Kid-friendly places in El Cerrito

Five winding El Cerrito acres split by a creek: a tot structure with bridges and four bucket swings on one side, two tall tunnel slides and big-kid swings on the other, plus a duck-and-turtle pond up the hill. Paved paths are made for scooters and strollers.

Scratch-made moles and tacos in a festive room.

A clean, quiet El Cerrito hills park with woodland-themed tot and big-kid structures (swirly slides, fish-shaped climbing steps), spinning chairs, and a huge grass field. Weekday afternoons are reliably uncrowded.

The old-school diner where breakfast, burgers, and a bakery case of pies do all the kid-bribing for you. The El Cerrito location has the most dining space and the easiest parking.

An El Cerrito restaurant that's less crowded on weeknights and has high chairs for babies.

Bouldering gym with 8,000 square feet of walls and 18-foot boulders you top out on, plus a kids climbing club, camps and a parents' night out.