The Contra Costa County town of Concord calls itself a “Northern California Original,” and it’s easy to see why. With a booming craft brew scene, creative dining options and a thriving music scene (it’s the birthplace of jazz great Dave Brubeck and the Concord record label), quick access to thousands of acres of open space and massive Mount Diablo looming in its backyard, it’s an East Bay oasis for outdoorsy types.
Did we mention a half-dozen dog-friendly hotels plus the multi-use Iron Horse Regional Trail connecting three cities and two counties?
Concord is just 20 miles from Oakland, 30 from San Francisco and 70 from Sacramento—convenient, in other words. Its nucleus is dog-friendly Todos Santos Plaza, a community gathering space that hosts weekly farmers markets, music events and food-truck fests spring through fall. It’s a gorgeous, 2.5-acre space with two dog-friendly breweries (Hop Grenade and E.J. Phair) on the new and growing Concord Craft Beer Trail. Coming soon is a new, experiential visitor center that will feature interactive displays, pop-up shops, culinary showcases, art installations and historic exhibits. Oh, and lots of information about those dog-friendly hikes!