Our "Coast to Coast Road Trip" has taken us to a number of play areas. This is one of the best, or…read moreat least most captivating, we've come across. Our two-and-a-half year old played for almost two hours on this magical wooden castle. The only things that keep it from a 5 star rating is the lack of a real bathroom and some of the wear and tear on equipment, particularly the leather ropes that have been worn down pretty significantly. It's sort of off the beaten path, but well worth a visit if you're in the area! MATERIALS: The support posts are all wood, but the flooring material is sturdy, composite all-weather stuff. Wear close-toed shoes, because it's a wood chip ground cover. There's grass on 3 sides outside of the play area. PLAY AREAS: - There's a dedicated Tot Lot for ages 2-5, which has tamer play equipment, and toddler/harness type swings. Our 2 year old is normally cautious about slides, but he really enjoyed the one in the Tot Lot area. - One unique feature was a little xylophone that actually sounded nice. The other musical element (some kind of pipes) has been jammed up with wood chips. Gee, who'd have guessed kids would stick would chips in the holes? ;) - The other, larger play area has a set of 4 'big kid' swings, a tire swing, at least 4 slides (both covered and open air), swinging rings, monkey bars, climbing and balancing ropes, and one of those fakey zipline things (just a rolling hand hold on a short track you hang from). There's plenty of stuff to climb. Our son liked running across the bridge because it kind of bounced around as he ran. AMENITIES: - There are 2 covered picnic areas with tables. - NO BATHROOM! Just one run-down porta potty

This is an amazing playground! Seems like it's in the middle of nowhere, so there was only one…read morefamily there when we visited. Very similar (but even better) layout to Fort Kid in downtown Knoxville. Plenty of parking, shaded picnic structures, clean and well maintained. About a half hour from Knoxville but close to Oak Ridge and Clinton. Definitely worth a stop if you've got young kids in the area.

Dec 15th! What a treat to walk through all the Christmas lights along the paths!…read more I believe was their second year of lights. It was amazing! A chilly night, bundled up for it and a Hot cocoa from the drink trailer was just the perfect ticket to stay out longer! Can't wait for the next display!

Where to begin. The atmosphere is nice. Unfortunately, that is the only positive statement I can…read moremake about this alleged higher end restaurant. I was visiting my brother and his wife and they wanted to take me to a special dinner. I maintain a vegan diet, so my sister in law asked a server at Aspire if they accommodate a plant-based diet. She was told absolutely; further, the server said the chef and kitchen are very creative. We get to the restaurant and the server did not even know what a vegan diet is. Nothing on the menu, either. He went to the kitchen and said they could serve me some pasta with broccoli and mushrooms. I said that would be acceptable. The server brought out a bowl of overcooked penne with a tiny bit of broccoli and some small pieces of mushroom...all drenched in what seemed like a cup of olive oil and very little spicing. There was so much oil, I had to ask the server to take the dish and drain off the oil. He did and brought back the bowl which now only had maybe a 1/4 cup of oil. They did add a pinch of oregano and salt and pepper. Of course it was over salted now. I get the bill and they had the nerve to charge me for their chicken and pasta dish. Nearly $20 for cheap pasta and a few veggies. Seriously! I asked for the manager on the way out and shared my disappointment. What I got was a bunch of excuses. The Executive Chef was off that night. They were really busy. The manager was new and was here to fix things. He offered to comp the bill for the entire party. I told him that was not necessary. He insisted again and I said, my brother and his wife had what they ordered, so again, not necessary. (Note...the steak and fish dishes they had were, according to them, just OK...nothing special and a bit disappointing.) He said he would comp my dinner and I said that was fine. He did comp my dinner dish, not the wine I had. Frankly, if he wanted to make up for the poor experience I had and the embarrassment my sister in law, who had selected this restaurant, was experiencing, he would have written off the entire bill as a surprise. That is how he would get them back to the restaurant. Oh well. I did suggest, since he was new, that he has numerous opportunities ahead of him and he acknowledged this. He said they would be working on a new menu that plans for gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets. I hope Aspire does and I wish them the best in the future.

Love this park! A walking trail around the park, a hiking trail next to park, basketball court, a…read morepavilion with tables, and a large wooden playground (with the bouncy surface!). Variety of areas for differing age groups and something for everyone. The parking is easy and directly next to all the action. My two nit-picking suggestions? It would be great to have more bench seating directly surrounding the playground (especially for those who bring dogs but also want to keep an eye on kiddos) and a fenced playground would be amazing for the runners. Overall, this is the best playground in OR.

Too many shirtless adults without kids. Large groups of 17yr olds+ blasting profane music. Doesn't…read morefeel safe for families.

