I can't say enough about this place. It's great for kids to run around outside. There are playscapes for the little ones, and for the older ones. There's a Back 9 with a jumping pillow, sandbox, climbing wall and other things, though the Back 9 costs to get in. Every year they have the Great Maize Maze. It's a huge draw! TONS of people try their hand at traversing this massive maze of corn carrying flags just in case you need help. There is a very nice shop with great fudge, kettle corn, candies, refrigerated drinks, homemade jams and jellies, and more, plus they sell fresh veggies they get from their own farm. October rolls out pumpkins and we spend a lot of time up there. It's nice and cool with beautiful weather, and the prices for pumpkins are great. They also serve ice cream and have panning for gemstones and gold. You really have to read their website to see all that they do there. This place a purely a 5 star locale, very worth the visit.

What an amazing place! I love how all of this is indoors and how there's tons of parking. The place is huge and you could totally spend the entire day there. It makes it very convenient by having places to eat as well. Pizza Hut, Subway, and Taco Bell are great choices for a place with kids running around. There's a nice gift shop, too, and if you're a girl scout you can get a patch in there for your sash/apron/vest. It's great. It's huge..it's huge...there's usually about a "thousand" people there. I'm exaggerating a little. But this is why I don't give it 5 stars. I'm terrified of losing my kids there! Many people go and let their kids run free, and there's no stopping them. They cause trouble and go unchecked. You really need to find a time to go during the school year on a weekday, while school is in session if you plan to take a toddler or preschooler. Otherwise they just get trampled. You can get a membership, but unless you have a 3 or 4 year old who isn't in school yet, maybe a 2 year old, it's not worth the price for the annual fee. Truly is a great place, but so busy.

When it's broiling hot outside, freezing cold, raining cats and dogs, or just a boring day, you can head over to the Eastview Mall and find ways to make a bad day better. If you love to shop there are tons of shops, with great restaurants. The mall is always clean unlike some that I've been to. The food court definitely caters to the young child with Burger King there. Their Mac&Cheese meals will calm any kid eating solids. I think the biggest draw for parents with kids, though, is the 2 story carousel. It's just $1 to ride for the kids, parents ride free to escort them. We always use it as a bribe to keep our kids behaving themselves. No riding the horses before we leave unless you behave. Be sure to hit the Starbucks stand for that latte buzz fix, and then hit the Lindt chocolates store..they're very often handing out free samples. Without KB Toys anymore, there's no whining and crying about going into an overpopulated, over priced toystore. Instead there's a nice toystore with a lot of old fashioned toys, and more set out for the kids to play with over by Starbucks. If you're a work from home type, take your laptop. Starbucks has WiFi there. Just outside the mall itself in the "commons" as they call it, is a BJ's where you can do some grocery shopping, a Target to get that Target fix in for the day, Old Navy incase that's your thing, a movie theatre (Regal Cinemas), and soon...this is my fave...an LL Bean. Definitely going to be hitting that store for some great boots and coats for the winter months next year...I believe it's scheduled to open in about July 2010. The only downfall is that this mall doesn't have a play area for the kids. I wish it did which is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

This place is beautiful. It's stunning almost every where you look and the awe-inspiring imagery of the locale really get the imagination flowing if you're an artist or writer. There are so many gardens to explore that you truly need a full day to come and look around, so choose a fair weather day without massively bright sun, especially if you want to take pictures. The only thing that would make this place better would be drinking fountains placed around the gardens. There are some at the carriage house that looks like a little castle, but that's the only place. There are also vending machines within that building, but you'll want water before you get there.

This is a great Park but it has several entrances off of 2 roads. If you want a great playground (see pics) you can take the first entrance on the right when coming off of Browncroft, or the 2nd entrance on the left when coming off of 590 onto Blossom. There's a wonderful walking trail that welcomes dogs, and Frisbee Golf if you go to the entrance on N. Landing (from 590 onto Blossom, you turn left onto N. Landing, from Browncroft it's right onto it). There are bridges, hiking trails, and large grassy areas for picnics and just relaxing. (bridge seen in pic)