Hyatt House Pleasant Hill

A straightforward mid-range Pleasant Hill stay with a pool, minutes from the Pleasant Hill Park playground and the Contra Costa Blvd food strip.

The shaded neighborhood workhorse near Walnut Creek: a classic climbing structure with slides and swings for toddlers through early elementary, big shade trees that keep it usable into the afternoon, and basketball courts for older siblings.

Cacti and succulents from around the world, planted on an old orchard, with a children's tour book and garden bingo, and a nursery to take plants home from.

All-suite layout with a door between the grown-ups and the kids, free cooked-to-order breakfast, an evening reception, and an indoor pool that works in any weather.

A dependable booth-and-bloomin'-onion steakhouse where kids get their own Joey menu.