Forget the crowded wineries and bustling cityscapes! The East Bay offers a hidden gem waiting to be explored: the Tri-Valley. I just got back from a weekend exploring the charming towns of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and the town of Danville.
I found the Tri-Valley offers a unique blend of world-class wine tasting, captivating outdoor adventures, and rich history, all wrapped in a charming and relaxed atmosphere.
Intrigued? Join me as I unveil the 10 hidden gems that make the Tri-Valley a must-visit destination for your next escape. From cuddling adorable cows (yes, you read that right!) to embarking on a delightful wine trolley tour and indulging in mouthwatering local cuisine, this area has something for everyone.
This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to plan your perfect weekend adventure in the Tri-Valley. So, ditch the crowds and discover the hidden treasures of the East Bay!
What Is The Tri-Valley Area?
The major cities in the Tri-Valley area are:
- Pleasanton
- Livermore
- Dublin
- The town of Danville
You can reach the Tri-Valley area in a 55-minute car ride from San Francisco, or a 45-minute BART ride.
I’ve been driving through this part of the East Bay for years on my way to Yosemite, or Arnold, and always love seeing the rolling hills and cows dotting the landscapes (sometimes with vineyards peeking through!)
It was so fun to finally make this a weekend destination and explore those rolling hills for myself. Robin and I packed up a weekend bag, hopped in our car, and drove over from San Francisco to Dublin to spend a few days eating and sightseeing our way around the valley.
Top Things To Do In Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton & Danville
1. Eat Your Way Through Downtown Pleasanton
The very first thing we did after checking into the Aloft Dublin-Pleasanton hotel was head to downtown Pleasanton to stroll their downtown. Everyone kept telling us how cute downtown Pleasanton is and I see what they mean!
It’s lined with trees, many of the buildings have that old-world charm, and it’s filled with local shops and restaurants. Heavy emphasis on the restaurants.
After walking around, we started with an ice cream cone from Meadowlark Dairy, a famous local dairy farm with a drive-through ice cream stand! (Though, we just walked up to their window to grab a cone.) I had their vegan Strawberry flavor which was so dang tasty.
I’m lactose intolerant and so many places can’t make a good dairy-free alternative but this was so smooth and rich, you couldn’t tell it wasn’t real ice cream
Then, we headed to Beer Baron for a pint before walking over to Locanda Amalfi for dinner.
This isn’t your regular Italian restaurant. It’s owned by an Italian family and many of the servers who work there actually speak Italian.
We sat outside enjoying the last night of official summer and feasted on a spritz the size of my head, lobster ravioli and truffle gnocchi (the latter is what Robin ordered but I loved it so much I totally helped him finish the plate).
For a night cap, we popped across the street to Middle8, a fun cocktail bar with retro decor and tons of disco balls hanging from the ceiling. I’m a martini girl, and they have something called the “Olive You” which features olive-infused Vermouth.
It’s basically an extremely dirty martini. We planned on only having one round but ended up having two since we loved them so much.
2. Cow Cuddling
Yes, you can cuddle cows in the Bay Area!! Sri Surabhi Go Ksetra in Pleasanton is a local cow sanctuary that rescues Gir cows and gives them a pampered, safe life free from the slaughterhouse. They offer cow cuddling sessions on the weekends to help raise funds for their non-profit (food, shelter, care, etc for the cows!)
I grew up in Wisconsin with cows for neighbors (corn, too) and love how silly cows are. They’re basically big puppies. When I knew we were visiting the Tri-Valley area, I HAD to go cuddle some cows.
Robin and I put on jeans and hard toe boots that could get dirty (this is a farm, after all!) and pulled up to Sri Surabhi Go Ksetra ready to pet some cows!
We started with a tour, learned how the cows like to be pet and then got to meet many of the ladies. You can book your own cow cuddling session online or even stay at their Airbnb to wake up with cows outside your front door.
3. Visit A Pumpkin Patch
Livermore and Dublin are located right on the edge of the Bay Area, which means you’ll see endless rolling hills as you explore the area. It also means you can find some really fun pumpkin patches here!
Head to Joan’s Pumpkin Farm or G&M Farms in the Livermore area to pick out your very own pumpkins for the fall season. Both also feature corn mazes to get lost in, and other fall activities.
4. Blackhawk Museum
I’m a little sad that I’ve lived in San Francisco for almost 10 years and I’ve never heard of The Blackhawk Museum until our trip but it’s such a hidden gem!
Located in Danville, The Blackhawk Museum is a cool history/art museum with tons of insane exhibits. They’re most famous for their vintage car collection. The Don William’s Automobile Gallery is a huge room filled with countless vintage cars.
Robin loved this room. I’m not a big car person but he geeked out at the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagon and 2017 Lamborghini Centenario.
There’s also a room for Native history, African history and – my favorite – the World Of Nature exhibit. If you have kids, they’re going to love this part of the museum. It’s filled with wildlife exhibits, complete with a T-Rex skull and a Rhino that moves.
