Its name is pretty interesting, taken from the Marquis de Lafayette, a French war hero of the American Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n
The city sits as part of the San Francisco<\/a> Bay Area, featuring its own mass transit station on the BART system.<\/p>\n Lafayette is also culturally known as part of \u2018Lamorinda,\u2019 situated between Orinda, Moraga, and Walnut Creek<\/a>.<\/p>\n Interestingly, the city is famous for its wealthy inhabitants, strong schools, and rolling green hills.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s agricultural and residential area is east of the hills, with grassy hills that accentuate it, giving it a more domestic feel.<\/p>\n To its southwest is the Lafayette Reservoir, while to its north is the Briones Regional Park.<\/p>\n Wildlife habitats also abound in the city and feature oak and woodland trees.<\/p>\n Besides the green fields and hills, Lafayette also offers trails, city-managed parks, and a Community Park hiking network that can bring you closer to nature.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth visiting with family, so here are the 15 best things to do in Lafayette, CA, to help you organize your stay.<\/p>\n Ju and Ian Chase \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n In 1933, the Lafayette Reservoir opened as a reserved drinking water supply for the East Bay Municipal Utility District customers.<\/p>\n You can find this reservoir off Mt. Diablo Boulevard on Lafayette\u2019s west end.<\/p>\n In 1966, this 1.4-billion-gallon reservoir on a 925-acre site opened to the public for picnicking, boating, fishing, and hiking.<\/p>\n Today, you can see canoes, sailboats, and kayaks in the reservoir, with some pedals and rowboats for rent at the activity center.<\/p>\n Lynn Watson \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n If you want to go biking, rollerblade, or riding a scooter, there is also a 2.7-mile paved Lakeside Trail and roads.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll see 35 picnic sites surrounding the reservoir that can accommodate small groups and families if you look around.<\/p>\n You can also go fishing in the reservoir.<\/p>\n It carries thousands of trout each year, joining the many other fish such as catfish, black crappie, black bass, and bluegill.<\/p>\n However, bait restrictions and state license requirements apply for fishing.<\/p>\n Chris LaBasco \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Bring the family out on a lazy day at the Lafayette Community Park, located on St. Mary\u2019s Rd.<\/p>\n Here, you can find a diverse array of wildlife and recreation opportunities and other interesting features scattered all over this 68-acre site.<\/p>\n On the south end are two sports fields for baseball and soccer.<\/p>\n You can also use either the group picnic area or the single picnic table while letting the kids enjoy themselves in the Tot Playground.<\/p>\n This playground is close to the picnic area that features an adjacent lawn.<\/p>\n After your picnic lunch, burn the calories with a slow walk along a nature trail that goes through the park.<\/p>\n This park brings you as close as possible to nature with its open grassland and eucalyptus groves.<\/p>\n Love exploring the outdoors and admiring natural sights?<\/p>\n The Lafayette Ridge Trail offers this and more.<\/p>\n A 10.6-kilometer out-and-back trail, this trail is a moderately challenging route that takes 3 hours and 2 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n You can choose from the many different ways to conquer the Lafayette Ridge Trail, including biking, running, walking, or birding.<\/p>\n To get the best of the place, you can come here from May to September and even bring your furry friends as they are welcome to the site.<\/p>\n Located on Withers Avenue, Brookwood Park is a 6.3-acre neighborhood the locals consider a ‘hidden gem’ for everything it lets you do here.<\/p>\n Bring your picnic basket and sit on the ground under the shade of some lovely, dense trees. You can also use the picnic tables for a day of relaxation and fun.<\/p>\n It features BBQ pits, a picnic area, a basketball court, and a playground.<\/p>\n One of Brookwood’s strengths is that it is not clearly visible from the street, so it doesn’t attract many people.<\/p>\n There is a grassy area where you can play with your kids, or you may opt to push your baby in a stroller on the paved path.<\/p>\n However, the park’s main attraction is the Brookwood Park Labyrinth, completed in 2015 with the help of volunteers.<\/p>\n The labyrinth serves as a space for hosting the annual service for families with members who have undergone hospice treatment.<\/p>\n Feed the art lover in you with a visit to the Lafayette College of Art Galleries.<\/p>\n Discover works that will totally stimulate your mind and delight your senses.<\/p>\n Explore the Williams Center Gallery and Grossman Gallery, featuring notable exhibitions.<\/p>\n If you want collections for personal enrichment and scholarly research, the Kirby Art Study Center is a can\u2019t-miss.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be fascinated to know about the Art on Campus program that places artworks or public sculptures throughout the common areas of the campus grounds to create daily art experiences.<\/p>\n The opportunities for art encounters are endless in this part of Lafayette.<\/p>\n Dying to have a taste of some of the most famous American dishes?<\/p>\n Head out to Lafayette Cir, where the Cooperage American Grille serves some of the most delectable dishes you’ve ever tasted.<\/p>\n Also known as The Coop, it is a locally-owned restaurant located right in the heart of downtown Lafayette.<\/p>\n Each dish comes to your plate bearing mouth-watering food, paired with excellent service and unique cocktails.<\/p>\n Diablo Magazine has also named it ‘Best New Restaurant.’<\/p>\n If you love Asian dishes, the Great Wall Restaurant should give your discriminating taste buds value for your money.<\/p>\n The Great Wall Restaurant offers excellent and authentic Chinese dishes like your favorite egg rolls, fried prawns, crab meat, Tai Chi Chicken, and more.<\/p>\n But an even better reason to come here is that it also serves Korean-Chinese fusion dishes.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t just eat Black Bean Noodles\u2014try their Korean Mixed Vegetables, Cold Jellyfish Salad, and stir-fried pork with Korean glass noodles.<\/p>\n Among the many parks in Lafayette, you shouldn\u2019t miss visiting Brooke Street Park, the first neighborhood park in the city.<\/p>\n Here, you can see many families with young children letting time pass and friends lunching together.<\/p>\n The kids especially love the Pirate Ship, which engages children with its top deck, portholes, climbing ropes, and steering wheel.<\/p>\n Thanks to the low perimeter fence surrounding them, you can be sure that they\u2019re safe if you have kids with you.<\/p>\n Every city or town takes pride in its history.<\/p>\n The Lafayette Historical Society aims to stimulate thought, ignite imagination, and provide enjoyment to locals and visitors through the power of history.<\/p>\n So, in November 2009, this non-profit organization opened up the doors of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, situated on Golden Gate Way.<\/p>\n Prepare to be swept away by its superb collections of artifacts that include Native American arrowheads and a restored 1920s Model TT fire truck.<\/p>\n That’s not all. The society’s archive contains almost 2,000 photographs, historical documents, and news clippings.<\/p>\n You can peruse their desk space for studying maps, books, and documents from the history library or take advantage of the workstations if you want to use your laptop.<\/p>\n If you get lucky, you might also catch a lecture or two.<\/p>\n You should come and see the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, a 7.65-mile linear park for hiking, biking, or running.<\/p>\n This place is about two main things: fantastic scenery and history.<\/p>\n The trail links Lafayette and Moraga together through a logging railroad corridor that parallels St. Mary\u2019s Rd.<\/p>\n And since the trail winds through the Moraga Valley, you\u2019ll enjoy a scenic journey while admiring the sight of the homes and businesses throughout the two towns.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the best thing to do after a day of exploring?<\/p>\n The second-best answer is getting your dose of sweets. (The first is getting into a hot tub.)<\/p>\n When you\u2019re in Lafayette, SusieCakes takes care of those sweet cravings.<\/p>\n Susie, the bakery owner, creates some of the most delicious cakes and pastries out of the finest ingredients.<\/p>\n Her creations come from the recipes of Mildred and Madeline, her two grandmothers.<\/p>\n SusieCakes does not use artificial preservatives or shortening in its products.<\/p>\n Try their cakes and love them because they also ship nationwide.<\/p>\n The original uploader was Daniel Olsen at English Wikipedia.<\/a>, CC BY 2.5<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n The Chabot Space & Science Center, located in Oakland<\/a>, California, is not your average science museum.<\/p>\n You can find this all-ages non-profit institution and community resource sitting on 13 acres of land inside Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park.<\/p>\n Brocken Inaglory<\/a>, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Bring everyone to see the 241-seat full-dome planetarium, a Challenger Learning Center, a gigantic screen theatre, space artifacts, plus hands-on interactive exhibits.<\/p>\n Don’t miss the only research-level and publicly accessible telescopes in the country’s western hemisphere.<\/p>\n Every year, 189,000 visitors visit the place. Out of these numbers, 50,000 students come from the Bay Area, while 986 school groups come on field trips.<\/p>\n Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Mike Linksvayer from Oakland, California<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Travel for about 16 minutes from Lafayette to reach the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve on Pinehurst Rd and Moraga Rd.<\/p>\n Interestingly, you can’t find the native plant community on this preserve elsewhere in the East Bay.