First time going through Longview for Christmas in the park. Drive through about 1.5 hrs in the…read morelane to see all the Christmas lights. It is worthwhile, plenty of Christmas displays to see. This is their 35th year. They ask for a donation at the end.

This might have been the most discheveled, atrocious example of a lake in a 100 mile radius. There…read morewas literally trash everywhere. We drove around for the better part of 20 minutes to find a suitable place to egress into the water, only to find trash in the water and around the land abutting the water. Honestly, I think the park service tries to keep it nice, because there was a bag in each trash can, and the cans were spaced 20 feet apart to give the hint that when a person has garbage, a person should place said garbage in the receptical. But to no avail - it was like someone had purposely emptied the trash can into the wind, fall refuse where ye may. I frequent parks in the greater KC area, and I'd say Longview is the most inhospitable of the lot. Additionally, we were trying to find a spot - as we like to do - for a picnic, and nearly every shelter was locked mid-day! We called and they told us it was by reservation only. Must be something to do with vagrants. Whatever the case, this was more government facility than oasis, and the wind rips nasty off the points if you find yourself so unlucky. No thanks. I'll never need a revisit.

While on our visit to Kansas City we decided to bring our dog here (very short drive from Oakland…read morePark) and we have never seen anything like this for the public. A 66 acre park, everything you can imagine is here. Many different trails, LOTS of open fields, 2 or 3 different play grounds for kids, a water park area with pools and slides, soccer fields and many soccer goals, 2 basketball courts, pickleball, tennis, you name it they probably have it. Extremely well taken care of and felt very safe walking around at dusk even on the trails with just my dog. The dog parks were HUGE, and everything was very clean and NEW. Just a beautiful area we were happy to have stumbled upon by accident. Great if you're roadtripping and need to get some exercise or wear out your kids and dog!

Time to update this old review as we're all currently practicing social distancing and this is a…read moregreat spot for many people to easily do so. I rode my bike out here on one of the warmest days of the spring and it's always a nice destination. There are tons of trails connecting through it that are best suited for walkers/joggers. Cyclists can ride on them, but they're twisty and full of people, so I'd recommend sticking to the roads more than these on the bike. There are soccer fields, a dog park (with it's own Yelp page), a pool, and it's right in the middle of Leawood and easily accessible off 435. Really glad the city had the foresight to design such a big amenity for Johnson County. If you're a dog owner, there are portions where you can get down to the creek if your doggo needs a quick swim. Granted there are leash laws, but if you have a dog that you can recall well, I say go for it. It's really a nice park overall and perfect for those needing a dosage of sunshine and nature right now.

An urban/suburban crushed limestone trail that hits some of the most scenic, beautiful…read moreneighborhoods in KC. I don't know what to call the Trolley Trail other than a freaking gem. If you like walking and jogging, this is the spot at any time of the year with the obvious peaks being late spring and fall. If you like cycling on trails, read on. Cyclists: This ain't always the best trail for you, and I say that as someone who likes biking trails like this. It's often so full of pedestrians that wall up the path that it makes it difficult to ride through. Throw a bike bell on there if you're going to be riding this on a weekend to give folks a heads up, and I wouldn't expect to fly on this one like you can on other trails outside the city. I'd recommend riding occasionally or off-peak hours. The reason I stripped a star off this trail is simple: The city of KCMO crapped the bed by breaking up the Trolley Trail at 63rd and Meyer. At least 63rd attempts to have a crosswalk (though no cars pay attention to it) but the Meyer crossing is a serious accident waiting to happen. Cars turning every which way, going fast, and really no real crossing for trail users. I'd say it's easier to cross a random back highway than this. But at the end of the day, one quarter-mile stretch that's tough to navigate out of the handful of other miles isn't what you'll remember. You'll notice the beautiful homes, the big trees, UMKC and the Plaza on the north end, Waldo and KC Bier right off the path near the south.. It's really a pretty special trail and one that I'd love to see more neighborhoods copy as we aim to shed our car-centric KC nature.

Hello, Pleasantville! I now know you…read more At the idyllic Trolley Track Trail, bikers, walkers and dogs share a path without any conflict. Yesterday I almost had to pinch myself because that whole "why can't we all just get along" nonsense that I always thought was just a myth really came into play. I was with some dogs and some friends and for a split second, or a half hour, everything was practically zen. No kidding. It's a comfortable path and full of grass for the pups to roll around in and do their business in (baggies are conveniently available). And the bikers coming up behind you are prone to being kind enough to announce, "on your left." I love such etiquette! And dog owners all talk to each other. That always cracks me up, because I'm a cat person and cat people have to "relate" on cat forums and through dorky photos on our Iphones. For a serene and enjoyable late summer/early fall day, I can't think of a better place to stroll. Yes, I can appreciate zen with the best of them.

