Boardman Street Playground, Norfolk: This playground has lots of fun equipment for the little ones to play on, and there's a nice sandbox with a ton of communal toys. The playground is on Boardman Street, between Main Street and 115. Directions: Take Rte. 1A North from Plainville or Wrentham.

Continue until the intersection with Rte. 115. Take a left here and continue through Norfolk Center. Boardman Street is on the left after the Prudential office. The park is on the left. Look for a clearing of trees and a small driveway.

Booth Playground, Foxboro: Follow 106 from Plainville into Foxboro bearing left onto South Street. Head toward the town common. You will pass an elementary school and the high school. Take a right into parking lot next to a skate-board park which is just before a ball field and elementary school. If you pass the Igo School and approach the rotary, you’ve gone too far. Or from Norfolk or Wrentham, follow 140 to Foxboro to Foxboro Common. Take a right off the rotary by the bank and pass the Igo School. Turn into parking lot just after the skateboard park.

Bird Park Playground, Walpole. This playground is well stocked with sand toys, Cozy Coupes, etc. Bring a picnic lunch, then romp in the huge expansive park. It’s a perfect place to fly a kite and kick a ball. Take Route 1 North to Coney Street, Walpole. There will be a set of lights and the Walpole Mall at this intersection. Take a left onto Coney Street and follow to end. At the end, take a left onto Pleasant Street.  There is a small parking lot about .3 of a mile on the right.  If full, continue to stop sign and take a right onto Polley Lane.  There is a large dirt lot on the left.

Kidz Planet, Easton: Here’s a great indoor play gym that our MOMS Club visits for FREE once a month. There are two large trampolines, a foam pit, parachute, music and a giant blow-up castle. There's a snack room, too. Directions: Take Route 495 South to exit 8. Take a left onto Route 138 toward Easton. Follow Route 138 for approximately 6 miles. Take a right after the second Dunkin’ Donuts onto Plymouth Drive. Kidz Planet is 1/4 mile down on the right, 15 Plymouth Drive.

Plainville Playground/Park: A fenced-in playground with two big jungle gyms, and sandbox full of toys, and swings are sure to provide hours of fun. Directions: Take Route 1A to Plainville Center. The Park is behind Town Hall, and across from Cumberland Farms.

Diamond Hill State Park, Cumberland, RI (just over the Wrentham border). A great place for discovering nature and getting some fresh air and exercise. Feel free to pack a picnic lunch but make sure to save room for dessert at the Ice Cream Machine where you can enjoy some delicious homemade ice cream. They even have Dinosaur Crunch ice cream along with some more traditional flavors. Directions: From route 1A turn onto route 121 south at Wampum Corner in Wrentham. Follow 121 south into Cumberland, RI. Take a left onto 114 (Diamond Hill Rd.) immediately after Mercymount Academy. Diamond Hill State Park is about 1 mile down on the right. The Ice Cream Machine is directly across the street (#4288 Diamond Hill Rd.)

Lake Pearl Park, Wrentham: When you’re tired of building sandcastles, this park has a playground, horseshoe pits, a concession stand and you can even rent a boat to go out on the lake. Adult admission is $5. Children over 3 are $2, and children under 3 are free. Directions: Take Route 1A south from the light in Wrentham Center, go right onto Creek Street. Lake Pearl Park is ½ mile up on the left.

Sweatt Beach, Wrentham: Route 140 West toward Franklin from Wrentham. Turn left onto Elysium St. (If you pass Franklin Country Club, you’ve gone too far). Take the 2nd left off Elysium onto Wolford Rd. Sweatt Beach is on the left. There is a small fee for Plainville, Wrentham, and Norfolk residents.

Capron Park Zoo, Attleboro:

201 County Street, Attleboro, MA. This smaller Zoo takes about 40 minutes to walk through. There is also a large, newly renovated playground at the entrance of the zoo. Picnic tables, rest rooms, concession stand and gift shop available. Adult admission is $3.50 ($1.75 for Attleboro residents). Children ages 3-12 years are $2.00 ($1.00 for Attleboro residents) and children 2 and under are free. Directions: From the North: 95 S to exit 3A onto Rte. 123 East. Follow signs to Capron Park Zoo.

Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI: The Carousel Village has plenty of grassy knolls to spread out a picnic blanket, and features a playground for all age groups. Bring your camera if you want to take a picture with the larger-than life Mr. Potato Head at the entrance to the playground. It also features kiddie rides (train, dinosaur, and ponies) and a Victorian Carousel for all. If headed to this great Zoo, it is open 9 to 6 (last admission is at 5:30.) Parking and admission to the park grounds is free. Carousel and kiddie rides cost between $1 to $3. Zoo admission is $10/adults, $6/children (3-12) and $8/seniors (62+). Group rates are available. (FYI - starting around noon, the park can get fairly busy with somewhat limited parking for those that may decide to come later than the start time) Directions (Elmwood Avenue, Providence): I-95 South to Exit 17. Then follow the zoo signs. The park is only a quarter mile from the highway. Once you are on the park property, follow the signs for the Carousel.

