Twin Pines 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.

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.

21-acre hillside park with a playground, walking paths through the trees and big open spaces - good for kids who like to roam beyond the play structure.

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.

Family-friendly 2.6-acre park with sports facilities, a playground, picnic areas and San Carlos's spray pad, which runs May through September.