Lafayette Community Park teems with life at every turn. The 68-acre expanse encompasses a sampling of natural habitats, but kids tend to flock toward the pair of playgrounds. Toddlers can run and climb in a fenced-in area protected by a huge canopy. It's outfitted with the classic playground must-haves—slide, jungle gym, etc.—but some parents note that it's the ground that holds the real fun. Small green circles scattered around the jungle gym trigger cartoonish noises when you trounce on them, much to little ones' delight.

Whereas at the playground for older kids, a rock-climbing wall and other modern pieces of playground equipment get most of the attention, including futuristic versions of a see-saw and a merry-go-round. Parents can take cover beneath nearby trees or join in the fun with their kids (as many seem to do).

If you're coming to Lafayette Community Park sans children, though, perhaps the nature trail will intrigue you more than the play areas. It winds all throughout the park, encountering softball and soccer fields, creeks, and even a Pétanque court (akin to a bocce ball court) along the way. You'll probably even pass a few black walnut trees, since the flatlands near the creeks used to be covered with pear and walnut trees.

Lafayette Community Park
480 Saint Mary's Road
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 284-2232
www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.aspx?page=92
www.yelp.com/biz/lafayette-community-park-lafayette

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Jo Naylor