Walnut Creek 

Downtown Walnut Creek is the cultural heart of Contra Costa County. Situated at the foot of towering Mt. Diablo, Walnut Creek combines an urban flair with picturesque scenery, fabulous weather, and blocks and blocks of a vibrant downtown filled with upscale shops and restaurants. In the center of Walnut Creek is the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts entertaining area residents with top-rated plays, symphonies, operas, and ballets. The arts play a predominant role in the community including the Walnut Creek Art and Wine Festival which is a fabulous opportunity for the community to sample an array of local artists’ works and sample sumptuous dishes from local restaurateurs. The expanded shopping area around Broadway Plaza and Main Street features major national retailers coupled with award-winning and unique neighborhood boutiques and restaurants. Outdoor recreation is another community emphasis. Bicyclists, hikers and equestrians enjoy Mt. Diablo State Park, pet owner’s appreciate Shell Ridge open space off-leash dog policy and of course the popular Iron Horse Trail.  

The 101 acre Heather Farm Parks complex provides art classes, tennis, swimming including a nationally rated synchronized swim team and Masters Swim Team. Local golfers enjoy the scenic Boundary Oak Golf Course. Walnut Creek schools are consistently rated among the state’s top schools and many schools have been honored with the Distinguished School award. This active community is proud of their parent involvement and varied youth sport programs. Additionally there are several private schools in the area. The award-winning active adult community of Rossmoor is located in the city of Walnut Creek, but in their own 2,200 acre valley. Close to 10,000 residents live in a security gated community nestled among hills, open space, and golf courses. 

Horse Communities Walnut Creek 

Northgate Equestrian community 

Northgate Homeowners Association is a Common Interest Development Community located just outside of Walnut Creek. Shadowed by the charismatic Mount Diablo, surrounded by emerald fields and within a stone's throw of Broadway Plaza, Northgate has it all.  

Community includes 

42 stall center aisle barn each stall has it's own paddock 

3 arenas 

* outdoor oval
* dressage
* covered 

* round pen
* 2 wash racks
* 2 turnout pastures
* ample hitching posts
* trailer storage 

amenities also include  

* clubhouse
* tennis courts
* basketball court
* swimming pool
direct access to Mount Diablo and Shell ridge trails  

Things To Do  

What's Happening Calendar
Photo Album
 

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Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive at Locust Street
Administration: 925-295-1400
Ticket Office: 925-943-SHOW


The City's performing and visual arts center, opened in October 1990, houses the 800-seat Hofmann Theatre, the 300-seat Margaret Lesher Theatre, the 130-seat Knight Foundation Stage 3 theatre, the Bedford Gallery, offices and rehearsal space.  

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Bedford Gallery
1601 Civic Drive at Locust Street
Phone: 925-295-1417
Current Exhibitions
Hours: Tues-Sat, noon to 5 p.m., Thurs-Sat, noon-5 p.m., 6-8 p.m
Admission: $3, general; $2, youth (17 and under); free, children 12 and under. Tuesdays, free.


The gallery, located in the Lesher Center for the Arts, offers such events as "Art Mornings" and docent tours. Watch for openings of new shows.  

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Lindsay Wildlife Museum 

(Map) Address: 1931 First Avenue (in Larkey Park)
Phone: 925-935-1978
Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children 2 - 17, always free for members and children under 2.
Hours: Wednesday through Friday, noon - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Call for extended summer hours.
Wildlife Hospital -- Fall / Winter hours (Labor Day weekend through March 31) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Spring/Summer hours (April 1 - Labor Day), 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; call 925-935-1978, seven days a week.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum, located in Larkey Park, displays live native California wildlife in its Exhibit Hall and operates a nationally-recognized wildlife hospital and rehabilitation center. A pet education program, hands-on activities, children's discovery room, and a wide array of classes, trips and tours offer children and adult a variety of ways to connect to the natural world. The Lindsay Wildlife Museum Store carries books, nature games, bird feeders, and other items.
Membership: $65 for families, $35 for individuals

 

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Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum 

(Map) Address: 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road (near Shadelands Office Park)
Phone: 925-935-7871
Hours: Wednesday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. (Tours of 10 or more by appointment at other hours.)
Office hours: Mon-Thurs, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $3, adults; $1, students ages 6-17, free; children under 6 and WCHS members. Reservations for 10 or more by appointment.


Built by early Walnut Creek pioneer Hiram Penniman, this 1903 redwood-framed house is a showcase for numerous historical artifacts, many of which belonged to the Pennimans. It also houses a rich archive of Contra Costa and Walnut Creek history in its collections of old newspapers, photographs and government records. The museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and belongs to the City, but is operated by the Walnut Creek Historical Society.  

