Wolverine Park

If you live on the east side of Anchorage, you probably already know about this one. Wolverine Park is the kind of spot where you can actually settle in for a few hours — the covered pavilion with grills means a rainy afternoon doesn’t have to ruin your plans, which matters a lot up here. There are two separate play structures with slides, swings, and climbing, so a four-year-old and a ten-year-old can both find something worth doing. The wood chip surfacing is easy on little knees, and the open grass field gives older kids room to just run around while you grab a shaded seat. The short trails near the tree line are a nice bonus if anyone wants to stretch their legs after lunch.