Sonesta Select Pleasant Hill

Apartment-style rooms with kitchens, free breakfast and a pool off Contra Costa Blvd, an extended-stay setup with room to cook for picky kids.

The shaded neighborhood workhorse near Walnut Creek: a classic climbing structure with slides and swings for toddlers through early elementary, big shade trees that keep it usable into the afternoon, and basketball courts for older siblings.

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.

A dependable booth-and-bloomin'-onion steakhouse where kids get their own Joey menu.

All-suite extended-stay with full kitchens and free hot breakfast on the Pleasant Hill/Concord line, built for sports-tournament weekends and longer family stays.

Marriott's all-suite extended-stay twin next door to the Homewood: full kitchens, free breakfast and a pool.