This playground has lots of fun equipment for the little ones to play on, and
there's a nice sandbox with a ton of communal toys. The playground is on
Boardman Street, between Main Street and 115. Directions: Take Rte. 1A North
from Plainville or Wrentham.
Continue until the intersection with Rte. 115. Take a left here and continue
through Norfolk Center. Boardman Street is on the left after the Prudential
office. The park is on the left. Look for a clearing of trees and a small
driveway.
Booth Playground, Foxboro
Follow 106 from Plainville into Foxboro bearing left onto South Street. Head
toward the town common. You will pass an elementary school and the high school.
Take a right into parking lot next to a skate-board park which is just before a
ball field and elementary school. If you pass the Igo School and approach the
rotary, you’ve gone too far. Or from Norfolk or Wrentham, follow 140 to Foxboro
to Foxboro Common. Take a right off the rotary by the bank and pass the Igo
School. Turn into parking lot just after the skateboard park.
Bird Park Playground, Walpole
This playground is well stocked with sand toys, Cozy Coupes, etc. Bring a
picnic lunch, then romp in the huge expansive park. It’s a perfect place to fly
a kite and kick a ball. Take Route 1 North to Coney Street, Walpole. There will
be a set of lights and the Walpole Mall at this intersection. Take a left onto
Coney Street and follow to end. At the end, take a left onto Pleasant Street.
There is a small parking lot about .3 of a mile on the right. If full, continue
to stop sign and take a right onto Polley Lane. There is a large dirt lot on the
left.
Kidz Planet, Easton
Here’s a great indoor play gym that our MOMS Club visits for FREE once a
month. There are two large trampolines, a foam pit, parachute, music and a giant
blow-up castle. There's a snack room, too. Directions: Take Route 495 South to
exit 8. Take a left onto Route 138 toward Easton. Follow Route 138 for
approximately 6 miles. Take a right after the second Dunkin’ Donuts onto
Plymouth Drive. Kidz Planet is 1/4 mile down on the right, 15 Plymouth
Drive.
Plainville Playground/Park
A fenced-in playground with two big jungle gyms, and sandbox full of toys,
and swings are sure to provide hours of fun. Directions: Take Route 1A to
Plainville Center. The Park is behind Town Hall, and across from Cumberland
Farms.
Diamond Hill State Park, Cumberland, RI
A great place for discovering nature and getting some fresh air and exercise.
Feel free to pack a picnic lunch but make sure to save room for dessert at the
Ice Cream Machine where you can enjoy some delicious homemade ice cream. They
even have Dinosaur Crunch ice cream along with some more traditional flavors.
Directions: From route 1A turn onto route 121 south at Wampum Corner in
Wrentham. Follow 121 south into Cumberland, RI. Take a left onto 114 (Diamond
Hill Rd.) immediately after Mercymount Academy. Diamond Hill State Park is about
1 mile down on the right. The Ice Cream Machine is directly across the street
(#4288 Diamond Hill Rd.)
Lake Pearl Park, Wrentham
When you’re tired of building sandcastles, this park has a playground,
horseshoe pits, a concession stand and you can even rent a boat to go out on the
lake. Adult admission is $5. Children over 3 are $2, and children under 3 are
free. Directions: Take Route 1A south from the light in Wrentham Center, go
right onto Creek Street. Lake Pearl Park is ½ mile up on the left.
Sweatt Beach, Wrentham
Route 140 West toward Franklin from Wrentham. Turn left onto Elysium St. (If
you pass Franklin Country Club, you’ve gone too far). Take the 2nd left off
Elysium onto Wolford Rd. Sweatt Beach is on the left. There is a small fee for
Plainville, Wrentham, and Norfolk residents.
Capron Park Zoo, Attleboro
201 County Street, Attleboro, MA. This smaller Zoo takes about 40 minutes to
walk through. There is also a large, newly renovated playground at the entrance
of the zoo. Picnic tables, rest rooms, concession stand and gift shop available.
Adult admission is $3.50 ($1.75 for Attleboro residents). Children ages 3-12
years are $2.00 ($1.00 for Attleboro residents) and children 2 and under are
free. Directions: From the North: 95 S to exit 3A onto Rte. 123 East. Follow
signs to Capron Park Zoo.
Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI
The Carousel Village has plenty of grassy knolls to spread out a picnic
blanket, and features a playground for all age groups. Bring your camera if you
want to take a picture with the larger-than life Mr. Potato Head at the entrance
to the playground. It also features kiddie rides (train, dinosaur, and ponies)
and a Victorian Carousel for all. If headed to this great Zoo, it is open 9 to 6
(last admission is at 5:30.) Parking and admission to the park grounds is free.
