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Dennis the Menace Playground
Dennis the Menace Playground
Monterey Bay
view website777 Pearl Street (behind the Monterey Youth Center)
Monterey, CA 93940
831-646-3866
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Park
Dennis the Menace Playground Description
"Yay! It's still here!" My kids screamed when they saw that the extravagant renovation that updated Dennis the Menace Playground hadn't touched the antique steam engine. Unlike many other parks, where insurance policies have made such features off-limits, Old No. 1285 is still climbable and was covered with kids from dawn to dusk the weekend we were in town. So is the Dennis the Menace statue commemorating the comic's creator, Hank Ketcham (whose donation funded the original park) which makes a great photo op and is now available on my teens' Facebook pages.
Kid Tips
Toddlers & Pre-K: The aquarium can get very crowded, and the more crowded it is the more likely that little ones will get stuck behind others and not be able to see. So go first thing in the morning or at the end of the day if you have small kids or prefer fewer people, though the price you pay is perhaps missing otter and penguin feedings unless you plan a long visit.
School-Age Kids: There's something for all ages in this well-designed playground, though kids older than 12 will probably consider themselves too "cool" to hang with the legions of rug rats everywhere.
Planning Notes
- New Features. The new additions are spectacular, though, from unusually sophisticated climbing equipment to a suspension bridge and giant slide that traverses an entire hillside.
- Climbing Wall. A big hit with older kids is the climbing wall, which lets kids test their rock climbing skills on a sophisticated course.
Just the Facts
Hours: 10 a.m.-dusk . Closed on non-holiday Tues., Sept. - May.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: 1 - 2 hours
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