Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek (population 70,000+) is located 4.8 miles east of Lafayette and provides residents with a suburban/urban mix.  The city has grown over the years and is now one of the main restaurant and retail centers of the East Bay and the business hub of Contra Costa County. The city also has its fair share of parks and outdoor recreational areas, gardens, museums, and surrounding open spaces to explore.

Walnut Creek possesses a predominantly sunny and warm climate with a briefly cool and wet winter. The average high temperature is 69°F (however, it can get to 100°F), and the average low is 49°F.

With its proximity to Oakland and Mount Diablo, Walnut Creek provides access to a vibrant downtown full of chic shops, excellent job opportunities, and quality hospitals and schools. Homes feature sprawling lots with more than three bedrooms built in Mediterranean, traditional, and contemporary styles. Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza is an upscale open-air regional shopping mall in the heart of downtown. Also, there are plenty of dining options from 5-star restaurants to take out. Walnut Creek offers something for every taste, from world-class restaurants and wine bars to brewpubs and diners. Check out Tripadvisor’s list of top restaurants in town.

 

The Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market is a vibrant community gathering place with local farmers and artisans. Just a short walk from BART, the market’s central location makes it accessible to everyone. Open year-round, every Sunday.

 

Five school districts serve Walnut Creek which includes: top-ranked K-12 schools in Walnut Creek, Mt. Diablo, Acalanes, Lafayette, and San Ramon Valley school districts. Learn more about Walnut Creek schools on the City of Walnut Creek website.

 

The Lesher Center for the Arts is the cultural center of Walnut Creek. Each year, it presents hundreds of events, including musicals by local theater groups and concerts by the Diablo Symphony Orchestra and the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Walnut Creek’s 15 parks feature picnic areas, dog parks, and soccer fields. A skate park serves the city’s skateboarders, and the Butterfly Habitat Gardens in Civic Park is home to bring 25 species of butterflies and more than 100 species of California plants.

 

Great hiking trails (and biking) trails await those in Walnut Creek! Shell Ridge Open Space, the Diablo Foothills, and Mount Diablo State Park provide a hiking treasure trove to visitors. AllTrails has put together this list of the best places to hike in the Walnut Creek area.  Like to bike? The City of Walnut Creek is “committed to making it a safe and friendly place to ride bikes” and is “continuously working to improve bike access for all.” View the Walnut Creek city Bike Map here. If trails are more your thing, check out this list of where to ride (there are many choices!).

 

Walnut Creek offers something for everyone!