Kid-friendly places in Sonoma

The playground inside the historic plaza: two age-split structures, a sand pit, a duck pond and huge shade trees, with cheese shops, bakeries and ice cream all around.

A quarter-scale steam train that takes twenty minutes to loop through tunnels and over bridges, plus a small petting zoo and a few fairground rides. Built for under-eights.

Carneros' outdoor wine garden with a kids menu and open lawn: casual plates, wine for the grown-ups, and room to roam in the Carneros breeze.

Sonoma's family-run adobe-style inn: garden pool, hot tub, free breakfast, and lawns kids can run on, a ten-minute walk from the Plaza.

Sonoma's grand hot-springs resort: geothermal pools, a spa, big lawns, and a concierge that runs family adventures, for a special-occasion stay with kids.

Sonoma Plaza's garden cafe: breakfast and lunch on a leafy back patio with the duck pond playground across the square.

A resort-style lodge a mile from the Plaza: pool, cabanas, lawn games and fire-pit s'mores, and walking distance to TrainTown.

Thin-crust New Haven-style pizza half a block off the Plaza, with patio seating.

The original Mary's, born on Sonoma Plaza in 1959, where kids make their own pizzas (dough, sauce, cheese, toppings delivered to the table).

A market deli going since 1947, with sandwiches built to order from a long list of meats. Grab lunch for a picnic or the car.

A year-round beer garden and listening room with live music.

Cornhole on the lawn, picnic grounds to roam and the resident winery dogs keep kids busy.

Walking trails from easy loops to hard climbs, three picnic areas and space set aside for kids and dogs.

A winery with ponds and lawns for picnics, plus a small museum of model California missions that kids can wander through.

A playground with bocce and volleyball courts, picnic tables and the small Depot Park Museum next door.

One of California's oldest family wineries, with a sunny courtyard and 150 acres of vineyard hills, and welcoming to families and dogs.

Toy trucks, a ping pong table and a vintage photo booth.

A hilltop Italian-style villa with an upper lawn for picnics and wide views over the vineyards and a wetland preserve full of birds.