Why Meet in Concord?

With its perfect climate, spectacular natural beauty and ample amenities, Concord, California, is an ideal destination to host your next meeting, incentive trip, conference or event. But it’s not just the weather and views of Mount Diablo that will get groups excited to attend. It’s the endless adventures, delectable cuisine and friendly staff of Visit Concord that will have groups falling love with this city. Here are the top four reasons that make this special Northern California city the perfect place for your next event.

1. Easily Accessible

Located east of San Francisco, Concord is easy to get to. Your guests will appreciate having three international airports to choose from when planning their travel. Concord is easily accessible from San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport and San Jose International Airport. Guests can also access the city via a private jet and services like JetSuiteX from Concord’s Buchanan Field Airport.

If attendees, speakers or presenters are arriving by car, Concord is only 29 miles from San Francisco, 22 miles from Oakland and 56 miles from San Jose. No car? No problem! Concord’s robust transit system makes it easy to get to meetings, keynotes and off-site events. The area is also served by two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations, one in downtown and another at North Concord/Martinez.

Once in town, your attendees will find it’s easy to explore Concord by foot. There are plenty of great trails connecting sites like Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord and the Lime Ridge Open Space. When it’s time to get down to business, you will appreciate Concord’s unique venues and flexible meeting options. The city is home to more than 75,000 square feet of customizable meeting spaces. Event planners are always surprised at how easy it is to accommodate any size group and any type of event here. The city’s nine hotels offer 1,300 guest rooms ranging from AAA three-diamond to economy hotels.

And you can’t forget about the glorious weather. Consider including branded sunscreens in your swag bag. The city sees an average of 260 days of sunshine each year. The area’s consistent Mediterranean climate, with its cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers, makes it easy to plan an exciting event any time of year.

2. Adventure Abounds

When the meetings are wrapping up, the fun is just beginning in Concord. Here, you can treat your attendees to any kind of experience, from hiking the scenic trails of Mount Diablo to jamming with some of the nation’s top artists to tasting dishes from around the world.

If your group loves the great outdoors, they’ll love Concord. The city is home to more than 100 recreation activities and miles of open trails. Consider hiking to the summit of Mount Diablo, which offers some of the best views in the West. On clear days, you can see famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and even Lassen Peak, more than 200 miles north. There are plenty of other great hiking trails nearby, including the Iron Horse Regional Trail, which follows the former Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way, and the Contra Costa Canal trail, which makes a U-shaped path through the county.

For more outdoor exploration, consider a group excursion to Concord’s Markham Nature Park and Arboretum. This 17-acre green space sits less than 3 miles from downtown, but it feels like another world. The park and nature center features rose and camellia gardens, a bee farm and tons of trails for your group to explore. If they prefer to enjoy their views with a glass of some of the world’s best vintages, Concord is a short drive from the famous wine regions of Napa Valley, Sonoma and Livermore.

3. Culinary Delights and Entertainment

The city has a unique food scene, with more than 300 restaurants and cuisine from 25 countries. And even though the city is in the middle of wine country, it has a great craft beer culture. The local brewers make everything from floral sours to hoppy red Indian Pale Ales to guava-flavored sparkling ales. The city is also home to a year-round farmers market.

Your group can learn more about the area’s unique history at the Concord Historical Society’s Galindo Home. This fully restored home was built in 1856 and today serves as a fascinating museum celebrating the life of the city’s early settlers. For more local history, consider a group visit to Todos Santos Plaza, which served as the city’s first public square. Today, the plaza is a popular spot for local concerts, festivals and carnivals. It’s just one of many places where you can enjoy Concord’s vibrant live music scene. There’s also the Live Nation Concord Pavilion, which has more than 12,000 seats.

You can also treat your group to a night on the town at any of the popular bars and lounges. Or let them go on a shopping spree at The Veranda, a mixed-use retail center that offers an open-air shopping experience. In the winter, The Veranda also features an ice-skating rink.

4. A Team Dedicated to Your Success

As much fun as it is to meet in Concord, there’s way more to a successful event than wowing your guests with fun activities, delicious food and a variety of venues. You need a partner who’s willing to go above and beyond on each aspect of your event to ensure no detail is overlooked. That’s why the team at Visit Concord works relentlessly to assure you feel fully supported at every minute of the process—from planning to preparation to the event itself.

The Visit Concord team understands that your success is determined by the experience your guests have. Count on them to help you meet—and exceed—your standards so your attendees return next year, excited to do it all over again.