Tullytown Canal Park

Tullytown Canal Park
Levittown, PA

Otherwise known as the playground behind Walmart. I honestly didn't know it had a name. This park opened up in the summer of 2017 so it is pretty new. We have gone briefly once before and found it pretty cool. It has a lot of cool and unique equipment.

We have had a lot going on the past few weeks and were desperate to get out last week. After picking up a few things from Walmart, we decided to try out the playground again. Sam loved climbing the rope dome. Max enjoyed the toddler side of the playground. He really enjoyed the slides and tested almost everyone out. 

This playground also offers a see-saw, which you don't see too often anymore. There are swings plus netted swing almost like a tire swing. With a rock wall, steps and many other ways to climb up the equipment the kids were certainly busy!

The park has two gazebos for entertaining as well as a copious amount of open space available. However, I think they should consider restrooms because I can't recall seeing any. It would make sense to have some considering the number of families that would be using the park. Overall though it was a fun playground to exert some energy on. 

Our Stats

Pros: Playground

Cons: Lack of bathrooms (has porta potties)

Sam's Recommendation: The climbing structure!

Max's Recommendation: The slides! 

Overall Rating 5/10

Village of a Past Long Gone

Batsto Village

Hammonton, Nj

On Saturday, the boys and I made the hike (about 1 hour and fifteen minutes) to Wharton State Park; specifically Batsto Village. Batsto Village consists of 33 various historical villages and structures from when this was a bog iron and glassmaking industrial center back in 1766. The village remained in operation until 1867. It is also believed that this was a former stomping ground of the Lenni Lenape as well.

The 32 room mansion that has lodged numerous ironmasters over the years stood out impressively amongst the other clusters of various buildings. It honestly reminded me of those old 'fixer upper' houses in horror movies that overly eager, unsuspecting couples buy and move their families into only to discover there are ghosts or other supernatural beings lurking in the shadows. Certain rooms of the mansion are open for tours, however, with a toddler in tow, we chose to not take a tour.

Due to a lack of sleep on Max's part, we mostly wandered without direction through the vast grounds. It was also super windy so we didn't stop in one spot for too long. We walked across a lovely dirt bridge that offered amazing views of the bright blue water of the Batsto Lake and River. A rushing dam sent water to the Sawmill. The boys enjoyed throwing rocks into the cascading waters before running off towards the many cottages that housed workers.

It was really neat to see how intact the houses still were. Most of them looked frozen in time, waiting for their inhabitants to return. Considering it's early November and we've had a lot of rain recently, the clusters of leaves litter the ground. Max loved running through the leaves, sending them fluttering into the air. Sam picked up leaves as big as his face and even pretended to use them as a mask. We eventually made our way to back to the lake and explored the Sawmill. I tried to taking cute Fall pictures of the two of them but the boys were more interested in running up down the walkway of the Sawhill and jumping off a platform nearby.

There is so much to see at Batsto Village that by the time we made it back to where the mansion stood vigilant in the heart of the old ghost town, we still had many more buildings to explore but not a whole lot of time left. We briefly ran around the post office, where the boys knocked on the old doors, pretending to trick or treat, the ice house and a few other smaller buildings. From what I've read, we missed quite a few buildings and it would be nice to walk around more. It is a given that we are coming back here again to discover more!

Our Stats

Pros: Lots to explore, Educational, Bathrooms

Cons: Distance (for us at least!)

Sam's Recommendations: "The museum because it had a lot of cool facts about the people that used to live here"

Max's Recommendations: "The lake."

My Recommendations: "Pack a picnic lunch! It was a far drive for us!"

Overall Rating: 8/10

Logan's Garden

Neshaminy State Park

Bensalem, PA

Neshaminy State Park is one of those parks we haven't gone to much. It is a 330 acre state park on Street Rd in Bensalem, PA. One of the things I like most about this park is how vast and versatile it is. There are many walking trails, a pool with a splash pad, a playground, and access to the Delaware River. When the weather is nice, the park is bustling with families that come to have parties and picnics at the many pavilions and picnic tables scattered about.

Yesterday Max and I decided to walk around the park because the playground equipment was still wet. We have had a few days of rain prior with more coming on Friday. The weather was gorgeous so we definitely wanted to take advantage of it! It was by chance that we discovered the path that we did since we were mostly just wandering around aimlessly.

Down an unassuming path named Logan's Walk led us to an old building and garden left over from former residents Robert and Sara Logan circa 1900's. The couple's large mansion has long since been torn down, leaving behind one small building and their remarkable garden. The garden walls resembled that of a formidable castle much like you'd see in a fairy tale. An undistinguishable Humpty Dumpty sat at the top of the concrete walls above the main entrance of the garden. Those striking concrete walls surround only the front part of the garden and a small part of the left side, which remains open. The rest of the garden is fenced in by a wooden paddock fence.

Two large white wooden doors opened up to a beautiful expanse of grass and ruins. To the left of the main entrance sit still intact wall fountain and what appeared to be a reflection pond. Max enjoyed climbing up the left side wall since it resembled steps leading skyward. But I think he mostly enjoyed jumping into the empty fountains.

On the right, there is another large white wooden door that leads in and out of the garden. There is a small pond that almost looks like a hole in the ground not too far from this door. Scattered through the grounds are various pedestals; their statues long gone. It could have been the beautiful fall leaves still dotting the surrounding trees or the slight chill in the air but it felt as if there was magic in that old garden.

 It was certaintly surreal to see people walking the nearby paths of the park in the distance; most were unknowing of the hidden treasure within the woods.

*To reach the garden, we walked to the left end of the paved path from the parking lot. We went past a section of picnic tables and came to the bathrooms. Logan's Walk is to the left of the bathrooms. Follow that down to the gardens.

Our Stats

Pros: Playground, Pool, Picnic Tables, Bathrooms, Garden

Cons: Can get crowded

Max's Recommendation: "The wall because it is so much fun to climb up."

My Recommendation: "Try and find Humpty Dumpty!"

Overall Rating 8/10

About Us

Welcome to Park Hopping Momma blog! This a blog dedicated to the various parks and playgrounds in the areas of Bucks County, PA and parts of New Jersey.


While I have enjoyed being outside in nature, I was never a nature enthusiast. I didn't like the beach growing up because I didn't like the sand, or the heat or just sitting around or playing in the ocean. Pretty sure I found nothing about it fun. I didn't like being hot or cold so I often didn't go outside. When I had my first son Sam in 2010, I was working and he went to daycare. We would frequent parks and playgrounds on my days off or on the weekends. I have taken him to the beach in the summer, to play in the river when the weather was nice and so on. But it was never something we did constantly.

Then I had my second son Max in 2016 and I became a stay at home mom. We had a lot of free time during our days. Unfortunately, Max was not interested in toys like his older brother had been. He didn't like books or music or even the TV. I found myself taking him for a walk twice a day regardless of the weather (no rain or snow, however). It was the one thing he enjoyed the most so we spent a lot of time walking the neighborhood or the park. After his brother got home from school, we would often go to the playground where Sam would run around and play while Max played in the swing.

Soon Max became more mobile and eventually, he stopped liking the stroller. Playgrounds weren't really his thing yet so we explored a lot of the parks around us. We have probably been to every park around us. Eventually, once he started to like the playground, we found those too. That's where I got the idea for this blog from. We have found some very cool places and unique things while we have been out exploring. I think it's time we share those experiences.

I hope to inspire to you to get out and explore more! Enjoy!