Lamorinda


“Lamorinda” is a convenient handle for the three towns of LafayetteMoraga, and Orinda located east of the Oakland Hills and reached by way of the Caldecott Tunnel and Hwy 24. These “beyond the tunnel” suburbs have become especially popular with young families because of their excellent public schools, which are supported by considerable volunteer and fundraising efforts. Lamorinda offers spacious houses with yards, great access to outdoor activities, and opportunities for such extracurricular activities as sports, art, and dance. In the 1990s, the reconstruction of the Art Deco-style Orinda movie theater and the construction of Orinda Square revitalized the town. Lafayette is following suit with numerous reconstruction projects in the downtown areas, infusing new vitality into the existing village charm. In the 1800s, the area was a substantial wine growing region. Today a passionate group of residents have organized into The Lamorinda Winegrowers’ Association, pooling resources to bring back the prestigious wine region. Orinda and Lafayette are served by BART, though parking lots and trains can be crowded at commute hours. Among traffic engineers, Lafayette has an interesting distinction. Its traffic-calming plan has won statewide awards and inspired other cities throughout California.