Dennis the Menace Playground
add photos19 Reviews for Dennis the Menace Playground
10
30 families found this helpful
"Great huge park."
Only reason we only give it 4 stars is because it is a sand park. Maybe one day they will replace the sand with cleaner, healthier bark or better yet recycled rubber.
After you are done at this park, a nice beach is only two blocks away (a great time to go, the kids will already have sand everywhere, you have nothing to lose.
There is also a Snack bar at the park and a McDonald's and the Wharf within walking distance.
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0 families found this helpful
"Fun Dennis the Menace Style"
This amazing playground was the brain child of the creator of the Dennis the Menace comic strip. It includes a steam engine so cool it earned this review a spot on my Train Fanatics List. There is also a climbing wall, a suspension bridge, adventure ship and so much more! My kids eyes were like saucers as we pulled up this park. There's a tot play area --- and my son's favorite, the giant curvy green slide! And it all comes at the best price --- FREE! All of the fun takes place under the watchful eye of Dennis himself, there is a cute spunky sculpture of him in the park that has popped up in many a photo album I'm sure! The park is open from 10AM to dusk. There is a snack bar on site. Mr. Ketcham (Dennis' creator) left a wonderful legacy not only with his comic strip but, the landmark to childhood adventure he had built for the children of Monterey and those who visit this fine city.
0 families found this helpful
"Play, Play, Play!"
This is one of the best parks I've ever been, too. My daughter loves to go fast and climb on the most dangerous looking structures, so it's perfect for her. The park is bright and colorful with many beautiful statues, slides, swings, a great big bridge, etc. This is one park that even I can stay at for hours and I usually get bored and want to go home.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun Playground"
This playground is well spread out and has lots of fun equiptment to explore. Our 2 year old had lots of fun running around. I would say it is best for 4-8 year olds because some of the slides are high and go fast...ours started to go too fast down one of the slides and started to slide out of control. Don't miss out on the slide under the sun bridge!
1 family found this helpful
"Its a great place."
Ride the locomotive, slide down the numerous slides, climb a rock wall. Dennis the Menace Playground is free and great for many ages. Eventhough the park was crowded, the playground splits into different areas so it didn't feel crowded. Our daughter loved the climbing structures and attempted the rock wall.
0 families found this helpful
"Love the swinging bridge!"
This is *by far* the most fun playground I have ever taken my kids to!
Nestled against the water about a mile north of the Aquarium, the Dennis playground is a wonderland. Step inside the white picket fence (!) and climb aboard a real steam engine! Kids can clamber all over it- bring your camera for adorable photo ops.
Next, race your kids up the concrete hill and jump on the giant swinging bridge. Try not to wet yourself as you hop up and down and jiggle those wobbly postpartum bladder ligaments. Ahem.
Perhaps a change of clothes would be a good idea.
If incontinence is not your problem, dry clothes would still be a good idea after your paddle boat ride around the adorable little marina. Careful not to steer into the flotilla of resident ducks. Bad karma. You just might come back in the next life with bladder problems.
If your are up for more, try the massive twisty slides, the zip line, or the roller slide.
Small babes will enjoy the smaller tot climbing structures and the swings.
1 family found this helpful
"The ideal place to wear out a toddler"
I don't know if I can add much more than what other reviewers have noted, but we just got home from a trip to Monterey and Dennis the Menace Playground was one of the highlights for my 2 1/2 year old son. We stopped by this park just before hitting the road for our drive back and it was the perfect thing to do to wear him out and allow him to fall asleep quickly for the ride home.
This park is huge, with multiple play structures, a maze, a long suspension bridge, a massive locomotive to explore, enormous slides, paddle boating, and even a skate park for older kids. There's enough here to occupy even the most difficult to please families. The only downside is that the parking can get ugly with anxious parents fighting over very limited spaces.
1 family found this helpful
"Wonderful activity for the whole family"
It is definitely one of the best parks in the bay area.
Parking could be a bit tricky - if you don't see the steam train then you have probably parked around the corner which is no big deal but there is an option to park close by so ..
We had fun especially with the Steam engine and the slide. Other than that some of the activities are not for my 2 and a half year old.
2 families found this helpful
"Best PArk in CAlifornia!"
