Hugging the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Newark is a lively city in California’s Alameda County. The area was originally home to the Ohlone people before its settlement by Spanish missionaries. In the late 19th century, it was subdivided to create the town of Newark and named after a Scottish castle in Port Glasgow.
Things to do in Newark
Newark encompasses a portion of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses a marshy shoreline to the south of Dumbarton Bridge. It was established in 1974 to provide habitat for migratory bird species travelling along the Pacific Flyway, including white-tailed kites, hawks and ospreys. Boardwalk trails wind their way around the reserve and its salt ponds.
Travelling with kids? Spend a day at the Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center, which encompasses an indoor water park, a basketball court and a gym. In addition to its lap swimming pool, there is a lazy river, a spa and two water slides. Nearby is the NewPark shopping mall, which boasts retail stores, a multi-screen cinema complex and a food court.
On the edge of Newark is the Ardenwood Historic Farm, which features a former Ohlone village and a two-storey redwood farmhouse built by a 19th-century gold miner. Don’t miss the Railroad Museum with its narrow gauge railway and collection of vintage cars. In addition to being a working farm, the property regularly hosts Civil War reenactments and festivals.
Getting around Newark
Newark is around 40 minutes’ drive from San Jose and an hour from San Francisco. San Francisco International Airport is 45 minutes away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Newark and travel throughout the city. The closest railway and subway services are five minutes away in Fremont.