Dublin/Pleasanton/Livermore - Livermore, CA

Like most of California, the Livermore Valley was settled first by Spanish missionaries. When the mission system disbanded in the mid-1800s, Spanish rancheros received vast tracts of mission land, often for free. Two of these were Robert Livermore, a British expatriate and Mexican citizen who established Livermore Ranch, and Jose Amador, who settled in what is now Pleasanton in 1826. Located on one of the main routes to the Gold Country, the two towns became a commercial stopover for miners and trappers headed north.

Since the mid-1800s, the Livermore-Amador Valley has been recognized as one of California’s prime wine-growing regions. Dotted with wineries, it hosts several wine-tasting tours each year and an annual rodeo, a tradition since 1918. The region remained primarily agricultural until 1982, when the city of Pleasanton approved a 900-acre business park which transformed Pleasanton/Dublin into the bustling commercial center it is today.

The Pleasanton Art League supports local artists and education programs in the Tri-Valley. The Firehouse Arts Center is home to the Pacific Coast Repertory Theater and Harrington Art Gallery. The Museum on Main, located in downtown Pleasanton, has a mission of linking the areas past to the future through exhibits and local events.

Quiet and leisurely most aptly describes the nightlife in the Tri-Valley, where two-income families and early bedtimes are the norm. Nonetheless, dining out plays a big role in the affluent Bay Area lifestyle and great restaurants abound.

In Downtown Livermore, First Street Ale House offers some good, old-fashioned American fare. Featuring 24 beers on tap and a wide selection of locally crafted wines, this mid-priced, family friendly restaurant features scrumptious half-pound burgers prepared with either meat, poultry, vegetables or sliced Portobello mushrooms, plus an interesting array of healthy sides. A nicely varied kid’s menu and an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the weekends helps to keep the cost of dining out with the whole family in check.

Next door in Pleasanton, chefs Ted and Michael Ooi blend the cuisines of Malaysia and Singapore at Taste of Sing Ma. Diners enjoy the rendang chicken or beef with either pineapple or coconut rice. There are more exotic dishes, such as the spicy fried-noodle dish, Mee Goreng. Moderately priced by Bay Area standards, this Asian-themed restaurant boasts a gorgeous interior, seasonal outdoor dining and a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, plus a nice selection of beer and wine.

For a tasty breakfast for the whole family, nothing in the Tri-Valley beats Denica’s Real Food. Owned by husband and wife team James and Denica Freitas, this small, wildly popular café offers homemade pancakes, waffles, three-egg omelettes and baked goods. There are two locations, the original Denica’s on the corner of Las Positas Road in Livermore, or the new café on Dougherty Road in Dublin. Frequent diners know to call ahead and reserve one of Denica’s famous cinnamon rolls, which frequently sell out every morning.

For the over 21-crowd, more than one area restaurant features a full bar and a relaxed atmosphere for socializing and fun. Tommy T’s Comedy and Steakhouse in Pleasanton features local comedians until 10 PM every day. Caps and Taps in Dublin offers a great selection of delicious craft beers on tap, and Coco Cabana at The Shops at Waterford sports a full bar, trendy atmosphere and discounted cocktails for women on Ladies Night.

The cities of Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin enjoy easy access to two of California’s busiest Interstates, I-580 and I-680, which connect the East Bay to the city of San Francisco to the west, Napa Valley to the north and Silicon Valley and San Jose to the south. Public transportation is spotty, so most residents own a car. Neither Uber nor Zip Car offer service in the Tri-Valley, but nine taxi companies provide 24-hour service to area locations and local airports; just make sure to call ahead.

Public transit is available on the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority’s WHEELS. Travel by bus to the Livermore transit center, downtown Pleasanton or the East or West Dublin Bay Area Rapid Transit. The Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, goes to downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland and the San Francisco and Oakland International Airports.

Cyclers travel through downtown Pleasanton or Livermore on more than 50 bike trails, or on one of the bike lanes on most area streets. Dozens of cycling aficionados each weekend ride the trails that crisscross the area, or head out to Mt. Diablo or Sycamore Grove State Park. Bike rentals are available at Dublin Cyclery.

