This is a town where families come first. Here you will find a wealth of activities that bring children together with their parents and peers to experience a lifestyle that many Americans believe may have been left in another era. But that's not the case for Danville. Children get to experience a slower, more carefree lifestyle, and somehow manage to bring their parents along for the ride.

Danville was named by CNN Money as a "Hot Town/Best Places to Live" thanks to its all-around high marks from everything from health and safety to infrastructure and amenities. The town also has over a century's worth of modern history as the Heart of the San Ramon Valley to enrich the lives of its residents. Of course, this area was originally Indian territory, and later became part of Mission San Jose's cattle grazing land. Danville proper was settled and named by gold hunting '49ers. Throughout the course of its growth, Danville managed to maintain not only its character, but many of its original buildings. You'll still spot early pioneer names gracing schools and street signs.

From 1937 to 1944, Danville hosted one if its most famous residents. Eugene O'Neill, the only American to win a Nobel prize for playwriting, lived with his wife at Tao House in the hills over Danville. The town has done well to preserve both the house and the author's place as Danville's most famous son. It was at Tao House that O'Neill penned his final and most successful plays, "The Iceman Cometh", "Long Days Journey Into Night" and "A Moon for the Misbegotten". Since 1980, the National park Service has invested in restoring the house to its former glory, including the courtyard and surrounding orchards. This city is home to the Eugene O'Neill Letters Project, charged with telling the life story of the author, his work, and his influence on the American theater.

The current population of Danville is approximately 42,000 people whose average age is 37. Median household income is about $115,000 and the average home value at around $537,000. The town and its citizens invest a lot of time and energy in creating family-focused activities that bring people out of their homes and the community together. Movies on the Green are an incredibly popular activity. Families pile up the little red wagons with blankets, snacks, and, of course, the kids, for a walk into the town square. Most arrive early, not to stake out a prime spot, but to say hello and catch up with their neighbors. While the adults chat, children run around the green and parents smile the "they'll sleep well tonight" smile. Once the darkness rolls in, families settle onto their blankets to screen a G-rated movies under the stars.

A popular daytime activity is a trip to nearby Mount Diablo State Park. This 20,000 acre site has a variety of hiking trails, but there are other ways up the mountain. There is a paved 10-mile road with plenty of scenic spots along the way. Or you can get to the top by bicycle, even by horseback. From the summit of Mount Diablo, you have one of the most extensive views in the world. On a clear day, visitors can see 25,000 to 30,000 square miles of the central California countryside below. In fact, the only mountain in the world with a more extensive view is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

A special bonus in Danville are the number of fine wineries to visit. There are about fifteen different wineries, all within twenty miles of the town. Wine making is a vocation that spans many generations in this region, and the peaceful environment offers a welcome retreat for visitors. Anyone who has visited even one winery in their life can attest to the serene environment of sampling a vintner's efforts. With a glass of wine in your hand, overlooking row after row of grape vines, feeling the sun on your skin and the breeze through your hair, for a moment, at least, your cares will melt away.

Danville is a community that elevates quality of life to a new standard. By embracing its past and incorporating it into everyday life, Danville residents manage to live a modern life without the tensions it sometimes brings. If you're thinking of moving to Danville, California, our relocation packet is yours for the asking!