Winter in the Tri-Valley

While the rest of the country bundles up and heads indoors for the winter season, the Tri-Valley embraces the crisp air, clear views, and café lounging. Cozy up next to fire pits with a glass of wine, binge on warm comfort foods, and venture out to one of the clearest vistas in the entire world. Here are our favorite things to do during winter in the Tri-Valley.

Visit Mt. Diablo State Park

Mt. Diablo State Park is a home to a variety of outdoor activities, gorgeous views, and even some head-scratching curiosities.

The mountain’s summit rises nearly 4,000ft above the rest of the Bay Area, acting as a gorgeous backdrop and centerpiece to the entire Tri-Valley. Given how low the foothills and surrounding area is, Mt. Diablo has some of the best summit visibility in the entire world. On clear winter days, visitors are able to spot the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Shasta and parts of Yosemite.

While you’re there, head into the Summit Visitor Center to see a variety of exhibits covering the ecosystem, topography & history of the mountain range. Check out or Mount Diablo Visitors Guide for everything you need to know before you go.

Visit Five Museums in One

The Blackhawk Museum in Danville is not only a world class museum, we’d consider it five museums in one. Although this museum is known for its extensive classic car collection, it’s also home to four additional exhibits: Art of Africa, Into China, World of Nature, and the award-winning Spirit of the Old West. Spend hours exploring four floors of art, historical artifacts, and amazing displays.

View the museums, art galleries and historical sites located in the Tri-Valley with our Arts & Culture Guide.

Winter Wine Tasting

Nothing keeps you warm like a glass of wine on a chilly day, and the Tri-Valley is home to more than 50 local wineries to taste at.

Rubino Estates Winery (pictured above) is a California-Italian winery with an authentic deli, decked out tasting room, and an outdoor bocce court to get your blood pumping.
Each Sunday, Retzlaff Vineyards invites guests onto their sprawling lawn to cuddle up around fire pits, roast up some s’mores and enjoy live musical performances.
Rather stay indoors? Take a tour of the Wente Vineyards wine caves at their Arroyo Road estate. Fun fact: these underground caves were used to smuggle sacramental wine during Prohibition.

Snag a Couch Seat at Vine Cinemas

Vine Cinemas & Alehouse in Downtown Livermore isn’t just a great place to catch a flick, it’s the comfiest seat in town! Featuring local beers and wines, artisanal appetizers, and comfortable love seats in addition to regular theater seating, this isn’t your normal movie night experience.

While recent releases are often making appearances on Vine Cinema’s marquee, they also host live sporting events and celebrations like Superbowl parties and The Bachelor screenings. With a giant 30ft screen, the Vine has the largest sporting screen in the entire Bay Area!

Hop on the Caffeine Trail

The Tri-Valley Caffeine Trail consists of 17 cafés, tearooms and coffeehouses in the Tri-Valley, each with their own set of peps and perks. Between breakfast and brunch spots with creative caffeine concoctions, cafés with extensive herbal tea selections, and shops that feature sweet boba tea in a variety of flavors, winter is by far the best season to hit this caffeine-centric trail. Visit one stop in each city and we’ll gift you a limited edition Tri-Valley coffee mug!

Indoor Ice Skating

Enjoy the thrills of ice skating without turning into an icicle at one of the indoor ice skating facilities in the Tri-Valley. Dublin Iceland (pictured above) and Tri-Valley Ice are both open year-round and rent skates to the public. Fun fact: Kristi Yamaguchi (the Olympic Champion!) completed a majority of her training at Dublin Iceland.

Check out our Indoor Activities Guide for more ideas.