Whale Playground

Right on the Scarborough beachfront, this one’s hard to miss — the big blue whale climbing structure pretty much announces itself from halfway down the esplanade. Kids aged 2 to 10 will find plenty to keep them busy between the slides, tire swing, seesaw, sandbox, and regular swings. Fair warning though: it gets genuinely packed on weekends and school holidays, so arrive early if you want a picnic table or a spot near the BBQs. Shade is limited, so slap on the sunscreen because there’s not much relief from the sun mid-afternoon. The ocean breeze helps, and having the beach and a string of cafes basically next door makes it an easy full-day outing.