Walnut Creek is considered the commercial and cultural center of the Contra Costa region and is the place to go for shopping, entertainment, and outdoor recreation. For a shopping trip, visit the Sunvalley Shopping Center, five miles north of Walnut Creek. The mall has 160 stores and a fairly extensive food court to satisfy hungry travelers. The downtown area has a number of boutique stores if you’re looking for more high-end fare and the tree-lined streets are the perfect place to do some window shopping. Looking for a cultural experience? The Lesher Center for the Arts has 900 events and performances throughout the year ranging from opera to stand-up comedy. If you’re more of a history buff, you might enjoy the Old Borges Ranch, just a few miles to the east of town. It has several preserved buildings from the early 20th century that reflect the cattle ranching days that were once the main economic driver of the region. To spend some time in nature without leaving the city, make a stop at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. This “dry garden” is populated with dozens of native plant species and is home to a number of local critters. However, during the winter you’ll have to make a stop at the ice rink that is constructed annually in the downtown plaza. It attracts around 50,000 skaters each year; lessons and skate rentals are also available.

Walnut Creek makes claim to the title of having the most open spaces per capita of any city in California. Lime Ridge, Sugarloaf, Acalanes Ridge, and Shell Ridge Open Space along with Diablo Foothills Regional Park are all popular places for hiking and dog walking. The Iron Horse Trail, which runs for 40 miles from the city of Livermore in the north to Suisun Bay in the south, provides a convenient pedestrian walkway through Walnut Creek. If you’re looking to get some beach time during your trip to Walnut Creek, head an hour and 15 minutes west to Point Reyes National Seashore . Soak up the sun, explore the famous Point Reyes Lighthouse, and keep a lookout for migrating grey whales, particularly if you’re visiting with the Walnut Creek camper rental in January or late March when the migration is at its peak. For a truly big adventure, head three and a half hours east to Yosemite National Park . Yosemite is one of the most beloved national parks and it’s not hard to see why, as this park consists of 1,200 square miles of soaring granite peaks, plunging waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of trail through pristine wilderness. Camping with your Walnut Creek RV rental is not a problem either, as there are a number of sites throughout the park with hookups for your rig.