California Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Walnut Creek, California

Population: 60,569

Located in Contra Costa County

Walnut Creek was recognized by the National Conference of Mayors as "the most livable small city in the nation!" It Intersects Highways 24 and 680 and has a BART station. The City of Walnut Creek is the center of Contra Costa County with lots of open space, recreational areas, a very active business and commercial community, it has the reputation for excellent planning. It is a major employment center for Contra Costa County with easy access to San Francisco, Oakland and Pleasanton work communities.

ROSSMOOR
On the southeastern side of the City lies the former and gorgeous Dollar Ranch which now boasts a very large retirement community--Rossmoor with numerous homes, condos, town homes and cooperative units plus their own golf course and recreational activities.

RECREATION
 Walnut Creek voters purchased and preserved many acres on the hills below Mt. Diablo (4000' elevation) surrounding the City. Views from the Top of the Mountain are fantastic on a clear day-the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Mt. Shasta and the Sierras. Borges Ranch is a living part of our Western heritage. It offers a hands-on experience for students and citizens of what it was like to live on a working ranch at the turn of the century. Hiking and camping is also available in Mt. Diablo State Park. Alexander Lindsay Museum allows children and their families to borrow a small pet for a week--just like a library book. It is located in one of the Cities large parks on the Pleasant Hill border. There are stuffed animals and real ones that were rescued and nursed back to health by Lindsay volunteers. There are classes and the discovery room. It is a great place for teenage volunteers to learn about wildlife.

Walnut Creek's other recreational areas are: Shadelands Ranch (an old home) Museum, The Gardens of Heather Farms, Heather Farms Park and Community Pools, plus an Model Railroad Museum. Dean Lesher Regional Center For the Arts has three small theatres for live plays, musicals, lectures, etc. The downtown area that surrounds the theatre has numerous fine restaurants-many with sidewalk cafes.

Restaurants offer a range of cuisines from French Bistros to Japanese Sushi Bars, American Pizza parlors-- even treats from Morocco, Vietnam, East India, Mexico, Italy. The Bedford Art Gallery next to the theatre is devoted to exhibits of contemporary Northern California artists. The Boundry Oak Golf Course is city owned while Diablo Hills Golf Course is private but open to the public.

The City has a huge civic arts program with classes and facilities downtown as well as on Ygnacio Valley Road at Wiget Lane. Walnut Creek is also in partnership with two gymnasiums and has an extensive program for Seniors.

For more variety, San Francisco and the Napa Valley wine region are less and a hour's drive. Walnut Creek's farmers markets are open Sunday mornings in the library parking lot, as well as downtown on Thursday eves with lots of fresh food from eastern Contra Costa County, flowers, cheeses, bread, etc. The summer outdoor Jazz Festival is also on Thursday eves.

SHOPPING
The original Broadway Shopping Center has been remodeled and boasts many boutique shops plus Macys, Nordstroms, and David M. Brian's (I call it Gumps of the East!). Across the street is Broadway Point with Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma. The newest Shopping area features Tiffany's, Century 14 Movie Theatre, Andronicos Market and Delicatessen plus numerous smaller shops. Walnut Creek's "Free Bus" travels between Bart and the downtown area.

TRANSPORTATION
BART (BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT) serves most all of the cities in Contra Costa County with commuter buses--The County Connection connecting from most neighborhoods. Trains and buses run more frequently during commute hours.

EDUCATION
All of the schools in Walnut Creek are top-some with national and state a wards. The school system here is what drives up the prices of homes. For more details on the schools see http://www.greatschools.net or email Kay at kvlanway@msn.com