Parks & Recreation

I think it must be some kind of cosmic joke that I've ended up in a place saturated with playgrounds. It's no secret that I've disliked taking the kids to the park. It's not that I've wanted to deprive them, it's more that I didn't want to deprive myself. Parks are boring for the adult (this adult), unless you're willing to get sand in your toes while your kids yell at you to push them higher and higher on a swing.  
But, these parks are different. Nary a swing in sight, they're amusement parks. And they serve booze. It's a perfect mix for all involved and happens to be something that I wholeheartedly stand behind.  

Happy little chicks. And a happy husband, who loves to climb trees. How could he resist this rope monstrosity? He couldn't. 

This park was in Genk, in Belgium. It was a very worthwhile stop between home and holiday. The restaurant even served bitterballen, so that made for a very happy family of four.

On the flip side, we chose to stop in Arnhem in the Netherlands on our way back home. The Hoge Veluwe National Park was so vast and breathtaking. They are famous for their free white bikes that you can hop on and off of as you attempt to tour the 5000 hectares of unique land. 

Also inside the park you find the Müller Museum, home to an incredible collection of works by Van Gogh and Picasso, among others. The gallery space is my dream home. Nestled into the woods, its enormous glass windows made me slightly week in the knees. It was the highlight of the park for me.

And then, like all things, our vacation was over. All my fretting was for naught. Our days were a happy mix of children's activities, relaxing family time, and a little indulgence for the adults. All smiles and sunsets. Except for the getting lost every day part. That really sucked.