Playground Passion

Having grown up in Memphis, I'm accustomed to hiding out in the air-conditioned house during the blazing hot summer months of July and August. I was told to expect the same in Chattanooga, but this summer has not scorched us yet!

Not one to waste a beautiful day, and also not one to let the kids drive me crazy inside all day, we hurried off to play immediately after breakfast today--which in reality was about mid-morning. It takes us a while to wake up.

Our first stop was the Pumpkin Patch Playground in Walden, TN on Signal Mountain. I think the town of Signal Mountain claims it as its own, but you have to drive up Hwy 127, past the Spaceship House (which, by the way, we have slept in, complete with life-size Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia staring at you while you sleep. But that's another story for another time.), through Signal Mountain, the town. You turn off just after a Mexican restaurant called Almeda's. A vast, expansive, shaded, incredible, and FREE playground awaits you. They even have a fenced-in area for toddlers 2-5. Of course, MY two-year-olds are desperate to play on the big stuff, and now they have the marks on their faces to prove it.

The Pumpkin Patch stunned me. It is out-of-this-world perfect for our family. More than 50 different structures to entertain their little hearts out while I get some R&R. (Okay, I didn't R&R... I chased twins all day.) They have swings, tire swings, stages, sand pits, play-houses, ziplines, slides, earthquake steps, breaking bridges, firepoles, musical instruments, pixel boards, rock walls, tire gyms, caterpillars, trains, and a massive "waterfall" slide that even you parents can enjoy. It probably falls 40 feet in the safest possible way. They also have a pavillion with bathrooms for your use if it's not rented. My kids tried their hardest to get invited to eat birthday cake in that pavillion.

If you're visiting Chattanooga with your kids, GO TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH. It's free, it's fun, and the weather is nice.

After naps, the kids chose a special event for a Daddy date. Would you believe they picked another playground??! I nearly OD'd on playgrounds today. Seriously.

This time, we went to St. Elmo's community playground, which provides the same type of playground pleasure on a smaller scale. It's off of St. Elmo's St., which turns into Broad St. downtown. They also have a massive metal slide, swings, balance beam, zipline, a toddler section, and shade. The first time we visited, we lost Tyler--and we hadn't even missed him! A stranger brought him to us saying he was wandering toward the street. The playground is set back from the street, and there's a field there for playing ball or whatnot. Tyler must have had his mind on something specific to cross the grassy field to the street. He doesn't even like walking from the back door to the car across the grass!

St. Elmo's is also free, and they have a portable bathroom... which my daughter must use every time we go. Ick. St. Elmo's, while smaller, does have the advantage of seeing all your kids at once. How ironic that we lost Tyler at this playground and not the other one.

All-in-all, we had a great playground day. I'm pooped. See you at our next adventure!