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Just 25 miles outside of San Francisco, Walnut Creek combines scenic beauty with a wealth of culture and fine arts, not to mention its multiple community centers and free civic activities. Its 65,000 residents enjoy the East Bay in style, with shopping, dining and an array of options for outdoor recreation. And due to the San Ramon and Ygnacio Valleys, spring and summer are far warmer and sunnier than those of its bayside neighbors to the west.
Walnut Creek is home to an educated, affluent, white-collar crowd, and you’ll find nearly as many single, young adults as you will middle-aged couples raising a family. It’s also been named one of the best cities in the country for retirement. Healthcare companies John Muir Health and Kaiser Permanente drive the local economy, though you’ll also find a number of employees from Bank of the West and the City of Walnut Creek itself.
Looking for something to do? Take a hike. Walnut Creek is home to 22 city parks, offering more than 250 acres of greenery, mountains and scenic views. Diablo Foothills Regional Park, Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area and Heather Farm Park (along with its gardens) are only a few of the city’s spots for taking in nature. To the west you’ll find both Berkeley and San Francisco easily accessible via public transportation or car ride, making a visit to two of the country’s most exciting, culturally diverse and vibrant cities a breeze. It’s not strange to see bike paths on a large number of Walnut Creek roads; in fact, biking is an integral part of the community. Whether you’re biking to work or for recreation, there are varied and plentiful bike paths, as well as the 511 Contra Costa: an online mapping system to help you find the flattest and safest routes to get you to your destination.
Walnut Creek is a city that appreciates the finer things in life: The California Symphony, The Festival Opera Association and a number of other arts organizations are based here, so you can always find a performance, community art class or recital to fill your time. Broadway Plaza, the city’s large downtown shopping mall, offers designer and big-box apparel, and it’s located near a number of downtown restaurants and bars to provide shopping fuel, day or night.