There are plenty of places to picnic in the Tri-Valley and picking a spot is made easy with our Picnic Planning Guide. Whether you’re planning a family-friendly day, a date with your loved one, or a big group outing with friends or colleagues, check out some of the best this area has to offer below.
Family-Friendly Picnics
There are a variety of fun, family-friendly parks to picnic at in the Tri-Valley. Check out a few of our favorite picnic areas with playgrounds and other kid-centric activities below.
- Sycamore Valley Park
A popular spot for sporting events, prom pictures, and sunny weather picnics, Sycamore Valley Park features an extensive playground, splash pad, bocce ball courts, picnic areas, shady grass hills to relax under, and sports fields. - Emerald Glen Park
Located right off the freeway near Downtown Dublin, Emerald Glen Park is home to The Wave, an aquatic waterpark, two playgrounds, a skatepark, a large splash pad, bocce ball courts, and picnic areas with BBQ pits. - Mission Hills Park
This Pleasanton park is unique in that it features a 50ft hillside slide that’s sure to thrill children of all ages. The park also has a large grassy area to play or picnic, a BBQ pit, and a playground.
Winery Picnics
The Livermore Valley Wine Country is mostly made up of small, family-owned wineries where bringing your own snacks is not only allowed, but encourages. Check out a few wineries that allow you to picnic on their grounds.
- McGrail Vineyards
In addition to offering sweeping vineyard views, a spacious grassy area, bocce ball courts, and a shaded (and heated) patio, McGrail Vineyards also has a handful of shaded picnic areas available to guests. - Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery
Surround yourself in greenery by bringing your own picnic to this rustic winery that features a charming, shaded garden area. - Retzlaff Vineyards
Retzlaff Vineyards boasts award-winning wines while being the only California Certified Organic vineyard in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Their large, shaded lawn is the perfect venue for a picnic with family or friends.
Scenic Picnics
Some picnic areas in the Tri-Valley are especially scenic, but the views are worth the trek. Check out some of our favorite picnic spots that are located in more remote areas of our region.
- Mount Diablo State Park
Mount Diablo State Park features over 50 well-maintained picnic areas scattered along the windy road leading to the mountain’s summit. Some picnic areas are tucked into the mountain while others offer sweeping views of the surrounding valleys. Don’t miss out on our Visiting Mount Diablo State Park blog before planning your trip there. - Sunol Regional Wilderness Preserve
Home to 6,859 acres of open space and a scenic gorge known as Little Yosemite, Sunol Regional Wilderness has a handful of scenic picnic areas along the Alameda Creek, which runs through the park. - Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
The views from Morgan Territory are breathtaking, and make for a perfect picnic backdrop. On clear days, visitors can see Mt. Diablo to the west, Mount St. Helena towards the north, and even the snow-capped Sierras to the east from the top of the preserves’ ridges.
Large Group Picnics
Planning a big family reunion or a large company outing? Check out the following picnic areas that can accommodate anywhere between 50-500 guests.
- Emerald Glen Park
This Dublin park is not only centrally located and easily accessible, it also features a variety of amenities like spacious grassy areas, sports fields, playgrounds, and an aquatic park. This community park has 5 picnic sites that can host anywhere from 24-200 guests. More Info → - Del Valle Regional Park
Located just minutes away from Livermore Valley Wine Country and Downtown Livermore, Del Valle Regional Park is also home to a 5-mile lake that features a variety of land and water activities. Read up on everything this park has to offer in our What to Do at Lake Del Valle blog. Take your pic from 13 reservable picnic sites available to groups between 50-500 people. More Info → - Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
A popular spot for fishing, biking, nature watching, swimming, and boating, Shade Cliffs Regional Recreation Area also has six reservable picnic sites that can fit anywhere from 50-200 guests. More Info →
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