Paulson Ct, Lafayette

Mount Diablo boulevard is the main street cutting through Lafayette from East to West. It runs parallel to Highway 24, going from the border with Orinda all the way down to and into Walnut Creek. At the Orinda end there is some open undeveloped ground along the southern side walk, while on the other side there is a nursery for plants, etc. and some kind of a temple.

A little ways down you will find the Lafayette reservior which is a great outdorsy sort of area. There is a trail around the reservoir, little peddle boats, plenty of picnic areas and playgrounds. Its great for hiking, running and bringing your kids if you have any.

A little ways after this you start coming across actual buildings and restaurants, etc. as you enter Lafayette proper. There are lots of usual fast food placed you would expect to find just about everywhere (MacDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, Panda Express, etc.) but there are also some great unique to Lafayette restaurants like Pizza Antica, Mangia, two Mexican restaurants, El Charro and Celia's and quite a few rather bland retail stores. (You really have to get out of Lafayette to get anything decent.) You have a couple of different Supermarkets and the usual set of Peets and Starbucks as well. There are also several shops to get your car fixed, including Big O tires.

As you need the other end of Mt. Diablto you come across Lafayette's only Hotel (which I here is good but pricy though I have never been there) and right next to it is the Lafayette Cemetary.

Once a year there is a Jazz and arts festival that closes down several blocks of Mt. Diablo Blvd. The festival is a bit snooty and snarls up traffic, but most people seem to enjoy it. The whole place is Dullsville if you are single, but a great place to raise kids or retire.