Winslow’s Petting Zoo, Norton. Pack a picnic lunch and take a ride to this petting zoo full of barnyard animals. You can purchase ice cream and a cold drink there. Port-a-Potties only on site. Directions: Follow Rt. 140 South until the sign entering Taunton. Take a right onto Eddy Street. The farm is the 4th house on the right, #37 Eddy Street. Cost $5.00/adult; $2.00/child.

World War I Memorial Park, North Attleboro: Be sure to bring your carrots and apples because those are the only snacks you can share with the goats, cows, sheep, pigs and llamas! The park has playgrounds, picnic tables and plenty of trails for hiking, so you can stay as long as you’d like! Directions: Take Rt. 1 south to the intersection with Route 1A where the Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Queen, and Flower Studio are on the corner. Take a left onto Elmwood Street at that intersection and follow for ¾ of a mile. Take a right into World War I Memorial Park. Bear to the right and drive up to the first playground and animal area to park. There is no admission charge.

The Children’s Museum, Easton: This hands-on museum has 3 floors of fun! There's a toddler playroom with crafts, an enchanted forest, a fire truck, a storybook cottage, museum post office plus a lot more. $3.50 per person if 10 or more, one adult admitted free for every 3 kids, children under one free Directions: Take Rte 106 East to Easton. Turn left at lights onto Rte 123. Follow until you see Civil War monument on your left. Take a left onto Center Street. Go two miles to stop sign, take a right onto Main Street. Take first left (Sullivan Ave.). Museum is on the right. Cost $4.50 per person. The Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays during the summer. Fall hours resume in late September. Check out www.childrensmuseumineaston.org for more info.

Providence Children’s Museum, Providence, RI: This is the perfect place for discovery, imagination, and play while learning all kinds of neat things about yourself and the world around you. Cost is $4.75 per person. Members and children under 1 are free. Group discount: 10 or more = $3.50 for kids, $1.50 for adults. A lunch room is available for a brown bag lunch. Directions: from Rte. 95 South, take Rte. 195 East (exit 20). Off 195 take exit 1 (downtown Providence). Bear left at first turn-around and continue straight under highway bridge onto Eddy St. Take 3^rd right to South Street and head toward dragon on top of building. Free parking is just beyond museum on your left.

Big Apple Farm, Wrentham: Offers hayrides on weekends. Directions: Take Rte.1A to Rte. 121 (a.k.a. West St. at Wampum Corner). Follow for about 3 miles and make a right onto Arnold St. The Big Apple Farm is 5/10 mile on the left side.

Briggs Nursery, North Attleboro: There is something for everyone here, including a playground and petting zoo for the little ones and a beautiful gift shop and flowers for mom. Pack along some apples and carrots for the animals’ lunch. From Plainville center take Rte. 106 East. At the Shell Station, take a right onto Rte. 152 towards North Attleboro. Briggs is on your left about a mile or two down.

Jane and Paul’s Farm, Norfolk: This is another great farm, particularly in the fall for a hayride and selecting your pumpkin. The farm also has animals and fruit and vegetables for sale as well as a corn maze. From Plainville and Wrentham, take Rte. 1A towards Norfolk. Take a left onto Rte. 115 for approximately 1 to 2 miles and then take a right onto Needham St. At the stop sign, go straight across onto Seekonk St. Go approximately ¾ mile, take a left onto Fruit Street and follow signs to farm (33 Fruit Street)

Osborne Nursery, Plainville: This is a smaller version of Briggs Nursery, but if your little one is crazy about farm animals, it will do just fine. However, no feeding of the animals is allowed. There is a swing set and a large play tractor. If your hobby is gardening, they always have a great selection of plants. From Plainville Center (Rte. 1A) take a left onto 106. At traffic light on Rte. 1, take a left. Osborne Nursery is on the left at the top of the hill.

Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon - Strawberry Picking (June) or visit to Pumpkin Patch (October), One of the more popular, well attended events is this twice a year visit to the local farm. A 45-minute hayride to fields is educational and fun for both mom and the kids. Cost is $6.00 for children - adults are free. Directions: Take Rte 140 to the Foxboro rotary, and take it all the way around to Mechanic St, heading towards Sharon. Proceed straight for a few miles into Sharon past Shaw’s (you are now on South Main Street). About a mile on the right is the farm.

Many thanks go to our founder, Kathy Montal, for supplying us with this document – as well as founding our chapter! - ECT