One of the state’s oldest and most significant communities you haven’t heard of, Antioch was settled in the years prior to California’s Gold Rush and contributed greatly to its economic development, with a long deep-water pier that opened trade for the San Joaquin Valley on ocean-going vessels. The discovery of coal in 1859 birthed several mining villages that later joined the town. You can still visit the Black Diamond Mines today, now a rugged 6,000-acre regional park that surrounds the shuttered shafts with nature trails and rusted out relics sure to incite your inner Stephen Ambrose. Antioch has seen much growth over the past 30 years, primarily as a bedroom community as real estate prices drive buyers further out from the Bay Area. Retail growth along the east side has augmented the shopping and dining opportunities, and the proximity of the rivers ensures endless water-related recreation.