Best Outdoor Playground
Reid Park
Country Club Road and 22nd Street
READERS' PICK: Two words: paddle boats. The paddle boats
at Reid Park are the ultimate way for a parent and child
to bond. Pedaling in sync, you and your young 'un can talk, enjoy
nature, and even dare to encircle the dreaded Duck Island like
crazed pirates. If we had our way, all of Tucson's streets would
be filled with water and turned into paddle-boat thoroughfares.
C'mon, El Niño! Paddle boats aside, Reid Park has some
of the best playgrounds you'll find--especially in the southwest
corner of the park, where giant multicolored turtles roam the
land, and sand-filled areas ensure that your kids' knees remain
unscraped despite the vigors of swing sets and spiral slides.
Covered picnic areas are ideal for children's parties, and then
there's the zoo--don't get us started on the wonders of the zoo. But wait, we're not
finished yet! If you head over to the east side, bordered by Alvernon
Way, there's also a terrific skateboarding park and swimming pool
at the Randolph Center. Whew!
READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: There are 27 McDonald's
locations to choose from, but we imagine it's the Tanque Verde
Road location that has kids glued to the backseat window crying,
"Pleeeeease, can we go there?" That east-side location
is guarded by a larger-than-life Tyrannosaurus Rex with glowing
red eyes, which stands vigil next to the drive-thru daring anyone
to complain about the toy in his Happy Meal. They also have the
standard Mickey D's plastic gymnasium, sort of half-inside, half-outside,
which apparently our readers love.
