If you’re looking for things to do in the Tri-Valley in spring, this guide covers everything worth doing across Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Danville.
Spring is the best time to visit this area, and I say that as someone who’s been here in the fall, too. The rolling hills are green, the local vineyards are in bloom, and the temperatures in April sit in the low-to-mid 60s with bay breezes cooling the evenings down. It’s about an hour from San Francisco and makes an easy weekend trip or day trip from anywhere in the Bay Area.
I just spent two and a half days doing exactly this, and below is everything worth knowing.
Outdoor Things To Do in the Tri-Valley in Spring
Spring is when the outdoor options in Tri-Valley are at their best. The rolling hills are green, the hiking trails are comfortable before summer heat sets in, and the wildflowers are out across the valley in March and April.
Hiking at Del Valle Regional Park
Del Valle Regional Park is about 10 miles south of downtown Livermore and one of the best East Bay regional park options for a spring visit. The centerpiece is a five-mile lake surrounded by 4,395 acres of oak-covered rolling hills, and the hiking trails here range from easy lake walks to serious backcountry options.
For a first visit, drive to the marina, park there, and start the East Shore Trail. Walk about a mile along the water and you’ll hit the cattle grazing area where you open a gate and walk through. There are actual cows on the hillside! They’re very gentle and mostly just look at you and go back to their day, and I love them for it.
We hiked in late afternoon golden hour and the lake was blue and the hills were green and I didn’t want to leave. Spring is the right time to come here before the summer bakes everything dry and it’s too hot.
- Entry fee: $5 per vehicle
- Gate hours in April: 6 AM to 8 PM
- Best trail for first-timers: East Shore Trail, easy, starts at the marina
- Longer options: Ohlone Wilderness Trail starts here for serious hikers
- Spring wildflowers: along the East Shore Trail, peak March to April
Hiking at Mount Diablo State Park
Mount Diablo State Park is about an hour from Livermore and worth the drive for the stunning views and hiking trails. In the spring, the waterfalls are flowing strong and it’s just a lovely lush time to be in the park.
The mountain rises 3,849 feet and on a clear day the views cover over 8,500 square miles, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sierra Nevada. It’s one of the most expansive park views in the entire Bay Area and a destination of its own.
Gates open at 8 AM and close at sunset. You cannot get your car in before 8 AM. Plan accordingly.
We went looking for wildflowers at Wild Cat Group Camp, which usually has flowers, but a cold snap the week before had knocked most of the blooms out. I want to be upfront about that because wildflowers are a real draw here. Mid-March is historically the peak window, with over 400 species, including California poppies and lupines. Check conditions before you go, specifically for wildflowers.
We stopped at Rock City on the way down. It’s a 30-45 minute stop with 190-million-year-old sandstone formations weathered into wind caves and narrow passages. It looks more like Joshua Tree than the East Bay and it’s good for all ages.
- Entry fee: $10 per vehicle
- Gate hours: 8 AM to sunset
- Best spring hiking trails: Donner Canyon (5.4 miles round trip), Mitchell Canyon waterfall loop (8 miles, challenging)
- Easy stop: Rock City, 30-45 minutes, all ages
- Wildflower peak: mid-March to mid-April at Wild Cat Group Camp
The Windmill Overlook on Patterson Pass Road
This stop is free and takes about 20 minutes. Patterson Pass Road cuts through the rolling hills between Livermore and the Central Valley and runs right through hundreds of wind turbines. There’s a pullout where you can get out and stand near them.
We drive past the windmills via the highway all the time on our way to our Whimsy Homes cabin and it was super fun seeing them from a different vantage point since I consider these kinds of the gateway to the Bay Area.
Good photo stop and a worthwhile detour if you’re already in the area.
- Cost: free
- Time needed: 30-45 minutes
- Best for: photos, a scenic drive in the rolling hills
The Floating Sound Bath at the Purple Orchid
This one is worth calling out separately because it’s unlike anything else in the area. We did a floating sound bath at the Purple Orchid pool with Tiffany Barnes of Rooted Wellness & Spa.
You float on giant inflatable pads in the pool with a blanket available because the morning was chilly. Tiffany plays crystal singing bowls for about an hour while you float outside. There was a rooster going off somewhere in the distance. The sun came out halfway through and hit my face at the right angle. I came out of it feeling calm and energized.
