Danville is a dandy place to spend a day

By Karen Aiello
kaiello@modbee.com

E-Mail

reprint or license

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

DANVILLE — Sitting in the shadow of majestic Mount Diablo, the town of Danville offers a downtown area dotted with shopping spots and eateries, a highlight on history with the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and a tribute to America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill.

Strolling along Hartz Avenue and a few of its cross streets in Downtown Danville, visitors can enjoy a variety of boutiques, shops, sweet stops and eateries. A stop in Polka Dot Attic is an adventure through antiques and oddities. Inside, there is an antique wooden scale, where visitors can spend a nickel to be told their weight and horoscope or may take it home for $300. The Polka Dot Attic has earned the nickname "The Library" because of its massive collection of old books — a treat for a librarian like me.

Another unusual stop is Rick's Picks, where anyone can find a deal of the day due to the 40 to 80 percent discounts on items. The downtown area is also full of food venues, whether you prefer a pastry from Old Towne Danville Bakery or perhaps a lunch at Basil Leaf Cafe, there is something for you.

(Museum of the San Ramon Valley) - The old Danville railroad station is now the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Prospect and Railroad avenues, downtown Danville

If You Go
- WHERE: Hartz Avenue, Prospect Avenue and Railroad Avenue, downtown Danville
- WHEN: Museum of the San Ramon Valley is open 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Downtown shops and eatery hours vary, call for times.
- COST: Museum, $3 adults; $2 students with ID; $1 children
- GETTING THERE: Take Interstate 580 over the Altamont. In Pleasanton/Dublin, take Interstate 680 north toward Sacramento. In Danville, take the Diablo Road exit and go west (left) to Hartz Avenue.
- DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 11 minutes (MapQuest)
- MORE INFORMATION: Discover Danville Association, 925-339-8330, or online at www.discoverdanvilleca.com; Danville In Style, www.danvilleinstyle.com; Danville Chamber of Commerce, 925-837-4400 or online at www.danvilleareachamber.com; Museum of San Ramon Valley, 925-837-3750 or online at www.museumsrv.org

One block west of Hartz Avenue on Railroad Avenue, visitors will find the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, where a permanent exhibit on the valley's history is on display. In addition to the permanent exhibit, the museum also has guided tours and hosts visiting exhibits. One of those visitors is coming to the museum Nov. 27. "Christmas Memories" will feature a walk with delights that have been found under the tree on Christmas mornings. Also on hand as part of the display will be a tribute to Barbie's 50th birthday.

If shopping, some good food and a history lesson aren't enough to make you smile about Danville, make one last stop on Front Street, one block east of Hartz, and head to the small park across the street from the library. Here you can spend a couple of minutes enjoying the work and words of Eugene O'Neill and his play "Long Day's Journey into Night." The words from this memorable play are imprinted on an 8-foot-tall bronze sculpture that pays tribute to America's only Nobel Peace Prize-winning playwright, who lived in Danville during the high point of his writing career.

Also, if you are able to make a visit to Danville on a Saturday, you'll have the opportunity to browse the year-round farmers market.

Bee assistant librarian Karen Aiello can be reached at kaiello@modbee.com or at 578-2392.