Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
Home
  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
  • What You Need To Know About Curb Ramps
  • 9 Things You No Longer See on Playgrounds
  • Benefits of Nature Play
  • Train Themed Playground
  • The World is a Kiwanis Playground
  • San Francisco

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Parks
  3. The Best Places to Enjoy the Outdoors This Spring

The Best Places to Enjoy the Outdoors This Spring

Parks
May 11, 2021
Profile picture for user Brenda Ryan
By Brenda Ryan on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
91
The Best Places to Enjoy the Outdoors This Spring

The Best Places to Enjoy the Outdoors This Spring

Now that the snow is melting and COVID restrictions are easing, it’s time to consider the perfect road trip.

Sure, the pandemic has changed the way we enjoy our outdoor parks, but’s it’s also encouraged more of us to get outside and enjoy nature.

We put together a list of some of nature’s best attractions around the country: places where you can stay socially distant but still enjoy the outdoors this spring. So pack a bag and head out to the best playgrounds in the U.S.

San Francisco

We start in San Francisco, which ranks as one of the best places to hike in the country. A study by LawnStarter also ranks it as the best city for spring outdoor activities. You can walk, bike, or hike just about anywhere in the Bay City. 

Start by walking across the Golden Gate Bridge for a bird’s eye view of the bay. Head up to Vista Point to get a beautiful view of the greenery surrounding the city. Then head to Golden Gate Park, where you can bike or walk around the gardens and lakes. The kids will enjoy the park’s gigantic carousel. The little ones will also have a great time at Ocean Beach, where they can join in a game of beach volleyball or compete in a sand castle-making contest. The water’s a little too cold for swimming, but you’ll see a lot of surfers braving the waves.

Finish up your visit by renting a mountain bike and heading up Mount Tamalpais. It’s a steep climb, but the ocean view is worth it. 

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa is a mecca for outdoor lovers. Saguaro Lake Ranch offers everything from kayaking and canoeing to Horseback riding tours. Take a hike along the 4-mile Granite Trail Loop. When it’s time to cool down, rent a paddleboard at Saguaro Lake.

Mesa, Arizona

While adults may enjoy an afternoon at one of the city’s numerous golf courses, the waterparks are a surefire hit with the kiddos. Check out Riverview Park, home to the Cubs Spring Training Facility. You’ll find a fishing lake, a spray ground with water features, and a monumental playground with a 50-foot tall climbing tower. Pack a picnic lunch and find a table in the shade.

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs, Colorado

You’ll need reservations and plenty of stamina to hike Manitou Springs Incline, the most popular attraction in Manitou Springs. You won’t need money, but bring your camera and plenty of water. If you’re up for climbing up 2,744 steps (about 2,000 vertical feet,) you’ll get some fantastic photos of nearby Pike’s Peak.

Take the kids to explore the nearby Cliff Dwellings, where they’ll learn about the Ancestral Puebloans who once lived in Southwest Colorado. The stones from the dwellings were shipped from Cortez and assembled here in the 1900s to preserve this piece of history. 

About a mile and a half north of the Cliff Dwellings, you’ll find the Cave of the Winds. Take the hour tour and explore the geography, or choose the 90-minute lantern tour while listening to ghost stories. Prefer to stay above ground? Take a zipline across Frontier Canyon.

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Piedmont Park, in the middle of Atlanta, is an easy stop for both residents and visitors who want to explore the outdoors. You’ll find 190 acres filled with green space, running tracks, playgrounds, lakes, swimming pools, and sports courts. Piedmont Park is a popular spot for festivals throughout the year.

Centennial Olympic Park is another favorite and a must-see attraction. The park (pictured in the cover photo) was built for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. It’s now home to numerous outdoor concerts and festivals throughout the spring and summer. Be sure to stop by the fountain to catch the water show, which runs at 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 9 pm daily.

Washington D.C.

Washington DC

There’s no better time to visit the nation’s capital than in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The city is one of the most walkable and bike-friendly places in the country filled with national treasures and beautiful gardens. 

Clemyjontri Park, Glen Echo Park, and Georgetown Waterfront Park offer plenty of playgrounds and kid-friendly activities. The National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the nation and it’s free. And you won’t want to miss Canal Park, where you’ll see kids cooling off in the dancing fountains. The park is perfect for picnics.

Time to Play

After spending a winter in isolation, we need the outdoors more than ever. Harvard University researchers found that even a short outdoor stroll can improve our mental and physical health.

2020 also saw a huge drop in visits to our national parks. So think of this road trip as a way to improve your health and the health of our nation’s valuable treasures. Happy hiking.

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
About text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Profile picture for user Brenda Ryan
Brenda Ryan
Published 2 years ago
Last updated 6 months ago
91
3
min read
A- A+
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

More About Parks

NRPA Park Pulse
Apr 11, 2017
Parks

Americans Show Strong Support for Local Environmental Sustainability, Survey Finds

Heather Williams
Hanifl
Jan 12, 2016
Parks

The Hanifl Family Wild Woods A Nature Based Play-Area at The Minnesota Zoo

PGP
Oct 01, 2006
Parks

How Local Organizations are Stepping up to help

Playground Magazine
6 Activities Your Family Can Do Together at the Park
Dec 21, 2021
Parks

6 Activities Your Family Can Do Together at the Park

Mark Palmer
sign recommending social distancing and mask wearing
Dec 22, 2020
Parks

Parks, The Pandemic & Social Media

Joann Robertson
US Mayors say live 10 minutes from green space
Oct 10, 2017
Parks

Nation's mayors launch groundbreaking 10-minute walk to a park campaign

Heather Williams
Mar 19, 2018
Parks

National Park and Recreation Association's Julie Boland

Julie Boland
Wendel Whisenhunt Sports Complex
Oct 14, 2015
Parks

OKC Parks & Recreation opens new Wendel Whisenhunt Sports Complex

PGP
Families walking through Folkets park.
Nov 17, 2017
Parks

In Copenhagen, a "People's Park" Design Includes Dark Corners

PGP
A park in need of improvement
Nov 12, 2018
Parks

Building Safe & Inclusive Parks in Philadelphia

Tony Benson
Kids running through Stickwork structure in Pease Park
Oct 22, 2018
Parks

Yippee Ki Yay! 10 Years of Pease Park Conservancy

Peasepark Cons…
Beautiful Pennsylvania park
Feb 19, 2018
Parks

Showcase your parks in 2018 - become a NRPA Park Champion!

PGP

Parks Professionals

Fifthroom.com
Fifthroom.com
Manufacturer
More
USA Shade & Fabric Structures
USA Shade & Fabric Structures
Manufacturer
More
Dog-ON-It-Parks
Dog-ON-It-Parks
Manufacturer
More
The Trust for Public Lands
The Trust for Public Lands
Organization
More
CorWorth Innovative Buildings
CorWorth Innovative Buildings
Manufacturer
More
Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society
Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society
Organization
More
Penchura, LLC
Penchura, LLC
Services
More
Tailwind Furniture
Tailwind Furniture
Manufacturer
More
Pease Park Conservancy
Pease Park Conservancy
Organization
More
Moody Graham Landscape Architecture
Moody Graham Landscape Architecture
Services
More
Kings River Casting, Inc.
Kings River Casting, Inc.
Manufacturer
More
Desert Recreation, Inc.
Desert Recreation, Inc.
Sales Rep
More
Home

Follow Us

Play and playground news and information since 2001

  • instagram
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • linkedin

Company

  • Playground Magazine
  • Contributors
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2001 - 2023 Playground Professionals, LLC

Footer menu

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions