Portage Park Playground

Most people in View Royal drive right past this one, which honestly keeps it from getting too crowded. The playground itself covers the basics well — slides, swings, and one of the few merry-go-rounds still standing in the area — and it works for kids of pretty much any age. What makes it worth the trip is everything around it: walking paths that edge into the forest, a bike track, and direct access to Portage Inlet where the views across the water are genuinely hard to beat. Pack a bag because once you’re here, you’ll want to stay longer than planned.