Central Downtown - Fremont, CA

Central Downtown Fremont is history in the making. Historically, the city did not have a downtown, though one has emerged over time. This is partly due to the fact that Fremont was once a cluster of small towns who joined together to avoid being absorbed by Hayward. The city began creating a transit and pedestrian-friendly center of town starting in 2014.

The Children's Natural History Museum helps little ones learn more about everything from dinosaurs to mountains and the stars. Jan's Art Studios and many galleries are available throughout the year, and the city plays host to the annual Fremont Festival of the Arts.

While chain restaurants abound in Central Downtown Fremont, there is no shortage of diverse ethnic foods, whether you’re in the mood for American, Japanese, Indian or Chinese.

Stay warm while eating next to the massive fireplace at De Afghanan, ordering authentic Afghani mantu with yogurt sauce or roasted squash with garlic yogurt and mint. This hole-in-the-wall experience delivers a true taste of Afghanistan. Be sure to leave time to study the pictures, sculptures and elaborately designed artwork that blankets this one-of-a-kind restaurant.

Get your sweet tooth on with gelato and macaroons at Sweet Orchid. Wow your date on this elegant outing with light music in the background and gelato flavors like black sesame and rosemary pecan, or mix things up a bit with the chocolate bacon or cilantro lime gelato.

Nights out in Central Downtown Fremont tend to be lively, with techie locals letting off steam at dive bars and nightclubs. Of course, you can always take it easy after a long week of work at the Bijan Restaurant Bar and Hookah Lounge, a bar and a hookah lounge located side-by-side. Go hang with the locals during the next World Series game at Mojo Lounge, a small dive bar with live music or karaoke, depending on the night. Catch happy hour weekdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. before enjoying poker night with the regulars.

Three major freeways run parallel to Fremont for an easy north-south getaway. If you're a beach bum, cruise for a weekend drive to the beach by heading south on 880 to the 17 freeway to Santa Cruz.

Residents generally use their cars to get to and from work and errands. Cab options are limited, so try a Lyft service, which runs as far as South Fremont and up to the East Bay and San Francisco. Uber does not service the area. Bus lines run infrequently, so it’s best to plan your trips ahead of time.

Try one of the three train options, including BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), if you’re heading north into Union City, Hayward, Oakland, or out across the bay to San Francisco. Take a few hours to ride the BART line north and catch the Pittsburgh/Bay Point line for a scenic tour of the lush country-esque landscape.

Leisurely ride through Hayward on one of the many bike lanes, but be careful walking, as there aren’t many suitable walking paths in the busier parts of town.

With the Fremont Central Park sitting directly in the middle of Central Downtown, residents of all ages have a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a time out to walk from the dog park and past the softball complex to watch the yachts at the Fremont sailing club on Lake Elizabeth. If you have kids, let them cruise the skate park there, or swim in the Aqua Adventure Water Park next door. With the huge amount of open space, Fremont residents can kick back and relax any way they want. Some attractions do have fees for entry.

Little kids get to have fun at the appropriately named Always Dream Play Park, sectioned off inside Fremont Central Park. Children can play on several sets of swings, sand boxes and fun structures, all to themselves, while adults relax and watch from the sidelines. Fremont Central park also plays host to a summer concert series and the annual Movie in the Park event.

Shinn Historic Park & Arboretum, a free arboretum, hosts an historic home with 100 year-old trees and a small Japanese garden. Hang out for a half-hour and catch your breath on twenty acres of land. Bring the family on an inexpensive tour of the home to hear all about the history of this famous nursery. It's not a long tour, but you may want to bring some snacks to tide you over while you relax under the massive fruit trees that line the property.

Overall living in Central Downtown Fremont tends to be pricey due to housing costs, and the cost of living is higher than that of nearby Oakland. You can expect to pay around $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, for example.

Otherwise, smaller expenses are about average. You can ride the AC Transit line across town for $2.10, and a BART ride to Oakland costs about $4.30. Gas prices are 9.9 percent higher than the national average. A typical beer at a local bar costs about $5.

Chain stores and updated malls dominate the Central Downtown area of Fremont. Grab a salad at the Elephant Bar and pick up a new set of pots and pans at Bed Bath & Beyond, both are located in the Fremont Hub, which is an outdoor mall in the center of the city. Go big at the Pacific Commons Shopping Center and visit Target, Costco and Old Navy, then catch the new action movie at Century Theatres.

For the boutique clothing shopper, seek out hidden summer treasures at Armadillo Bay between Fremont Blvd & Union Street. Let the friendly staff help you pick through dresses from fashion designers and houses such as Betsy Johnson, Free People, and Nicole Miller.

Spruce up any room in your house by visiting the row of antique stores on Niles Boulevard, just north of the Alameda Creek. Make a day at one or all of the antique stores in the area.

Residents in Central Downtown Fremont tend to buy their groceries at large chain stores like Safeway, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but that doesn't mean there aren't smaller ethnic stores, too. Visit Maiwand Market, where Highway 84 meets Fremont Street, for some free-range chicken and authentic Afghan food. Snack on some Turkish pistachios while you wait for your Afghan bread to bake right in front of your eyes. Local produce is available at the Sprouts Farmers Market and Irvington Farmers' Market in the area.