Valley West Park

If you’re an Arcata local, you probably already know Valley West Park is the spot people actually show up to on weekends — not just drive past. Kids between 2 and 12 stay pretty occupied between the slides and swings, while the open grass field gives older ones room to run or shoot hoops on the basketball court. Pack a cooler, because the BBQ area and picnic tables make it easy to settle in for a few hours rather than just a quick stop. Parking is right there, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve wrestled a toddler across a crowded lot somewhere else.