When I was a young boy, growing up in Berkeley, Walnut Creek was the destination of a leasurly Sunday drive to “the country”. In the late 40’s it took most of the afternoon, driving on 2 lane roads, past the Orinda crossroads, through Lafayette, ending upo at what used to be know as “the corners” – the corner of Mt Diablo and Main streets.There was a Standard Service Station there, where we would fill up for our return trip home. Just a few block north on Main street was our final destination . . . the Greyhound Bus Station where there was a wonderfull old fashoned (wasn’t old fashoned in those days) Ice Cream Fouintain and the treat of the trip . . . a large double Ice Cream Cone.  Once we were done eating our cone, we would drive further north to Martinez and then west,along a windy 2 lane road that followed the bay, to the town of  Crockett, where we picked up U.S.Highway 40 (now I 80) and returned to Berkeley.

To visit Walnut Creek today, one would never know what it was like 60 years ago.  Today it is a bustling city, and while not the largest city in the Central Contra Costa County area, it is in fact the business center  for the central county area and may well be the major shopping and eating center also.  In the early 50’s what is now the Broadway Plaza Shopping Center was built, and over the years it has gone through several modernizations. Today, it undergoes another period of renewal  with the building of the new Neiman-Marcus Store, which will join with Nordstroms, Macys, Tiffany’s, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and several other specialtiy stores serving the needs of the shopping public.

The quaint Main Street of yesterday has become the Boulevard of Resturants today. Along Main Street, which is a very walkable street, from  Newell to Civic and on most of the adjoining side streets are many resturants. One can choose to dine on whatever cusine they desire, with inside or outside seating. Everything is available, from a Steak at Ruth’s Chris Steak House or Fleming’s, to locally owned  Itallian, Mexican, Pizza, Barbeque, Seafood,Thai, Chinese or Greek resturants as well as the Mel’s Diner of old or fish and chips at the Stadium Pub.

Downtown Walnut Creek offer much for the local and visitor alike. Come out, spend the day shopping, and cap off your visit with a nice dinner at one of many choices available to you.

Wish I could still offer you a double Ice cream cone though.