- How to book: through the Purple Orchid or directly through Rooted Wellness & Spa
- Best for: a unique wellness experience you won’t find at a standard hotel
Wine Tasting in Livermore Valley Wine Country
Livermore Valley wine country is one of the hidden gems of the Bay Area wine scene. There are over 50 wineries spread across the valley, prices are significantly lower than Napa, and the estate vineyards are at their most photogenic in spring when the rolling hills are green and the vines are just leafing out.
The region is well known for Chardonnay,and Cabernet Sauvignon, but Livermore is one of the few places in California producing strong Cabernet Franc, because the cool bay breezes that funnel through the valley in the evenings give the grape real structure. Worth seeking out if that’s your thing.
Downtown Livermore also has a walkable strip of wine bars and local tasting rooms on First Street if you want to sample wines without driving the wine trail roads.
The Grill at Wente Vineyards
The Grill at Wente Vineyards is one of the most established estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and a great first stop. The property sits on a Greg Norman-designed golf course with patio seating overlooking the 18th green and the surrounding vineyards.
Robin and I both got the pimento cheese burger with applewood bacon, house-made B&B pickles, and red onion marmalade on brioche. We split a glass of their Morning Fog Chardonnay and had key lime dessert after. Very relaxed lunch, very right.
- Open to the public: yes, no golf membership required
- Reservations: recommended but not required
- Best for: lunch, weekend brunch, wine tasting
Other Livermore Vineyards Worth Visiting
If you’re building a full wine tasting day, also consider Murrieta’s Well and Concannon Vineyard. Both are on the wine trail roads south and east of downtown Livermore, and the drive between local vineyards through the valley in spring is scenic enough to be part of the experience.
Where To Eat and Drink in the Tri-Valley
Range Life (Livermore)
Range Life is the best restaurant in Livermore and one of the better restaurants in the East Bay, in my opinion. It’s in a renovated 1800s brick building in downtown Livermore, Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2023, and the menu changes constantly because they work directly with local farms, ranchers, and fishermen.
Monday is fried chicken night and it’s the night to go. Every Monday they do a fried chicken special with a rotating side and a rotating wine or beer pairing, both of which change every single week. I got mine with a Ghost Town IPA. I started with an old-fashioned that had something citrusy going on that I loved.
We had a seasonal eggplant dish, cod, and the fried chicken, and then the milk and honey ice cream with toasted honeycomb for dessert. I’d never had toasted honeycomb before and it’s the best single bite of the whole trip.
The place was half-full when we arrived at 7 PM on a Monday and completely packed by 8. Make a reservation.
- Hours: Wed-Mon 4-9 PM, closed Tuesdays
- Reservations: strongly recommended, especially Monday fried chicken night
- Price range: mid-range, Michelin Bib Gourmand value
L Campo (Livermore)
L Campo is a Spanish tapas and paella restaurant in downtown Livermore from a chef who earned a Michelin star in Portugal. The concept is sharing plates at the table and it delivers.
I’m gonna be honest with you, we went a little hard on the tapas. We had Spanish olives, stuffed peppers, a ham croquette that was really good, and then split the rabbit paella as our main. Fragrant, deeply savory, I’d order it again. They have multiple paella options, including chicken, seafood, and mushrooms if rabbit isn’t for you.
- Hours: Tue-Sun 11:30 AM-9:30 PM, closed Mondays
- Reservations: walk-ins only except for large groups
- Price range: mid-range
The Fat Pigeon (Livermore)
The Fat Pigeon is a craft cocktail bar in downtown Livermore that runs immersive themed pop-ups throughout the year. When we visited, it was a Wizard of Oz theme, with every single detail from the decor to the cocktail names nodding to the film. Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Toto, the scarecrow, the whole thing.
I had a low-ABV grapefruit cocktail and Robin got a kombucha-based mocktail and we both stayed longer than planned.
If you love a good theme bar this one is not optional. It’s open until 1 AM on weekends if you need a late-night option in the area.
