A bustling and lively suburb with unique amenities
Walnut Creek is located east of Lafayette and about 30 minutes from San Francisco by BART. This lively, vibrant city is the commercial hub for Contra Costa County and a beautiful place to live, work, and shop. In terms of population, Walnut Creek (home to about 70,000 residents) is roughly the size of Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga combined. Walnut Creek is also the largest of these four communities by area, although at 20 square miles, it is less than half the size of Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga combined. Still, Walnut Creek is home to beautiful parks, lively restaurants, fashionable boutiques, and distinguished schools.
Like some of the best Bay Area cities, Walnut Creek combines an old-school feel with new-school cool. Residents appreciate the area’s urban vibe, upmarket shopping, and beautiful residential neighborhoods. To its benefit, Walnut Creek continues to grow — if you’re interested in real estate, note that the area has many condo buildings in the heart of downtown, plus large single-family houses dispersed throughout residential neighborhoods. Walnut Creek’s BART station puts you about a half-hour from Downtown San Francisco by the yellow line. The town boasts a population including families, entrepreneurs, professionals of all ages, and retirees.
A plethora of dining and shopping options are available in Walnut Creek. Shop-til-you-drop at Broadway Plaza, an outdoor mall with 80 high-end shops, recognizable stores, small boutiques, and outstanding restaurants. There are also over 100 restaurants and bars combined in Walnut Creek — more than enough variety to keep residents entertained. Among high-end restaurants, try Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar or Rooftop Restaurant & Bar for a typically excellent dining experience.
Catch a show at the Lesher Center for the Arts, which hosts fabulous plays, ballets, and concerts in three separate theaters year-round. The Walnut Creek Farmer’s market takes place every Sunday near Target.
Heather Farms Park is a 102-acre greenspace offering all kinds of outdoor activities. The park offers a public swimming pool, an off-leash dog park, sports fields, a skate park, a fishing pond, an equestrian center, and an all-abilities playground. Several trails wind throughout the park for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Shell Ridge Open Space is an expansive, 1420-acre space that begins near downtown Walnut Creek and stretches to Mount Diablo. There are over 31 miles of trails, and it's home to the historic Borges Ranch and Howe Homestead Park.
Mt. Diablo State Park is an impressive landmark in the local landscape, with Mt. Diablo's (sometimes snow-capped) summit peaking at 3,849 feet. The park boasts campgrounds, trails, and Rock City, an area teeming with sedimentary sandstone rocks that are millions of years old.
Walnut Creek is served by two school districts — Walnut Creek School District (WCSD) and Mount Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD). Students served by WCSD may attend:
Meanwhile, students served by MDUSD may attend:
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