Judy's Votes for the
BEST of the East Bay

Everyone has favorites, these are some of mine!

(1) Our weather: gorgeous autumns and springs, beautiful mild summers with very low humidity, even the winters are very tolerable, sometimes rainy but often mild. Snow...sorry, it's not on the menu! It's not unusual to have a few days with temps in 70's even in January. Then spring starts making signs at the end of January and by February there's lots starting to bloom. Even in the summer when we have an occasional hot spell with temps in the 90's, the hot days usually last only a few days and the famous Bay Area natural air-conditioning called FOG, works its way inland enough to cool most places down. I love the weather here.  If you like cooler summers (75-80+/- degrees), Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda) is preferable to the more inland locations in the Diablo Valley where the weather is usually is warmer by 5-15 degrees. Some days in the summer there can be a 40 degree range in temperature within just an hour's drive: San Francisco can be 55 and Danville 95. So if you get too hot, just get in the car and head for Oakland/Berkeley or San Francisco!

(2) Beautiful scenery: our green rolling hills in winter take my breath away, then the golden hills with the lush green oaks in summer are such a treat. One of the prettiest scenes: the white chapel at St. Mary's College against the vibrant green hills in winter. Another favorite: the gigantic billows of fog hanging over the East Bay hills on some evenings or Mt. Diablo when it seems backlit and becomes shades of violet. Talk about purple mountain's majesty!

(3) Close to everything and so much to do and see!
Just jump in the car and you're soon at some of California's prime destinations. There is so much to see and do here.  It's hard to know where to start.  You could spend years vacationing in California and each time be in quite different environments. Locally, drive up to the top of Mt. Diablo. The view is more than spectacular! You can see forever.  Walk the Lafayette Reservoir and any of the hundreds of miles of open space, recreational trails available in the county. The scenery and peaceful atmosphere will cause you to be in awe of the beauty of our area. There are so many parks, golf courses, swim complexes, and tennis clubs. If you are a photographer, it's hard to know where to start because there are so many wonderful sights. This is a real outdoor paradise just waiting for you to explore.

Want a special treat? It's just about 1 hr. from our area to Napa and our fabulous wine country! Yes, the wine is the best but the outstanding restaurants, lodging and scenery add so much to the wine country experience.  Or, head to San Francisco (30+ minutes) for sight-seeing, shopping, the theater, sports events, lunch, dinner, or head down to my my favorite: Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur (2+hours) for the most beautiful ocean scenery you'll find anywhere...unless it's the North Coast of CA right above San Francisco. Like the mountains? Lake Tahoe (about 3+ hours) is a local favorite here and of course, Yosemite (3+ hours) is one of the most beautiful National Parks in our wonderful country!

(4) Good restaurants: The Lark Creek Walnut Creek features seasonal farm fresh American food. It's one of our favorites.  The Lark Creek group has just opened a terrific seafood restaurant,Yankee Pier in Lafayette. Bing Crosby's Restaurant in Walnut Creek is usually good. They also have great movie nostalgia and were the Diablo Magazine winner for  2006 for BEST fine dining.  Besides dinner, they have a terrific lunch menu with reasonable prices. Try Ruth Chris in Walnut Creek or Vic Stewart's for one of the best steaks you'll ever find; Walnut Creek Yacht Club and Scott's Seafood for seafood; Prima in Walnut Creek for best Italian (#2 of top rated East Bay restaurants in Diablo Magazine's Food Awards for 2005); Willie McCovey's Restaurant in Walnut Creek for good food and a baseball atmosphere. Try outstanding Va de Vi, Walnut Creek for very tasty tappas (small plates). It was a top award winner in Diablo in 2005 & 2006.  Il Fornaio is very popular as is the little gelato store next door, Gelateria Naia. The new Metro Lafayette in Lafayette is very good. Also new in Lafayette is Gigi's. It is also good. Piatti in Danville fhas very good lunches and dinners; Chow in Lafayette for casual, delicious lunches and dinners; Pizza Antica in Lafayette for best thin crust pizza and great Caesar salad; Postino in Lafayette for good dinners and lunches-their ravioli's with mushrooms and asparagus are fabulous; Casa Orinda in Orinda for best fried chicken around. Also try their chicken dore; La Cocina Mexicana in Orinda for Mexican food; and Orinda Village Cafe in Orinda for best breakfasts and lunches. They also have yummy old-fashioned milk shakes and great turkey sandwiches. Down south of Walnut Creek in the San Ramon Valley, you'll find Casa Orozco in Dublin and also in Livermore for best Mexican food in our area, at least that's what we have found; In 'N Out Hamburgers, San Ramon, best Hamburgers and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (secret menu). If you drive through the Caldecott Tunnel in the Oakland Hills you'll find Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, rated as one of the best restaurants in the US! In Wine Country (just to the north, an hour+ away), Mustards Restaurant, Bistro Jeanty and the Rutherford Grill are my favorites. Bouchon is wonderful. There are lots of other good ones: the world renown French Laundry Restaurant, and the Martini House to mention just a few!  I could go on and on! 

(5) Dungeness Crab, Sourdough French Bread,and California Wine: Our local Dungeness crab is phenomenal! When it is at its freshest, it is so sweet and succulent. The season starts in late November and runs through the spring.  Of course, if you haven't ever had San Francisco Sour Dough bread, you're really in for a treat.  Combined with crab, salad and a glass of delicious California white wine, you have an outstanding meal. This is a true San Francisco Bay area treat. Try Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco or in Sausalito for amazing sautéed crab legs and pasta plus other great seafood.
 

(6) Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda): Our home here since 1978!  Every time we return from a trip out-of-town, we treasure how wonderful it is to come home to the quiet serenity of these communities. The small town, uncongested, secluded, safe feeling of each community is a treasure not found in any other places we've ever seen.  Our beautiful green rolling hills in the winter and spring and then the golden hillsides and oaks in summer and fall are such a pleasure. In some areas you'll see cattle or horses grazing on the hillsides. I've heard of a number of families who have left the area because of job transfers and then returned when they had the first opportunity. (We did! After 5 years living on the Main Line outside of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, we were absolutely thrilled to be able to return to the Bay Area and we ended up in Lamorinda instead of returning to the SF Peninsula where we had lived previously.) Today, the good schools are the primary draw for the many families who move in.

(7) City of Walnut Creek: Walnut Creek is a real gem of a small city. I love the convenience of shopping so close by and the beautifully renovated downtown areas. It is a real treat. What a pleasant place to relax, shop or enjoy dinner at one of the many top restaurants. In addition, there are hundreds of miles of open space to enjoy and beautiful Mt. Diablo towering over the city. We seldom go to San Francisco for dinner any more. There are so many fine restaurants in the East Bay.
 

(8) BEST Real Estate Agents: Contact me today. I'll provide you with the names of 3 of the most experienced, BEST real estate agents, in my opinion, in our area who specialize in the areas where you will be buying/and or selling a home. Having sold homes here for 15+ years, I know many of the very BEST agents, and I'd be glad to share names with you of agents who appear to be a match for your needs.

I LOVE the San Francisco Bay area and Northern California.
I can't think of a nicer place to live.

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2006 DIABLO'S 10 BEST RESTAURANTS FOR KIDS AND PARENTS

Contra Costa Times (local daily newspaper)

Diablo Magazine (articles on the East Bay and Contra Costa County)

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