Hilton Concord. (California: Contra Costa).

Contra Costa is one of the fastest growing, most accessible counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. Unique settings and characteristics, ranging from rural areas with orchards and hiking trails to bustling business centers, distinguish each community.

High-quality hotels abound here.

The 325-room Hilton Concord, one of the area's premier properties, accommodates groups up to 900 people in 16,000 square feet of meeting space including 17 ballrooms and a 12-seat executive boardroom. Also topnotch, the Sheraton Concord Hotel and Conference Center, where groups will find 324 guest rooms and suites and more than 15,000 square feet of flexible function area, plus a 23,000-square-foot atrium landscaped to create the ambiance of a tropical forest.

Spare time diversions include Chronicle Pavilion, featuring a wide variety of performances, and Waterside USA, with 20 acres of water attractions. Hornblower Cruises and Events, Six Flags Marine World, the Napa Valley Wine Train, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum, and of course, San Francisco, are just a quick trip away.