Castro Valley is an eclectic unincorporated community located 15 miles south of Oakland in Alameda County. Well-known for its chicken ranches until the 1950s, Castro Valley’s convenient location helped it grow into a bedroom community in the latter decades of the 20th century. Interstates 238 and 580 run through Castro Valley and connect to I-880 and State Routes 13 and 185 just beyond its western edge. Real estate within Castro Valley includes Eichler-designed mid-century modern homes and attractive contemporary single-family housing. Castro Valley’s sloping hillsides give many properties majestic views of the San Francisco Bay and the sprawling green space of Lake Chabot Regional Park.
The streets fanning out from Castro Valley Boulevard contain dozens of stores and restaurants.
Castro Village Shopping Center is the main commercial hub. Stores here include Ross Dress for Less, Walgreens, and a variety of locally-run salons and boutiques.
Across the street from the Village is
Doug’s Place, a homey spot for hearty breakfast and lunch dishes. Other popular dining choices along the Boulevard include
Denica’s Real Food Kitchen for tasty pastries, brunch classics, and Mexican-style eats.
Lucca’s Deli is a delightfully old-school market and delicatessen serving fresh sandwiches, pasta, and desserts while carrying a range of Italian specialty foodstuffs.
Castro Valley events include September’s two-day
Fall Festival, featuring more than 150 arts-and-crafts vendors and a similarly extensive assortment of food vendors and beer and wine booths. Castro Valley’s most well-known local event is the
Rowell Ranch Rodeo. The Rodeo has taken place every year since 1921 and claims to be the fastest rodeo event in the world. A week of festivities leads to the rodeo during the second week of June, which includes family nights and country music performances. Rowell Ranch also organizes a
Rodeo Parade in May, which sees crowds line Castro Valley Boulevard to see the horseback rodeo riders.
