Orinda

Located 16 miles from San Francisco, Orinda is a beautiful community and home to 17,600 residents. Orinda is situated immediately east of the Caldecott Tunnel on Highway 24 and is served by a Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) station in the center of town. With a 24 minute train ride to downtown San Francisco, and trains running every 5 to 10 minutes in the morning, Orinda is a commuters dream. The 12.8 square-mile city is filled with rustic landscapes of parks, trails and the tree-studded hillsides that contribute to its beauty. 

Orinda was named the 2nd most friendly town in America by Forbes Magazine. With annual events that include the Orinda Film Festival, the California Shakespeare Theater and an annual daylong 4th of July Celebration that kicks off with a pancake breakfast, Orinda has established itself as an artistic and family friendly place to live.  The Orinda School District is comprised of four public elementary schools: Sleepy Hollow, Wagner Ranch, Glorietta, and Del Ray and one middle school: Orinda Intermediate School. The town's only high school, Miramonte is part of the Acalanes Union School District: Orinda schools are consistently ranked among the best in California.

Lafayette

Located 24 miles from San Francisco, Lafayette in all of its 15 square miles is a city with a view. It offers spectacular vistas of the Bay Area as well as superb schools, excellent shops and restaurants for its 24,500 residents. Lafayette is an easy commute to San Francisco via the BART station in the town center. With a 30 minute train ride to downtown San Francisco and trains running every 5-10 minutes in the morning.  

Lafayette homes include everything from exquisite estate homes to charming single-family homes to affordable starter homes. Luxury condos and spacious multi-family homes are available as well. Lafayette has an abundant central shopping district and a wide variety of wonderful restaurants. And for the outdoor enthusiast, the Lafayette Reservoir is open year round for boating, fishing and hiking. 

The Lafayette District is comprised of 4 public elementary schools: Burton Valley, Happy Valley, Lafayette and Springhill and one middle school: Stanley Middle School. The towns only high school, Acalanes High School is a part of the Acalanes Union High School District. Lafayette schools are consistently ranked among the best in California.

Moraga

Moraga is a beautiful town that enjoys a prime location in the San Francisco Bay Area, tucked away in the hills south of Lafayette and Orinda. It is a charming, affluent community with spacious homes on tree-lined streets amongst the gently rolling hillsides of Contra Costa County. Moraga is a family-oriented town with a rural feel. Its 16,600 residents can choose from single family homes, townhouses and condos. 

Moraga boasts summer concerts that take place in the Commons band shell, independent and blockbuster movies at the Rheem Theater, and theater and dance performances as well as exhibitions at the Hearst Art Gallery on the St. Mary's College Campus. It is a town that has something for everyone. For the outdoor enthusiast the 7 mile Moraga-Lafayette Trail is popular with runners and bikers. 

The Moraga School District is comprised of three public elementary schools: Camino Pablo, Los Perales, Donald Rheem and one middle school: Joaquin Moraga Intermediate. The town's only high school, Campolindo is a part of the Acalanes Union High School District. These schools are consistently ranked among the best in California.   

Walnut Creek

An urban oasis surrounded by unspoiled hillsides, Walnut Creek is embraced for its mild Mediterranean climate and picture perfect setting at the foot of Mount Diablo.

Walnut Creek offers a distinctive blend of urban flair, suburban grace and peaceful wilderness. With its central Bay Area location and easy access to BART and major roadways, and six major airports,  Walnut Creek is your perfect getaway in San Francisco’s East Bay for shopping, dining, the arts and the outdoors.

Known as the Jewel of the East Bay, Walnut Creek retains residents with its many amenities and advantages, including its cultural attractions, outdoor destinations, thriving economy, fabulous shopping, excellent health care,  and diverse dining scene that includes more than 100 restaurants. 

Walnut Creek boasts some of the greatest schools in California.  The Walnut Creek School District is responsible for meeting the educational needs of approximately 3,600 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.  It operates five K-5 neighborhood elementary schools, one K-8 school, and one 6-8 intermediate school. Grades K-5 are primarily self-contained, while grades 6-8 offer a mixture of core and elective classes.  

Those living in Walnut Creek enjoy opportunities typically only found in larger cities, such as nearby San Francisco, without the high cost of living and frustrating traffic. As a result, the city has attracted not only major corporations but small businesses which thrive in Walnut Creek, thanks to strong support from the tight-knit community.

Walnut Creek is a haven for the arts as it is home to one of the largest community arts programs in California: the City of Walnut Creek’s Civic Arts Education program. The program is open to adults, teens, and children, and classes are offered in ceramics and sculpture, dance, digital media and photography, music, drama, and other areas.

In addition, Walnut Creek lays claim to the Lesher Center for the Arts, where visitors can enjoy live performances throughout the year. The center also includes Bedford Gallery that exhibits works created by historic, modern and contemporary artists in five to six new exhibitions annually, as well as lectures, workshops, and panel discussions.

When it comes to getting active, Walnut Creek offers Mount Diablo, part of California’s world-famous state park system. Visitors can hike along the mountain’s extensive trail system, bike to its 3,849-foot summit, or explore the more remote trails on horseback. Those who reach the summit can take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Farallon Islands, and Mount Lassen.

Not feeling adventurous? A more low-key outdoor destination is the Gardens at Heather Farm, which covers six acres and includes 20 sustainable gardens that are open to the public.

Finally, Walnut Creek is a family-friendly city with plenty of activities for the community to take part in no matter the season. For example, the Walnut Festival takes place in the fall, and the city offers Walnut Creek on Ice during the winter months. The Walnut Creek Aquanuts – a world-renowned synchronized swimming club – perform three times each year, and in the summertime, the two-day Art and Wine Festival draws more than 100,000 attendees.