The author's posts are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of Movoto.
1. Buffalo Bill's Has the Best Beer, The Best Food, and Is Really The Only Bar Worth Going To Here
Now that doesn't necessarily mean that all the other bars in
Hayward are terrible, it just means that Buffalo Bill's Brew Pub is
that good. (Also, all the other bars in Hayward are kinda terrible, sorry.) Their seasonal pumpkin ale tastes like the crisp smell of Autumn; the jalapeño poppers, baked in a gooey croissant-like dough filled with cheese, will make you forget the word "diet," plus, they have shuffleboard. And what kind of sicko doesn't love shuffleboard?
2. There May Not Be Much Bar-Hopping in Hayward, But Hey, At Least You Probably Won't Get Shot
Hayward may not have a reputation as the most
exciting city in the Bay, and sure, you may not be out until 3 a.m. doing tequila shots, but it is a safe place to live. Hayward has a crime rate 6 percent lower than the California average, where nearby Cherryland (the unincorporated area between northern Hayward and San Leandro) and San Lorenzo are about 10 percent higher, and Oakland is
119 percent higher. So despite what non-locals might like to tell you, Hayward is actually a pretty safe city. Well, at least from crime...
3. Don't Get Too Comfortable, Though--Hayward's Still Trying to Kill You
Just because you feel safe from violence in Hayward doesn't mean that it isn't still trying to kill you, and this is the city's biggest fault. Literally. The Hayward Fault Zone is a 74-mile-long fault line runs that underneath Hayward and several other cities in the East Bay, making Hayward one of the most dangerous places in the area, in terms of earthquake activity. In fact, the largest quake along this fault in recorded history occurred in 1868 right smack dab in the middle of the nascent town of Hayward, giving the fault its name.
4. Cal State Hayward Forever
Sitting atop a hill overlooking all of Hayward, lies this city's college campus--and one of locals' biggest pet peeves. In 2005, with so many campuses in the area, California State University Hayward changed its name to California State University
East Bay. Huh? Worst branding decision, ever. While we begrudgingly have had to go along with the maddening moniker change, anyone who lives here knows the correct name of the school. Cal State Hayward forever!
5. Hayward Has The Best Burgers In the Bay Area--Deal With It
I know somebody who made the decision to move to Hayward because of Val's Burgers' "Mama Burger" alone. OK, so he actually got a job in the Bay Area and needed to move-
but Val's Burgers really are that good. So good, that this mom and pop burger shop can close for vacation without warning, refuse to take anything but cash, and make you negotiate the parking lot of doom, and yet we never even
consider going elsewhere for our burger fix. I mean, just look at the picture. 'Nuff said.
6. Oh, And If You're Driving on the Hayward Loop, Merge Carefully!
The Hayward Loop was created to ease the area's traffic--which, actually, it has done a pretty good job doing. But there is one slight problem with the Loop, and if you live in Hayward you know what I'm talking about:
The Merge Of Doom! a.k.a., the merge onto the Hayward Loop at Jackson and Foothill. Drivers watch out, and pedestrians, well, good luck.
7. They Should Rename Hayward "Vaporizer City"
How many "vape" stores are too many? Hayward seems bound and determined to find out. Currently boasting 11 shops that sell vaporizers (including head shops like The Twilight Zone), seven of which are dedicated vape shops (including Platinum Vapes and The Gr8 Vape). Pull up to any stoplight in Hayward and look around to see how popular these vaporizers have become. It's as if someone dumped the vaporizer truck all across the Haystack.
8. It's Casper's, Not Kasper's
Let me make something clear, once and for all. Casper's Hot Dogs began making their delicious, if slightly less than nutritious chili cheese dogs and hot dogs in 1929. These guys are the pros, the best, and the O.G.s of Bay Area hot dogs. Kasper's with a K rolled around in 1934, adding more confusion to the already muddled world of hot dogs (what is
in those things?) If you want a good hot dog, go to Casper's--the original. Don't ask what's in it.
9. Living In Hayward Is Cheap
Let me clarify--Hayward is cheap for the Bay Area. The cost of living in Hayward is 6 percent lower than the California average. But, hey, compared to San Francisco where the cost of living is 16 percent higher than the state average, Hayward is a steal!
10. It's The Heart Of The Bay
Some people just love to hate on Hayward, but in the end, the Haystack's got heart. Sure, it's not perfect, but there have been a lot of improvements in the area lately, especially downtown where it seems new businesses open weekly and the art initiatives have enlivened this once dull grey city. So, the next time you hear someone complain that Hayward is "boring," or "unsafe," or "going to collapse in rubble due to a huge earthquake," smile and ignore them--use that big Hayward heart of yours! And if that doesn't work, just send them off to the merge at Jackson and Foothill.
Feature Image Source: Buffalo Bill's Brewery via Facebook
