I like what Water Light Public Plaza represents, even if it's poorly designed…read more Unfortunately, the three walls that make up the Plaza have no sound dampening. So if you have multiple people speaking or children being children, the sound carries to the point it's unpleasant. It couldn't be made into a park because the noise would be deafening. The Plaza has little to no greenery and only receives sunlight during certain points of the day and year, generally being a concrete shaded rather cold space with tables that go largely unused. It would liven up the area dramatically if they put in a small coffee shop that had games you could check out (like Salesforce Park), but my guess is they have to keep it a community space for tax purposes. In my opinion the seating at Growers Square and the Wells Fargo Fountain are far more successful. They're both more comfortable and have a mix of shaded and sunny areas. So all in all, while the idea of the Plaza (with it's beautiful tiled backdrop and fountain) is great, the actual usability of it day to day is fairly low.

This is a really cute public space in Walnut Creek, with a few plants along the border and several…read moretables available to enjoy snacks or drinks. Half of the seating area was covered by shade when we visited, which was a relief on a hot Sunday afternoon. The glass and ceramic mosaic mural along the wall, titled Water Light, is a beautiful reflective art piece by Jason Middlebrook, whose works connect art, history, and nature. The arcs of water flowing from the jets blend in with the artwork on the wall beautifully. The biggest surprise was the wooden grand piano at the corner of the plaza adorned with images of tiny trees and polka dots whose colors match the mural in the background (part of the Painted Piano Project). We got to play and listen to lovely melodies while relaxing in this simple yet delightful space.

This year the honey and I decided we would try out a couple different Christmas Tree Lanes instead…read moreof just driving around hoping to find different lit neighborhoods. This Christmas Tree Lane is perhaps the ultimate Christmas Tree Lane, considering it's an extremely dense block where every single home is lit up with different displays. On one end there was a table with kids selling cookies and hot chocolate and in the middle there was a frosty ice cream truck. We got a bit lucky as it was less busy when we drove in around 6pm or so, but it was a madhouse by the time we wrapped up our visit. We later drove over to the San Ramon Christmas Tree Lane on Woodland Drive and found it to be much less busy and a bit more enjoyable as their streets were wider. All in all, this Christmas Tree Lane is definitely something to experience once, but unless you're local to Alameda I'm not sure I'd make it a yearly trip.

This was our first time going to Christmas Tree Lane here! There are not much areas with Christmas…read moredecoration / lights in this area, so it was nice to be able to find an area with beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Not much parking that was close by and it was a bit cold / windy during our visit, so we just drove down the street and it was beautiful still.

I attended the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival over the first weekend of June. For the second year…read morein a row, it was held at Civic Park downtown. The weather was perfect. Both days were in the 70s. The layout was similar to that of last year. On the west side, there was a beer garden, rides for kids, and numerous vendors. On the east side, there were even more vendors, a petting zoo, large stage for musical acts, and an excellent lineup of food vendors. It seemed to me that there were more new vendors this year than last year. I interacted with some of them and they were all friendly. It's nice that there were several city-owned garages within walking distance. The organizers also operated shuttles to and from BART. I'm not a drinker so the prices of alcohol was of no concern to me. Someone in my group did mention drinks ran north of $10 per glass. On the food front, premium prices were charged. Four pieces of chicken strips cost $24. The musical acts were good. A lot of 80s and 90s tunes were played. Overall, it was a nice event. Will check it out again next year.

Wow! My first time here taking BaRt to Walnut Creek in 2025 and it was easy to find the shuttle…read morebus which was a school bus to take the riders to the park where the Art and Wine Festival was. Very easy. If all festivals are like this, I might as well venture out and explore! This was a new temporary location for this festival as the original was further away but it was being fixed or upgraded. I loved the set up as it was easy to walk around to see the vendors, rides and food! Yummy! You know I came for some good BBQ and it was great. Nice warm weather and good opening act Michelle Lambert the singer sounds great. She sounds like a Lee Ann Rimes and she plays a violin which was amazing to see and hear. As I was walking around there was food booths and vendors all around. My friend and i walked around the entire area. It's worth to trip to get a change of scenery and explore new vendors we don't normally see where we live. I bought some fresh nuts and bought my bbq lunch. My friend had to buy the cute succulents that came in a box of three. Would I come back here? Sure got good food, entertainment and vendors that were all well balanced.

