Le Tour de Playgrounds
It’s almost time for the annual Tour de France and since this is a bicycling household I thought I would play on that title for the this post about great playgrounds in my area.
So, this summer, we’re taking a tour of the must see (and the must miss) playgrounds in the Philly area. This was a personal post for me - I’m always looking for great places to take my kids - so, here we go!
Smith Playground - this is my personal favorite playground to hit. From my house it takes about 45 minutes to get to (in Fairmount Park, Philly) - so we don’t go that often, but it’s free (although I do recommend leaving a donation) and it’s a great place to go in either rain or shine! Smith Playground is a great place to go for kids under 12. It has cargo nets to climb, swings for all ages, fun activities and a fantastic wooden slide. There is even a special section for kids 2 and under to move around in. And that’s just on the outside. Inside - your kids can wander around the building and enjoy the toys, dollhouses, and nooks and crannies specially designed for them.
Wilson Farm Park - Wilson Farm park in Chesterbrook, PA is a great place for parents with kids of varied ages. There are playgrounds for kids of every age group and acres upon acres of open space to ride bikes, run, roll down hills, watch soccer games, and more. There are picnic tables to eat at and local stores to pick up pizza or even some Rita’s Water Ice if the kids have been good.
Doylestown Kids Castle - Wow - when they planned this park - they hit it big. It’s in Doylestown, PA - so if you’re not local to that area - it might be a hike. It took my family about 40 minutes to get there - but it was worth it! This multi story wood-like structure is amazing. It has internal slides that the kids can have hours worth of fun in, an external slide that twists and turns and makes kids laugh, swings, pulley’s, and more. There’s even a stream next to it that makes the perfect picnic spot - so don’t forget to bring your blanket and lunch and make it a day.
Manderach Memorial Playground - this 2006 Best of Philly playground in Limerick, PA deserves the title. 2 amazing 3 story slides that twist and turn around a wooden castle are just the start. On each side of the castle are play areas for all ages of kids - things to climb, swing, crawl through and play pretend on. Plus, there is a snack bar so if you forget to bring your water or a snack - you can pick one up while you’re there! If you do have lunch - you can make use of the massive picnic area. Grab a table feed the kids and let them get back to playing!
Among other things - each of these playgrounds boasts a bathroom! That’s a must have for a 5 star pick from PARENTise! Check out the links to these playgrounds to learn more and let us know if you make it to one of them! Stay tuned for more of our Tour de Playground!
And, if there is a playground in your area that is a must hit - let us know - we’re always looking for new places to have fun!
Tags: playgrounds, summer fun
