $60 a bottle in a restaurant or about $8 to $10 by the glass.

San Leandro offers lots of shopping, from small boutiques to outlet stores and shopping malls. Plan to spend at least half of your day browsing the stores when you head out to explore the town.

Start your day at Bayfair Center, where Macy’s offers fashions for the whole family, household items, and home decor. Stop by Old Navy, DSW, or Staples, then pamper yourself with some beauty supplies from Ulta or the Fragrance Shop.

Find some great bargains on designer fashions at the Marina Square outlets, where Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Guess, Talbot’s and Nordstrom’s Rack offer great discounts on designer brands. Stop in at Marshall’s for some low-priced accessories, then put your feet up and relax with a cappuccino at Starbucks.

Looking for something out of the ordinary or a vintage accessory to add to your look? Check out Sweet Repeats on Parrot Street, a consignment shop that offers gently used clothing, jewelry and home decor, or try Sytara on 14th Street, a tiny boutique with an eclectic collection of trendy fashions, shoes, boots and hats.

Stop for groceries on your way home at Safeway or the discount Grocery Outlet, where surplus goods from large chains sell at below-average prices. Too tired to cook? Stop at the Estudillo Produce & Delicatessen, and grab a freshly made sandwich and some delicious sides to go. In the summer, make a quick stop at the San Leandro Farmers Market, open every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.