Blog Archives

LONDON'S BEST PLAYGROUNDS

7/25/2016

Our kids love exploring new playgrounds around town. Selfishly we do too because we get bored of the same old equipment. Below is a list of some of the best and most unique playgrounds in town. Leave a comment to add your favourite to the list:

SPRINGBANK PARK
We have always loved this shaded playground in the middle of the park next to a wading pool complete with stairs to the river. With the new renovations sponsored by former talk show host Jennie Jones, this park is now tops in the city. It is totally accessible with equipment you won't see anywhere else in town. We also love the spongy floor around the playground, the swings, sand pit and the proximity to Springbank's famous train, merry-go-round, great walking path and washrooms.

GIBBONS PARK - 2a GROSVENOR ST.
The shade at this great playground and the adjoining splash pad is perfect for a hot day. We love the climbable trees, great river access, picnic tables and the washrooms nearby. We wish the geese and ducks made less of a mess, but they are entertaining. This is also seems to be a great place to catch Pokemons.

MEDWAY-KIWANIS - 1051 WONDERLAND ROAD N
Next to the Medway Arena and the Aquatic Centre, this park boasts a fishing themed splash pad, three climbers, a skate park and swings. The spining toy, climbers, drums and the hill that you can roll down are unique features that our kids enjoy.

WESTMINSTER OPTIMIST PLAYGROUND - 650 OSGOODE DR.
Adjacent to Westminster Pool near the Adelaide St. extension this playground, built in 2013, has two structures and swings. It is certainly lacking shade but has some fun and colourful equipment that you don't see elsewhere. It also has a basketball court and lots of parking at nearby Wilton Grove P.S.

PLANE TREE PARK - 214 PLANE TREE DR.
In the middle of one of London's nicer neighbourhoods, off of Fanshawe Park Road, this playground is something to see. Perhaps most notable is the sea serpent coming out of the ground. We also like all the different climbing options. The ramp entrance on one structure makes it at least somewhat accessible. We always appreciate swings and we like some of the hidden features underneath structures.

ED BLAKE PARK - 449 BARKER ST.
This newer north east playground and splash pad is great spot to play and cool off. It is right next to a small stream that is sometimes home to ducks. We like the tropical themed splash pad, the picnic tables, gardens and variety of structures to play on. We look forward to more shade as the trees grow.

NOR'WEST OPTIMIST PARK
44 HAWTHORNE ROAD
Next to Emily Carr Public School this very new park has a cool tree house theme. Little climbers can choose a tree or log stepping stones to get up to the tree house. The giant spider-web climber, musical features on the preschool climber and the proximity to open space makes this a great stop.

BASIL GROVER - 555 WHARNCLIFFE RD S
The view of the city from this park is worth a trip. The green space and trees also make the park enjoyable. It's little bouncy cars, fun teeter totters, little zip lines, new washrooms and swings are also great features. Everything is accessible. Our kids affectionately call it the whirly-girly park because of their favourite spinning seat.

Some other great options above from left to right: the Saturn Playground and Splash Pad in Lambeth; Murray Park with a wading pool, tennis courts and nice soccer field; and the Komoka Community Centre and splash pad.

OTHER GREAT RESOURCES:
London Playground Review - a great Facebook group with playground updates
Skate Park List - a list of all the skate parks in the city

3 Comments

best ice cream in london

7/23/2016

2 Comments

Here at The Mouse and Duck Travel Blog we plan one or two really fun family trips away from home each year. That leaves us approximately 49 other weekends for staycations. And of course, every good staycation should involve ice cream. If you like a challenge, try all our top picks for ice cream in London Ontario and let us know which you like best. Full disclosure: we like ice cream….a lot.

#1 merla mae Ice Cream- 1080 Adelaide Street North

With the most extensive selection of sundaes, parfaits, shakes, freezies (ice cream and slushies mixed together), dipped cones, hard and soft ice cream and frozen yogurt substitutions, Merla Mae ranks #1 for us. The old favourites like Rocky Road or Avalanche sundaes keep us coming back. And the option to sit inside on those ridiculously hot or rainy days means we can eat ice cream any time. Hours: 10am to 11pm (we think)

Quality of Ice Cream: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Growing up in Northeast London makes this a sentimental pick, every time we are here it feels like a home coming of sorts. We love that the retro decor and artistic signage hasn't changed over the years.

#2 The london ice cream co. - 43 Baseline Rd West

Quality of Ice Cream: 9.5/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Value: 8/10
This pink hidden gem makes and supplies ice cream to lots of other vendors throughout town and as far north as cottage country. It’s true that you can’t eat it inside, their selection isn’t overly extensive with no crazy toppings and you might have to wrestle for a seat on a picnic tables, but boy oh boy does the London Ice Cream Co. have awesome ice cream!
Only hard ice cream is on sale here and all of the choices are delicious, fresh and made onsite - which is pretty cool.
Moose Tracks is their specialty (with mini peanut butter cups,) cherry bugaboo is fantastic, we've never had a better peanut butter chocolate and their Acadian vanilla is terrific for the simple ice cream aficionado in your life.

