Things To Do
Walnut Creek
This is where most of the activities, except for the wedding reception, will take place. Easy to explore on foot. There is a Farmers' Market on Locust Street on Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm. Here are some of our recommended restaurants: 1. Limón - Peruvian cuisine (Anh's favorite. Get a pisco sour!) 2. Fleming's - Prime steakhouse and wine bar 3. Elia - Greek cuisine 4. Daryoush - Persian cuisine 5. Teleferic Barcelona - Spanish tapas 6. Il Fornaio - Italian cuisine 7. Sipeos - Vegetarian menu 8. Buttercup - Diner and bar 9. Third Culture - Bakery and coffee (awesome variety of Mochi Muffins/Donuts flavors!)
Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
For your first time in SF and want to see the "most photographed bridge" upclose. Fun fact: It held the title for the tallest suspension bridge in the world until 1998
Golden Gate Park
We’re super lucky to live right by Golden Gate Park. Fun fact: It's about 20% bigger than Central Park and has a ton of cool spots, like the De Young art museum, Japanese Tea Garden, SF Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, and a Bison Paddock with around 10 just hanging out. They almost went extinct, so the park brought them there in 1891 to try saving them.
The Marina District/North Beach/Chinatown
If you feel adventurous and down for a whole day of exploration, start your day by taking a stroll from Palace of the Fine Arts, down the Marina Green that hugs the water, towards the Fort Mason Park. Or just stroll slowly through the Marina district. Fun fact: The entire Marina District is built on landfill from the 1906 earthquake rubble. Once you get to Fort Mason, shop for some chocolates at the Ghirardelli Square, get an Irish coffee (non-alcoholic) at the Buena Vista cafe, get the "world-famous" In-N-Out Burger (Jason's favorite burger), then head to Lombard street - the crookedest street in the world and/or Pier 39 if you would like to see the cacophony of sea lions or sign up for some boat trips. Then towards the Italian North Beach neighborhood and Chinatown
Wine country Napa-Sonoma
Now for some wine lovers, you are very close by the U.S' famous wine country : Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Listed are some of Lisa's (Jason's mom) and Anh's favorites in the area. Reservations are needed in advance for all wine tasting Sonoma - our favorite out of the 2 areas 1. Gloria Ferrer Winery (known for sparkling) 2. Buena Vista Winery (known for reds) 3. Gundlach Bundschu (Anh likes their whites) 4. Bartholomew Estate Winery (nice strolling trail on the property) Napa 1. Joseph Phelps Vineyards 2. Rutherford Hill Vineyards 3. Silver Oak Napa Valley
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
The name says it all 🙂. This awesome park is in Oakland, 20 min drive from Walnut Creek. Fun fact: coast redwoods can grow over 380 feet (115+ m) tall, taller than the Statue of Liberty! Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County (north of San Francisco) is another option, but it requires advance reservations and paid parking, which can be a bit of a hassle. If you’re already in Marin, it’s worth stopping by Sausalito or heading up to Hawk Hill for sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay, and the San Francisco skyline.
Lake Tahoe/Yosemite National Park
If you have a bit more time, I highly recommend a trip to Lake Tahoe and/or Yosemite National Park—both are about a 3-hour drive from Walnut Creek. Fun fact: Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. Be sure to check the National Park website ahead of time to see if reservations are required for entry (I don't think so but doublecheck)