I'm Lindsay Ferrier, a Nashville writer with a passion for family travel, exploring Tennessee, and raising kids without losing my mind in the process. This is where I share my discoveries, along with occasional deep thoughts, pop culture tangents and a sprinkling of snark. Want to get in touch? Use the CONTACT form at the top of the page.
July 22, 2009
There are plenty of places I could take my kids this summer that would set me back between $30 and $60, when tickets and lunches and gas are taken into consideration.
I’m continually raving about Warner Park’s play area, which sparks kids’ imaginations with its utter simplicity. It consists only of two dirt mounds, a sand pit, and a tiny log cabin. But now, there’s an added attraction…
Running water.
Once the weather got hot, the park staff turned on a spigot in one corner of the playground. And so on a recent day when the thermometer read a perfect 81 degrees, I took Punky and Bruiser to Warner Park’s playground to play. A dozen kids were there, and every one of them was transfixed by the running water.
Mine included.
Fancy toys, laser beams and light shows, video games and stage shows be damned. All it takes to make kids happy is running water, a few buckets…
And a lot of mud.
At the end of the afternoon, I took the kids to the car and stripped them down to their underwear before putting them in their carseats for the short ride home. I may not pay lots of money for these experiences, but I pay plenty in cleaning time afterward. But you know what?
It’s totally worth it.
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