20 Things To Do In San Ramon, California

In the Bay Area’s San Ramon Valley, sandwiched between Mount Diablo to the east and Oakland to the west, San Ramon is an urban destination that’s become one of the popular places to live in the Bay area. The city only became independent in 1983, has a population of more than 85,000 and is where you will find the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies such as Chevron and AT&T. Surrounded by scenic rolling hills and within a 36-mile drive (58 km) from San Francisco, here are the best things to do in San Ramon and surrounds. 

San Ramon California

20 Things To Do In San Ramon

1- Tour the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site

The Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site is a cultural and historic landmark in California marking the former residence of the United States’ only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill.

O’Neill and his wife Carlotta Monterey called the 14-acre (6 ha) estate home from 1937 until the author’s death in 1944, and is where he wrote his last six plays. 

The couple’s entire estate is preserved just the way it was when O’Neill spent his last days there, creating a step back into history for anyone familiar with O’Neill’s works.

The Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site is 7 miles (11 km) north of downtown San Ramon at 1000 Kuss Rd, Danville, CA 94526.

2- Go Shopping and Dining at the City Center Bishop Ranch

The newest addition to San Ramon’s shopping and entertainment scene is the City Center Bishop Ranch, a retail space that has several of the Tri-Valley area’s best restaurants and upscale boutiques.

Officially opened in 2018, this Renzo Piano-designed venue has an upscale cinema, modern office spaces and several of the Bay Area’s best-rated hangouts and stores.

The venue further enhances San Ramon’s reputation as the leading cultural, economic and entertainment hub in the Tri-Valley area and is a destination that’s ideal for shopaholics or fine dining aficionados.

City Center Bishop Ranch is at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd Suite 2650, San Ramon, CA 94583.

3- Plan a Day Trip to San Francisco

Less than 36 miles (58 km) separates San Ramon from downtown San Francisco, making it the perfect destination to plan a quick day-trip excursion.

Visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the Painted Ladies and Palace of Fine Arts, as well as a star-studded line-up of art galleries, restaurants, cafes and entertainment.

Palo Alto, Oakland, San Jose, Stanford and San Francisco are all just minutes from the streets of downtown San Ramon, making this Tri-Valley city ideal for avid urban explorers and budget-savvy travellers.

4- Explore the Historic Glass House Museum

Housed within a white Italianate-Victorian home dating back to 1877, the Glass House Museum offers a peek into what life in the Tri-Valley area was like for families living here during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The museum is officially known as “The David and Eliza Glass House Museum” and opened in 2010 following a series of extensive renovations.

Apart from providing valuable historic information about San Ramon’s early settlement, the venue also has a beautifully landscaped garden that is being renovated to turn the house back into its late 1800s glory.

The Glass House Museum is at 21103 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583.

5- Trek Through the Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve

The Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve is a sprawling outdoor recreational area covering an area of roughly 5,778 acres (2,338 ha), with scenic nature trails and rolling hills.

The preserve is renowned for its lookout points and you’ll be transported back to a time when the Bay Area was devoid of Silicon Valley tech titans. 

Trails within the park are navigable by hiking or horseback riding, with downtown San Ramon just six miles (10 km) southeast.

Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve is at 18012 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583.

6- Stop By the Blackhawk Museum

Opened in 1988, the Blackhawk Museum is an all-encompassing centre exhibiting a range of rare collectables, artworks and trinkets near downtown San Ramon.

The museum is divided into six exhibits that display an expanding collection of classic automobiles and art from around the world.

Some of the museum’s highlights include a 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagon, a 2017 Lamborghini Centenario and replicas of the Terracotta Warriors.

The Blackhawk Museum is at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Danville, CA 94506.

7- Learn About the Bay Area’s Past at the Forest Home Farms Historic Park

Spread across 16 acres (6 ha), the Forest Home Farms Historic Park is a municipal park that incorporates several historic buildings and landmarks into one easy-to-visit attraction.

The land upon which the park now sits was gifted to the city of San Ramon in 1997 by Ruth Quayle Boone and is divided into two sections, north and south.

Among the park’s collection of preserved historic sites are the Glass House, the 22-room, Dutch-Colonial style Boone House, 14 different out buildings, numerous 19th century farming equipment and even a walnut processing plant.

Forest Home Farms Historic Park is at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583.

8- Visit the Museum of the San Ramon Valley

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley was established in 1985 with the goal of celebrating and preserving the rich history and culture that define the cities in the Tri-Valley area for future generations to learn about.

Housed within the restored Southern Pacific Depot which dates back to 1891, the museum’s vast and varied collection of artefacts and trinkets each tell a tale of the region, which visitors can learn about via guided tours of the museum’s exhibits.

Six miles (10 km) north from downtown San Ramon in Danville, the museum has an on-site museum shop selling books, gifts and unique items.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is at 205 Railroad Ave, Danville, CA 94526.

9- Take a Stroll Through Central Park

The 55-acre (22 ha) Central Park is the largest park in San Ramon’s public park system, complete with a series of baseball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic areas.

Central Park sits in the heart of downtown San Ramon and host the annual San Ramon Art and Wind Festival over Memorial Day weekend, as well as several other smaller events and community gatherings throughout the year.

Situated adjacent to the Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery and the City Center Bishop Ranch, the park offers city slickers with an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Ramon and the Bay area’s other tech-dominated metros.

10- Hike, Bike or Horseback Ride the Iron Horse Trail

Covering nearly 30 miles (48 km) connecting the cities of Concord and Pleasanton, the Iron Horse Trail is a multi-use rail trail open to hikers, cyclists and horseback riders.

The trail passes through California’s Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and mostly follows the path of the old Southern Pacific Railroad which was left abandoned in 1977.

