This past weekend, I visited the historic district of Niles, a hidden gem southeast of San Francisco located in Fremont. It came about in the 1850s, and was a junction point of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Essanay Studio was built in 1913 in Niles where around 300 Western (cowboys) movies were made, and was the home of the silent film king Charlie Chaplin for 3 months.
Now the quaint town boasts:
- lovely antiques shops and an annual Antique Fair
- a historic shopping district
- cute eateries
- old car parts stores
- annual flea market
- annual wildflower festival
- the Niles Essanay Silent Film Festival and Museum (silent films are still shown)
- the Niles Canyon Railway
Many locals, rightly so, call Niles the cutest neighbourhood in the East Bay. It is filled with delights and history.
Source of my title can be found here.
simple cherishes 