O'Donnell Park Playground

Bay Area breakfast-and-comfort-food chain that has hosted families for decades; the Belmont location runs a Wednesday kids-eat-free night. Famous blueberry coffeecake buys goodwill with all ages.

Woodsy ravine park along a creek in the middle of Belmont - playground, picnic areas and BBQs under the trees, home of the city's summer concerts.

A Park a Day 'Top Pick': big 5-12 playground (tube slides, climbing, spinners, rock wall) with a separate tot playground for ages 2-5. Dog park and grassy fields, footbridge to Casanova Park.

Value mid-Peninsula base: free breakfast buffet, in-room microwaves and mini-fridges, a cozy lobby fireplace, and a location near Hiller Aviation Museum (a great kid museum) and downtown San Carlos.

11-acre neighborhood park with a sandy playground, BBQs, tennis, basketball and volleyball - a solid all-ages hangout.