Discover California’s Tri-Valley region

A historic home once lived in by one of the world’s greatest writers. Fabulous food. Great, local wines. And wonderful, walkable downtowns. The Tri-Valley region of California is not only easy to enjoy, but easy to get to.

The valley is roughly a 45-minute drive from downtown San Francisco, and easily reached on the Bay Area Rapid Transit System. I grew up about 10 minutes from the area, and my first newspaper job was with the daily Tri-Valley Herald. I thought I knew the area reasonably well, but I found a ton of surprises and delightful spots to enjoy on a recent visit.

Maybe the biggest surprise was the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville. I had no idea that one of the world’s greatest writers lived, for seven years, in one of the pretty homes high in the hills.

The site is a tremendous place, with spectacular views of Mt. Diablo, which commands the eastern side of the valley and rises to 1,173 meters. On a clear day you can see California’s snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains from the summit.