Paseo Padre Pkwy, Ardenwood

I am posting this mainly for the Fremont newbie who has little to no idea of the city's layout. Paseo Padre Pkwy has the distinction of winding through practically every major district in town. It is over ten miles long. It runs past any number of housing developments, as well as some notable city landmarks, including the Central Park area, which includes the Hall of Justice, Lake Elizabeth, and the main branch of the public library. It also intersects with practically every major freeway and highway in town at some point.

While most of "Paseo" is quite wide (and even scenic in places), often it is not the most direct route for getting around, due to its meandering direction and length. So you don't want to get on Paseo and drive somewhere without having a good sense of where you are starting and ending. Thus it is a good idea to consult a GPS, a paper or online map, or simply to ask a native for the best route.

That said, often it can be a lovely alternate route during peak hours. Driving down Paseo when you are not in a hurry can be a pleasant way to get to know the town, too -- Fremont is nothing if not a vast and varied series of neighborhoods! If possible, check on any road construction projects that may be underway, to avoid delays.

Paseo also crosses Alameda Creek several times, and crosses Mission Blvd. twice, once at each end. A section of it borders a very long, highly scenic bicycle trail that runs all the way to the bay, miles away. Also, it ends near Mission Peak, which is the highest point in town, and has an excellent parking lot and hiking trail. If you want to see how the rich live in Fremont, this end of Paseo is also where the most lavish homes are located.