San Pedro Square Market

A right-sized art museum downtown where kids 17 and under are free (adults $20) and family programs run regularly. Two hours here pairs well with the Tech across the street.

Downtown San Jose's full-service high-rise with a rooftop pool: walking distance to The Tech Interactive and the Children's Discovery Museum - the stay-where-you-play option for a San Jose weekend.

Slow-smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork with kids' meals for the 10-and-under set. Casual, fast-casual ordering, and nobody blinks at a loud table.

Silicon Valley's hands-on science museum: robotics, VR experiences, and an IMAX dome, $38 adults / $28 kids 3-17 including one IMAX film. Best for roughly ages 5 and up; grab VR time slots right when you walk in.

San Jose's Italian-American institution since 1956: huge booths, red sauce, and staff who have seen every phase of kid behavior. The booths swallow a family of five plus a stroller.

Counter-service Mexican famous for the orange sauce - order kids a plain quesadilla and watch it disappear. Fast, cheap, and loud enough that nobody notices yours.