Pleasant Hill, CA Road Trips

1 Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, 315 Cortsen Rd. Built in 1868, The house is open to the public on the second Sunday of each month from 2–4PM.

Contra Costa Canal Trail. This trail is built along the canal system and passes through Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and Concord. It connects Concord's Lime Ridge with Pleasant Hill's Las Juntas Park and Walnut Creek's Larkey Park and Heather Farm. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians are allowed on the trail. Downtown Pleasant Hill. Although this area is often frequented by middle and high schoolers, Downtown Pleasant Hill offers many delightful activities both during the day and at night. Century 16 Movie Theaters is downtown, which shows all of the biggest movies that are released. There are many shops and restaurants.

Downtown Pleasant Hill offers a variety of restaurants, ranging from Chipotle to Redbrick Pizza to the more upscale French restaurant Left Bank. Restaurants outside the downtown area include: 1 Melo's, 1660 Contra Costa Blvd. Offers casual Italian meals. The pizza and pasta are traditional, yet delicious. 2 Back Forty Barbecue, 100 Coggins Dr. A tiny barbecue joint that maintains a bit of old California character. The food is reasonably priced and more than edible, and the bar serves decent drinks. 3 Casper's, 6 Vivian Dr. A small hot dog joint which is well-known to locals. Besides made-to-order hot dogs, good thick milkshakes are served. 4 DeVino's, 2221 Morello Ave. Great family place for pizza and pasta. 5 Nation's Hamburgers, 1900 Contra Costa Blvd. A small but good hamburger place. 6 Three Brothers from China, 2001 Contra Costa Blvd. Chinese cuisine. 7 Donut King, 1607 Contra Costa Blvd. Contra Costa Blvd. Best donuts ever. 8 Giant Chef Burger, 10 Golf Club Rd. Known for its great breakfast that's known as being one of the best around, cash only though 9 Kinder's Custom Meats, 2227 Morello Ave. Known for having some of the best sandwiches around, part of the Kinder's franchise that is local to the Bay Area. Try the ball tip sandwich.

1 Farrington's, 1938 Contra Costa Blvd. Irish style bar, has 21 HD TVs, pool, darts and shuffleboard. They have a DJ every Friday and Saturday night, has decent parking.

1 Sonesta Select Pleasant Hill, 2250 Contra Costa Blvd, ☏ +1 925 691-1444, fax: +1 925-691-0616. 2 Residence Inn Pleasant Hill Concord, 700 Ellinwood Way, ☏ +1 925 689-1010, toll-free: +1-800-331-3131, fax: +1 925-689-1098. 3 Hyatt House Pleasant Hill, 2611 Contra Costa Blvd, ☏ +1 925 934-3343.

Pleasant Hill is accessible by car from highway 680 with exits at Contra Costa Boulevard, Monument Boulevard, and Willow Pass Road (it's in Concord but the closest exit to northern Pleasant Hill). Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stops at the 1 Pleasant Hill station. Small aircraft can land at Buchanan Field Airport (CCR IATA) in nearby Concord but most people coming to Pleasant Hill by air use the larger Oakland Airport (OAK IATA) and then drive in or take BART the rest of the way.

Although biking and walking is certainly an option, it is advisable to have access to a car while staying in Pleasant Hill. Bus service (County Connection) is also available. Taxi service is available, but on a much reduced scale as compared to major cities. Occasionally you might be able to hail a cab at the Bart Station and in the downtown area but don't expect it; it is always better to call and arrange for a taxi to pick you up.