Walnut Creek Marriott

Year-round market on Locust Street with fresh fruit and vegetables, coffee and pastries, local vendors and live music.

Downtown Walnut Creek's playground: a train play structure, roller slide, climbing 'rocks', four baby swings, and a sand-and-water play area, steps from the library, Creek Walk, and Iron Horse Trail. The natural pairing with a downtown errands-and-lunch day.

A big children's wing with its own patio, and a café in the building.

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 family breakfast house and weekend pancake institution, with a just-for-kids menu of silver-dollar pancakes and chicken strips.

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