Discover Fremont

When looking for a hotel in Fremont, you can start by planning your stay around the experiences you want. Mission Peak offers a specific hiking route and views of several mountain ranges; museums, a historic farm and individual buildings provide different ways to explore the region’s history. Wildlife watching is another focus in its own right. This makes it easy to match your hotel choice to whether you want your stay to center on trails and landscapes or historic sites.

Hiking at Mission Peak

The Ohlone entrance to Mission Peak Regional Preserve is at 43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont. Since this is a specific access point, check the address before setting out. The Peak Trail from Ohlone College leads to the summit of Mission Peak. Along the way, it passes a corral and runs through shaded patches of woodland and open grassland.

From the summit, you can look south toward Mount Hamilton, west toward the Santa Cruz Mountains, north toward Mt. Tamalpais, and northeast toward Mt. Diablo and the Sierra Nevada. This hike highlights both the transition between patches of woodland and open grassland and the panoramic views from the summit.

Wildlife watching

The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 30,000 acres of habitat for millions of migratory birds and endangered species. It offers nearby communities opportunities for wildlife-related recreation and nature watching. While the route to the summit and the views from it are the main focus at Mission Peak, the Refuge is about observing nature in a vast habitat.

Farms, museums and regional history

Ardenwood Historic Farm offers a glimpse of family farm life between 1890 and 1930. At the historic site, visitors can take part in harvesting and processing corn, wheat and hay using restored agricultural machinery—crops that were once common in the region. The program is seasonal; check what is available for your visit in advance.

During the season from April to mid-November, costumed interpreters lead tours of the Patterson House on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Check the schedule before your visit. For another glimpse into the past, the Museum of Local History tells the story of Southern Alameda County. The Mission Museum in Old Mission San José offers a detailed look at Spanish exploration and the founding of the Mission district in 1797.

Built in 1842, Vallejo Adobe is located in the center of California Nursery Historic Park in Niles. The 20.1-acre park is a remnant of the California Nursery Company. The Niles Depot Museum explores a different subject: the history of railroads. Together, these sites offer a range of perspectives, from regional history and the founding of the Mission district to railroad history.

The Washington Township exhibit features photographs of the township’s villages and communities; exhibit content may change. The Big House dates to 1876 and is surrounded by large trees. A stone aqueduct that carried water to the mill runs parallel to Niles Canyon Road. These sites and exhibits each offer a different perspective, from photographs to buildings and their former functions.

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Go to the main travel overview: Alameda.