Favorite Park Challenge

One of my favorite, free things to do with my kids is go to our local parks.  We have so many good ones within 20 minutes of our house.

We love to check out the playgrounds, walking paths, special features and meet up with friends.  We also try to check out parks when we're out of town.  It's such a nice and inexpensive thing to do with your kids.  And it requires almost no prep.  Just get your kids ready and go!

We tend to head out first thing in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds at our parks.  However, you can find us at the parks year round.  We bundle up and go even when it's freezing out.  I always pack water bottles for everyone, bring bug spray and then we go and stay as long as everyone wants.  Sometimes it's 30 minutes and other times it's 90.  When you go to the parks often you don't feel the need to stay for super long periods of time.

If you're ever in my area, I'd highly recommend our favorite parks:

 

1. Deming Park //

This park just celebrate its 100th birthday.  It has a train that's open for rides around the park on the weekends and holidays.  And you can reserve the whole train for birthday parties or events.  There are tons of shelter houses, frisbee golf course, pool, lakes, big community events for the holidays and classes you can take.

2. Dobbs Park //

There are some great hiking paths/trails in this park.  It's so close to home and there are so many things to explore.  This park has a Nature Center and a Native American Museum.  My local Mom's group - MACC - maintains a really fun Storywalk on one of the trails.  There's a good playground, shelter houses and several lakes.  It's a great size - fun to explore without worrying about getting lost.

 

3. Hawthorn Park //

My kids love all the trails at this park.  There are tons of trails, lakes and paths to explore.  There's a big tree house overlook to lots of water.  This park has a playground, an outdoor workout facility, a labyrinth maze, lots of shelter houses, hosts movies in the park in the Summer.  It connects to our local trail The Heritage Trail.

 

 

This is one of my favorite memories from last winter.  We bundled up and went on some hikes at Hawthorn Park to check out all the frozen lakes.  It was so cool to see everything frozen solid.

4. Fowler Park //

We just discovered this park this Summer.  The kids love the playground with the fun climbing structure.  There is a covered bridge, trails for hiking, shelter houses, replica pioneer home village that hosts events throughout the year and a lake to swim in along with campgrounds.

 

5. Fairbanks Park //

We love this park along the Wabash River.  There isn't much shade so we like to go here on cooler/cloudy days.  The playground is filled with things to climb.  There's a nice walkway around the river and this park hosts several festivals throughout the year.

 

6. Forest Park //

This wooden playground is so cool!  It's giant and so unique.  My kids love playing here.  It's about 20 minutes from our house, well shaded and tons of things to do.  The playground has a great mix of things for little kids and big kids.  There's a pool big outdoor amphitheater, golf course and lots to see, do and explore here.

 

Here's my challenge to you: Try out a new local park in your area and tell me all about it!

 

We are also planning to visit these this Summer:

Maple Avenue Park

Turkey Run State Park

McCormick's Creek State Park

*The state park's aren't free, but a yearly family pass is only $50.