Thurston Park

If you’re over in the Thurston area and need a solid spot to kill an afternoon, this park delivers without any fuss. The shade trees are the real selling point — on a hot Oregon summer day, you’re not going to be baking at the picnic tables while you fire up the BBQ. Kids and adults both have something to do here, whether that’s shooting hoops on the basketball court, lapping the bike track, or just wandering the walking path with a dog. It’s a quiet neighborhood park, which means you’re not dealing with crowds, and the open grass field gives everyone room to spread out.