Dennis & Judith Jones Variety Wonderland Playground

This spot in St. Louis is one of those places that actually lives up to its name — there’s a solid mix of slides, swings, and climbing structures that keeps kids busy whether they’re 2 or 12. The soft cork surface is a genuinely good call, especially if you’ve got little ones who are still figuring out the whole “balance” thing. It’s enclosed and tucked away enough that you don’t feel like you’re fighting traffic noise the whole time, which is a rare thing in an urban park. Grab a bench, let the kids run it out on the play equipment, and if someone gets hungry, there’s a restaurant close by — plus a basketball court for whoever needs to burn off extra energy.