- Hours: Mon-Wed until 11 PM, Thu until midnight, Fri-Sat until 1 AM, Sun until 10 PM
- Reservations: recommended on weekends
- Best for: cocktails, a themed night out, late night in Livermore
Pippal (Dublin)
Pippal is in Dublin, about 20 minutes from downtown Livermore, and it’s one of the more interesting restaurants in the East Bay. It’s upscale regional Indian cuisine covering specific dishes from across India rather than the standard items you see at most local Indian restaurants.
The whole restaurant smells incredible when you walk in. We started with the live chaat tray with papdi, chola, chutney, and yogurt. We ordered a shokay, a savory pastry stuffed with saffron, coriander, spinach, and cream.
For the main, we split the crab dish simmered in coconut tomato sauce with mustard and curry and the mutton gushtaba, which is minced mutton balls in a yogurt gravy with dry mint and crispy fried strips. The yogurt sauce was complex and very different from anything I’d had before.
Robin and I were both driving so we went mocktail-heavy. The mocktail program here is serious.
- Location: 4500 Tassajara Rd, Dublin
- Hours: daily 12-2:30 PM and 5-9:30 PM
- Reservations: strongly recommended
- Price range: splurge, fine dining
Maison Benoit (Danville)
Maison Benoit is a French artisanal bakery in downtown Danville and I am fully obsessed. Owner Benoit Vialle is originally from France and almost all of his bakers are trained there for six or seven years.
They won the San Francisco Best Croissant Competition out of 300-plus Bay Area competitors. That’s not a marketing line, the croissant is actually that good.
My favorite thing was the tomato tart, which is a pastry with good mustard, ripe tomato, and herbs. Simple on paper, very hard to stop eating. We also got a pain au chocolat and a ham and cheese pastry, ordered way too much, and ate all of it anyway.
They’re opening a second location in Pleasanton at the end of 2026. There’s usually a line on weekends, so go on a weekday if you can.
- Hours: daily 7 AM to 4 PM
- Location: 402 Railroad Ave, Danville
- Second location: Pleasanton, opening late 2026
- Pro-tip: weekday visit avoids the line
Things To Do in Downtown Livermore
Downtown Livermore has a solid stretch of First Street and Second Street with independent restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, wine bars, and local tasting rooms. It has a real local market feel rather than a tourist corridor.
The Livermore Murals
There are over 15 large-scale murals throughout the downtown area and they’re worth an hour of wandering on foot. Visit Tri-Valley has a free Livermore Valley Mural Guide that maps all of them. The Welcome to Livermore mural is the most photographed spot, though heads up: there’s a parking lot in front of it so you may need to work around cars.
- Cost: free
- Time needed: 1 hour on foot
- Pro-tip: park once and walk the whole downtown trail
The Cheese Parlor on Maple Street
The Cheese Parlor on Maple Street is a proper cheese counter in downtown Livermore worth a stop if you’re a cheese person. I got a small wedge of 10-year Wisconsin sharp cheddar and ate it while walking around outside because I couldn’t wait.
I’m lactose intolerant but I grew up in Wisconsin and it’s very hard to find 10-year-old cheddar outside the state. Worth the tummy pain later.
Meadowlark Dairy
Meadowlark Dairy has been a Pleasanton institution since 1919 and recently opened a Livermore location at 2287 Second Street. The soft serve is excellent and the whole setup is very retro. They’re part of the official Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail if you want to learn more about the local food trail scene.
- Hours: daily 8 AM to 9 PM
- Location: 2287 Second Street, Livermore
- Original location: Pleasanton (still open)
Exploring Danville, Pleasanton, and San Ramon
Downtown Danville
Downtown Danville is worth half a morning. It’s a historic town with boutique shops, locally-owned restaurants, and a 350-year-old oak tree on Danville Road worth seeing in person. The San Ramon Valley Museum is in the historic railroad depot right downtown if you want to learn more about the local history of the area.
The Iron Horse Trail runs through Danville and connects through San Ramon, and it’s a good option for a flat, easy walk or bike ride through the valley.
I insist that you stop by Maison Benoit for lunch or breakfast. Stuff your face with the best croissant in the Bay Area (they won an award!) and try the tomato tart, thank me later.
Pleasanton
Pleasanton has a very walkable historic downtown with local restaurants, boutiques, and the original Meadowlark Dairy location on Neal Street, a local institution since 1919.
