40) Seminary Park Playground

Today we visited a great playground only made better by the fact that we went with Cousin L. The Seminary Park Playground is located just off of Seminary Road but I knew it as the playground and fields that you can see at the intersection of 695 and 83 north. The playground, tucked back at the base of 83 and 695 has a lot of cool features, I have not seen at other playgrounds. While it has the normal climbers, slides, climbing wall, swings it also had this cool bridge (See above) that the Bee loved, a tunnel that the Bean and Cousin L enjoyed and a large sandbox that everyone loved. There is also a pavilion with picnic tables at the edge of the playground, but one of the most exciting parts to this playground, at least for the little ones we were with, was the fact that the light rail track is just on the other side of the playground and the train goes by every few minutes.
For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012
 

36) Bonnie View Park and Playground

The Bonnie View Park and Playground is a relativley new playground on Smith Ave and Edenvale Road about 2 miles from Mt. Washington Village. Ironically, as a kid i actually lived on Edenvale for a little while and the place that is now the playground was once the Bonnie Ridge Country club. The country club is no longer in exsisence and the former golf course has now become several new developments. The playground ehile near all the new houses is actually a Baltimore County park. Even though the playground it actually pretty small it has a lot going for it. First it is very new meaning all the playground equipment is clean and up to date. The playground also has a rubber floor like none I have ever seen before. It looked a lot like rubber plywood and provided a great cushion for any falls. There is not a lot of equipment, a climber with slides and some swings but this was actually really nice for little ones because I felt like I could let them go and still be able to see them. The entire playground is also fenced in with a nice wrought iron fence making sure toddlers don't wander. The one down side I could potentially see for this playground is that there is no shade. While this was not a problem today, until the new trees grow a little more this may be a playground to avoid in the middle of the summer.

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

35) Honeygo Run Regional Park (Playground)

Today's stop on the Playground Tour was Honeygo Run Regional Park in White Marsh. This park reminds me a lot of Meadowood Park in that it has a nice paved walking trail, playground and sports fields. The actual playground has two climbers, one for big kids and one for little kids, swings, slides and see-saws and the best talking tube we have ever tried. This is how you know you have visited a lot of playgrounds, when you start comparing the talking tubes, but this one was really clear, like talking on the phone, and The Bee loves the talking tube so we have tried a lot of them. After playing on the playground we walked a little on the path around the park and checked out a girls field hockey game before heading home. They also had tennis courts and a recreation center. Overall this is a really nice park, with something for everyone!

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

34) Sweet Air Playground

Today's playground was recommended by a friend and while it was a little bit of a drive from our house, it was such a beautiful drive we didn't mind at all. The Sweet Air Playground is part of the Sweet Air park in Jacksonville. Just a little further out Delaney Valley Road from Loch Raven Reservoir, the playground is pretty small but has some really cool features and play equipment I have never seen before. While they did have the normal swings, climber, and slides they also had some cool musical instruments, matching games and this giant spider web to climb on. The spider web was a little to big for The Bee and The Bean but that didn't stop them from trying. The girls also liked the bee, ladybug, and grasshopper rockers. Today was a great day for this playground, a little chilly this morning so the sun felt great. However there is no shade at this playground so I can only imagine that it might be brutal in July.

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

33) Federal Hill Playground

The Top Five Reasons to Go on a Playground Tour:
1) It's free- It costs nothing to go to the playground (most of the time)
2) It gets you out of the house- The Bee is currently in a "I don't want to leave the house phase" and while I sometimes feel the same way, we both always feel better after playing outside.
3) You get some vitamin D and fresh air- I am sure there are lots of studies to support this but I do think spending some time outside everyday is good for everyone, and going to a playground is a great way to spend some time outside.
4) Meet new friends- I am often in awe of 3 year olds, but one of the things I find most amazing is their ability to make friends in an instant. The Bee loves to go to the playground and make a new friend, as an adult making friends seems so hard, so I find her ability to just meet and enjoy new people inspiring.
5) Go someplace new- We have now visited parts of the city we live in that we probably wouldn't have gone to otherwise. We have discovered new stores, restaurants and neighborhoods all by checking out a new playground.