Carousel and kiddie rides cost between $1 to $3. Zoo admission is $10/adults,
$6/children (3-12) and $8/seniors (62+). Group rates are available. (FYI -
starting around noon, the park can get fairly busy with somewhat limited parking
for those that may decide to come later than the start time) Directions (Elmwood
Avenue, Providence): I-95 South to Exit 17. Then follow the zoo signs. The park
is only a quarter mile from the highway. Once you are on the park property,
follow the signs for the Carousel.
Winslow’s Petting Zoo, Norton
Pack a picnic lunch and take a ride to this petting zoo full of barnyard
animals. You can purchase ice cream and a cold drink there. Port-a-Potties only
on site. Directions: Follow Rt. 140 South until the sign entering Taunton. Take
a right onto Eddy Street. The farm is the 4th house on the right, #37 Eddy
Street. Cost $5.00/adult; $2.00/child.
World War I Memorial Park, North Attleboro
Be sure to bring your carrots and apples because those are the only snacks
you can share with the goats, cows, sheep, pigs and llamas! The park has
playgrounds, picnic tables and plenty of trails for hiking, so you can stay as
long as you’d like! Directions: Take Rt. 1 south to the intersection with Route
1A where the Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Queen, and Flower Studio are on the corner.
Take a left onto Elmwood Street at that intersection and follow for ¾ of a mile.
Take a right into World War I Memorial Park. Bear to the right and drive up to
the first playground and animal area to park. There is no admission charge.
The Children’s Museum, Easton
This hands-on museum has 3 floors of fun! There's a toddler playroom with
crafts, an enchanted forest, a fire truck, a storybook cottage, museum post
office plus a lot more. $3.50 per person if 10 or more, one adult admitted free
for every 3 kids, children under one free Directions: Take Rte 106 East to
Easton. Turn left at lights onto Rte 123. Follow until you see Civil War
monument on your left. Take a left onto Center Street. Go two miles to stop
sign, take a right onto Main Street. Take first left (Sullivan Ave.). Museum is
on the right. Cost $4.50 per person. The Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays
during the summer. Fall hours resume in late September. Check out
www.childrensmuseumineaston.org for more info.
Providence Children’s Museum, Providence, RI
This is the perfect place for discovery, imagination, and play while learning
all kinds of neat things about yourself and the world around you. Cost is $4.75
per person. Members and children under 1 are free. Group discount: 10 or more =
$3.50 for kids, $1.50 for adults. A lunch room is available for a brown bag
lunch. Directions: from Rte. 95 South, take Rte. 195 East (exit 20). Off 195
take exit 1 (downtown Providence). Bear left at first turn-around and continue
straight under highway bridge onto Eddy St. Take 3rd right to South Street and
head toward dragon on top of building. Free parking is just beyond museum on
your left.
Big Apple Farm, Wrentham
Offers hayrides on weekends. Directions: Take Rte.1A to Rte. 121 (a.k.a. West
St. at Wampum Corner). Follow for about 3 miles and make a right onto Arnold St.
The Big Apple Farm is 5/10 mile on the left side.
Briggs Nursery, North Attleboro
There is something for everyone here, including a playground and petting zoo
for the little ones and a beautiful gift shop and flowers for mom. Pack along
some apples and carrots for the animals’ lunch. From Plainville center take Rte.
106 East. At the Shell Station, take a right onto Rte. 152 towards North
Attleboro. Briggs is on your left about a mile or two down.
Jane and Paul’s Farm, Norfolk
This is another great farm, particularly in the fall for a hayride and
selecting your pumpkin. The farm also has animals and fruit and vegetables for
sale as well as a corn maze. From Plainville and Wrentham, take Rte. 1A towards
Norfolk. Take a left onto Rte. 115 for approximately 1 to 2 miles and then take
a right onto Needham St. At the stop sign, go straight across onto Seekonk St.
Go approximately ¾ mile, take a left onto Fruit Street and follow signs to farm
(33 Fruit Street)
Osborne Nursery, Plainville
This is a smaller version of Briggs Nursery, but if your little one is crazy
about farm animals, it will do just fine. However, no feeding of the animals is
allowed. There is a swing set and a large play tractor. If your hobby is
gardening, they always have a great selection of plants. From Plainville Center
(Rte. 1A) take a left onto 106. At traffic light on Rte. 1, take a left. Osborne
Nursery is on the left at the top of the hill.
Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon
Strawberry Picking (June) or visit to Pumpkin Patch (October), One of the
more popular, well attended events is this twice a year visit to the local farm.
A 45-minute hayride to fields is educational and fun for both mom and the kids.
Cost is $6.00 for children - adults are free. Directions: Take Rte 140 to the
Foxboro rotary, and take it all the way around to Mechanic St, heading towards
Sharon. Proceed straight for a few miles into Sharon past Shaw’s (you are now on
South Main Street). About a mile on the right is the farm.