It’s a good morning stop if you’re coming from the East Bay side, and the Maison Benoit second location opens in Pleasanton at the end of 2026, which is going to make it even more worth stopping for.
Where To Stay in the Tri-Valley
The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort
The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort & Spa is a 10-room boutique property on 24 acres of olive orchards in Livermore wine country. It has a real B&B feel. You get a physical key at check-in, your room has a fireplace and a jacuzzi tub, and the property is quiet in a way bigger hotels aren’t.
The backyard has a pool, a hot tub, and walking paths through the olive grove that are especially nice at sunset. The property makes and sells their own olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Their garden was in full spring bloom when we visited and the white rose section made me feel like I was walking through Alice in Wonderland. I loved it.
The daily Gathering Hour from 4:30 to 5:30 PM is included with your stay. They put out a full cheeseboard with local wine and beer and you sit outside by one of the fire pits.
Breakfast is included and served from 8-10 AM. You order the evening before so you just walk down in the morning and it’s ready. They also have a full spa on the property.
- Price range: starts around $250 a night
- Includes: breakfast daily, Gathering Hour with wine and cheese, pool and hot tub access
- Spa: yes, on property
Is Spring the Best Time To Visit the Tri-Valley?
Yes, and I say that as someone who’s visited in the fall too. Spring gives you the green rolling hills, local vineyards in bloom, comfortable temperatures for hiking trails and outdoor wine tasting, and the regional park options at their best before summer heat sets in.
The bay breezes cool the evenings down even when afternoons are warm. The wildflowers are a bonus if the timing cooperates, but spring here is worth the trip regardless.
The Tri-Valley is one of the most underrated East Bay destinations for Bay Area locals. The cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Danville, and San Ramon each have something different going on, and spring is when the whole valley looks its best. If you’re looking for a weekend away from San Francisco, this is a real option that most people in the Bay Area haven’t fully explored yet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do in the Tri-Valley in Spring
How far is the Tri-Valley from San Francisco?
The Tri-Valley is about 35 miles from San Francisco. Livermore takes roughly one hour to drive via I-580 East. You can also take BART to the Dublin/Pleasanton station and rideshare about 15 minutes into downtown Livermore.
When is wildflower season in the Tri-Valley?
Mid-March through mid-April is typically the peak wildflower window for the Tri-Valley area. Mount Diablo State Park has over 400 species of flowering plants and is one of the better spring wildflower destinations in the Bay Area.
Del Valle Regional Park also gets good blooms along the East Shore Trail. Check conditions close to your visit since the weather makes a significant difference year to year.
What are the best hiking trails near Livermore in spring?
Del Valle Regional Park’s East Shore Trail is the most accessible for a first spring visit. Mount Diablo State Park has hiking trails for every level, with the Donner Canyon and Mitchell Canyon waterfall trails being the standout spring options when the falls are running.
Rock City at Mount Diablo is approachable for all ages and takes about 30-45 minutes.
What wine is Livermore Valley known for?
Livermore Valley wine country is best known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but it’s also one of the hidden gems of the California wine scene for Cabernet Franc. There are over 50 wineries and wine tasting options across the valley, most open year-round.
What cities are in the Tri-Valley?
The Tri-Valley includes the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Danville, and San Ramon. They sit in the East Bay about 35 miles from San Francisco and are all within 20-30 minutes of each other.
Is there a performing arts venue in Livermore?
Yes. The Bankhead Theater is a performing arts venue in downtown Livermore with regular live events and performances year-round. Check their event calendar before your visit.
What is the Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail?
The Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail is a self-guided food trail connecting local ice cream shops across Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Danville, and San Ramon. Meadowlark Dairy is one of the anchor stops. Visit Tri-Valley’s website for the full guide and map.
Is the Tri-Valley a good day trip from San Francisco?
Yes. The Tri-Valley is about an hour from San Francisco and works well as a day trip or a weekend stay. For a day trip, prioritize downtown Livermore for lunch and wine tasting, one winery stop, and either Del Valle Regional Park or the windmill overlook on Patterson Pass Road.
A weekend stay at the Purple Orchid lets you cover much more ground without rushing.
Drop a comment below if you’ve done Tri-Valley spring activities and have a spot I missed. I’ll definitely be back for the waterfall hikes at Mount Diablo.
