The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it!
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon!
QUESTION: In your opinion, what city has the best “Downtown” area in the Bay Area?
Talk about it!
Antioch
HILARIOUS.
@Tramarx
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
You need to get out more often!
Clayton. I love the small town vibe!!
I second Clayton.
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As for antioch, some might call it a war zone on The Delta,
Eight dead so far this year.
15 July 2023 downtown, near restaurant on river, 70 Shots Fired 1 Dead, 2 Wounded.
Never knew there was a downtown Clayton . Should check it out sometime 10 min from the West I mean bay point. There goes the neighborhood 🧟♂️
Hard to pick just one, there are so many. Some cities on the peninsula like San Mateo, Redwood City, Burlingame, Menlo Park and Palo Alto have nice downtowns.
The prettiest would be Woodside, with the old buildings and the Douglas fir, oak, and redwood trees.
In Marin County, I would go with Mill Valley, San Anselmo, and Tiburon. In Solano County Benicia wins, and locally, I’d have to say it’s a toss up between Danville, and Martinez. Once upon a time, Walnut Creek was enjoyable, but not too much anymore.
Nailed it. Especially with that Walnut Creek comment.
Sausalito was recently named one of the “Most Beautiful Cities In The World.”
And, Los Gatos is positively charming!
Dawg ~
Thanks for Sharing! I need to check some of these out.
Martinez, Danville, Alameda and Benicia ones I have enjoyed.
Dawg, We have some of the same taste. I have lived in Marin, on the Peninsula, Benicia and the Concord area.
Peninsula, Palo Alto is obvious (I worked there off and on for more than 10 years) I like San Carlos, and love Half Moon Bay. Marin and the North Bay Mill Valley, Petaluma, Healdsburg and Sonoma. I go to Petaluma fairly often have a friend there, and another in Windsor. I lived in Benicia for 10 years, and love the downtown. Although some of the shops and artists studio’s that I loved is no longer there, Studio 41, and several of the glass blowing studios, Zellique, and Lindsey.
Concord for me
Lot’s of good choices, for a full day of things to do, I’ll choose Walnut Creek. For some shorter days, Martinez, Benicia, Concord.
Toss up between Danville and Burlingame.
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In my opinion – Walnut Creek.
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Port Costa
Hard to choose, but I like
💫Clayton,
💫Lafayette,
and
💫Danville
💫 Clayton for the “small-town” feel, the Park and Bandstand, the Post Office, the Library, the Police Station, the restaurants, the view of Mt. Diablo… well, just about everything!
💫 Lafayette for Diablo Foods, McCaullou’s, Orchard Nursery, the art galleries, Hank and Frank’s, Lafayette Reservoir, Diamond K Supply, the view of Mt. Diablo … and so much more.
💫 Danville for the view of Mt. Diablo and just because it’s Danville.
@Rundog
There’s a McCaulou’s on Clayton Rd.
@PESFG
Yes, you’re right. The Clayton McCaulou’s is my all time favorite.
Point Richmond
Met some friends for lunch in Benicia last spring the day before Easter. Lots of kiddos out on a scavenger hunt, great lunch at Sailor Jack’s. Lots of nice shops and a small town feel. I’m in Concord and Todos Santos looks nice with all the trees lit up and some good eateries…just not sure about safety, though.
Martinez downtown always seems to have a small town feeling.
The city that Petula Clark lives in.
“When you’re alone, and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Downtown”
Is Santa Rosa in the Bay Area? No? Good, because the downtown is terrible. But that wasn’t the question. I like Vacaville. Humble, but nice. At least two nice restaurants, which let’s face it, makes a downtown. And a ‘crick with bluegill in it.
I started to come to Concord in 1984 visiting a friend, I was living on the Peninsula. At that time the downtown didn’t have much personality. Now Todos Santos Plaza is very pretty with planters, Farmer’s Market and restaurants. I especially liked it when Half Price Books were where BofA is now. I loved going to Farmers Market and the to the bookstore, or the other way around.
Santa Rosa is part of the North Bay. One of my girl friends lived there, and I met her a few times for lunch there, there are some nice areas, but it is a bigger town. However Healdsburg is very charming, just a little further north.
Main Street and Broadway plaza have them all beat for sure.
Clayton all day. A tad biased because it is my home. I love it more and more each day.
It used to be Clayton for me…. lived there for 30 years… then it got all woke and gay paradey so I moved out to the Delta where there are still some real Americans & Patriots…. and some of the best neighbors I’ve ever had.
Clayton… WC used to be a #1 …but too much traffic, parking is ridiculous, lost its charm long ago … I avoid it now
Not to mention the crazy robberies now. Two on Friday, mid day, 1 near police station. They need to block off 24w entrance as soon as a robbery is reported. Chances are the thieves are not going 680s to Alamo
I started to come to Concord in 1984 visiting a friend, I was living on the Peninsula. At that time the downtown didn’t have much personality. Now Todos Santos Plaza is very pretty with planters, Farmer’s Market and restaurants. I especially liked it when Half Price Books were where BofA is now. I loved going to Farmers Market and the to the bookstore, or the other way around.
P.S. As for Marin I could add these 2 San Anselmo and Fairfax.
Concord new city motto.
We are close to some cool places!
Menlo Park
I really like the town square concept, so Concord is my favorite.
I think Todos Santos is a nice area.
Martinez is #1. Followed by Benicia and once you figure out exactly where it is “old” town Alameda is great along with the Solano Ave portion of Albany. And the old actual town portion of South SF is really cool.
People need to get out of Concord/WC and explore the bay area. There are many interesting places to visit
It’s not a “downtown,” but all along College Ave in Oakland is a nice area.
Monterey.
Healdsburg