Granddaughter loved her time here. I have not ever been here for as long as I have lived in town…read more What a nice hidden gem for the kids. The entrance is like walking through a castle to a whole new world gated inside. It was clean, grassy, huge and open spaces with different areas to play for the kids. There are benches and picnic tables everywhere too. They also have restrooms on site too. Lots of grassy and shady areas to hang out as well. Our grandbaby had a great time running everywhere to her hearts content and she cannot wait to go back again with her parents.

And the best park award goes to...Children's Wonderland Park! From uniqueness of play structures --…read moreto cleanliness and space -- this park easily takes the cake among others I've been to. And I do not say that lightly. As soon as you enter through the castle doors, you are transported into a mini Disneyland found in Vallejo, CA. As someone who was raised in this city, I did not expect this. This park truly Wow'd me for several reasons. One, the uniqueness of the play structures. There's a handful of them including a tea cup/ tea pot area, train station and train, pirate ship, pumpkin carriage and more. Our personal favorite; the tea cup with the connected slide, so fun!! My family and I easily spent two hours here. You can also book some spots for parties. I highly recommend checking out the GVRD's website. Theres shaded gazebos and many picnic tables. They even have story time and other events here. Theres a parking lot available and hours as well. They are closed on Tuesdays. 100 out of 10 recommend this park.

Access to more people. The island is kind of wasting away. The city of Vallejo should sell the…read moreisland because they can't afford to maintain it. You have all these streets that were put up and no houses. The historical buildings are nothing more than rat and bat nests.

January 2019: A new year - a new beginning - but some things remain the same. We went for our new…read moreyear walk - this time around the trails at San Pablo Hiking Trail. Located on the western side of Mare Island, this is a perfect trail for someone who prefers to take things easy. The 4-mile long level trail makes for an easy walk. As one strolls along the trail - one earns incredible views of Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo, the East Bay Hills, the Carquinez Strait, Napa Valley, and San Pablo Bay. Along the trail is a seasonal wetland filled with local shorebirds and waterfowl. There are pictured-signboards to guide you and explain some of the animals and plants in the area. I enjoy walking this trail because it's in my own back yard - plus, no dogs and bicycles are allowed. It makes walking easier because we don't to fear what we might step on.

Life's a beach, enjoy the waves! Okay, I just made that up...but, it sounds cool, right? I know! :)…read moreIf you think that was cool, then you must check out Benicia Public Pier & Beach! Beautiful views (including Carquinez Bridge in the distance, mountains, Amtrak was chugging along in the far distance also!), ocean air, and a breeze. It was pretty cold and foggy when I first arrived. Then, the sun peaked out more and got some vitamin D. I took a nice stroll on the sidewalk that winds around the pier and by a restaurant and some homes. The ocean view stayed front and center the entire time. There wasn't many people there at the time I went. It felt like I owned the area to myself for a little bit :) There's street parking (free). There were benches all along the sidewalk and the pier, if you just want to sit and watch the ocean waves. I definitely will be returning for some more Vitamin sea time! :)

Very Clean Pier with lots of stripe bass. OG fisherman's are very friendly and helpful. Would…read moredefinitely recommend this spot for first timers..

My daughter turned 6 at Brickspace Spring '26. I was also 3 days post partum (yes,3) but I wanted…read moreto celebrate her last solo party. I wanted a low stim, easy and intimate party. We chose this spot and we couldn't be more satisfied and grateful. Fary (owner) made sure she made me feel at ease while planning and the day of the party! She took care of activities for her "Lego friends birthday" she had a schedule that was fun and educational for the kids. I brought some food n drinks. The 2-3hr party ended well with the goodie bags we prepared! Will def be back for our son's birthday another time. Thank you for such a sweet time, Brickspace!

Miss Fary hosted amazing birthday for our little guy today! It was a memorable time with family,…read moreperfect for a party of 10 children. Plenty of activities to do, not one child asked for a phone nor screen--everyone was engaged (even the adults had Lego kits to play with!) And I just briefly mentioned our birthday theme of "green monster" and I was floored at how Miss Fary and team ran with it and centered their activities around it! Miss Sophia even drew monsters by hand for the kids to paint. Every artistic detail of today's event was very thoughtful and our Brickspace team was so attentive to each kids' needs. We even got ideas on how to organize our toys at home seeing how everything is neatly displayed in this venue. Would recommend to all!

The Larkey Swim Center is a community pool in Walnut Creek that's great for kids and adult beginner…read moreswimmers. We came here a few times on a Saturday near the end of summer. It's adjacent to Larkey Park, so if the shared parking lots get full, you'll find plenty of free street parking. The pool itself is divided into several section - beginners (3.5 to 4.5 feet max depth), diving, and for lap swimming. They have lifeguards everywhere and they do a fine job of maintaining order. The water temperature was perfect. Our 5yo son seems to have a natural inkling for water but he enjoyed the pool far more than the splash pad, which is also popular with young kids. I tried carrying him up on the water slide but he refused. Note: for taller folks, they have a pretty intense water spray on top of the slide that can blind you. Imagine max shower pressure right on your face, LOL! Other amenities are large locker and changing rooms with clean showers, small picnic areas for sun tanning or relaxing, and plenty of benches and tables to store your bags or snacks. They also have a vending machine for cold drinks. Definitely plan on returning when the pool opens up again (9/27/25 was the last day for the summer). A definite bargain at just over $20 for a family of three.

Great splash park but very little shaded seating makes it difficult for older grandmas to watch the…read moregrandkids without wilting during the many hot days of summer!

This is a beautiful spot to walk the dog and enjoy nature. There are a variety of small loops as…read morewell as access to long trails. What I love about this spot is it is perfect for my reactive dog - the small trail loops allow you to walk your dog and see any potential critters or people far off so we are never surprised. The paths are in good condition and well cared for. There are a few areas you can get down to the water, just be aware some of the areas can be cut off by a high tide (you can check tide charts online to avoid any issues). We love the smaller beach because it feels almost like your personal beach but we like to go in the mornings so I imagine it's probably more populated later in the day.

Just so you know, the Carquinez Strait cuts both ways. I don't know what I mean by that except that…read moreI've gotten to know the Contra Costa side of the water from Eckley Pier to Martinez. I had been curious what was on the Solano side since I've only explored Benicia before but not the vast open space I kept seeing in the distance. That was really the only reason I came across the Carquinez Bridge to visit this park which turned out to be more of a natural open space with a network of dirt trails with scenic views. There's also a public beach that attracts a lot of locals, obviously the main draw here. Perhaps because it's located within a standard suburban residential neighborhood, the park doesn't feel quite as lush as the Contra Costa side, but you get a clearer view of the bridge since there are several grassy promontories with their own spur trails. The park melts into the Benicia State Recreation Area which offers its own rocky shoreline and eastward views toward Martinez. So now I know the Carquinez Strait from both sides now, and I guess that's how it cuts both ways. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU