15 Best Things to do in Walnut Creek (CA)

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Walnut Creek is a city in Contra Costa County, California. It is located 16 miles east of Oakland in the San Francisco Area’s East Bay.

Walnut Creek is acknowledged as the region’s most populous city. It is primarily renowned for its pleasant climate all year long and vast green spaces ideal for outdoor activities like hiking.

It has numerous restaurants, galleries, breweries, retail centers, museums, historical sites, unique artwork, tranquil parks, famous trails, beaches, and farms that are quite a take.

Attending a California Symphony performance, hiking the Contra Costa Canal Trail, and taking a tour at Lindsay Wildlife Experience are notable things to do in Walnut Creek.

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Here is a guide to the 15 Best Things to do in Walnut Creek, California

1. Have a View of The Gardens at Heather Farm

The Gardens at Heather Farm was established in 1972 as a non-profit volunteer organization. This garden acts as a haven, and it’s not only a public garden but also a venue for special events and a learning hub.

During daylight hours, the gardens are open to the public, providing free self-guided tours of more than a dozen landscaped garden areas. It’s an excellent place to host weddings on Saturdays because of its peaceful and beautiful environment.

It would be best if you visited this place to adore the beautifully manicured area that includes a greenhouse, a waterfall garden with about 11 breathtaking waterfalls, and a tree grove with a Mediterranean climate. You can also move around and admire beautiful flowers like roses and lilies.

If you are a nature enthusiast, visiting this Garden at Heather Farm Park is one of the best things to do in Walnut Creek.

Address: 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

2. Explore the Old Borges Ranch

The Old Borges Ranch was built in the late 1890s by Francisco Borges. Today, The National Register of Historic Places lists this 15-acre historic cow ranch as a regional park and living museum.

When you visit Old Borges Ranch, you will see numerous hiking, biking, and horseback riding paths in addition to the historic ranch complex. The trails are designated and well-kept, and most have gradual hills rather than challenging ascents.

The ranch is open for independent exploration, and guided tours are available on specific days each month. You will also encounter the farm animals there as you travel through the land.

Coming outside on a spring day to breathe fresh air, see blooming trees, and view birds using a binocular is one of the best things to do in Walnut Creek.

Address: 1035 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

3. Take a Tour of Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery is a well-known garden with a varied selection of succulents and drought-tolerant plants. Founded by Ruth Bancroft, she is renowned for her drought-tolerant gardening. She has spent more than 60 years collecting and caring for plants in her gardens.

Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery is a wonderfully well-designed site with top-notch exhibits. It has many unique species, and it is quiet and pleasant. You should spend at least an hour or two in this small botanical garden.

There are friendly docents nearby willing to answer any questions you have while letting you explore the area at your own pace. You can also participate in tours, workshops, and other educational programs to raise your awareness in the neighborhood.

Visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery is one of the best things to do in Walnut Creek!

Address: 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

4. Enjoy a Show at the Lesher Center for the Arts

When you visit the charming Walnut Creek, watch a show or two at the Lesher Center for the Arts. It is a great place to see shows because it is classy without being extravagant. It is well-kept, offers easy parking, and has a courteous staff.

Lesher Center for the Arts is a cultural center with unique theaters for various events. The theatre holds over 900 shows and productions annually and welcomes over 350,000 guests.

Numerous performances by regional and touring theater companies, concerts, movie screenings, dance groups, musicals, and much more are available at Lesher Center for the Arts.

Address: 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States.

5. Listen to Good Music at the California Symphony

California Symphony was founded in 1985 and is one of the top symphony orchestras in the San Francisco Bay Area. This orchestra, led by music director Donato Cabrera, continuously strives to create contemporary concert programs by fusing excerpts from contemporary composers with timeless compositions to create a special 21st-century concert show.

The California Symphony is a thrilling activity you should engage in while visiting Walnut Creek. It’s known for its dynamic performance lineups of classical music, which offer music to you in new and unusual contexts.

You can also observe performances during the regular season at the Lesher Center for the Arts and a few extra performances in various Napa Valley and the Bay Area locations. Being a part of the audience at the California Symphony is one of the best things to do in Walnut Creek.

Address: 100 Pringle Avenue, Suite 540, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States.

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6. Dine at Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar

At Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar, there is a wide selection of appetizers, artisanal cheese, salads, soups, seafood meals, pasta dishes, and desserts on the menu. There are also vegan and gluten-free options available.

Along with its restaurant operations and various cooking demonstrations in which you can participate, Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar also maintains a continental catering service for special neighborhood occasions.

The Wine Bar is significant; it offers indoor and outdoor seats and a fantastic ambiance. After dinner, you may unwind and experience the large selection of accessible international wines in the exquisite yet relaxed and always inviting atmosphere.

Address: 1511 Mt Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States.

7. See Wildlife at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience

Lindsay Wildlife Experience, previously known as Lindsay Wildlife Museum, is a family museum and wildlife rehabilitation facility. It is the first wildlife hospital founded in the United States and a famous family museum in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

A plethora of California animal exhibits, natural history artifacts, and a unique theater giving visitors a peek inside one of the hospital’s numerous wildlife treatment rooms are all featured in the museum. More than 5,000 wild animals are treated at the rehabilitation facility each year, which is still one of the biggest in the nation.

It’s a nice quiet place to hang out with family on a peaceful weekend afternoon, and you can move around with your kids to see wildlife and artifacts.

Address: 1931 1st Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94597, United States.

8. Relax at the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is a gem of redwood forest, a few miles over the ridge from downtown Oakland. This park contains incredibly tranquil woods that locals and city inhabitants visit to get their fix on nature away from the busy metropolis.

Redwoods, scrubland, meadows, and several endangered wildlife species like the golden eagle and Alameda striped racer are all found in the park. You can also see rabbits, squirrels, deer, and raccoons.

You can explore the redwoods and other woodland areas in this beautiful location. The park is large and has lovely trails. It is a wonderful place to relax, take a short walk, or hike. The open grassy area and a private meadow for picnics can contain about 50 to 150 people.

Address: 7867 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619, United States.

9. Take a Tour of the Newhall Community Park

Newhall Community Park is a fantastic park with around 126 acres along Galindo Creek east of Treat Boulevard. This park has many attractions like; bocce courts, picnic areas, play structures, ponds along the creek, turfed athletic fields, attractive picnic spaces, and lovely ponds near the creek.

As a result of the range of amenities, there is always a bright time in Newhall Community Park. You can take advantage of some of the beautiful amenities at the park, like making a reservation if you want to host a group picnic or any special event.

You can come with your dog to the park because there is a ‘Paw Patch,’ a secure, fenced area where dogs can exercise or play off-leash and interact with the many dogs.

Address: 1351 Newhall Pkwy, Concord, CA 94521, United States.

10. Enjoy Golfing at the Boundary Oak Golf Course

Boundary Oak Golf Course is a unique 18-hole golf course in Walnut Creek for Championship competitions. This course is one of the most recognized public golf courses in Northern California and was founded by Robert Muir Graves in 1969.

The Boundary Oak Golf Course has a pro shop where you can enroll in golf seminars, camps, and lessons taught by qualified instructors with a plethora of knowledge.

There is also a restaurant where you can stop by to eat after playing golf. It offers renowned cuisines and is located next to the Boundary Oak Golf Course.

Address: 3800 Valley Vista Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

11. Have Fun at Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area

Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area is a human-made terminal water storage reservoir owned and operated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. A million people visit this area each year, which is remarkable for a relatively small park.

The range of activities available at the Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area will make your experience enjoyable. You can come with your rowboats, kayaks, sailboats, and canoes. You can also go fishing in the water, which is permitted with the usual state licensing requirements and a daily fee.

There are also 35 picnic areas around the reservoir where you can host picnics for small groups. Most picnic spots are found close to the dam, although a few others are scattered throughout the pool.

Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area is picturesque enough to give you the impression that you are spending time in nature. Yet, it is also intimate and approachable and has a welcoming atmosphere.

Address: 3849 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA.

12. See the Soldiers Memorial Monument

This monument honors the sailors and Union Army troops who served during the American Civil War. The monument measures 50 feet deep and rises to almost 100 feet.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage in reflective thought and educational discovery as a guest at the Soldiers Memorial Monument. When you visit the site, you’ll be reminded of the great sacrifices that the sailors and union army troops made for the well-being of others.

Although a monument may not appear to be the most appealing destination for a vacation, This place is a must-see for history and sculpture enthusiasts as one of the best things to do in Walnut Creek.

Address: Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, United States.

13. Tickle your Taste Buds at Limón.

Limón is a family-run eatery specializing in traditional Peruvian and Latin Asian cuisines with a contemporary touch.

The hearty meals here are presented in a welcoming and cozy setting, and the most popular dish is rotisserie chicken. Still, there are many other choices on the broad menu, including salads, ceviches, empanadas, and entrees like Lomo saltado, arroz con pollo, and saltado.

There are also different varieties of wines, beers, and unique cocktails. It’s a perfect place to spend the evening with your lover. You can also order food online, which will be brought to your doorstep only if you live near the eatery.

Address: 1524 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States.

14. Grab a Drink at Calicraft Brewing Company

Calicraft Brewing Company is a modern artisan brewery founded by Blaine Landberg, a young beer lover, in 2012. Today, this brewery offers a variety of sparkling ales, including the popular Rosé Sparkling Ale.

You can access the company’s taproom all day of the week, and on most days, you can see some food trucks parked around the vicinity where you can purchase food.

Live music performances are also conducted every night at Calicraft Brewing Company, adding flavor to the atmosphere. Sporadic special public activities like additional trivia nights are also carried out here.

Address: 2700 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

15. Spend Time at Diablo Hills Regional Park

Diablo Foothills Regional Park is a 1,060-acre public park that serves as a gateway to the Walnut Creek Open Space and Mt. Diablo State Park.

The Park has unmatched panoramic views of the mountains in the area and is home to Castle Rock Recreation Area, which provides a range of day-use outdoor tourist recreation possibilities.

There are seasonal wildflowers that make this Park an excellent place for you to take pictures in the spring and summer. There is an open space for biking, hiking, riding horses, and watching wildlife. Picnic facilities are also available to host large parties or special events at the Park.

Address: 1700 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States.

Plan Your Next Trip to Walnut Creek

The city of Walnut Creek is fascinating, instructive, and amusing. Some of the attractions of this unique city include historical buildings, museums, city parks, trails, walkways, rivers, and reservoirs.

We’ve provided you with a list of activities in Walnut Creek. Do make time to go on vacation in this beautiful city.

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