Danville, California, known as the "Heart of the San Ramon Valley," is located in the Bay Area of the state, 31 miles southeast of San Francisco. Danville was settled and named by Daniel and Andrew Inman, who were drawn to the area by the California Gold Rush and bought 400 acres of land with their mining earnings in 1854. Although Danville was still farm country well into the 1940s, it has evolved into a busy suburban area in the decades since. Danville has a population of approximately 43,250.
Danville is home to the Tao House, where Eugene O'Neill, America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, lived at the peak of his literary career. It is now a National Historic Site with guided tours offered year-round. The historic Village Theatre, built in 1873 as a farmers' lodge, serves as an art gallery and performing-arts center with a seating capacity of 245. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley offers exhibits, tours and special programs the area's past. It is housed in the restored 1891 Southern Pacific Depot near the heart of old-town Danville.
The Danville Certified Farmers' Market takes place downtown on Saturdays year-round. It features seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers as well as fresh-cut flowers and specialty food items. A walking tour of the downtown area offers visitors an opportunity to view the town's most historic houses. The tour begins at the Danville Oak Tree, a landmark tree on Diablo Road that is estimated to be 350 years old. Another stop on the tour is the First Presbyterian Church of Danville Town Meeting Hall, established in 1863 and the oldest church in the San Ramon Valley.
The town of Danville owns and maintains more than 167 acres of parkland. Six community parks contain children's playgrounds, sports facilities including courts for bocce ball, picnic areas and a dog park. There are miles of greenbelt trails for walkers, joggers, inline skaters and cyclists. The Danville Library, in the heart of downtown, has a collection of more than 78,000 books and multimedia items for adults, teens and children.
Stay at the Best Western Danville Sycamore Inn, which serves Danville and the San Ramon Valley. Located one minute away from the restaurants, shops and historic sites of downtown Danville, the hotel caters to business, as well as leisure travelers. The hotel offers continental breakfast and new rooms. It is a dog-friendly hotel. For business travelers, the hotel is minutes from Bishop Ranch Business Park.
