Welcome to Walnut Creek
Welcome to Walnut Creek, a small, hip city in Contra Costa County, California. The urban community lies about 16 miles east of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area. Walnut Creek residents have quick access to the East Bay area via the I-680, SR-24, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit System.
Locally known as "Nuts Creek," Walnut Creek rapidly grew into a business center after the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1981. Modern-day Walnut Creek is a bustling mix of old and new structures. It is a central shopping destination for the East Bay, with many businesses and luxury stores planting their roots.
Many separate neighborhoods can be found in Walnut Creek such as Parkmead, The Almond-Shuey area, and Rudgear Estates. Each of these communities has an assortment of old buildings, industry conversions, and luxury condominiums.
What to Love
- Walkable downtown
- Old town feel
- Variety of shopping and dining options
- Everything you need in one city
- Year-round festivals
Local Lifestyle
Walnut Creek has an old-town feel that has taken on new life as years have passed and the area has seen new growth. The area is both relaxed and bustling, depending on your location and daily activities. Excellent eateries, coffee shops, and shopping areas are available throughout Walnut Creek’s walkable downtown. The town boasts a diverse population, with families, young professionals, and retirees making up the area.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Within the city borders of Walnut Creek, there are over 100 eateries, lounges, and nightclubs, making it a haven for food lovers. For world-class dining, try out the Walnut Creek Yacht Club Restaurant or Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar.
Walnut Creek’s Main Street offers an excellent shopping experience, with many independent shops, galleries, and boutiques such as Tiffany & Co. and Anthropologie located here. Broadway Plaza is another shopping paradise with over 35 stores, including Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.
Walnut Creek is a haven for the arts. It hosts Art on the Main Festival, an annual event staged on North Main Street, from Civic to Mt. Diablo. Lesher Center for the Arts, which offers live performances all year round, is also located in the city. The facility houses Bedford Gallery, which hosts about five brand-new exhibitions yearly and displays artwork by artists across ages.
Things to Do
There are endless activities for everyone in Walnut Creek. The nearby Mount Diablo has a vast network of paths ideal for hiking and biking. You could hike up to the 3,849-foot top or ride horses to explore the most secluded areas.
The Gardens at Heather Farm is the perfect outdoor destination for those who prefer a tranquil atmosphere. It features 20 sustainable public gardens, which span a total of six acres.
Walnut Creek hosts various events throughout the year. In the autumn, the city hosts the generations-old Walnut Festival, and in the winter, it presents Walnut Creek on Ice. There is also a two-day Art and Wine Festival in the summer, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors. The world-famous Walnut Creek Aquanuts synchronized swimming group performs three times annually.
Schools
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District and the Mt. Diablo Unified School District serve the community of Walnut Creek. Notable schools include:
- Walnut Heights Elementary
- Indian Valley Elementary
- Parkmead Elementary
- Murwood Elementary School
- Walnut Creek Intermediate School
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