I really struggled with the rating here - for me it's a 3.5 overall…read more Highlights: The playground portion was awesome, fully accessible for me to go in and keep up with our little dude. The open spaces to roam are essential for us, and we felt good about him being on the playground side. The staff was really nice on the way in and was occasionally walking the grounds, picking up, checking in, etc. Improvements needed: the hands-on toy section needs a redo. At one point, I'd say it was in excellent quality...but it's clear wear and tear and no investment have led to some of the tiny rooms leaving little to the imagination, with most stuff scattered about with no structure (and existing toys worn out). Kids can make the most of a lot, but this needs a refresh. Side note...the furniture has some sharp points too...if budget can't permit replacing with things with smoother edges, then at least put some covers on the corners. We didn't feel good about that section and tried to block and cover it. That, or gate it. All aside, we are grateful for all the little spots like these that give variety to our kiddo with special needs.

This place was absolutely worth the drive from our town…read more Usually I hate these kinds of places because of kid germs and the mass spread but this place was very clean. I believe every thirty minutes they were cleaning and sanitizing. I loved that they had spots for adults to sit and watch their kids. The staff were very kind and helpful. The 3 years old loved this place. I only wish it was bigger

A VERY hard working rescue and sanctuary meets petting zoo. We were escorted by several frisky…read morePygmy goats. There are a lot of animals ready to engage the family....if you purchase a food bucket. Plan to get a little dirty or simply don't purchase food. Exotic birds, a tiger, a zebra, camels and water Buffalo, all being cleaned up and taken care of. Remember that most of the animals here have a story if rescue! This isn't some highly funded zoo with fancy enclosures but the animals are being cared for and are supplies enrichment and care. We loved our experience and the volunteers and staff were all approachable and working hard.

What an amazing place! We fed so many goats and deer and saw so many other animals. We all had a…read moregreat time.

This park has lovely baseball fields, that are meticulously maintained. Several different teams use…read morethe feilds, and the details of the stands are fit to the neighborhoods gingerbreading and rocking chair porches. The kids park across the street has large wrought iron entrances. Four large sets of modern playground equipment are not as well upkept as the baseball field across the street. What the sets need is a good pressure washing to reflect how nice they really are. The playground is completely handicapped accessible and has many benches around the edge for adults to park it and sit on thier phones. Which is great, because I hate standing around hovering over my kid, reminding him to be careful. He's fine with me on a bench waiting. I'd rather write for yelp! Mius a star for the pressure washing ISSUE, and the lack of shade on the playground. Come on Knoxville. You got it, flaunt it.

We found this park when the bus forgot my kiddo and we had to drive him to school. We ended up…read morefeeling grateful because Glenwood Elementary is right down the street and this little gem of a park is perfect for cool Fall-ish days! When you pull up, the parking lot is set apart from both the playground and the adjacent soccer field. Note that it is not stroller or wheelchair-friendly, since there is no walkway and parking is up a somewhat steep hill. Re: the soccer field, not sure if it is typically open to the public, but we brought a ball and found an open gate and were able to run and play on the field with our kids. The playground is well-kept but definitely open to the elements, so it would be a scorcher on a warm day and in direct sunlight. I do wish that they had a covered area or even a small pavilion/area to sit and watch kids or have a lunch between play sessions. There are a few benches sprinkled throughout. There is one playset that is perfect for toddlers and another designated for ages 5-12. The two slides on this second set are very steep, so be prepared for your kids to go down like a speeding bullet. ;-) Overall, a great little park! I loved that there is something to entertain all three of our kids, regardless of age or ability/bravery.

Adair is my neighborhood park. I've visited many local parks and greenways, and for a neighborhood…read morepark this place is a real score. 2 connecting greenways ( Adair and Sue Clancy) allow you to create plenty of loop options. My favorite thing here is the huge green space in the middle of the main loop. It lends the feel of a big city park because you can take a blanket and a book and sit on the trees, right in the middle of a somewhat busy community. The trail is well maintained, and our dog loves the trees and pond. Check out this little neighborhood gem!

On a road trip from Kentucky to South Carolina and what a perfect little spot to stop. We had kids…read morewith us so the playground and picnic area are exactly what we were looking for. Definitely worth the stop!

This pristine park in the walkable and bikeable Fourth and Gill neighborhood has always had…read morefamilies with kids in it every time we have visited, as well as folks huts resting in nature, as it manages to offer solitude despite the proximity to an overpass. The playground equipment is appropriate for toddlers and bigs. There is at least one bbq grill, a picnic area, gazebo, flat activities court, an adorable mini art gallery, doggy bag station and plenty of benches. If you are visiting the nearby Central Filling Station food truck park with kids, take a walk down here and let them run off some steam before calling it a day, or heading to a brewery. This park can be a part of the perfect family day. Enjoy the day!

Conveniently located park, right next to the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. So close that I…read moreactually thought it was an extension of the museum. Perfect if you're closing out the museum and need a place to run off energy afterwards before heading home. It has a parking lot next to it that would be accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. There is a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a playset for bigger kids and an area for the little ones with smaller climbing areas and slides. A separate swingset and a great grassy hill, perfect for rolling down round out this nice park. Why not 5 stars? Lots of litter and not quite as well-maintained as some of the other parks in town. Doesn't impact the stars (since it's not the park/city's fault), but we also left in a hurry last time due to the house next door practicing their shooting. Gun shots and smoke scared my kiddos quite a bit.