Awesome Parks & Playgrounds Around the Silicon Valley

Boasting a skate park, soccer and baseball field, tennis courts, swimming pool facility that includes a fun kids' pool and nice shaded playground with picnic areas, Burgess Park appeals to many interests, tastes and abilities. Located a short walk from the Menlo Park police station and the public library, the park is easily accessible, clean and a very attractive place to pass a sunny summer day.

Emily Pardee's beautiful tribute to her daughter Eleanor, this park boasts more than 9 acres of fun, spaces for reflection or stretching out for a nap in the sun, a jogging path and a multi-purpose stage area. Pardee, who was a community activist, deeded the land to Palo Alto in 1920 in memory of her daughter, Eleanor, who died of typhoid as a young girl. There's plenty here to keep active youngsters busy for hours including a sand and water play area, a zip line and play structures for different development stages. I've always appreciated that the play equipment is fenced in giving little ones who think bolting is hilarious a tangible border to play in.

My children and I have enjoyed picnics and walks in this wonderful place. Both my kids have always been taken with the large bunny topiary and the play hut made of branches as well as the coi pond. We've also attended the Nutcracker puppet show, a very well run event that kept my extraordinarily active little ones focused and attentive during the entire performance. One event I really hope will be brought back is story time in the Rose Garden. In the past a Palo Alto Librarian has read stories in the Gamble Rose Garden at twilight twice during the summer. This is a great opportunity for a picnic and/or a relaxing wind down before bedtime. I'm assuming the library staff has not had time for this activity due to the major renovations at the Children's Library and all of the logistics around that in the past year. I really hope they bring this back! Regardless, visit this gem and peruse the calendar to find excuses to go back again and again. This is a wonderful place!

Located across the street from the Museum of American Heritage, Heritage Park is a pleasant little respite in the middle of busy and often congested downtown Palo Alto. Here you can stop, take a breather and take notice of all the small town Americana that Palo Alto has to offer. As we rush around during our hectic days it easy to forget that the simple life this place used to offer in the days it focused on agriculture instead of technology. There are still glimmers of simplicity to be seen but, you need to slow down and take notice. This two-acre open space offers benches redwood trees as well as around the border of the lawn. Playgrounds for both tiny tots and older children are built around the shade of a stately heritage oak tree (for which I assume the park is named). A shade trellis and benches provide a convenient place to picnic while the kids play. There's a climbing rock for young explorers. Also available: three small picnic tables, including a handicapped accessible table, just outside of the playground provide a nice play for neighbors and friends to gather. A couple of other facts to note: The playground is fenced in as Homer can be a very busy street so, take even your bolting toddlers there without worry. There is no toilet facility! This seems to be a trend in Palo Alto Parks, I rarely come across one that has a bathroom in it. This makes me feel as if the parks like many other things in Palo Alto are intended only for the residents. It's not an officially stated rule (except at Foothill Park) but that's the implication. After all, no bathroom isn't going to be a problem for a park visitor who lives down the street from the park.

My son is particularly fond of the rock climbing area in this park. A pretty setting, to enjoy music in the park events held during the summer. Bathrooms are available for visitors. There's a large grassy area that is great for playing football, Frisbee or spreading out a blanket for a picnic. Watch little ones closely --- a little creek running alongside the park is accessible and busy Miramonte Road is not far away!

Shoup Park boasts one of best creeks for wading and for rock skipping after a good rain. We've also enjoyed many laid back picnics here, attended birthday parties and other events here and used the pathway around the park as a race track for scooters, skates and bicycles. There are two playgrounds here-- one geared for the tots and another for more advanced climbers. The tot playground has a huge sand play area with two big diggers in it. One thing I've always appreciated about this park is that it is tucked in off the road making it difficult for a toddler going through a bolting phase to run toward traffic while trying to escape from you! Restrooms are available as well as BBQ facilities.

This 16.5 acre park has something to offer everyone. A large children's play area on an island surrounded by a cool waterway, a picturesque pond where the kids can often feed ducks, picnic areas, barbecue grills and plush lawn space for baseball games, touch football or kite flying. There is even a good-sized fenced in dog park. Check it out , there's plenty of space for all two and four-legged friends to blow off steam.

Slay a dragon (or make friends with it), scale a castle, play in the sand, swing and let your imagination run wild at Coyote Point. You can be a knight or a princess here or just be a kid! It's that fun!