Located in the foothills of Mount Diablo, Walnut Creek is a historic city in the East Bay region of San Francisco. The area was originally inhabited by the Bay Miwok people before being established as the community of “The Corners” in the wake of the Mexican-American War. The city takes its name from Walnut Creek House, built by Milo Hough in 1855.
Things to do in Walnut Creek
Running north to south through Walnut Creek is the Iron Horse Regional Trail, which largely follows a historic transportation corridor for the South Pacific Railroad. It’s accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and takes in the cities of Pleasanton, San Ramon and Concord. Along the way, you can explore Downtown Alamo and the Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area.
Animal lovers can visit the Lindsay Wildlife Experience, which was founded in 1955 as the first wildlife hospital in the United States. In the enclosures, you can get up close to native California species before browsing the natural history displays. More than 5,000 animals are treated every year in its treatment rooms, one of which can be observed by the public.
Established in the 1950s as a private botanical collection is the Ruth Bancroft Garden, which has grown to include more than 2,000 cacti, succulents and native California species. It was the first garden in the United States to be preserved by The Garden Conservancy and offers a fascinating insight into the growing conditions of xerophytes. Many of the display species are available for purchase in the nursery.
Getting around Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek is around 20 minutes’ drive from Oakland and 35 minutes from San Francisco. San Francisco International Airport is 40 minutes away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Walnut Creek railway station and buses travel throughout the city.