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Walnut Creek Open Space Recreation Areas/Old Borges Ranch 

(Map) Address: 1035 Castle Rock Road
Phone: 925-943-5860
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. to dusk; Visitor Center open Saturdays, 1-4; first Sunday noon to 4


Walnut Creek owns 2,700 acres of public open space, which are found in the Shell Ridge, Sugarloaf, Lime Ridge and Acalanes Ridge open space recreation areas. The former ranch of early Walnut Creek pioneer Frank Borges is today the home base of Walnut Creek's Shell Ridge Open Space activities. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Old Borges Ranch is also a ranger station. An Environmental/Living History Program is offered at the ranch for school-aged children, college and civic groups to provide a hands-on ranching experience Tuesday through Thursday. Group tours, large group picnicking and overnight camping are by reservation only; call 925-943-5860. The original Borges family home, built in 1899, houses a visitor center with historical displays of the turn-of-the-century. Admission is free every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. and the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. Donations are appreciated.  

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Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society 

(Map) Address: 2751 Buena Vista Avenue (next to Larkey Park)
Phone: 925-937-1888
Hours: Visit website for updated hours
Admission: $3, adults; $2, seniors and children ages 6-12
The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society's Diablo Valley Lines is a permanent, 1,800-square-foot model train layout in a large brown building leased by the City. The impressive HO-scale train set has more than 4,300 feet of laid track on over 175,000 individual ties and more than 340 turnouts. Public viewing areas surround the entire layout and can accommodate up to 150 people an hour. The club's annual Fall Show is held over the weekend in November.
 

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The Gardens at Heather Farm 

(Map) Address: 1540 Marchbanks Drive
Phone: 925-947-1678
E-mail: info@gardenshf.org
The Gardens at Heather Farm embrace a six-acre hillside adjoining Heather Farm Park. Twenty-three demonstration gardens serve as a living classroom for children and adult programs, while showcasing landscape styles and plants adapted to our Mediterranean climate. The building and grounds can be rented for events.

 

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Ruth Bancroft Garden (click for website) 

(Map) Address: 1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek 

What: Hundreds of varieties of cacti and succulents are displayed in the garden planted by Ruth Bancroft, whose late husband's family had established a fruit farm in the Ygnacio Valley over 100 years ago. Tours must be scheduled in advance. 

Phone: 925-944-9352 

Cost: $10.00 per person (members free); $7, seniors and students; free, children under 12. 

When: The Garden is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Self-guided tours available daily.
See website for Docent-led tour information. 

Miscellaneous: Plant sales are held after each tour
 

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Sugarloaf Open Space 

(Map) Address: 2161 Youngs Valley Road, off Rudgear Road
Phone: 925-944-5766
Hours: Open daily during daylight hours
Admission: Free This 177-acre bank of open space land in the southern portion of Walnut Creek affords visitors eye-popping ridgeline views, nearly three miles of scenic trails and one of the few remaining walnut orchards in the area. Picnic areas and restroom facilities are provided, as are facilities for the handicapped.


 

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Walnut Creek Equestrian Center
Address: North end of Heather Farm Park, off North San Carlos Drive
Horse lovers of all ages will enjoy a visit to the Walnut Creek Equestrian Center, a 6-acre riding and training facility owned by the City and operated by a private organization. The center has two rings: a 150' by 300' Olympic-size ring available only to Equestrian Center members, and a 50' by 75' ring open daily, free of charge, to anyone.
 

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Boundary Oak Golf Course
(Map) Address: 3800 Valley Vista Road
Golf Pro Shop and reservations: 925-934-4775
This 18-hole municipal course overlooks Walnut Creek from a hilltop vantage point. This 160-acre recreational facility opened in 1969.



 

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Walnut Creek Skate Park 

Corner of Marchbanks Drive and Heather Drive in Heather Farm Park (across from Clarke Swim Center)
Free admission
Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hotline number: 925-256-3584
All users must wear helmet and knee pads and elbow pads. See rules.







Walnut Creek City Hall
1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596
(925) 943-5800 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

 

Clayton 

The charming city of Clayton was founded by Joel Clayton. He purchased 40 acres at the confluence of Mitchell and Diablo creeks and in 1855 built his home here. In 1857, he founded the town of Clayton and laid out the town and streets that exist to this day. Clayton has approximately 400 acres of open space with a variety of recreation activities in the area. In addition, there are 17 miles of walking and hiking trails within the Clayton Trail System. The Trail System connects to the East Bay Regional Park District's Black Diamond, Bruce Lee and Back Canyon Trails. 

Equestrian communities 

Diablo Downs