Fairwater park

Out here in Montgomery, this little park punches above its weight — the cushioned mat surface is actually one of the better ones I’ve seen for keeping the little ones from getting banged up. The shade trees do real work on those brutal Texas summer days, which is honestly the difference between a 20-minute visit and a full afternoon out. Kids from about 2 to 12 get good mileage out of the water feature, especially come July when everyone’s just trying to survive the heat. Restrooms are clean and well-kept, which — if you’ve got toddlers — you know is never something to take for granted.