Renaissance Walnut Creek Hotel

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.

The toddler-and-preschool playground of Walnut Creek: small structures close together, shaded benches under three big oaks, and paved loops for trikes and scooters.

A big Walnut Creek park with two playgrounds, a duck pond, wide lawns and restrooms. Easy parking, and shade in the right spots.

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.

The huge model railroad has thousands of feet of track and an hourly night scene show. Go on a public open house weekend.

Tot and big-kid playgrounds plus a gated spray ground with a small water slide and a lifeguard. Lindsay Wildlife Experience and the model railroad share the grounds.