Strolling through downtown Walnut Creek, I felt the unmistakable pull of destiny--a dinosaur-sized…read morehunch that something primal was calling. And there it was, the RAWR sculpture by artist Joyce Hsu, standing tall and proud like a raptor with a degree in modern art. It's as if the spirit of Jurassic Park whispered to Hsu: "What if dinosaurs weren't extinct, just... fabulous?" This T-Rex channels more sass than menace, its metallic frame a shimmering reminder that life, much like art, finds a way. The craftsmanship is impressive, its industrial skeleton begging for a caption like, "Clever girl... or clever welder?" The quirky title, RAWR, strikes the perfect chord--equal parts prehistoric roar and millennial text-speak. A must-see for anyone who loves dinosaurs, movies, or existential reflections on what a T-Rex might say if it had Twitter/X. In a world of beige suburban monotony, RAWR is the cultural chaos we didn't know we needed. Five prehistoric stars! [RAWR is a series of imaginative sculptures by Joyce Hsu, including a 12-foot-high T-Rex Robot and a 6-foot-high Dino Bench, located in Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza.]

I came here last night with a friend cruising around in the car. It was fantastic to see many…read morehouses with Christmas lights! I loved the house with 97.8 FM audio with music matching the lights. This is my third year visiting this area and it never disappoints. I would come yearly as my schedule allows.

In this review I'll be comparing this Christmas Tree Lane (which can be found by simply putting in…read more'Woodland Drive, San Ramon' into Google Maps, and the Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda. While Alameda's Christmas Tree Lane is roughly a single densely packed block with a few blocks around it that sporadically participate, this location is an entire development with the homes more often then not having some type of display up. The streets are wider so it's easier to slowly drive along, and because it's bigger its less busy. Although this location lacks the frosty ice cream truck and the hot chocolate table Alameda's locale boasted, I personally found Woodland Drive to be a bit more enjoyable because it was less stressful to drive through. All in all, the honey and I enjoyed both but would be more likely to return to this Christmas Tree Lane, especially since it had my favorite display of the evening - a blue light river with ducks!

What a lovely evening in The Creek. How different it is there than i the streets I more…read morecustomarily travel. So pale. So placid. Not in a bad way. A passel of patriots plied the portals of perfection for a handful of hours last night, passing from place to place, pleasing our palate with the plenty poured ... Stop. Sorry. It was a lot of fun. A dozen or so eateries and shops and a piano store to visit, each with a small sample of their fare or something they brought to get us in the door. The crowd wasn't huge, the beneficiary of the gate a lovely organization about which I'd like to learn more. I think I liked those little sausages in a taco proffered at Stelle Bistro the best of all. While my big hands made the sausages look so small once I wrapped my lips around them there was no turning back. I had two. They were so good. Nique, Jayzee, 'Nessa and I tripped those lights fantastically. The evening's end on the couches at Residual Sugar sipping the bubbles thank you very much for the bubbles, my dear, was as pleasant a group together as I've had in a very long time. We didn't Gallop. We strolled. We're from Oakland, after all.

Now this was one nice little fun walking adventure I must say! A self-paced guided tour of Walnut…read moreCreek, in which it was created to raise funds and help students of the Diablo Ballet. I can't say I've ever been to an actual ballet performance, but after meeting the staff and supporters that put this event together; I wouldn't mind checking out one of their shows in the future. Just to show my support. The great thing about this event was that it began at one of my favorite places, Massimo! We checked in, started out with a serving of Cesar salad, pasta, and garlic bread. A good starting location, as you explored that map and scheduled your adventure. I've already done over half of the places listed, like: Massimo, Walnut Creek Yacht Club, Lark Creek, Hamachi, SF Creamery Company, Lottie's Creamery, Silk Road, The Counter, and Peet's Coffee. But I would have to highlight where I stopped: ~Massimo's soft penne pasta bolognese! Perfect! ~WC Yacht Club's watermelon gazpacho with shrimp and pine nuts! Delish! ~Lottie's served up some floats! Loved the root beer and orange flavored soda! ~Silk Road had some fresh hummus and flatbread with chicken pomegranate. This was some serious stuff! I should've asked for a second serving. ~The Counter: Sweet potato, onion strings, and parmesan garlic fries. Ok, but not a fan. Highlights of new places I've never stepped foot in, until now: ~Steinway Piano Gallery - Served up some wine from Las Positas Vineyards. Sorry, didn't like the wine, but loved the background music from the pianist. ~SkinSpirit - Serving Laughing Glass Cocktails and L'Artisan Gourmet Parisian Macarons. Unfortunately I gave up drinking, but gave the drink a sip and knew it was too good for me to finish. As for the macarons, they were OK only a little too soft for me. ~54 Mint Forno - Wow, my third favorite stop. A new WC bakery discovery. Loved the samples, but recommend everyone to take home one of their quiche's. Egg buttery goodness! ~Opa! - My second favorite stop. Why? Because everyone should try their spanakopita. Super flaky and made just right. As was their dolmas. It wasn't overly lemony like most places make it. Damn near perfect! ~We Olive - MY FAV! Enjoyed the ladies that helped me out. I sampled everything and very much plan to come back. This place gets its own personal highlights because of the variety of balsamic and olive oils. Ellen displaying her Chubtastic Wine Bottle Art as well. I wish I knew of this place long ago. Oh, and the brownie/wine combo...mmm!!! Overall, if you haven't really explored Walnut Creek, then this would have been a great opportunity to do so. And also a great way of showing your support for the hard working ballet students. If this continues next year, I shall plan to gallop once again. My only negative star would be because, I didn't see fellow yelpers flaunting any Elite name badges :(

