Fairway Park - Hayward, CA

Fairway Park was originally part of the old Rancho San Lorenzo before the area was destroyed in the earthquake of 1868. Early settler William Dutton Hayward is credited with settling the neighborhood when he squatted here around the time of the Gold Rush, then built a popular hotel.

Fairway Park’s two main industries were agriculture and tourism, which both helped this area grow as the railways connected it with other parts of the state. Today, Fairway Park is one of Hayward’s residential neighborhoods, offering locals a quiet quality of life.

Fairway Park itself contains no conventional museums, but Hayward’s McConaghy House and the Hayward Area Historical Society have exhibits to help connect visitors to the area’s history. The Hayward Arts Council also holds exhibitions of local artwork.

The area’s closest annual event happens in East Hayward, where the King Tut Festival is held each September, complete with food, kids’ activities and music to make learning fun.

While there’s no central restaurant location in Fairway Park, most dining hotspots can be found along Mission Boulevard, which serves as a de facto main street. Here you’ll find a lot of culinary variety from Indian and barbecue to burgers, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Persian and more.

Red Chili brings the heat as the area’s primary Thai-Vietnamese fusion joint. Popular menu items include roti canai with flatbread and half moon crepes served with shrimp, pork and veggies. Even those who like spice will find that this food challenges their taste buds, but those wanting a little less fire can request toned-down dishes in this casual spot. Red Chili also has cheap and tasty lunch specials if you need a bite in the afternoon.

If you’re a fan of pupusas, Pupuseria Las Cabanas has all the classics, with a few unexpected twists. Locals love the pork, chicken and squash varieties, which come with crunchy marinated cabbage to cool things down. If you’re a fan of platanos, order them with crema for a tasty second act.

A little further north, you’ll find Curry Corner Takeaway serving a unique Fijian curry that’s more Caribbean than Indian - from peas and potato in tomato sauce to lamb curry and warm roti bread. The establishment's friendly owner, Sara, also offers popular cooking classes, if you’re looking to add more skills to your kitchen arsenal.

In Fairway Park, nightlife is fairly quiet, since this is a largely residential area, but there are still a few great places to grab a beer. The Dirty Bird gives locals a chance to chill out on red leather couches. With a cool jukebox and Friday night beer pong, this spot doesn't disappoint if you're looking to kick back and shake off the workweek. They even have live music from time to time, mostly from local bands.

The Bottoms Up club redefines "dive bar cool" with attentive bartenders, a pool table, and a few statues of the Buddha hanging around. Offerings to these statuesque drinking buddies are accepted but not expected, and locals love the hilarious folks behind the bar.

In Fairway Park, residents mostly get around by driving - Interstate 880, State Route 92 and State Route 238 are all nearby.

Two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations serve this area, with stops for both Hayward and South Hayward. Locals also use the AC Transit bus system throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties, as well as Amtrak trains running from San Jose to Sacramento.

Parking is usually easy and inexpensive in this neighborhood. Though it may not be easy to hail a cab on the street, you can always call a local cab company or arrange an Uber pickup with no problem.

Fairway Park has average walkability, with most residents preferring to accomplish their tasks by car. Since there are some bike lanes throughout the neighborhood, it’s safe for cyclists, too.

Fairway Park’s nearest green space is the Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park, which features a restored cabin from the early 1900s, nature study, an annual apple festival in September as well as hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. Kids and dogs are welcome, too, and there's amazing views in store if you climb up the steep hill.

JA Lewis Park has a playground for the kids, which families say is perfect for toddlers. While it’s pet-friendly and has plenty of BBQ pits and clean bathrooms, residents say that there’s not much shade tree covering, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

A little farther north lies Greenbelt Trails & Park, with plenty of hiking trails in a well-maintained space. If you’re in the mood for an impromptu barbecue, they’ve got you covered with lots of pits and picnic tables, too.

Fairway Park’s cost of living sits 7% higher than the Hayward average and 38.2% higher than the national average. A typical 1-bedroom residence rents for approximately $1,037 per month.

It costs $4.85 to get from the Hayward BART station to Civic Center in San Francisco by train.

A beer at a local pub runs about $6, and gas prices sit about 17 percent higher here than the national average.

Fairway Park has plenty of shopping at large chain stores, such as Target, TJ Maxx and Dollar Store, in addition to local shops. Sagar Exclusive provides locals with men's and women's clothing with an Indian flair. Though it does a lot of business with brides, you don't have to be getting married to find something special here, from a colorful sari to sparkly jewelry. The sweet owner also offers free tailoring on orders over $100. If you need accessories to go with your new Indian outfit, stop by Shingar Emporium. It has great prices on jewelry, from Indian bangles to earrings and more.

Eco Thrift meets locals' needs for vintage and consignment items, such as designer jewelry, housewares, sweaters, jeans and retro toys. You never know what you'll find here, so dive in and check out the new arrivals on a regular basis to get the best deals.

For all things related to sports, visit Sports Plus One on Mission Boulevard. This locally owned store carries everything from baseball pants to screen-printed sweatshirts. The owners offer safety apparel, hard hats and steel-toed boots for your work needs.

Fairway Park supports smaller chain grocery stores, such as Food Source, but it also benefits from smaller purveyors, such as the New Handy Corner Market for super cheap prices on the essentials and Saudagar Cash & Carry for an assortment of Indian food items, religious items, frozen food, and more.

The closest farmers market to Fairway Park happens on Saturday mornings in Hayward, where you can find the regular fresh fruits and vegetables alongside a ton of artisanal wares.

Zaytouna Bay Market also offers up a good selection of ethnic food. This Lebanese market is locally owned, offering pre-packaged and freshly prepared options. Locals rave about the friendliness of the owners, in addition to the market's large selection and reasonable prices.