J.P. Murphy Playground

Best for climbers, with a tall rope structure, rock wall and play bridges rather than a ton of little kid equipment.

A modern play structure and sandbox in a sunken bowl ringed by trees, on land where Adolph Sutro once kept his cattle.

A neighborhood playground attached to fields, tennis, picnic space and a rec clubhouse, easy to turn into a longer outing.

The indoor room at the West Portal playground with drop-in play and a gym.

A coffee shop that makes kids a birthday latte out of just steamed milk.

Calm Noe Valley bakery where a cookie keeps babies through school-age kids happy.