Downtown Walnut Creek is a great place to walk around, patronize businesses and take it all in…read morewithout practically any fear of rampant theft or violence that's happening in places like San Francisco or Oakland. It's actually jarring how orderly things are here. Could it be that having pragmatic city policies, dealing with bread-and-butter issues (ex. housing), and not having a city council driven by ideology makes for better, safer cities? ;) Things that really stand out: the wide sidewalks, Big Belly trash cans on every corner (and they work!), and plenty of benches and parklets that make it super pedestrian-friendly. Public art is everywhere thanks to the city's public art initiative, and it really enhances the outdoor experience. You'll come across "Bullman with bulldog", "Rawr", "Hand of Peace", "Fountain Head" and so many more while you're there! I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention that parking places, especially three city garages (a total of 1378 spots [!!!]) that charge *just* $1.25 per hour and the first hr is free. I've never seen these garages at max capacity so I have no idea why people complain about the parking situation... Biggest downside of Downtown? The drivers here are some of the worst in the Bay Area--seriously inattentive & thus dangerous. Keep an eye out when crossing the street, strive to make eye contact because their Teslas can send you flying to the emergency room.

Sept 16, 2025 I haven't spent a nickle on goods or services…read morein Walnut Creek now for four years. I occasionally see a restaurant on YELP that makes Walmut Creek look attractive but I have proudly shaken the cheating Walnut Creek dust off of my sandals. There was an exception where I was taken to that God forsaken place due to me being in a coma. Also I am taking my daughter there for a Dr. appointment today. Restaurants and shopping and parking in that trap? Not going to happen until Hell freezes over.

Review 1 of 3. Time for an update only because I found 3…read morelistings for the City of Walnut Creek?!?! To my wife and daughter; it is a 5 star city. I rate it as a 3 star city. So 4 stars it is. Quality/Quantity - As a kid growing up, this was "yuppie" land. Bart (two stations) made it easy to commute to the "city." And they had affordable housing, especially compared to SF. Still more affordable than SF! Almost 20 square miles. Population of 70k+. If you are following, we ONLY go to the Apple store here. They have the best employees at the Apple Genius bar. Restaurants are a hit and miss. Today's Yelp search took me to many places OUTSIDE of the city?!?! But it was a VERY positive experience; see Habana Express review in Pleasant Hill. Atmosphere - Well, we (my wife and daughter) really only spend our/their time in the downtown shopping area. I really just eat when I am here, at least they let me pick the restaurants; yes for Yelp, lol. I also think the area is congested, but not today. And that they really should have free all day shopping, I mean parking, lol. They are doing me a favor, well not really, as I have to move the car for the family if they exceed 3 hours. In theory, if they leave before 3 hours, it saves me/us $$. Today, we were here for less than 3 hours. Service - Good, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Walking historic tours available, see website. Price - Above average, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1849. 1951 - Broadway Shopping Center, now "Broadway Plaza." No, I am not that old, lol. 1973 - BART opened in Walnut Creek. Grew the population 300% that decade!

Lots to like about Walnut Creek!!…read more Downtown is always bustling on the weekends!! Broadway Plaza is the outdoor mall here with plenty of surrounding and walkable stores and restaurants. And yes, the parking situation in this area is serious, so be extra mindful of the times and make sure you get back to your car before the meter expires, if you park on the street. You're actually better off just paying to park in the main garage. But besides the downtown area, Heather Farm Park is very nice, spacious, and also bustling on nice weekends!! You can tell it's pricey to live here, but you can also tell it's relatively safe too!! And yes, it gets major league hot here in the summertime. Of all the cities in this area, Walnut Creek is definitely the most lively!!

Beautiful downtown by a beach. Must visit. All the way to here to get the olive oil. It had…read morebeautiful decor during Christmas time

Downtown Benecia is a family friendly spot, with great restaurants and local businesses. There are…read morelots of fun events and a terrific Thursday night Farmer's Market. Benecia is a gem!

Went to Gusto Mio for lunch and had a really good experience. We tried the Margherita and Carne…read morepizza, and the Porchetta sandwich. Everything was delicious and tasted really fresh. The pizzas were great, and the porchetta sandwiche was probably my favorite. I was talking with the staff and found out that the porchetta is made in house, which makes it even better. The service was friendly and the whole place had a great vibe. Definitely coming back. Gracias

Everything my family had was phenomenal ! This is the only photo I was able to capture . Service,…read morequality, taste 5 stars! Can't want to come back with the rest of my family!