Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park

If you haven’t taken your kids to Rutledge-Wilson yet, you’re missing out on one of Springfield’s better-kept secrets. The play train is always a hit, and the corn maze keeps older kids busy long enough for adults to actually breathe for a minute. Pack a lunch — there are picnic tables — and plan to stay a while, because between the walking path, the open field, the fishing pond, and the farm animals, nobody’s ready to leave when you think they will be. Restrooms on site, which matters more than people admit. It’s the kind of place that works for toddlers and grandparents alike, especially when they’ve got seasonal events going on.