Skip the San Francisco hotel prices for a minute. About 30 miles south of the city and 20 miles north of San Jose, Union City sits along the Interstate 880 corridor in the East Bay, a suburb of roughly 65,000 people that makes a surprisingly practical base for exploring the whole Bay Area. Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) is the closest gateway, and it happens to be one of the least crowded airports in the country. A BART station in town means you can reach San Francisco without touching a steering wheel.
Locals describe it as friendly, easy-going and family-oriented, and it ranks among the most diverse cities in California — something you notice quickly on your plate. The dining scene is a low-key tour of the world: Kapow Thai Eatery is currently the top-rated restaurant in town on Yelp, serving noodle bowls, soups and rice plates with vegan and vegetarian options. Greens N Grills does healthy Mediterranean fare, including Algerian wraps. And Mexico Tipico turns out tacos, flautas, enchiladas and chimichangas wrapped in house-made tortillas, with burritos reviewers describe as enormous.
Green space is the other big draw. Charles F. Kennedy Park, steps from the BART station, has a loop path, picnic lawns and a California-themed playground with a mini Golden Gate Bridge — plus trains rumbling overhead every few minutes, which apparently thrills the kids. For something wilder, Dry Creek Pioneer and Garin Regional Parks sit side by side on the east edge of town, covering nearly 6,000 acres of old ranchland with trails across rolling hills, where cattle still graze. Dry Creek Pioneer also holds the two-acre Dry Creek Garden with close to 200 plant species, though it's closed at the moment after storm damage. In spring, the park's Iris Garden opens with more than 2,500 iris varieties — a genuinely good reason to time your visit for March or April.
A short drive into neighbouring Fremont adds two more garden stops: the 20-acre California Nursery Historical Park with its seasonal rose garden, and the 4.5-acre Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum with a small Japanese garden.
Why bother with a suburb when the icons are right there? Because Union City gives you cheaper lodging, calmer streets and quick access to both San Francisco and San Jose, with enough parks and good food to fill the days you stay put. It suits families, road-trippers working down the 880, and anyone who'd rather eat Thai food in a quiet neighbourhood than queue for brunch in the Mission.
