Just because it says park on the map, doesn't mean it's a playground (or even remotely park-like!)

My husband had to visit a potential client who was staying out at Samford this morning so he thought it would be a good idea to take the family for a mornings drive out in the valley. Great! We'll have a play at a park while we wait and get a bite of lunch when he is finished. I did a bit of park googling on his ipad on the way and found a recommended park on Main Street, Samford Village, thanks to
http://www.alittlebird.com.au/ ;Samford Memorial Park. Unfortunately, we were running late and weren't able to get dropped off there on the way. Instead, we dropped hubby off and using the ipad map tried to find a closer park (as we were a few kms out of town). According to the map, there were at least two "parks" nearby. So off we set to find them! I should mention, that by this stage, the kids had been stuck in the car for over an hour and were gagging to get out and run around in a park. Patience wasn't high, and the park had better have swings! Park number one was a little green patch of grass on the map called Edward Louden Park. So off we set. Hmmm, no park in sight. Hold on, was that a park or a paddock?! Ummm, yes, it was indeed a "park" of sorts. Fully fenced, no carpark in sight and no entry point, but there is a rusted old soccor goal and a lot of brown grass. Driving on we thought we'd give Hogan Park a go.....except there was no Hogan Park to be seen. Damn it!! Turning around I decide to bite the bullet and drive the 6 or so km back into Samford Village to the Memorial Park I'd read such rave reviews of. Bliss, the park was exactly as promised!! Master2 is a HUGE Thomas the Tank train fan and the wooden playground train was a huge hit, after first christening the swings (of course). Duly noted there was a circle of about 6 swings! The park was set up with a smaller toddler friendly play area and a bigger climbing fort for the older kids. Plus plenty of grassed area to play ball if you so desired. Toilets nearby too, which were also christened. After a play we went in search of icecream. Not far down the road was what looked to be a garden center with a Snack Bar at the front of it. It sold icecream, cold drinks, Saturday papers and the essential hot chips we ordered. The staff were so lovely and chatty and helpful. I did note they have a coffee machine too, although on this occasion I was already sucking down the sugar and caffine in my much needed can of Coke. Everyone happy again, we set off to pick up hubby and proceed to drive up the road to Mt Nebo and back to the city via The Gap. Note to self, fill up on petrol before taking this 40km winding road! We were about 15km from the next local petrol station when the red light went on. Lucky for all of us involved, we limped to the Mobil station at The Gap for a much needed petrol, (and chocolate), break. I'd promised the boys another park stop on the way home, after much whinging of how much longer mum?! We stopped at lovely local park called the Ashgrove Memorial Park. It had the essential swings, a seesaw, and a bigger kids hanging seesaw type play equipment. It is a very peaceful park and we happily relaxed while the kids played, before heading home again. All in all, not a bad day, and thankfully lots of swings.