This is mine and the hubby's favorite mountain biking spot in KC! It's so fun to roll up on a nice…read moreSaturday with the bikes on top of the Subaru and join the dozen of other biking enthusiasts at Landahl. People take pride in these trails that wind through the mountains and forests (okay, yes we are still in Missouri, so it's more like hills and trees...but you're going fast so it's more impressive!). You can get a great varied workout without realizing it because you're having so much fun! There is also a downhill jump section that is a continued work in progress. It's getting pretty impressive as of late! My only advice, if you've never mountain biked before, don't start here. It can get pretty technical in places! This is one of the lesser known mountain biking spots in KC, but it's so worth the drive to check out!

One of the best mountain bike trail systems in Missouri…read more Want some crazy technical sections without a big penalty for failure? Landahl has it! Want a little downhill with some nice berms and dirt jumps? Landahl has it! Want some tight and twisty IMBA style trails? Landahl has it! The whole park can be ridden in about 3-4 hours and it is very single speed friendly. I can't wait to make it back to these trails Serious props to ERTA for building and maintaining a top notch trail system!

Some of the best trails in Johnson County. Well maintained with paved and a good hiking/MTB trail.read more

Personally, I like this place in Olathe, Kansas. There are currently three access points for this…read morearea that I know: 135th street, 119th street & 127th and Clare Road. The entrance off 127th and Clare has Columbine Nature trail--bikes are permitted so be aware on this Nature trail. The paved path from either 135th or 127th entrances runs about 4 miles out and does not loop. It has some gentle inclines and benches along the route. There's a play area at 135th with restrooms open during regular season and a Johnny-on-the-spot during winter. The 127th and Clare parking only has a Johnny-on-the-spot. I haven't been to the 119th location specifically, but where you see the New Trail sign in the photos I've posted, is slightly across from where that parking area is. I do not know what amenities, if any, are there. Definitely this place is family- & dog-friendly. You're likely to see bicyclists too. I would definitely recommend this park and both trails. Didn't get any Columbine since it was closed due to muddy and/or unsafe conditions.

I liked this park's prime location, which is along the extensive Tomahawk Creek bike/hike trail…read moresystem and adjacent to Leawood's fully featured I-Lan Park. HVP features a 0.4 mile, mostly shaded, mostly level, well-maintained trail winding beside Tomahawk Creek with one bridge and an open 14 acre multi-use area. The bird calls were plentiful and the sounds of traffic disappeared - nice. The park does not offer parking, but parking was available at nearby I-Lan Park. Overall, very nice!

PV recently changed the entire intersection in this area, which was way overdue as it was very…read moreconfusing and awkward. With the road upgrades they also added a ton of space and smartly added a wonderful new play area and shelter/grill to the already frequently used basketball and sand volleyball courts. The new park has a exercise trail that goes around the perimeter so you could exercise while your kids climb all over the new playground area. There is a sand pit to dig in, lots of tree stumps to walk on and play follow the leader, a cool slide that sits right on a slope, a small rock climbing wall and toddler swings. This play area was obviously designed for kids 10 and under. I think older kids would be bored on the play stuff but would probably want use the courts anyway. There are only 2 swings and they are for kids under the age of 4. The shelter has a grill and so I'm sure it can be reserved. This is a great addition to what was wasted road space. This is not a big park, but is a nice stop on my way to the grocery for the kids to play on a warm day. It's been busy every time I've driven by if the temp is above 50!

Great spot in Northwest Olathe for multipurpose outdoor recreation. Whether you're looking for a…read moreskate park that is safe and accessible, walking paths, play equipment for the littles, or open courts for sports, Two Trails has it. Open space is not exactly at a premium in JoCo, but organized, shared recreational areas are always a privilege. Two Trails has a great walking path encircling the park plus restroom facilities open in the warmer months. For the active, there are two tennis courts and SIX pickleball courts open on a first-come, first-served (ha!) basis. There are other spaces, both public and private, for pickleball in JoCo, but for outdoor play where you can almost always get on the court immediately, Two Trails is a winner. Safe space for littles with play equipment and soft landings plus seating for the grown-ups to watch over the playtime. Throw in shared facilities for the school district, such as ball fields, and Two Trails is one of Olathe's best spots to get outside.

my running club has been meeting here for years during the summer months. We love it. plenty of…read moreparking. indoor bathrooms and the trail will lead to the Mill Creek Trail system once we cross Ridgeview. When we get back from a run we can add on extra miles by running the asphalt trail around the park, it measures .75 miles. On the east side of the park keep your eyes and ears open, someone is actually raising a pig in their back yard. true story.