Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek is a typical, medium-sized suburban city on the western edge of Mount Diablo, about 17 miles (25 km) east of Oakland in Contra Costa County. After being part of a Spanish land grant comprising several ranchos, the first Midwestern settlers of European descent in this area planted walnut trees. Some of these trees grew close to a small creek; thus, over time the locals came to call the creek "Walnut Creek," but the town was known as "The Corners." Today, Walnut Creek is mostly known for its retail and restaurant offerings. The city also boasts extensive protected open space for hiking and picnicking, as well as a predominantly sunny and warm climate with a briefly cool and wet winter.

Understand
Walnut Creek is the business hub of Contra Costa County, due in part to its prime location at the intersection of SR-24 and I-680, as well as accessibility by BART. Over the years, Walnut Creek has grown beyond a quiet bedroom community of San Francisco, becoming a regional business and retail center of the East Bay. Downtown Walnut Creek has become a destination center for quality restaurants and shopping, while the surrounding community is filled with parks and recreational areas for families.

By car
& Walnut Creek is at the junction of Interstate 680 (I-680) and California State Route 24 (SR-24).

By BART
For those without a car or who do not want to drive through a suburban wonderland, the easiest way of getting to Walnut Creek is by BART. The is at 200 Ygnacio Valley Rd. It served by the 'Yellow Line' train on its way between Millbrae/SFO Airport in San Francisco and Pittsburg/Bay Point or Antioch on the other end of the route. For some attractions, the may be more convenient.

By bicycle
For those who prefer to put the pedal to the metal the old-fashioned way (on bicycle), the Iron Horse Trail runs North/South, neatly bisecting Walnut Creek into the west side, where most of the stores are, and the east side, where most of the suburban homes and strip malls are.

By boat
For the nautically inclined, drop anchor at the nearest marina (either Oakland, Berkeley, or Martinez), and arrange transportation accordingly.

By plane
If flying is your thing, Buchanan Field in Concord serves as your gateway to Walnut Creek. Scheduled service there is scarce, so the nearest major airports are San Francisco and Oakland.

Get around
Once in downtown Walnut Creek, walking is basically your only choice. This shouldn't pose a problem because most of the downtown area is somewhat concentrated (10- to 15-minute walk at most). The biggest problem is parking.

By public transportation
If you don't have a car or prefer to use public transportation, the County Connection bus line is your ticket to reach Walnut Creek. If all you want to do is explore downtown and shop, a free shuttle operates between the BART station and several downtown stops. Using a bicycle is a snap in this bike-friendly town.

By car
Most use a car to get around Walnut Creek. Be careful of pedestrians; they tend to jump off corners when you least expect it.

Hidden among the storefronts are countless garages. Most of the garages run by the City charge parking fees, whereas the garages of the many malls are free for three hours. The garages closest to Broadway Plaza are the most congested. You can usually find ample parking in the Plaza Escuela garage (on either side of Locust at Botelho), only one block from downtown and Broadway Plaza.

Hint: try parking on the street - the street meters cost the same as the garages. If you do park on the street, make sure you put enough money in the meter, because Walnut Creek meter maids continually circle the town looking to increase the city coffers at your expense. The best hint for using the street meters is to arrive early; you may have to circle around, and it's difficult to find a spot right in front of the place you're interested in visiting.

Go next

 * – wealthy suburb to the south with hiking trails and the former home of Eugene O'Neill
 * - One of Walnut Creek's neighbors, Lafayette is a mostly residential town that offers interesting dining opportunities and is home to the Lafayette Reservoir, a great spot for hiking or jogging.
 * - This neighboring city is primarily a typical family suburb, but it does offer options for food and shopping.
 * - Another Walnut Creek neighbor, Concord is one of the largest cities in the East Bay and has a variety of shopping and dining options.
 * - This 20,000-acre park borders Walnut Creek to the east and provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching 181 miles to Mount Lassen.