Welcome to Walnut Creek
A hybrid of cosmopolitan and Californian culture
Situated less than 20 miles east of Oakland, Walnut Creek is home to a bustling downtown with century-old museums, buildings, and restaurants and an outdoor scene steeped in breathtaking views and endless recreational opportunities. Its green spaces are indeed impressive, with Lime Ridge Open Space, Sugarloaf Open Space, Walnut Creek Open Space, and Shell Ridge Open Space — the city's largest open space — offering miles of biking and hiking trails. There are also dog-friendly walking paths at Acalanes Ridge.
Walnut Creek is known as a bedroom community of San Francisco, with stunning homes reflecting the city-suburban feel. You will find a variety of architectural styles like cottage, contemporary, farmhouse, California modernism, Mediterranean, and Craftsman designs.
What to Love
- Fishing, skating, and swimming at Heather Farm Park
- Located 40 minutes east of San Francisco
- Home to the Lindsay Wildlife Experience, America's first wildlife hospital
- Collectible antiquarian books at Swan's Fine Books
- A walkable downtown area with excellent restaurants and shops
- Incredible tennis and pickleball facilities at Heather Farms park
- Walnut Creek recreation department is widely known for their adaptive and inclusive programs for people of all ages and abilities
Local Lifestyle
Walnut Creek's popularity stems from its blend of big-city convenience and entertainment without the drawbacks of traffic and noise. Residents appreciate the relaxed yet lively lifestyle the community exudes.
Southern Walnut Creek neighborhoods such as Rossmoor and Saranap have easy access to the freeway and are close to Broadway Plaza’s shopping district. Northwestern Walnut Creek, which includes neighborhoods such as Palos Verdes, Overlook, Contra Costa Centre, and Larkey Park, has excellent freeway access and older, smaller homes, some of which have recently undergone renovations. Neighborhoods in Eastern Walnut Creek, like San Miguel, Ygnacio Valley, Diablo Shadows, and Northgate, are packed with large properties and are close to grocery stores, boutiques, and The Orchards At Walnut Creek, a shopping mall. The downtown area is also filled with modern-styled townhomes and upscale condominiums.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Broadway Plaza, which houses some of Walnut Creek's best restaurants and shops, is a popular retail space in the area. This space is where you will find beloved brands such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Lululemon, and Apple.
Original Joe's has been a neighborhood staple serving classic Italian cuisine for eight decades. It has a regal atmosphere with private dining areas available. The atmosphere at Il Fornaio is elegant and refined. The pasta and pizza dough are made fresh daily and baked in a wood-fired oven.
Walnut Creek Yacht Club serves fresh seafood in a friendly, club-like environment. They have been Michelin Guide recommended, and the sommelier here recently won the Best Sommelier award. Telefèric Barcelona is an elegant Spanish restaurant serving tapas and other authentic cuisines with a modern and festive flair.
Things to Do
Attending community-hosted festivals and events is a great way to meet your neighbors. The Walnut Festival is an old-fashioned parade and carnival that initially celebrated the area’s walnut harvest. The proceeds go back to the community to benefit educational programs and recreational facilities. Another fun festival for all ages is the Art and Wine Festival, where you can enjoy colorful creations created by local artists, cuisine, wine, ale, fun games, and live music.
The Lesher Center for the Arts also hosts over 900 performances yearly and has three theaters for various events. Throughout the year, there are a variety of productions and shows, ranging from concerts and film screenings to musicals and ballet performances. You can also rent a gardening plot from Howe Homestead Park or enjoy the beautiful scenery at Civic Park with your friends and family.
All aboard the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society! If you're looking for something fun and educational to do with the whole family, check out the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society's Diablo Valley Lines (DVL), one of the most mountainous and one of the largest exclusively HO scale model railroads in the United States.
The city is also well-known for its gardens, specifically The Gardens at Heather Farm and Ruth Bancroft Garden. The Gardens at Heather Farm features a rose garden with over 1,000 blossoms, a waterfall garden with 11 waterfalls, a butterfly garden, a riparian garden, and even a children's play space. Meanwhile, the Ruth Bancroft Garden is a widely-known botanical garden with over 2,000 succulents, cacti, trees, and other plants native to Australia, California, Mexico, Chile, and South Africa.
Schools
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