Playground

If you’re heading up toward Mount Rainier with little ones in tow, this spot in Ashford is worth knowing about. The wood shavings surface is genuinely soft — kids have been known to kick their shoes off, which tells you something. Restrooms are on-site and actually clean, which is not something you can say about every small-town park. There’s solid parking and enough benches that adults can sit and watch without fighting over a spot. Good for toddlers through early school age, and one of those places that locals clearly take care of.