Sleepy Bear Playground at Chautauqua Park

If you’re going to one playground in Boulder, make it this one. The climbing structure is legitimately impressive — kids who’ve outgrown the typical neighborhood setup will actually be challenged here — and that corkscrew slide is the tallest in the city, which you’ll understand the moment you watch a six-year-old hesitate at the top. The whole thing is designed to feel like it belongs against the Flatirons backdrop rather than dropped in from a catalog, with wood chips underfoot and shade trees that actually do their job on a hot afternoon. Trailheads are right there, so it’s easy to pair with a walk before or after.