Things to Do in Walnut Creek When You're Retired or an Empty Nester

Nov 9

Nobody really warns you about the quiet.

For years your calendar was full of other people’s schedules. Then the kids launch, or retirement starts, and suddenly you have whole afternoons to yourself. It’s wonderful. It can also feel a little strange.

A question I hear often from clients at this stage is, "Should we stay in Walnut Creek, or is there somewhere better for this season of life?" My honest answer is that it helps to rediscover what’s already here before you decide anything. Here are some of my favorite ways to fill the days.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Walnut Creek has a lot for this stage of life: the year-round Sunday farmers market on Locust Street, shows and exhibits at the Lesher Center for the Arts, the Ruth Bancroft Garden, more than 2,700 acres of open space, the Walnut Creek Seniors Club at Civic Park for adults 50 and up, and seasonal favorites like Walnut Creek on Ice. Much of it is close to downtown and BART.

FREE DOWNLOAD

GET MY GUIDE

Carrie's Downsizing Guide

If you’re imagining a next chapter filled with more of what you love and less house to take care of, my Downsizing Guide is a great place to start.

Get your free copy at my stan.store/carrielashell

Start Your Sunday at the Farmers Market

The Walnut Creek Farmers Market runs every Sunday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Locust Street between Cole and Lacassie. You’ll find produce, bread, flowers, live music and a lot of familiar faces. It’s an easy walk from BART, and the nearby Growers Square garage offers the first hour free for market shoppers.

See a Show or an Exhibit

The Lesher Center for the Arts downtown has three theaters and the Bedford Gallery under one roof, so there’s almost always something on. Dinner and a show without leaving town is one of the best perks of living here. I wrote a whole guide to the Lesher Center if you want to dig in.

Wander a World-Famous Garden

The Ruth Bancroft Garden on Bancroft Road is a nonprofit dry garden known around the world for its succulents, cacti and drought-tolerant plants. Ruth started planting it in her sixties, which I find wonderfully inspiring for anyone starting a new chapter.

Join a Club and Meet Your People

The Walnut Creek Seniors Club, based at the Civic Park Community Center, serves more than 2,500 adults 50 and better, and you don’t have to live in Walnut Creek to join. Members enjoy drop-in activities like bridge, mah-jongg, bingo, Qi Gong, book groups and walking groups, plus trips and special events. You can reach the community center at (925) 295-1490.

STILL READING?

Thinking about a smaller home closer to all of this? My free Downsizing Guide walks through how to decide what fits.

Get Outside

Walnut Creek’s open space includes Shell Ridge, Lime Ridge, Acalanes Ridge and Sugarloaf, with trails for every pace. For something flat and paved, the Iron Horse Trail runs right through town. And Heather Farm Park is perfect for an easy walk around the pond.

Play a Little

Pickleball has taken over Walnut Creek, with drop-in courts at Rudgear Park and the Tice Valley Community Gym. Boundary Oak, the city-owned golf course, welcomes the public every day.

Celebrate the Seasons

Summer brings downtown concerts and street festivals. In winter, Walnut Creek on Ice turns Civic Park into an outdoor skating rink, and the downtown tree lightings kick off the holidays.

What This Means for Your Next Move

One thing I’ve noticed is that the happiest retirees I work with choose a home based on how they want to spend their days. If you find yourself driving downtown three times a week, a home closer in might make sense. If you love the trails, you might rightsize near open space. The house should support the life, not the other way around.

“I reached out to Carrie LaShell to help my father in law sell a home. Based upon our situation I knew that Carrie would be the PERFECT fit. She was knowledgeable and honest and had multiple connections we needed to get the house ready for sale.
We had some big losses in the family but she understood the emotions we held around this sale and she held space and empathy for our family in this process. She’s not just a realtor, she’s an angel in disguise.”

— Kristin K.

Final Thoughts

Retirement and an empty nest aren’t endings. They’re an invitation to fill your days with what you love.

Walnut Creek makes that pretty easy, and your home should make it even easier.

With you in every chapter, Carrie

Carrie LaShell

Realtor, eXp Realty • DRE #02149436

I'm not here to sell houses. I guide, advise, and simplify, so Walnut Creek and East Bay homeowners can move through life's biggest transitions with a lot more clarity and a lot less stress.

925-478-0084

FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS

Many retirees love Walnut Creek for its open space, walkable downtown, arts center, BART access and active senior programs. The best fit depends on your budget and lifestyle.
The Walnut Creek Farmers Market is open every Sunday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Locust Street between Cole and Lacassie.
The Walnut Creek Seniors Club is based at the Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Drive, and is open to adults 50 and older.
No. You don’t have to be a Walnut Creek resident to join the Walnut Creek Seniors Club.

Wherever you are in your next chapter

Thinking about selling? Request a no-pressure home valuation and see what your home could make possible.
Worried about Mom or Dad? Ask for my free Is Mom or Dad Still Safe at Home? checklist.
Ready to downsize or rightsize? Grab my free Downsizing Guide, or let’s book a coffee conversation.