Walnut Creek

 

Walnut Creek is a regional hub with world-class shopping and restaurants. Located to the south of Pleasant Hill and Concord in Contra Costa County, Walnut Creek is a small city with an urban feel. Two BART stations and access to both Highway 24 and I-680 make Walnut Creek convenient for commuting to Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco in the west and San Jose to the south.

Walnut Creek real estate covers all bases. The historic downtown area features charming mid-19th century architecture along with newer condominium developments. Relaxed residential neighborhoods throughout the city feature single-family homes, bungalows, and townhouses.

 

The western slopes of majestic Mount Diablo provide a dramatic backdrop for grand estates and provide compounds with captivating elevated views.

 

Walnut Creek is Contra Costa County’s biggest shopping and dining hub. Residents enjoy impeccable amenities in a relaxed city featuring diverse neighborhoods and housing styles. The surrounding Contra Costa County landscape provides many scenic places to discover and explore.

 

The blocks surrounding Walnut Creek’s historic tree-lined Main Street feature a wide variety of restaurants and retailers. Main Street Kitchen is a polished Californian bistro serving farm-to-table cuisine with ingredients sourced from local farmers and growers. Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar has an enchanting European-style atmosphere and menu of globally-inspired small plates and international wines.

 

Montecatini has been a Walnut Creek mainstay since 1989. This elegant white tablecloth restaurant serves authentic Northern Tuscan cuisine alongside a wine list recognized with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Walnut Creek Yacht Club is a fine choice for fresh seafood. Walnut Creek Yacht Club’s ever-changing menu of ocean delights is paired with an extensive selection of global wines. Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar also offers an outstanding wine list alongside mouthwatering aged prime beef and seafood specialties such as lobster tails. For shopping, Broadway Plaza is an upscale open-air retail center featuring more than 35 stores anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom department stores.

 

Walnut Creek’s Walnut Festival is a major annual celebration held over four days in September. The festival is packed with family-friendly attractions including two live performance stages, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, a beer garden, a kid zone, and a carnival with more than 30 rides.

 

The Walnut Festival takes place on the grounds of Heather Farm Park. This 102-acre greenspace features many sports facilities, including a skate park, swimming and equestrian centers, fields for baseball and soccer, and courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Heather Farms Park also has a fishing pond, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, an all-abilities playground, and an off-leash dog park. The Gardens at Heather Farm is a beautifully landscaped public garden with beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces used for classes, parties, and weddings.

 

Majestic Mount Diablo rises to Walnut Creek’s east, and this iconic mountain is visible throughout much of the city. Mount Diablo State Park spans 20,000 acres with trails rising to the mountain summit. Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area covers 18,000 acres surrounding a scenic sandstone canyon nestled amid the foothills west of Mount Diablo. The Iron Horse Regional Trail adds to Walnut Creek’s abundant outdoor recreation options. The trail runs for 32 miles, passing through the communities of Concord, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Dublin, and Pleasanton before terminating in the sprawling 266-acre Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area.

 

Walnut Creek is served by the Walnut Creek Elementary and Acalanes Union High school districts.