Some 4.2 miles (7 km) of the trail passes through the city of San Ramon, making it possible to criss-cross the East Bay area and enjoy the great outdoors.

11- Swing By the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park

Opposite the Danville Library about 6 miles (9 km) outside downtown San Ramon is the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park, a small yet scenic urban park dedicated to the only American playwright to win the Nobel Prize.

This open air park/museum features eight different commemorative plaques featuring snippets of information about O’Neill’s life as well as an unmissable 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) typographic sculpture.

The park is free to enjoy and is ideal to combine with a visit to the nearby Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site.

The Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park is at 403 Front St, Danville, CA 94526.

12- Browse Locally-Sourced Produce at the San Ramon Farmers Market

The San Ramon Farmers Market is a weekly get-together of the region’s bakers, farmers and artisans that’s been treating locals to fresh produce and tasty homemade delicacies since the market first began in 2006.

Hosted every Saturday at the City Center Bishop Ranch in downtown San Ramon, the market attracts vendors and bargain hunters from across the East Bay area and is usually accompanied by live entertainment.

The San Ramon Farmers Market is hosted at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583.

13- Plan a Trip to the Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery

Combining an 18-hole golf course and a craft beer brewery into one venue, the Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery is ideal for casual golfers wishing to enjoy a cold beer after a round of golf without travelling too far.

The brewery serves up 18 unique craft brews, one of each hole along the golf course, which is paired with freshly prepared meals courtesy of the full service restaurant.

Opened in 2017, this relatively recent San Ramon attraction has already snagged a couple of awards for its IPA’s and Barrel Aged Stouts, and is situated about 1 mile (1.6 km) from downtown San Ramon.

The Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery is at 640 Bollinger Canyon Way, San Ramon, CA 94582.

14- Stop By the Famous Oakland Zoo

First opened back in 1922, the Oakland Zoo is a Bay Area staple and is a nationally recognised centre for animal rescue, welfare and conservation.

The zoo is situated just outside the Tri-Valley area roughly 21 miles (33 km) west from San Ramon and is currently home to more than 750 animals including bears, tigers, lions, elephants and jaguars.

More than a century old, the zoo today covers an area of over 100 acres (40 ha) and hosts several special events throughout the year, including the popular “Glowfari” over the winter.

The Oakland Zoo is at 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605.

15- Challenge Your Mind at Zscape Games

Regarded as the premier escape rooms in San Ramon, Zscape Games offers newbies and hardened escape artists 3 uniquely themed escape rooms to try and solve in under an hour.

The venue opened its doors back in 2018 and regularly introduces new and innovative escape rooms from which to break free with friends and family.

Zscape Games also recently added a series of VR escape rooms to try out, becoming one of only a handful such venues in the United States offering VR escape rooms.

Zscape Games is at 2110 Omega Rd Ste E, San Ramon, CA 94583.

16- Hike the Scenic Tassajara Ridge Trail Loop

Spanning a length of just over eight miles (13 km), the Tassajara Ridge Trail Loop is a scenic hiking trail near downtown San Ramon that treats avid nature enthusiasts to sweeping views of the entire Bay Area.

The trail passes along rolling verdant hills and wildflowers, allowing hikers to gaze out across the Tri-Valley area and Mt. Diablo on a clear day.

17- Enjoy the Visual and Performing Arts at the Village Theatre

Built between 1874 and 1913, the Village Theatre near downtown San Ramon is the region’s performing arts hub, playing host to a variety of live shows and theatrical performances throughout the year.

The theatre also features seven rotating fine art exhibitions showcasing works by talented local artists, providing a platform for the Tri-Valley area’s arts and culture scene.

The Village Theatre routinely showcases movie screenings, musicals and community-led theatre productions, as well as organises educative workshops to introduce aspiring artists to the world of visual and performing arts.

The Village Theatre is at 233 Front St, Danville, CA 94526.

18- Trek Through the Bishop Ranch Regional Open Space Preserve

The Bishop Ranch Regional Open Space Preserve is a sizeable 806-acre (326 ha) outdoor recreation area where nature lovers get to observe and interact with nature in peace and solitude.

Several animal species can be seen roaming around the preserve, including deer, turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks, with three distinct nature trails providing hikers, cyclists and horseback riders access to the preserve’s natural beauty.

The preserve is free to enter and doesn’t have the same amenities as some of San Ramon’s more-visited urban parks, making it ideal for those seeking a less touristy and more rugged outdoor experience.

The Bishop Ranch Regional Open Space Preserve is at 2761 Morgan Dr, San Ramon, CA 94583.

19- Browse the Lindsay Dirkx Brown Art Gallery

Housed inside the San Ramon Community Center, the Lindsay Dirkx Brown Art Gallery is one of five art galleries in San Ramon that’s garnered a reputation as one of the city’s leading spaces for promoting talented local artists.

The gallery first began showcasing paintings and portraits more than 20 years ago and plays host to several rotating art exhibitions throughout the year, ranging from travelling exhibits and youth art to art groups from across the Bay Area.

The Lindsay Dirkx Brown Art Gallery is at 12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583.

20- Relax Along the Shores of Annabel Lake

Between City Center Bishop Ranch and San Ramon Marriott hotel in the city’s downtown district lies Annabel Lake, a large freshwater lake and urban outdoor landmark that’s ideal for an afternoon picnic or a sunset stroll.

The lake is surrounded on all sides by the Annabel Trail which runs along the lake’s shore, providing visitors with uninterrupted vantage points of this peaceful San Ramon landmark that’s often overlooked as a tourist destination.

Free to enjoy and best-visited during sunset, the lake serves as the centrepiece of San Ramon’s rapidly evolving downtown district and offers travellers a break from the city’s bustling streets.

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