Downtown Pleasanton and Livermore are very pedestrian-friendly. Locals and visitors stroll throughout the cities to visit the local shops and restaurants.

With its many acres of open space and rolling hills, the Tri-Valley area offers many local and regional parks and activities for the whole family to enjoy. In Pleasanton, Muirwood Community Park features a children's playground, tennis courts and an off-leash dog park. Amador Valley Park provides free open-air theater during the summer months. For hiking, nothing beats Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, with its acres of dog-friendly trails and plenty of streams to cool off on a hot summer day. All these parks are free.

Dublin, too, offers many free local parks to choose from, including the very popular Emerald Glen Park. Along with lighted tennis courts, baseball, softball, soccer and cricket fields, the park has two playgrounds with water-play features, barbecue grills and clean, well-maintained restrooms.

Livermore Area Recreation and Park District hosts open-space and community parks in the city of Livermore. The Robert Livermore Community Center offers great water fun in summer months, with a zero-depth pool, an interactive play structure and a water slide, as well as a 13-lane lap pool that's open year-round. Camp Shelby provides overnight camping for visitors and residents for a fee, as well as wooded trails for hiking during the day. Serious hikers tackle the hills and trails at Sycamore Grove Park, Bushy Peak Regional Preserve and the Garaventa Wetland Preserve. There are ranger-led nature programs nearly every weekend, where kids and adults learn about local flora and wildlife and even work alongside the rangers to help maintain the trails.

Like the rest of the Bay Area, living in the Tri-Valley trends towards the expensive. Gas and most commodities run about 6 percent above the national average, but rents drive the cost of living through the roof. Rents run much higher than the national average, with a one-bedroom apartment going for about $1500-$1750 per month.

One of the few bargains available is WHEELS, which takes riders anywhere in the cities of Dublin, Livermore or Pleasanton for just $2.00 each way. BART to Oakland International Airport costs a reasonable $3.80, or it's just $11.25 to ride all the way to San Francisco for $11.25.

Diners experience above average costs in the Tri-Valley. A meal for two in a moderately priced restaurant runs about $60-90, and domestic beer by the glass is about $5. Wine drinkers expect to pay about $9 to $12 for a good Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay and a bit less for house wine.

Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton offer nearly every shopping option imaginable, from quaint family-owned boutiques to massive shopping malls and discount outlets. Pleasanton and Livermore offer the best selection of small boutiques, while Pleasanton and Dublin host magnet and big-box stores.

In Pleasanton, Stoneridge Shopping Center, a large mall featuring a nice selection of brand name clothing and household goods, offers two levels of shopping. Macy's, Nordstrom's, J.C. Penny, and Sears offer reasonable prices and a wide selection of clothing, linens, and home decor. Gen-Ys and Millennials love Lucky Jeans, MAC cosmetics, and Abercrombie and Fitch, while the little ones have a ball at Gymboree.

The Livermore Premium Outlets provide designer fashion and sportswear at budget-friendly prices. Stores include Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Calvin Klein, and Bloomingdale's Outlet Store, to name a few. High-end accessories are at Coach, Movado, or the Solstice Sunglass Outlet. Parents like to shop for kid's bargains at Hartstrings, OshKosh B'gosh, and Janie and Jack.

Shoppers looking for something a little out of the ordinary need to stroll down Main Street in Pleasanton and check out Prim or Therapy, two trendy women's boutiques. For a terrific cup of coffee, head to Peet's Coffee and Tea or Cafe Main. One of the highlights of the area is the outrageous ice cream sandwich at Cream on Railroad Avenue in Livermore.

Nearly every corner in the Tri-Valley features a grocery or convenience store, with Safeway and Nob Hill Foods dominating the market. Draeger's and Whole Foods offer high-end grocery shopping, and Trader Joe's provides an interesting array of frozen ethnic foods, bulk items, breads, vegetables, and cheeses. Farmer's markets dot the streets on weekends and some weekdays. The Pleasanton market is on Main and W. Angela Streets on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM. The Livermore market provides fresh fruit and veggies on Carnegie Park and 3rd and J Street on Thursdays from 4 PM to 8 PM from May to October. From November through April, the market moves to 2nd Street between J and K Streets and is open from 9 AM to 1 PM.