Concord (California)

Location

Concord is 29 miles east of San Francisco, meaning that the commute through the Caldecott Tunnel and across the Bay Bridge can be done in approximately 30 minutes when traffic is light, but may feel like an eternity when traffic is heavy. The area of the city is 31.13 square miles, and with over 120,000 residents Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County.

History

Concord is perhaps best-known for the De La Salle High School football team, which between 1992 and 2004 established a national record-winning streak of 151 games, shattering the previous record of 72 games. During this time the team was named ESPN national champion in 1994 and USA Today national champion in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Another of Concord's claims to fame is the famous people who grew up in the city. Concord is the birthplace of actor Tom Hanks. Also, Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck is from Concord and one of Concord's several parks is named in his honor.

Climate

Concord, like most of the East Bay, has hot summers and cool winters. Rain is a rare sight during most months of the year and any rain occurs in monsoon-like periods of fairly heavy rain that last for a few days and then give way to dry weather again. These wet periods often occur in late December or during January and February, but never occur during the summer.

By subway

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stops at the Concord and North Concord stations.

By car

Concord is accessible by car from Interstate Highway 680, and State Highways 242 and 4. When driving from Oakland take Highway 24 East to 680 North. County Connection buses also service the city.

By plane

• Buchanan Field AirportJetSuiteX connections from Burbank and Las Vegas. Also for small private planes and helicopters.

The closest international airport is Oakland International (OAK), while BART runs directly from all Concord stations to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Unless you enjoy walking or biking long distances you'll want a car to get around in Concord. This city is asphalt America at its finest, and while motorists are generally respectful of bikers and pedestrians, the auto is the king of the road. County Connection buses also service the city, along with several taxi services.

• Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

  phone: +1 925 228-8860 ext 6520 (reservations)
  This memorial honors 320 people (including 200 young African American men) who were killed in a munitions accident during World War II while loading munitions and bombs onto ships bound for the Pacific Rim. Following the explosion many of the enlisted men refused to work, resulting in the Navy's largest mutiny trial and eventually helping to push the US Armed Forces to desegregate. The memorial is located on an active military base and as a result reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance and all visitors must be US citizens or permanent residents. Reservations can be made by calling or via an online reservation form. All visitors are shuttled to the memorial from John Muir National Historic Site in nearby Martinez.

• Don Francisco Galindo HouseOne of the few remaining Victorian homes left in the area, a 19th-century home built in 1856, open to the public for daytime use.

• Concord Pavilion

  address: 2000 Kirker Pass Rd
  A 12,500-seat amphitheatre that hosts dozens of major concerts each year. The amphitheatre is configured with approximately 8,000 reserved seats and, for the more frugal and potentially rain-tolerant music lover, 4,500 lawn seats. Upcoming concerts can be found on the pavilion's online calendar.

• California Waterworld

  address: 1950 Waterworld Parkway
  A waterpark featuring slides, pools, and other manner of devices meant to use the Bay Area's limited water supply.

• Brenden Theatres Concord 14

  address: 1985 Willow Pass Rd
  Fourteen screens of movie magic with stadium seating, greasy popcorn, and thundering sound systems. Brenden Theatres was the anchor tenant of downtown Concord's rebirth in the late 1990s.

• Diablo Creek Golf Course

  address: 4050 Port Chicago Hwy
  An 18-hole golf course with a large practice putting green, pro shop, lighted driving range. It also has a sports bar and restaurant.

• Pixieland Amusement Park

  phone: +1 925 676-9612
  address: 2740 E Olivera Rd
  A small amusement park for children from toddlers to age 8, including a train, carousel, and other rides. Pack a picnic (no alcoholic beverages, outside pizza, or barbecue grills).

• Solano Drive-In

  phone: +1 925 825-1951
  address: 1611 Solano Way
  This drive-in is part of the West Wind chain and features digital projection and sound transmitted directly to the car stereo. The latest movies are shown, most as double features, with a 15-minute intermission between films to grab food at the snack bar, or you can bring your own food and tailgate (no alcohol is allowed). Tickets are not sold online, so arrive early for popular films to ensure a ticket and a good parking spot are available, and be sure to bring a blanket or jacket on cold nights.

There is a campus of Cal State East Bay in Concord.

Strip malls, grocery stores, fast food restaurants, electronics megastores, and all other manner of American consumerism are readily available; following any major street will inevitably lead to some sort of shopping area.

• Sunvalley MallConcord's lone mega-mall caters to all manner of teenage fashion fantasies, the appliance fetishes of middle-aged women, and shopping phobias of middle-aged men. The main area is two stories with escalators, stairs, and a large glass elevator. The mall includes a JC Penney and a Macy's. In front of the elevator is a lounge area which is also used for live entertainment and the annual Christmas Santa event.

• Willows Shopping Center

  phone: +1-925-825-4001
  address: 1975 Diamond Blvd
  While not quite the labyrinth of Sunvalley, this mall features an REI Outdoor, Any Mountain Sports.

