Explore Concord through its distinct highlights: gardens and trails for time outdoors, Todos Santos Plaza with its market and historical walking tour, and a memorial with a set tour format. To plan your visit, organize your days around these interests: the park and trails put nature and activity first; the Plaza combines local history with regular events, while the memorial requires a visit to be reserved in advance.
Gardens and Multi-Use Trails
Near downtown Concord is Markham Nature Park and Arboretum, a 17-acre park. Plants from similar climate zones grow in the International Garden. Next to it, an active community garden is devoted year-round to growing edible plants and pollinator plants. The park brings together two distinct garden themes: a collection organized by climate zone and ongoing cultivation. If you’d like to make gardens and nature part of your stay in Concord, you’ll find two clearly defined highlights in one place.
For outdoor activity, consider two multi-use trails with different features. The Iron Horse Regional Trail runs between Concord and Pleasanton; the completed trail was listed as 32 miles long in 2014. The developed trail begins in Concord near Highway 4 and is suitable for cyclists, hikers, joggers and runners. The length describes the regional trail, not the duration of a single outing.
The Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail is a paved multi-use trail connecting Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Concord. As of September 6, 2026, it is accessible to wheelchair users. It is also suitable for horseback riders, cyclists, hikers, joggers and runners. By comparison, the Iron Horse Trail has a stated length and connects Concord and Pleasanton; for the Canal Trail, its paved surface, wheelchair accessibility and connection between the four cities are important features to consider when planning. Use the descriptions of each trail to weigh which features matter for your outing.
Todos Santos Plaza: History and Events
Todos Santos Plaza is the historic gathering place in downtown Concord and covers 2.5 acres. Founders Pacheco and Galindo dedicated it in 1869. The Historical Walking Tour is a self-guided walk through the historic plaza, combining a stroll with this part of the city’s history.
As of September 6, 2026, Concord’s Farmers Market takes place year-round on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plaza. From June through September, additional evening hours are offered on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. The schedule may change seasonally, so check the times before your visit. In summer, Music and Market is also held there every Thursday evening from June through September. The different days of the week and seasonal hours can help you fit a market visit or summer evening event into your plans.
Todos Santos Plaza is an eight-minute walk from Concord BART Station; the route goes directly along Grant Street. If the Plaza is part of your itinerary, this route information gives you a specific way to reach a historic downtown destination from the station.
Local History and a Planned Memorial Visit
The Francisco Galindo Home was built in 1856 for Don Francisco Galindo and his wife, Maria Dolores Manuela (Pacheco) Galindo. Along with the dedication of the plaza, the home offers another historical point of interest: a building with an exact construction date and a named couple for whom it was built.
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord marks the site of the Port Chicago explosion, the worst disaster on U.S. soil during World War II. The five-acre memorial site is located within Military Ocean Terminal Concord in California. Public access is by guided tour, which must be reserved two weeks in advance. As of September 6, 2026, tours begin at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays and last 1.5 hours; the schedule is subject to military operations. Check the date before you travel so you can factor the reservation and stated visiting times into your plans.
Discover more destinations: El Cerrito, Pleasant Hill, Bethel Island, Alamo, Antioch, San Ramon, Rodeo, Martinez
For the broader travel overview: Contra Costa.
