Places To Go In Central California

 

 

 

 

 Contra Costa County
Includes Walnut Creek

 

Heather Farms Garden Center
1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925)947-1539

Established in 1968, the gardens are a living museum, a wildlife habitat, an outdoor classroom, and a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.  Check their website for education opportunities.  To volunteer call (925) 947-6712.

 

Lindsay Wildlife Museum
1931 First Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
(925) 935-1978

Connect with wildlife and learn about the animals found in our backyards and open spaces. At Lindsay Wildlife Museum you can have close encounters with many live, non-releasable wild animals such as an eagle, hawk, fox, snake or coyote. An on-site wildlife hospital treats more than 6,000 native California animals every year. The museum also features changing art and natural history exhibits, classes for children and adults, and a discovery room with hands-on activities for children.  Please note, the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Visit their website for hours, pricing, current exhibits, and a virtual tour!   Don't forget to check out their opportunities for volunteers!
 

 

Little Star Cafe
1536 Newell Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
 925-938-7400

With fanciful murals depicting animated gingerbread people and skies with animal clouds, plus a 12 foot castle with a kids' only entrance, Little Star Café in downtown Walnut Creek offers an ambiance fascinating to children and alluring to adults. From its healthy menu co-designed by a well known Bay Area chef and its brightly colored dining room to a full espresso bar, California wines and beers, Little Star Café is the perfect spot for a comfortable family meal, a memorable child's party or a fun filled activity venue where kids can play while parents eat and relax.

Special Features include "Little Star Town", a glass enclosed safe play area where parents can see their kids while they relax and enjoy a meal ; 12 foot high "Land of Cookies Castle", the perfect birthday party room; edible craft and kids cooking classes; "drop-n-shop" afternoon day care. Available for private and semi private parties at any time for groups of 12 or more. Free parking lot.

Hours: Continuous restaurant service from 9:00 am to 5:00pm Monday –Friday; 9:00am – 1:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Private room parties and whole restaurant buyouts can be reserved for anytime, including evening hours. Click Here For A Map view their menu, or just visit their website for additional information.


				

 

Mount Diablo State Park
Oak Grove and Northgate Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 837 2525

A great jewel of the California park system.  Hiking, incredible views of the region, and an array of local flora and fauna.  Mount Diablo is a huge and rugged park, so do visit the website above to plan your time there according to your time and your fitness level.  Be sure to pack plenty of water to keep hydrated on the trails, and don't forget to pick up a trail map at the visitor center.  For information on park weather conditions up on the mountain call (925) 838-9225Park is open 8am to sunset Monday through Saturday.  Summit Museum hours: 10am-4pm. 

Mount Diablo State Park Brochure (pdf file)

Park Location Map and Directions

 

Old Borges Ranch
1035 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek.
(925) 942-0225

For many people California history calls up images of the 49ers and the gold rush or of local Native American tribes in tule reed dwellings.  But the eras of Spanish, Mexican, and early American habitation in California saw the introduction and expansion of cattle ranching.  On the Borges Ranch, visitors can see a small working cattle ranch that encapsulates ranch life in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Here you'll find the original barns of the Borges Ranch plus a ranch house, wagonshed, woodshed, windmill, blacksmith shop, corrals, and antique farm equipment.   100 head of cattle still graze here, and kids and will especially enjoy the farm animals.  Besides living history, the ranch emphasizes environmental education and land preservation.

Open daily from 8 am to sunset.  Admission is free.  The ranch is situated in, and serves as ranger headquarters for, the 1400 acre Walnut Creek Open Space and Shell Ridge Recreation Area.  For more information about hiking here visit the Borges Ranch Hiking Page Picnickers will enjoy the ranch's Hanna Grove Picnic Area.  Note that the Borges Ranch Holiday Hoedown is held on the first Saturday in December and Borges Ranch Day happens on the first Saturday in June.  Both events are free.

To volunteer, call supervising ranger Nancy Dollard, (925) 943-5899, Ext. 135.

 

Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum
2660 Ygnacio Valley Road
(925) 935-7871
Map to Shadelands

If you have older kids who are learning about California history, you might enjoy a visit to this Walnut Creek landmark built by pioneer Hiram Penniman in 1903 for his spinster daughter.  The grounds feature gardens and outbuildings that represent the era's way of life on a working farm.   And the redwood-framed house showcases numerous historical artifacts, including local newspapers, photographs and government records.   For individuals wishing to do research on local history, the Sherwood Burgess Room is open Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Please note that the museum is closed each year from the beginning of November until the first Sunday in February to allow for refurbishing -- as well as the hosting of the Walnut Creek Historical Society's Holiday Faire and Victorian Teas.

Hours: Wednesday and Sunday (tours offered) - 1 to 4 p.m. Closed late November through early February.  Admission: $3, adults; $1, students ages 6-17, free; children under 6 and WCHS members. Reservations for 10 or more by appointment.   Office hours: Mon-Thurs, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Call Director Hannah Clayborn at 925-935-7871 to ask about volunteer opportunities. 

 

Sugarloaf Open Space
2161 Youngs Valley Road, Walnut Creek CA 94596
(off Rudgear Road)
(925) 944-5766

Picnic and group barbecue areas, rest rooms, extensive hiking and equestrian trails (with trail connections to Rudgear Park and Shell Ridge Open Space).   Camping available.  Dogs okay on leash.  Trail Map

 

Summit Museum
96 Mitchell Canyon Rd
Clayton, CA 94517
(925) 837-6119

Get directions

Part of the Mount Diablo State Park Visitor's Center.

 

Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society

2751 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek, CA 94597-2503
Off Geary Road - In Larkey Park
(925) 937-1888
Get directions

Whether you love Thomas the Tank engine or collect scale model HO train sets, you'll enjoy a visit to see the miniature world lovingly laid out in this picturesque 1,800 square foot HO scale model.   No, you won't see Thomas and Bertie or any of their friends.  But you will see an amazingly detailed landscape of mini mountains, docks, towns, plus a plethora of working trains and trolleys that is sure to fire the imagination.  And with some 4,300 feet of track a single train circuit takes 15 minutes!  (View the video below for more info.)

 

Hours:  In general the display is open the last Friday of the month from 8-10 pm, however they do offer the occasional Saturday and Sunday from 11-6 so that kids can come for a visit as well, so check their calendar or visit their website for more information about hours of operation.  If you are visiting from out of town and don't want to miss a showing, give them a call to see if these kind and accommodating folks might have a member on hand to show you around. 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Contra Costa County


East Bay/Oakland
 

Fremont 

 

Gilroy &
Morgan Hill


Islands of S.F. Bay

 

Marin & The North Bay

 

Monterey County

 

San Francisco & Peninsula

 

San Juan Bautista

 

Santa Cruz County  

 

South Bay / Silicon Valley 

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