Starbird Park

Small park with a farm-themed playground, a community garden and a half basketball court.

Mini burgers, chicken bites and child-size pizzas, and local parents of two-to-fours say it handles a toddler dinner well.

Aloft's splash pool and loft-style rooms near Cupertino's shopping and Santana Row's edge - a modern, unfussy family base in west San Jose.

A Victorian mansion of stairs to nowhere and doors that open onto walls, with house tours ($25-40) and a garden tour that works with a stroller. The house tour is all narrow stairs - better for ages 6+ and kids who like spooky.

Fast-casual sandwiches built for picky and adventurous eaters alike, on Santana Row where kids can run the plaza after - kids eat free on Tuesdays.