Top Pick 💙 A Secluded Spot with Mountains, Water & Homes

I wrote a post before about Ed Levin County Park—dubbed the Bay Area’s “Little Switzerland” (feel free to scroll back and check it out 😂). Back then, I thought it was the best of its kind… but after moving to the East Bay, I realized you really need to explore more! The “Little Switzerland” here in the East Bay keeps exceeding my expectations—it’s quieter, more spacious, and absolutely stunning. Today, I’m sharing Newhall Community Park in Concord, a small East Bay city. Nestled against Mount Diablo (affectionately called “Big Pineapple Mountain”), the park offers 360° unobstructed views of the entire East Bay and distant bay areas. The scenery right now has easily outshone all other “Little Switzerland” spots in my book! 🚗 Getting There & Parking The easiest way to visit is by car—just search “Newhall Community Park” on your navigation app. It’s a 10+ minute drive from downtown Concord and about 40 minutes from San Francisco. Best of all: all parking lots in the park are free 🅿️! 🌈 Family & Pet-Friendly Perks Newhall Park is super convenient for families with kids and dog owners: It has a children’s playground and separate off-leash areas for small and large dogs ‼️ (Note: The lawns are currently under renovation and will reopen in March.) 🌸 Spring Outing Essentials Pond & Wildlife: The park has a pond filled with geese and mandarin ducks—super charming to watch! Picnic & Camping: There are designated picnic areas, and you can even book spots for camping. Squash Courts: Concord has a large Italian American community, so squash courts are everywhere—and this park has a whole area for it! If you’re into squash, give it a try. 💚 Best Scenic Route: Newhall Loop Trail Here’s the ideal path for the best views: After parking, head away from the children’s playground. Follow the walking trail past the dog park, and keep going toward the highest point of the park. Most of the trail is flat—only a short uphill section. At the top, you’ll reach the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Stop here to take photos: you’ll get breathtaking views of Mount Diablo’s main peak and the surrounding mountains. Go early, and you might even see wispy clouds floating around—so serene and peaceful! Hike downhill along the summit trail to enjoy views of another part of the East Bay. On clear days, you can even see the bay. Once you’re down, walk to the park’s man-made pond to watch geese and mandarin ducks playing in the water. The trail is low-difficulty— the entire loop is about 2 miles, making it great for jogging too! A Quick Bit of Park History 200 years ago, this land belonged to the Pacheco family—one of California’s wealthy early Spanish settlers. The Pachecos built farms and cattle ranches here to grow their wealth and influence. Later, the city of Concord converted the land into a community park, giving it new life for everyone to enjoy. #BayAreaLife #AmericanLife #StudyInUSA #BayAreaWeekendActivities #BayAreaWeekend #BayAreaRealEstate #BayAreaPhotography #BayAreaFamilyFun #BayAreaLittleSwitzerland #BayAreaLittleSwitzerland🇨🇭 #BayAreaHiking #BayAreaHikes #EastBayBayArea