Located just 30 miles to the east of San Francisco, you will discover three delightful valleys nestled together, forming the picturesque Tri-Valley region within the Mount Diablo area of California. The Tri-Valley encompasses four distinct cities, namely Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and Danville, each with its unique history and beauty. This region boasts one of California’s earliest wine regions, a craft beer trail, a wonderfully diverse restaurant scene, an award-winning Ice Cream Trail, quaint downtown areas, green outdoors, and countless opportunities for offbeat travel experiences. With its easy accessibility from anywhere in the Bay Area, particularly from San Francisco, the Tri-Valley is an ideal weekend getaway destination.
Day One
Start your day off right with breakfast at Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen and Coffee Bar, a stop on the Tri-Valley Caffeine Trail, in Danville. They locally source all their ingredients and even have a trendy coffee bar where locals socialize and interact over artisanal coffee. Another popular artisan café along the trail with two locations in Pleasanton and Livermore is The Press, serving freshly brewed coffee and scrumptious meals.
After fueling up on coffee and energy, head over to beautiful Mt. Diablo State Park accessible via Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. in Danville. Enjoy a nice morning hike, or for a different perspective of the mountain, visit Tao House, home of Pulitzer-winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill and now a National Historic Site. The view of Mt. Diablo is incredible through the writer’s window, and the old barn hosts his plays even to this day.
For a fun afternoon, head to downtown Danville. Stroll through Hartz Avenue and East Prospect Avenue for a delightful afternoon of window shopping at Francesca’s or indulging in sweet treats at Danville Chocolates. Danville Harvest is a great option for lunch nearby where everything on the menu is made from fresh, organic ingredients.
After lunch, do not miss the world-class Blackhawk Museum in Danville where you will discover interesting exhibitions from Spirt of the Old West, Art of Africa, Into China, or the world-renowned Automotive Gallery. One ticket gets you into all exhibits.
Take the back road via Camino Tassajara for an unforgettable country drive to Dublin where the emerald-green hills captivate your gaze. Stop by Inc 82, or Caps N’ Taps along the Tri-Valley Beer Trail for some of the best beer and cider, perfect for a relaxing evening.
For dinner, continue on the Beer Trail for some of the Tri-Valley’s best food. Bottle Taps in Pleasanton has mouthwatering food pairings that go with both beer and wine. If you are a lover of spice and heat, the ghost pepper jack cheese is a must-try. The place also comes alive with vibrant live music that usually starts at 7:00 pm.
Day Two
For day two, head down to Lake Del Valle in Livermore with its gorgeous views and plenty of trails to get the heart pumping. You could even rent a boat or kayak, but be sure to keep an eye out for golden eagles, as Del Valle Regional Park is home to one of the country’s largest golden eagle habitats.
Alternately, depending on when you are visiting, if you happen to be here on a Saturday morning, indulge in a feast of locally grown produce at the famous Farmers’ Markets in Downtown Pleasanton and Downtown Danville from 9 am-1 pm.
Later, reward yourself with some retail therapy at the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore. For a quick snack stop, pop across the street and make way for dumplings at a number of authentic restaurants at Pacific Pearl.
“Wine” down with some wine tasting at Ruby Hill Winery in Pleasanton. Their history goes way back to the 1800’s, before Prohibition! With 55 tasting rooms in Tri-Valley’s Livermore Valley, including the popular wine-blending experience at Wente Vineyards, you will want to check out as many as you can in California’s original wine country.
Finish off your weekend with an exquisite dining experience at Sabio on Main. This spectacular farm-to-fork tapas restaurant is located in historic Downtown Pleasanton. Afterwards, treat yourself to a soft serve at the famous Meadowlark Dairy Drive-Thru, one of the Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail’s most popular stops.
Where to Stay
The Tri-Valley has 40 lodging options from boutique to 4-star, including top hotel brands, most of which are Clean and Safe Certified by the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA).
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