Touring * Beginner *

On Interstate 880 in Fremont, take the Thornton exit and head west. Turn right onto Cedar Boulevard, pass two stoplights, and then turn right onto Lake Boulevard and follow it to the grassy area next to the lake, where you can park at the curb on the street.

Newark Lake--a small, relatively unknown neighborhood lake in a pretty setting--is a great location for beginning skaters to practice their basics and for fitness buffs to skate a few laps without becoming too bored with the scenery. Other than the big ducks and geese who think they own the place, the loop around the lake is used by a few neighborhood walkers and parents pushing strollers. Trees and grass surround the water, and since the lake is close to the bay, it rarely gets hot enough to need the shade, thanks to cool bay breezes.