Check out the cooler on your left hand for their 5.7 liter $13 change-over tubs containing two random flavours (watch for their 2 for 1 tub sale on twitter @LdnIceCreamCo). Of course you probably need a stand up freezer and a few dozen friends to help you eat it… or not.
Now with debit.
Hours: 12noon to 10pm

#3 Twistee Treat - 560 Southdale Rd E

Quality of Ice Cream: 8/10
Atmosphere: 6.5/10
Value: 8/10
You can't miss this giant sized ice cream cone on Southdale Rd and what kid doesn't want to hear here. While this is another place that doesn't have inside seating, the Twistee Treat is certainly worth the stop. They do have a few picnic tables and plenty of parking. Their selection is extension with lots of hard (Shaws) and soft ice cream flavors, good toppings, sundaes, shakes and parfaits. Their twisters are best described as flavour combos twisted together - pretty neat. The homemade rubbarb sauce is famous.
No debit available. Hours: 2pm to 9:30pm

#4 Double Decker Ice Cream – 663 Wellington Rd S.

Quality of Ice Cream: 9/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Value: 7/10
What Double Decker Ice Cream lacks in indoor seating it makes up for in cool retro-ness. The fact that you get to eat Shaws ice cream served out of an old-school double decker bus is awesome (it reminds us of the days when London had a double decker bus tour through the city….no seriously it did).
They do have a good selection of flavours and friendly service. There are a few umbrellas and the bus provides some shade. The parking lot is very big but you are very close to Wellington Rd.

Check out their Facebook page for deals and Terrific Tuesday specials
Cash only
Hours: 1pm to 10pm

#5 Marble Slab - 573 Richmond St, 3039 Wonderland Rd S. & 50 north centre Rd.

While we wanted to keep this all about independent businesses, we have to throw out a special mention to locally owned Marble Slab. Not just because the owners have been such great supporters of the community through local fundraising events but also because our kids love choosing their toppings and watching them being mixed into the ice cream. We have also had some great little Marble Slab ice cream cakes.
Hours: 11am to 11pm

#6. Dairy queen - 421 Wharncliffe Rd S, 1160 Highbury Ave, 1980 Dundas St E,
993 Wellington Rd, 720 Proudfoot lane, 1426 Fanshawe Park Rd

Sometimes nothing beats a Peanut Butter Parfait or Skor Blizzard. Their limited-time treats are fun - the Funnel Cake a la mode was available at press time. We love the mini blizzard options for when you feel like just a little treat and the Treatzaa pizzas and cakes for when you need to celebrate. It is great to be able to grab food and sit inside (although the DQ on Wharncliffe is outdoor seating only). Dairy Queen franchises are locally owned in most cases and also provide lots of support to the local community. With so many locations DQ has you covered in an ice cream emergency.

Healthy Options:

Our kids also love the various frozen yogurt places in town because of their do-it-yourself toppings bars, movie themed yogurt flavours, and gummie bears. We love it because at least the yogurt is healthy, we can sample the flavours, mixing yogurt is encouraged and most stores frequently have new flavours. While it doesn't match the amazing taste and texture of ice cream, frozen yogurt certainly comes with much less guilt.
Menchies - 1041 Wellington Rd S near Farm Boy
Chil - 620 Richmond St near the Running Room
Yo Yo's - 515 Richmond St, in White Oaks Mall and in Cineplex Theatres
Yogurty's - 3030 Wonderland Rd (inside Williams), 1160 Oxford St. W (inside Popeyes)

2 Comments

MOUSE AND DUCK TALES

Topics

#519magicalvacation

LONDON'S BEST PLAYGROUNDS

best ice cream in london

#1 merla mae Ice Cream- 1080 Adelaide Street North

#2 The london ice cream co. - 43 Baseline Rd West

#3 Twistee Treat - 560 Southdale Rd E

#4 Double Decker Ice Cream – 663 Wellington Rd S.

#5 Marble Slab - 573 Richmond St, 3039 Wonderland Rd S. & 50 north centre Rd.

#6. Dairy queen - 421 Wharncliffe Rd S, 1160 Highbury Ave, 1980 Dundas St E,
993 Wellington Rd, 720 Proudfoot lane, 1426 Fanshawe Park Rd

Healthy Options:

Archives

MOUSE AND DUCK TALES

Topics

#519magicalvacation

LONDON'S BEST PLAYGROUNDS

best ice cream in london

#1 merla mae Ice Cream- ​1080 Adelaide Street North

#2 The london ice cream co. - ​43 Baseline Rd West

#3 Twistee Treat - 560 Southdale Rd E

​#4 Double Decker Ice Cream – 663 Wellington Rd S.

#5 Marble Slab - 573 Richmond St, 3039 Wonderland Rd S. & 50 north centre Rd.

#6. Dairy queen - 421 Wharncliffe Rd S, 1160 Highbury Ave, 1980 Dundas St E, 993 Wellington Rd, 720 Proudfoot lane, 1426 Fanshawe Park Rd

Healthy Options:

Archives

#1 merla mae Ice Cream- 1080 Adelaide Street North

#2 The london ice cream co. - 43 Baseline Rd West

#4 Double Decker Ice Cream – 663 Wellington Rd S.

#6. Dairy queen - 421 Wharncliffe Rd S, 1160 Highbury Ave, 1980 Dundas St E,
993 Wellington Rd, 720 Proudfoot lane, 1426 Fanshawe Park Rd