5. Explore Downtown Livermore
Downtown Livermore is another fun place to visit during the afternoon or for dinner. There’s a Farmer’s Market on Thursday nights and Sundays, wine bars to sip on local wine, shopping and more.
For dinner, head to one of the many acclaimed restaurants, such as Posada Alta Cocina for tasty Latin food. For a casual bite, visit the Dustbowl Taproom for craft beers and pub fare. You can even visit the Livermore Valley Museum and Art Center for more museum time!!
6. Wine Tasting
You can’t come to the Tri-Valley and skip wine tasting! Look, I love Sonoma and Napa as much as the next girl, but Livermore brings all the welcoming vibes, approachable tasting rooms and stunning vineyards just as much as Napa Valley does.
And, it’s closer for East Bay, Sacramento and other Northern California cities to get to.
Livermore Valley started making a name for itself back in the 1840’s when Robert Livermore planted the first wine grapes in the valley. Today there are over 50 wineries in Livermore making all sorts of wines to try. That being said, you will most commonly find warm climate Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and varietals that benefit from the hot summers (Syrah, etc).
Some of my favorite places to go wine tasting in Livermore are:
- Murrieta’s Well (gorgeous tasting room!)
- Wente Vineyards (THE classic Livermore winery!)
- Concannon Vineyard (tastings are outside in nice weather)
You should also look into winemakers dinners! These are always such a fun, unique way to experience any wine country. Robin and I had the pleasure of attending the Murrieta’s Well winemaker dinner during our visit and it was so beautifully done.
They transformed their tasting room with tons of tables with flowers (I’m a sucker for concrete and flowers and chandeliers!) They had a 4-course tasting menu featuring paella, lamb and desserts. I got to meet their winemaker, but also Jordan Wente, a 5th generation Wente from the famous wine-making family.
It was so magical to be on a vineyard from sunset to dusk to nighttime. Usually, I am only visiting vineyards during the day for wine tasting.
7. Hiking Mount Diablo
With a peak at 3,849 feet, Mount Diablo State Park offers some pretty rad hiking for the East Bay. It’s surrounded by rolling hills, but also features intense hikes that can take 8-9 hours to complete. Making it to the top has its perks.
You can see the Farallon Islands, Mount Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and even Lassen Peak in the Cascades. You can find hikes at various lengths and skill levels on AllTrails.
But, if you don’t want to hike and still see that epic view, you can always drive up to the Summit Visitor Center. Here at the Observation Deck (which looks a little like a tower/castle), you can see the epic views without having to hike 9 hours round trip.
Robin and I went hiking at Mount Diablo a few years ago and were quickly humbled by the trails. It’s a stunning park but not a casual hiking spot.
8. Wine Trolley
If you’re bored of wine tasting the normal way, book an afternoon on the Livermore Wine Trolley! We rode this during our visit and had a blast.
We visited 3 different wineries in Livermore and got to ride a cute little trolley to each of them. The driver will play fun music as they safely drive you around the valley. How cute!
We started at Las Positas Vineyards to do a tasting and food pairing, then hopped on the trolley to head to Concannon Vineyard. This was my favorite winery stop! They’re the longest-operating winery in the United States since they didn’t have to shut down during prohibition thanks to local monks contracting them to make church wine.
Our tasting session was also outside on the lawn and it was delightful. Then, the last stop of the day was at Garré Vineyard & Winery which is run by a family with a lot of Italian culture. Here we tasted in their little wine cabin, which used to house the main tasting room back in the day.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Livermore for a birthday party or celebration, this is it!
9. Catch A Festival
Less like Coachella and more like wine sips and walks. The Tri-Valley area constantly has something going on. From a St. Patty’s day celebration to beer fests, rub shoulders with locals at one of these fun events:
- April: Blackhawk Food, Wine & Film Festival
- April: Danville Art & Wine Stroll
- May: Livermore Valley Craft Beer Festival
- May: Livermore Wine Country: Downtown Street Fest
- June: Red, White & Brew Craft Beer Fest
Full a full calendar of local live music, wine events, book tours, and more, head here to the Tri Valley’s event page!
10. Sip The Caffeine Trail
Everyone has wine and beer trails, but the Tri-Valley area boasts a tasty Caffeine Trail for coffee and tea lovers. They have a little game out of it – visit 5 coffee shops and take a picture of your beverage, snack, or even yourself. Then, upload your photos on their site to earn a Tri-Valley Mug to use at home!
Robin and I are big coffee lovers and visited a few cafes we really loved, like The Press Cafe (epic breakfast spot! Try the Nordic Toast, trust me!) and Inkling Cafe (a moody coffee shop with seasonal drinks).
11. Cool Off At Lake Del Valle
Del Valle Regional Park is a prime place to cool off on a hot summer day. There’s a seasonal beach to swim, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and more! The fee is just $6 per vehicle and nothing hits in the summertime like a day at the lake.
I hope this helps you find fun things to do in Tri-Valley, California! Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Danville all have so many fun gems. From the Ice Cream Trail to the Caffeine Trail, wineries, restaurants, cocktail bars, museums, hiking, lake activities, shopping, even cows!! Something for everyone here
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