HUGE!!! renovation that updated Dennis the Menace Playground. Thank god they hadn't touched the antique steam engine. Its a real steam engine, you can climb all over that thing and even go on top too! Unlike many other parks, where insurance policies have made such features off-limits, Old No. 1285 is still climbable and was covered with kids. So is the Dennis the Menace statue commemorating the comic's creator, Hank Ketcham is also very awesome!
2 families found this helpful
"This park can't be beat, especially for older kids"
Dennis the Menace Playground is pretty cool. This place was definitely designed with older kids in mind, you know...the ones too big and cool to play at the park. There are fantastic slides and bridges, a maze with a lookout tower at the center. My 4 year old son is still too young to fully enjoy this park, but we take him anyway, and play with him on the climbing structures at the center of the park. He looks wistfully at the biggest curviest slides and the long suspension bridge but always says no when we offer to take him up. He's not quite ready yet, but I know it won't be long before he is. If you freak out every time your kid almost falls, this park probably isn't for you. But if you like to let your kids run and play fast and hard, they'll love you for taking them here. There are also paddle boats for rent within the same park area (but not right at the playground) as well as a baseball diamond where you can watch teams play.
2 families found this helpful
"best playground in california"
We stopped here after the aquarium. It's by far the best playground in California. It has multiple climbing structures, a train, bridges, and the coolest roller slide ever. My kids could have easily spent 8 hours there. However, because the park is so big, it can be difficult to keep track of more than one kid. If your children don't play together, it's better if there is one adult to watch each child.
1 family found this helpful
"Really cool park"
We always make it a point to stop at the Dennis the Menace playground when we're in the area. It is such a cool park! My son's favorite part would have to be the huge locomotive that the kids can climb on. It can be a bit crowded on the weekends though, so be prepared.
1 family found this helpful
"Fantastic Park"
This park has it all! A real train car you can climb on, various play areas, a pond, grassy areas and shade. Throw in the fact that it's free and it's a parent's dream. This park has so much to do that your kids will be busy for hours! Even the kids that think they're too old for play equipment will soon be captured by the fun.
2 families found this helpful
"Hands Down Favorite Park Ever!"
I love this park! It has everything you could want from a playground. Mazes-check; Train that you can climb on- check; tunnels-check; playground-check; unique slides-check! It's amazing! I wish I lived closer to Monterey so I can take my kids all the time. I might even have more fun than they do!!! :)
1 family found this helpful
"surprise find for older kids too"
We happened upon this park while in the area for a wedding. My 10-year old niece and 5 year old niece joined our toddler. We had SO much fun, even the older niece. Yes, it's huge but has a wide range of fun things including a small climbing wall, hedge maze, and a LARGE real steam locomotive engine on display (not running).
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
A unique park designed by Hank Ketcham, the cartoonist who created Dennis, with fantastic structures such as a steam locomotive, a giant swing ride, a roller slide, anda special play area for the handicapped. A skateboard park is located adjacent to the playground behind the ball field. Kids love powering their own paddleboats on Lake El Estero and you can rent kayaks and canoes, too (831–374–1484).
1 family found this helpful
"A Child's Dream"
The first thing I need to say about this playground. Be prepared to do lots of chasing. It's huge! Make sure your have a meetup plan in case someone gets lost and a good parent kid ratio.
Highlights are amazing slides and bridges as well as a gigantic locomotive to climb on.
0 families found this helpful
"Playground from my dreams"
My wife grew up in Monterey and her mom still lives there. Before we had kids we visited quite a few times and I always begged to stop at Dennis the Menace as we drove by. Remember - this was BEFORE we had kids. Just seeing the play structure from the road got me excited. We never did make the trip childless. Last time we went down we brought our son there. OMG, this is the playground from my dreams. Enough said. Next time in Monterey, go to the aquarium, have lunch, a nap then spend the rest of the day at DTMP. Awesome.
3 families found this helpful
"An amazing park for the kids!"
Not which which is more of a draw for our kids - the aquarium or this park. This is a must see attraction while visiting the area. There is so much to do, the kids will never be bored. It is a nice place to get outside and have the kids run around and burn off some energy. Don't forget to stop and climb around on the train engine near the main entrance. The rest of the park has slides, a climbing wall, swings and a really cool bridge connecting two hills. The rest is there for you to experience yourself.
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