Community Corner
Best Playgrounds in Montgomery County
The answer to "What are we going to do today?" is a whole lot easier when you're armed with a list of great family parks!
The best parks and playgrounds in the Washington, D.C. area are located in Montgomery County, in my humble, totally biased opinion. But it's tough not to be biased when our area's great parks have saved my booty as a parent and delighted my kids hundreds of times.
I'm a big fan of using the Montgomery County Parks Directory to locate a brand new playground to take the kids, or refinding our favorite play destinations from last season. You simply click that link, check off the amenities your kids love and the zip codes nearest you and a whole slew of free outdoor play facilities come up. It's almost magical! (Is it a coincidence that Montgomery Parks shares its intials with Mary Poppins? I don't think so.)
You can also search for dog parks, hiking trails, tennis courts and more.
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But since my world as a mom is firmly focused on playgrounds when I hit the MP directory on my laptop, here are my recommendations for some of the best playgrounds in the county:
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
As of April 1st, the beloved miniature train is open every Saturday and Sunday in April from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. And on Sunday, April 24, it transforms into the "Easter Bunny Express" from Noon to 5:00p.m. During MCPS Spring Break from April 18 to 22, the train will also be open during the week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Of course, the train is weather dependent, so if there's rain, the train will not be running. Check their Facebook page for daily updates.
Kids will love the castle, pirate ship, interactive world map, drums and xylophones, mazes and the sea dragons at this outdoor playground nirvana. The park is fully accessible for children and adults with special needs.
This beautiful park is right off of the I-270 Falls Road exit and is fun for kids of all ages and abilities. Throw the scooters and Big Wheels in the back of the car, for the padded ground at the park is painted with a “road” that toddlers and preschoolers love to cruise.
Locust Grove Nature Center's Nature Exploration Area
Great playgrounds aren't all comprised of primary-colored climbing structures. We love the zen-like Nature Exploration Area with its sand pit, logs and blocks for building, tubes for musical exploration, and other naturalist creative play options.