If you have a new playground you would recommend please leave a comment below or email me Childhoodlist@gmail.com, we are always looking for new ones to check out. Or if you take your own Playground Tour please let me know so we can follow along and share!

Yesterday we went to the playground in Federal Hill Park. A friend recommended this park not for the actual playground but for the view and she was right! The park and playground are at the top of Federal Hill overlooking the entire harbor and city and the view is unbelievable. The playground itself has all the basics, swings, slide, climber, sandbox, it's also well shaded with a large grassy area that would be a good place to kick a ball around. The park has walk ways and benches that allow you to enjoy the great views. The girls honestly spent most of their time checking out all the sites! Definitely a good playground with a great view!

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

32) Dorsey Observational Area (Airport Playground)

At this point we have visited many playgrounds, many of which elicit cheers of excitement even before we get out of the car. Today's stop on the Playground Tour was not that kind of playground, however it was still well worth the trip. Today we went to the Dorsey Observational Area better known as the BWI playground or the airport playground. Located on Dorsey Road, just off of 97, this playground is actaully very small. One climber with 3 slides and a bridge, however it is at the end of the airport runway where all the incoming planes touchdown. So every few minutes another plane fly's directly in front of this playground, making the lack of climbing equipment sort of irrelevant. The playground is really just to keep kids busy in between planes. The girls loved seeing all the planes, especially the Bean who just kept pointing into the air. I was a little worried about the noise but it really was not nearly as loud as I had expected it to be. The playground is also next to the parking lot for the BWI trail which is a 12.5 mile paved trail that I woud like to go back and check out another day. So the verdict on this playground not the best for climbing but two thumbs up for the view!

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

31) Patterson Park Playground

Today's Playground Tour stop is Patterson Park Playground located right on Eastern Ave. in Patterson Park. This play ground is impressive from the street, Baltimore themed with form stone walls, and other Baltimore landmarks play ground style. Split into two sections one a larger climber with slides and climbing walls that take up two stories for bigger kids and a smaller play area for little kids. Both play areas had some cool features but the one the Bean liked most was this small twirly plastic papazan chair in the little kid area. While I would have immediately been sick and the Bee got out after one spin, The Bean was all about spinning and spinning, giggling the whole time. The other benefit to this playground is that it is part of Patterson Park, which means there are other things to do and see there. Right next to the playground is a small duck pond, with a cool boardwalk area. We walked the entire pond checking out the ducks, lillipads and fish. You actually forget for a minute that you are right in the middle of Baltimore City. Definitely a playground we will be visiting again!

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

30) West Towson Playground

FINALLY! after a whole week of rain we are back on The Playground Tour! Today we visited the West Towson Playground, which is located on Highland Ave, just off the intersection of Joppa and Towson Bypass. The playground was once the fields behind a school that has now become a senior center. The fields are still intact as are the basketball courts, which today were filled with small kids riding bicycles, tricycles and scooters. The actual playground is nice but not huge. It has swings, a sandbox, climber and some other equipment. However the most exciting part of this playground is the giant dinosaur climber right in the middle. The Bee loved this climber, both because it was a dinosaur and because it was just the right balance between easy and challenging.

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012

27) Hannah Moore Park (Playground)

The Hannah Moore Park in Reisterstown (stop 3 on the playground tour) is a large complex with a school, walking trails, ball fields, a skate park and most importantly to us a large playground. Before we even got out of the car I knew this playground was going to be a hit because it had the largest twirly slide I have ever seen at a playground. The Bee spotted it while we were pulling up and was dying to go on before I had even ut the car in park. In addition to the slide (which is what the Bee spent most of her time on) they also have a sandbox, swings, climbers and even little rocking cars to drive. The thing I liked most about this playground was that it was nice and spread out, with lots to do for big and little kids. The playground area is flat and you can easily see from any place on the playground. One of the things the Bean liked the best was the giant sand funnel. It was pretty cool! Overall I am sure we will be back if nothing else then to visit the giant twirly slide again.

For a full list of Baltimore Playgrounds checkout our Playground tour 2011-2012