Mills Playground

If your kid is really into climbing, this one’s worth the trip. Mills Playground has some genuinely interesting climbing structures — not the cookie-cutter stuff you see at every other park in Cary — plus slides that actually get some use. The artificial turf is a nice touch, keeps things cleaner than wood chips and gives little ones a softer landing. There’s a solid open grass field too, so older kids can burn off energy while the toddlers do their thing on the equipment. Fair warning though: shade is basically nonexistent, so summer visits are better saved for early morning or evening.