One of my favorite places in Madison. I just moved to the neighborhood and I enjoyed walking the…read moredog around the circle.

This is a hidden little gem of a park that lets kids play the way we used to before kids got…read morebubble-wrapped for safety. A kid can hike in a ravine, safe from traffic, hop across a little stream on fallen logs. Have an imaginary tea party on tree stump tables and chairs. Pick wild berries and chase squirrels. Collect pocketfuls of stones. Play hide-and-go-seek among the trees. Go exploring. Imitate birdsong. Have a walk and a talk with Grandpa. The only amenity is a trash receptacle. No swings, no sport court, no spring-necked horsies to rock on. Just blue sky, rocks, trees, wind, water, and birds. Mud in the spring, snow for only about half the year. I've pulled my kids in a sled through this park after a fresh March snowfall, feeling like the only people for miles. It's an oasis of green just off the bike path and it is one of the best parts of living in this neighborhood, whether you are a kid or a kidult.

With almost 90 acres of parkland, Ripp Park is one of Waunakee's largest parks. It is a popular…read morevenue for youth sports, so it can get congested in the non-winter months. There are shelter houses on the north and south sides of the park with decent restroom facilities. The boardwalk through the marsh is a pleasant excursion.

Love, love, love our little neighborhood park! Actually not that little, there's something for…read moreeveryone: a swing set, sizeable climbing frame, sandbox, jungle gym, basketball court, picnic tables, wild raspberries to pick (shhhh!), mature trees, room to run, and the footbridge to "Dad's Creek", where children and neighborhood dogs alike are often seen exploring. The "Dogs Not Allowed" sign has long read "Dog Snot Allowed" and the consensus seems to be that leashed dogs are fine (and free-roaming dogs are probably not). The Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade, epic Trick or Treating (complete with impromptu performances by some enthused teens and their hipster parents) and a neighborhood picnic are a few of the get-togethers this close-knit community enjoys. If you're lucky enough to land a house in Sunset Village, especially one that backs up to Sunset Park, your backyard will suddenly double in size and your pool of friends might triple! Sunset Park is where my toddler made his first friends, his first sandcastles, and memories to last a lifetime. Sunset Village neighborhood and Sunset Park is a place I never knew existed (because it is so neatly tucked away) despite growing up in a nearby neighborhood. Sunset Park is the friendly hub of Sunset Village. Stop in sometime & say hello--you can't help but feel welcome in Sunset Park!

Well, well, well -- what have we here? Meadowbrook Park -- the Family Aquatic Center of Grafton!…read moreCan we say, OMG! LOT OF FUN! I recently moved to Grafton and kept hearing about the pool. I'm thinking, no big deal, so you have yourself a little pool. What's the big deal. Doesn't everyone have a pool these days? Well, boy was I surprised to drive by, "The Pool." Let's say, it's not what I expected. It's a full on Waterpark and I can't wait for the weather to get warm so I can get inside. I'm worse than the kids. I must drive by this "Pool" every day now salivating and planning how many toys I can carry in with me. I will probably spend an entire check on pool inflatables! I'll probably buy every UGLY swim suit on the rack! You just can't have enough swim suits when your neighborhood pool has a great big outdoor slide attached to it. I mean, really? Who calls this, "the pool"? I can't believe it? I can't sleep at night thinking about this! I'm thinking I might need to do the full on Wisconsin thing of putting out my lawn chair and roping off a section of the sidewalk to make sure I'm there when this so-called "pool" opens. To make matters even more exciting, I found out there's a whole schedule of events attached to this "pool." There are movies where you can float in the pool and watch while eating your popcorn. I mean, really! Who doesn't want to see Clifford The Big Red Dog while floating in "The Pool"? Again, do I need to get my lawn chair out and go sit in the snow with my service dog to make sure I get in? Of course, for you serious types, there's all the lane swimming and the season's passes. There's even water aerobics and swimming lessons. At the end of the season, the dog's even get a go at "the pool" to raise money for the Humane Society. Really? I just don't understand how anyone calls this, "the pool"! It should be called the super duper ultra wonderful water experience world where everyone wins place! Well, maybe that's too long for the sign --- I have to admit Meadowbrook Park, Family Aquatic Center looks a lot more sophisticated as you drive by and probably didn't wreck the Village budget in print and paint. But my sign would really tell ya what's up! See ya at the super duper ultra wonderful water experience world where everyone wins place this summer! I'm gonna buy that pass this week! Now, where's my lawn chair? Come on dog, we gotta save our spot in line!

If you have a dog that can jump a 4 ft fence, this is not the park for you. My husky had no problem…read morejumping right over it, and lots of humans jump the fence as well. Great for small dogs, or ones that are not escape artists.

When we did not want to tackle Prairie Moraine, we came to Badger Prairie. I really like the gravel…read morepath that rings the perimeter of the park. You can get your steps in while your dog trots along with you or move into the middle of the park, where a large green space is perfect for using a "Chuck-It!" My dog happens to love the tall grasses to bound around in, so plenty of options!

Last Saturday we were so stir crazy from this long winter we headed out to Waunakee to explore…read more After a quick stop at DD for breakfast we stopped at Schumacher farm for a quick geocache. We found it by simply googling "things to do in Waunakee". Great hiking trails, huge barn to explore, During warmer weather there are 5-6 programs you can be a part of such as prairie restoration and chicken wrangling. The website has a fun history lesson: http://www.schumacherfarmpark.org/about. It is a 40 acre farm filled with trails, historic buildings, and summer programming. Definitely worth checking out. We will be back - when it is warmer! :)

This is such a sweet little park. Really unique playground equipment and beautiful views. There was…read moreno one there when we went on a warmer winter day and it was just a short walk from our home off of Atwood Avenue. Another one of those hidden gems in the neighborhood that you should definitely check out!