FUELING UP FOR ADVENTURE: Head to Concord, California, for Sunshine, Trails, Food & Fun
JUST 29 MILES EAST OF SAN FRANCISCO, CONCORD OFFERS A DIFFERENT KIND OF BAY AREA EXPERIENCE.
From a buzzworthy local food scene and premium shopping to endless live music and wide, open spaces, adventure awaits at every turn. A quick getaway to Concord is fun, easy, and perfectly situated for a weekend road trip weekend. Here’s how to get the most out of your time here:
DAY 1
FUEL UP WITH A GOOD BREAKFAST
For a hearty breakfast popular with locals, head over to Digger’s Diner. Don’t let the kitschy décor fool you, the food here is fresh, homemade, abundant and reasonably priced. Digger’s famous breakfast sandwiches or All-American huge, stuffed breakfast burritos will easily fill the bill, but lighter, healthy options are also available. Tip: Digger’s is also known for their burgers, so keep them in mind for later, too.
TRAILS, TACOS AND CRAFT BEER
After breakfast head to Mount Diablo State Park, less than 20 miles from downtown Concord. The 3,850-foot Mount Diablo dominates the skyline as one of the tallest peaks in the Bay Area, and you’ll find ample opportunity for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and road biking (entrance fees apply). The Donner Creek Loop is a local go-to hiking trail or opt for the Mount Diablo Summit Trail if you’re exploring the park on a mountain bike.
Once you’ve tired yourself out on the trails, treat yourself to a cold pint at the Hop Grenade Taproom in historic, downtown Todos Santos Plaza. Sample your way through its rotating list of primarily local craft brews. Craft beer fans will also want to explore Concord’s renowned Beer Trail.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, head across the street to Taqueria Los Dos Gallos for some authentic tacos (or literally anything on the menu – it’s all good) and their top-notch salsa bar. For more locations, check out Concord’s Taco Trail for a complete list of family-run taquerias and restaurants around town. Great Mexican food is pretty much a part of Concord’s DNA, so if you are looking for the real deal, we promise you won’t be disappointed.
SAVOR SOME LOCAL FLAVOR
Concord’s food scene has a vibe all its own – friendly, relaxed, and with more than 350 restaurants and 27 different ethnic cuisine choices available, exceptionally diverse. From fancy to funky, eclectic to ethnic, you are bound to discover a favorite new eatery or dish, every time you visit. For fresh seafood or sushi, try EMC Seafood and Raw Bar or Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, both conveniently located inside the beautiful Veranda Shopping Center. If you are craving Italian, you can’t go wrong with Luna Ristorante tucked away in Todos Santos Plaza.
Visit Concord Restaurant Guide
WHERE TO STAY
When you’re ready to call it a night, cozy up in one of the nine hotels in Concord. The Concord Hilton tops the list for travelers looking for a touch of luxury—heated outdoor pool and fire pit on the patio included.
DAY 2
ENJOY A LEISURELY BREAKFAST
Roll into Day 2 with a leisurely brunch at Canasta Kitchen. This modern Mexican café boasts mouthwatering comfort foods like huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, dulce de leche pancakes, and Mexican eggs benedict. Plus, who could say no to horchata coffee?
BIKES, PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES
Finish up your last cup of coffee and get ready to tour Concord by bike with a cruise along the Contra Costa Canal Trail. This paved, multi-use trail makes a horseshoe shape around Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez (14 miles total), passing several parks and shopping centers along the way. Start your ride a few miles from downtown up Willow Pass Road, where you’ll find the mostly flat cycle trail following along its namesake canal. Check out the Encina Bicycle Centers Concord location if you’re in need of a bike rental.
One of the best places to stop along the cycle trail is the 1,226-acre Lime Ridge Open Space. This regional park features 25 miles of trails (including some for mountain bikes) if you’re feeling like really working up a sweat. Either way, the park makes for a quiet place to relax and enjoy the California sun. Continue on the Contra Costa Canal Trail to explore more parks (like Heather Farm in Walnut Creek or Hidden Lakes Open Space in Martinez) or head back to the car.
Then, venture slightly off-the-beaten-path to the John Muir National Historic Site in nearby Martinez. Learn how John Muir, the country’s foremost naturalist and conservationist, came to be known as the “Father of the National Park Service” as you tour his former home and the surrounding acreage of oak trees and grasslands (there’s no entrance fee).
BURGERS, BREWS, VINO AND MORE
Make your way back to Concord by driving six miles to Epidemic Ales, the quirky craft brewery at the north end of town. Order a tasting flight to sample their offbeat creations, like the Zombrew IPA and Affliction Amber Ale. Bonus points: This warehouse brewery features a dog-friendly patio complete with heaters for the chillier months.
If wine is more to your liking, head over to Residual Sugar at the Veranda shopping center for a unique experience. Their outdoor fire pit seating area is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of whatever-you-please.
Close out the weekend with a surefire dinner choice: burgers. A Bay Area staple started in San Francisco, Super Duper Burgers hits the spot with build-your-own creations served between artisan buns baked in SF. Or check out other excellent burger stops on Concord's Burger Trail. You really can’t go wrong.
After your awesome burger experience, you might want to save some for a tempting sweet treat. Cream or Loard’s, both located in Todos Santos Plaza offer gourmet ice cream, milkshakes and more, so be sure to make one more stop to experience Concord’s best.
Visit Concord Restaurant Guide