1. You Say “Hella” Every Other Sentence
Nearly everyone in Fremont uses the word “hella,” some more frequently than others. It’s used to replace words like very, extremely, super, a lot and a long list of others. You might say for example, “That girl (or guy) was hella stupid drinking that much at the Saddle Rack last night.”
What you may not realize is that the word actually originated in the East Bay–some say it was Hayward, while others insist it was definitely Fremont.
2. You Know Country Way Is The Best Cure For A Hangover
Country Way on Mowry Boulevard has been serving up the best hangover breakfasts in town for years. Your parents and maybe even your grandparents probably came here after a night of overindulging. No matter what you have, you won't be disappointed, but the corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, and country fried steak may be the best you've ever had.
3. You’ve Been To The Secret Sidewalk
You know the Secret Sidewalk, which isn’t actually a sidewalk at all, but the top of the old Niles Canyon Aqueduct located up a hill and past the railroad tracks in the Niles District of Fremont. The half-buried tunnel runs all the way from Alameda Creek to San Francisco, but it’s here that graffiti artists and teen parties have gathered for generations for some privacy, enjoying the seclusion of this “secret place.”
4. The White Witch Used To Give You Nightmares
Niles Canyon is also the home of the legendary White Witch. The story has been told over and over for decades now, often along the Secret Sidewalk. She is believed to have been a woman who was killed on her wedding night while being thrown from a carriage and struck by a car on February 26 sometime in the 1920s. Many have alleged to have seen her near the sidewalk and along Niles Canyon Road wearing a white dress.
5. You Know La Casita’s Exterior Belies A Tasty Mexican Treasure
La Casita may look like a dive on the outside, but inside it’s pure heaven. This place serves some of the very best Mexican food in the entire state–and that’s saying a lot. The chicken and rice soup is perfect on a gloomy day, the carne asada is seriously to-die-for and if you're in the mood for a margarita you won't be disappointed.
6. You Know Why M.C. Hammer Filed For Bankruptcy
If you take a drive up into the Mission Hills, you too can see why M.C. Hammer went broke. His “Hammer Time Mansion,” a 40,000 square foot house with Italian marble floors included a recording studio, 33-seat theater, bowling alley, two swimming pools, tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a 17-car garage, was built just a few years before he was forced to declare bankruptcy.
7. You Pine For The Good Old Days At Baylands Raceway
If you grew up in Fremont during the 60s, ‘70s or ‘80s, you might sigh every time you drive past those high-tech businesses along the I-880 corridor because you know what lies underneath. Baylands Raceway, AKA the Fremont Dragstrip, was the spot to hang out, with many relationships beginning and ending while watching a classic Chevelle race down the track.
8. It’s Worth Getting Up In The Wee Hours Of The Morning
You don’t mind getting up at 4 a.m. to go to work. It’s worth it just to miss the 880 traffic. Besides, that just means you'll get back home that much earlier too--it can even add a couple hours to your day!
9. You Know Fremont’s School Of The Deaf’s Football Team Is The Most Inspiring Group Of People Known To Man
Not only does Fremont’s School of the Deaf serve the entire Northern California region, but its football team was recognized as one of Sports Illustrated’s most inspiring stories. In 2012, on their way to an unprecedented 10-2 record, they overcame numerous obstacles including a player deficit, significant size disadvantage and the obvious--all of the players and coaches are deaf. They managed to outwit competitors using speed and American Sign Language to create an elaborate scheme of signals, turning a disability into an advantage.
10. You Know Hiking Up Mission Peak Is The Best Thing About Living In Fremont
While this may be a sprawling city, you can still go for an amazing hike just minutes away from just about any Fremont neighborhood to get some great exercise and some of the best views around! On the way up, you might even see cowboys moving the herd or a few lone coyotes, and once you reach the top, vistas stretch from Mount Hamilton to the south, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, Mount Tamalpais to the north and even Mount Diablo and the Sierra Nevada to the northeast.
