La Mission

West Berkeley's go-to: a long hillside slide, a restored creek older kids migrate to, and the Hidden Cafe right in the park. Basketball and tennis at the south end.

Family-owned since 1998, a pan dulce bakery inspired by a small town in Jalisco, with a kitchen making tacos, tamales and mole and aguas frescas every day.

Fresh, high-quality food on a spacious patio with room for strollers, though service is slow.

Two playgrounds: a fenced tot area with low slides and swings, and a big climbing structure with ropes, bridges and a tall slide for older kids.

Art studio where kids and grown-ups make things together out of reuse materials, with open lab time, after-school classes and camps.

Reptile shop open since 1970 that doubles as a working vivarium, with snakes, lizards, tortoises and spiders to look at and no ticket needed.