The terrains where Orinda in California is today were ranch lands used for grazing cattle right up until the end of the 19th century. It was in that era that a surveyor acquired enough acreage to develop a community on. He did that and installed a post office too, calling the new settlement by the name of Orinda Park. Orinda Park remained a small farming community until after the opening of the Caldecott Tunnel in 1937 which allowed easier access to the village from the nearby and much bigger city of Oakland. It was then that Orinda's expansion began in earnest and three decades later it had become a popular choice for those who were employed in the city, but wanted to live in a rural location. A few Italians with ambition to start restaurants decided they'd had enough of commuting so what they did instead was to make the brave move of opening the first pizzerias in Orinda. They needn't have worried as pizza proved to be as popular in Orinda as it was in the rest of the country.

Orinda in California is known for Thick Crust Pizza

The pizza that Orinda is known for is one that's been around for centuries, and that's a traditional Italian bake called thick crust. Sometimes this type of pizza is called old world pizza too as it's a classic and unchanged kind of pie that was made in the home country of the families of the Italian-Americans who now bake it. Call it what you will, thick crust or old world, this pizza is one of the best you can eat. Thick crust pizza in its basic form is one of the simplest foods in existence and when you break it down to the ingredients it contains, flour, yeast, water, tomatoes and cheese, it seems like a minor miracle that it tastes as good as it does.

Best Delivery Pizza in Orinda, California

The only way to be one hundred percent certain that you're going to get the best delivery pizza in Orinda is to call your order in to Zamboni's Pizza. Their clients are the first to recommend them for having a great delivery service and more importantly, for baking excellent pizzas. Zamboni's Pizza has a premises in a strip of stores on Camino Sobrante that has an interior that from the red table covers to the photos of sporting legends on the walls definitely shouts – old world trattoria. Zamboni's pizza are old world-style too and classic bakes with well-known ingredient combinations. The bonus with ordering a delivery pizza from Zamboni's is you'll always know exactly what you're going to get.

Best Takeout Pizza in Orinda, California

If you've spent the day traipsing around the DeLaveaga hiking area and are about to faint from hunger, take a deep breath and keep walking. You're less than five minutes away from where you can get the best take-out pizza in Orinda. Hike over to Orinda Way and you'll find the village Pizza Restaurant which is just where you need to be. The Village Pizza Restaurant has a premises in a small shopping complex with a parking lot so if you drove there, you'll easily find somewhere to pull up. Village Pizza may look modern on the outside, but step through the door and you'll find a tasteful, 1950s style décor with red checked cloths and wagon wheels on the walls. The place has character and so do the pizzas from here. If you think pepperoni and pineapple a perfect ingredient combination then go for their Sweet Italian Dream.

Best pizza near Orinda, California

Walnut Creek

For a day of diversion without travelling too far from Orinda, Walnut Creek is not a bad option. It's less than a ten mile drive to get there so ideal if you have young children who get car sick. They won't have time to think about it before they're all excited about seeing the animals at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience where there are more than fifty species they can ooh and ahh over. If you prefer to spot animals in the wild then head for the Mount Diablo State Park. The park is all about remote hiking so if you didn't pack any food stop off at Slice House by Tony Gemignani on Mount Diablo Boulevard before you go.

Berkeley

Berkeley is a city right on San Francisco Bay, but not a resort or a city with a beach. It's still worth making the eight mile trip there from Orinda though as there's no shortage of things to do there. If you enjoy making museum visits then you'll love either, or both, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and the Lawrence Hall of Science which has a planetarium too. Take a stroll around the University of California Botanical Gardens and you'll discover a rich diversity of plant life, some native to the state and some not. If you fancy having a picnic somewhere with great views, pick up a pizza from Emilia's Pizzeria on Shattuck Avenue and take it to the Cesar E. Chavez Park.

Oakland

Oakland is another city less than ten miles away from Orinda which is also not bad for keeping the kids busy. They'll be totally fascinated with a visit to the Chabot Space and Science Center where there are special interactive exhibits just for the young ones. If they're not quite of an age for that then try the Children's Fairyland theme park and it's sure to turn out a winner. When you want an outdoor activity you won't need to go out of Oakland as the city contains the huge Merritt Lake where you can go boating, fishing, or just take a stroll along the shoreline. When you're ready to eat, give Basil's Pizzeria on 13th Street a try and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the standard of their pies.