<\/p>\n Mike Linksvayer from Oakland, California<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Come and see its year-round display of blooming plants unique to the Bay Area.<\/p>\n This 241-acre park represents a relic plant association found only in specific areas of California’s coastal climate region.<\/p>\n Franco Folini from San Francisco, USA<\/a>, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Chris LaBasco \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Located in Pleasant Hill, California, Dinosaur Hill Park consists of 13 acres of open space and scenic views. Its nickname is Dino Park.<\/p>\n It’s roughly 11 minutes away from Lafayette.<\/p>\n You can get to the hilltop via a staircase and railway tie steps from the small parking area.<\/p>\n Offering superb views of Mount Diablo, the park is a popular spot for many July 4th fireworks displays.<\/p>\n Chris LaBasco \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n In terms of recreation, it offers wide-open spaces for wanderers to explore.<\/p>\n Before leaving Dino Park, visit the ‘abandoned haunted house,’ believed to be a two-story house whose stairs have remained unfinished.<\/p>\n The house’s boarded-up windows and doors ratchet up the thrill factor.<\/p>\n Chris LaBasco \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Travel 17 minutes from Lafayette via Bolinger Canyon Rd to reach the stunning Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve.<\/p>\n A 6.8-kilometer loop that\u2019s generally considered moderately challenging would take you 2 hours and 7 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an expanded trail system where bikers, hikers, and even horseback riders can bask in the ambiance of the rugged, remote areas.<\/p>\n With its size and terrain, the preserve is a perfect getaway for visitors from the hustle and bustle of urban life.<\/p>\n Escape the hectic pace of the metropolis and choose Lafayette for your next trip.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a fantastic place for the family, offering various spots and stops for everyone of every age and background.<\/p>\n With this list of the best things to do in Lafayette, you\u2019re all set for your big vacation!<\/p>\n Things to Do in Concord, CA<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in San Ramon, CA<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Walnut Creek, CA<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Brentwood, CA<\/a><\/p>\nEnjoy Outdoor Activities at the Lafayette Reservoir<\/h2>\n
![\"Scenic](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Lafayette-Reservoir.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Lafayette-Reservoir2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Trees](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Lafayette-Reservoir3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEscape the Day at the Lafayette Community Park<\/h2>\n
Explore the Outdoors and Conquer the Lafayette Ridge Trail<\/h2>\n
Take the Family Out on an Exciting Day at the Brookwood Park<\/h2>\n
Admire the Art Works in the Lafayette College Art Galleries<\/h2>\n
Eat Your Heart Out at the Cooperage American Grille<\/h2>\n
Indulge in Delectable Korean-Chinese Fusion Dishes at the Great Wall Restaurant<\/h2>\n
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Visit the First Neighborhood Park in Lafayette\u2014Brook Street Park<\/h2>\n
Get to Know the Lafayette Historical Society<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
Marvel at the Spectacularly Scenic Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail<\/h2>\n
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at SusieCakes<\/h2>\n
Other Things to Do Nearby<\/h2>\n
Be Inspired About Planet Earth at the Chabot Space & Science Center (NOTE: How far is this place from Lafayette?)<\/h2>\n
![\"Exterior](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Chabot-Space.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Chabot-Space2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Mercury](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Chabot-Space3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nExplore the Ecological Jewel of this Side of California\u2014Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Huckleberry-Botanic.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Huckleberry-Botanic2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Rein](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Huckleberry-Botanic3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEnjoy Magnificent Views from the Dinosaur Hill Park<\/h2>\n
![\"Scenic](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Dinosaur-Hill-Park.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Dinosaur-Hill-Park2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Open](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/lafayette-Dinosaur-Hill-Park3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGo Hiking at the Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve<\/h2>\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Discover More of Contra Costa County, CA<\/h3>\n