• Half Price Books

  phone: +1 925 288-9060
  address: 1935 Mount Diablo St
  A Concord branch of the famous Berkeley bookstore, right on Todos Santos plaza.

• Benihana

  phone: +1 925 827-4220
  address: 1989 Diamond Blvd
  Concord is one of the few Bay Area locations for the well-known chain of Japanese restaurants where the chefs cook and entertain at your very table. The prices are somewhat on the pricey side - plan $6-14 for lunch and $15-40 for dinner - but it's good food and better fun. So we are happy to fork out the bucks for sushi or "Hibachi Steak" dinner: griddle-fried beef served with shrimp appetizer, choice of rice and grilled vegetables.

• Digger's Diner

  phone: +1 925 825-8958
  address: 1895 Farm Bureau Rd
  This is a family-run diner that got its unique name from the father of the family's unusual job digging graves. Although this is not his current occupation, there is a huge mural inside the establishment depicting a comical graveyard next to a bustling diner. Their friendly staff makes for a great atmosphere, and they are quick to serve and very good about special orders. The prices are usual for any diner; you could definitely get by eating lunch for under $10.

• Guadalajara Grill # B6

  phone: +1 925 672-4430
  address: 5446 Ygnacio Valley Rd
  The super chicken burrito runs about $7.95 for lunch and $8.95 for dinner, and when combined with the never-ending chips and salsa is guaranteed to leave you full. Super fast service and free Tootsie Roll Pops seal this establishment's top-notch reputation. Serving lunch and dinner from 11AM to 10PM.

• Taqueria Los Gallos

  phone: +1 925-288-1503
  address: 1747 Willow Pass Rd
  Try the carne guisada, a rare find in Mexican restaurants; this ranchero style beef is mildly spicy and majorly flavorful. A full salsa bar is a welcome plus.

• Old Spaghetti Factory

  phone: +1 925 687-5030
  address: 1955 Mount Diablo St
  Yes, it's a chain, but the food is decent and the prices aren't unreasonable. Besides, what other restaurants in Concord offer specials that include ice cream?

• Swagat Indian Cuisine

  phone: +1 925 685-2777
  address: 1901 Salvio St
  Excellent Indian restaurant. Great lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Friday and Saturday evenings. Food is served fresh and hot.

• The Mediterranean

  phone: +1 925 825-0608
  address: 1847 Willow Pass Rd
  Tasty shawarma, kebab, falafel, dolmus, pita, hummus and fuul.

• Claim Jumper

  address: 1975 Diamond Blvd
  Part of a chain of tasteful Old West-themed restaurants featuring large proportions of good food. Especially recommended is the steak.

• Naan 'n Curry

  address: 2068 Salvio St
  An alternate choice for Indian food in the center of the town. Don't miss the exquisite lamb and prawn biriyani.

Those looking for nightlife are better served by visiting neighboring Walnut Creek, although there are a few drinking establishments that are worth a visit.

• Legends & Heroes Sports Bar

  phone: +1 925 687-4111
  address: 4050 Port Chicago Hwy
  For those wanting to get their football, basketball or baseball fix while downing a few brews, Legends offers the TV and taps necessary to help you out.

• EJ Phair Brewing Co. & Ale House

  phone: +1 925 691-4253
  address: 2151 Salvio St
  Brewpub with a great ambiance and a rotating selection of home-brewed beer and selected microbrews right on Todos Santos plaza. There are two large, free parking garages in the adjacent blocks.

• Best Western Heritage Inn

  phone: +1 925 686-4466
  address: 4600 Clayton Rd
  Catering to the business crowd, this hotel is unlikely to surprise anyone who has stayed in a Best Western anywhere else in the world.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 925 674-9400
  address: 5370 Clayton Rd
  Offering free wireless internet and continental breakfast. The Concord Pavilion is one mile away.

• Hilton Concord

  phone: +1 925 827-2000
  address: 1970 Diamond Blvd
  Close to I-680.

• Clarion Hotel

  phone: +1 925 566-8820
  address: 1050 Burnett Ave

• Walnut Creek - The downtown Walnut Creek area offers shopping, bars, and restaurants.
• Clayton - One of Concord's next door neighbors, Clayton is a bit more rural than other communities and still offers somewhat of a small-town atmosphere.
• Pleasant Hill - This neighboring town is primarily a typical family suburb, but it does offer options for food and shopping.
• Mount Diablo State Park - This 20,000 acre park is southeast of Concord and provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching 181 miles to Mount Lassen.
• Berkeley - Eclectic, political and always interesting, Berkeley is a 20- to 25-minute drive away. Alternatively, using BART, either a) transfer at the MacArthur station and exit at Downtown Berkeley, or b) exit at Rockridge and walk ~2 miles to downtown.
• San Francisco - Although "the City" feels a world away, it's a 45-minute BART ride to the Embarcadero or a 35-minute to 1.5-hour drive, depending on traffic.