82. Million Smiles Playground, Lynden City Park, Washington

Charlotte and I planned a trip to Lynden, Washington today so that we could attend a geocaching event, “The Ice Scream Man”. Before we went, I googled “best playground in Lynden” and the Million Smiles Playground in City Park immediately popped up. The pictures were amazing and this playground was clearly going to give John Storvik a run for its money!

Unfortunately, the weather was terrible all day. At least it was “just rain” when we were at the playground – as opposed to a “torrential downpour” while we were at the event. Charlotte got kitted out in her Muddy Buddies for the first time this season and we went to check out the playground.

It was very similar in design to John Storvik, though this one was much more commercialized with a little row of playshops for the little ones to play in – each one prominently displaying the name of a local sponsor. I wasn't too thrilled with the commercialism and the wet weather swayed my judgment a bit too, but even so, I think this one wins out over John Storvik because of the amazing three-storey playhouse. We climbed up to a very dark little playhouse – which lit up as soon as we got close to the top and made the place very cozy. It was entirely closed in and made for a great little spot to hang out. There was a twisty slide from almost the very top that was just a black hole – Charlotte refused to go down it – and refused to let me go down it either!

The park itself is lovely, situated on the banks of Fishtrap Creek. We will definitely have to come back here and make a day of it when the days are longer and the weather is nice again. There are a couple of puzzle caches nearby that we will need to work on too! The playground is located at N 48.56.963 and is point no. 82 on the map at the bottom of home page.

58. Port Royal Park, New Westminster

There was a geocaching event held in Port Royal Park today!  We didn't stick around for long - just said hi to a few familiar faces, signed the log book so that we could collect our smiley and then hit the playground.  Not that there weren't a few of the other younger cachers also making use of the equipment!  Look at those apartment buildings, looking right on to the park as if it were there own backyard.  I would love to live right on a park like that - Charlotte would be out there playing all the time!  She had a great time here, climbing the just-challenging-enough ladder, sliding down and starting all over again.

I chatted with another mum who had also been at the geocaching event but had come over with her boy - she gave me kudos for not hovering behind Charlotte as she climbed, but Charlotte really is pretty proficient at these things by now!  She should be after 58 different playgrounds so far this year!  Other than the event, there are no other geocaches in the park, but there is a nine-cache mini power trail around the eastern tip of Lulu Island that makes for a really nice 2.5-kilometre paved walk.  The park is located at N 49.11.664 W 122.55.394 and is point no. 58 on the map at the bottom of home page.