Shaded playgrounds and parks in Vallejo

Vallejo's storybook park: a gated, staff-run wonderland with a teapot slide, climb-in train, firetruck, and castle corners, sized exactly for the under-8 crowd - the county's classic toddler half-day.

Theme park and animal park together in Vallejo: dolphins and giraffes on one side, roller coasters on the other, with a whole area of gentle rides for small children.

Vallejo's oak-woodland park: playgrounds under big old trees along a creek corridor, with room to roam and easy family picnic sites - shadier and quieter than the lake parks.

East Vallejo's lake park: a big fishing lake with ducks, shady picnic groves, and a playground loop - the picnic-and-play spot Vallejo parents default to on weekends.