Why are there not playgrounds at rest stops?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as a culture we no longer care about kids. It's really sad. Kids are the future. People who do value kids will conquer us and live in our lands.

Unpopular opinion, but I totally disagree with this. I feel like kids are significantly more on the forefront and catered to than when most of us grew up. People take their kids places and events our parents never would have thought of taking us.

It's a bit of both, depending on your perspective. Parents expect their kids to be welcome and accommodated in ways that weren't true when I was a kid, but we do a terrible job of actually ensuring that all kids have the basics: safe housing, adequate nutrition, quality childcare and education, medical and dental care, etc. Like, people expect to be able to bring their kids to fancy restaurants, but the child poverty rate is horrific. We care a lot about *our* kids, but very little about other people's kids. But rest stops at playgrounds are kind of irrelevant to that issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In France, my home country, there is a restaurant (or multiple restaurants) and a playground at every full-service rest stop, and there are many more of these rest stops per unit of distance than in the US.

I used to drive to Pennsylvania rather often at one point, and the rest stop we used has a playground, pet spot and vending machines. It's true that it's not typical of US rest stops.

The difference is that France decided long ago to create an ecosystem along the "autoroute" (highway) that would allow users to never leave the highway, so that they could get to their destination more rapidly and with greater ease. The rest stops are owned and operated by the highway operator, in partnership with certain chains of restaurants. It's in that operator's interest to make the stops as comfortable as it can.

The US did not develop such a plan, and therefore users of interstates or similar need to leave the road and look for their own accommodation or food or entertainment, except when a state decides to create a nice rest stop, perhaps at a border, or scenic outlook or historical location.

I drove through France a few years ago and I LOVED the rest stops with playgrounds.The whole driving experience was much more pleasant.

Germany is much the same. I was amazed by how simple and intelligent it seemed the first time I experienced it. Many Restaurants often have playgrounds as well (as well as good patios / outdoor eating options).

[Anonymous]

A few years ago I was traveling home from Buffalo New York and my flight was delayed for several hours I noticed that the airport had a little playground in one of the gates (it was similar to the little play areas you see at malls) I wish more airports had these!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In France, my home country, there is a restaurant (or multiple restaurants) and a playground at every full-service rest stop, and there are many more of these rest stops per unit of distance than in the US.

I used to drive to Pennsylvania rather often at one point, and the rest stop we used has a playground, pet spot and vending machines. It's true that it's not typical of US rest stops.

The difference is that France decided long ago to create an ecosystem along the "autoroute" (highway) that would allow users to never leave the highway, so that they could get to their destination more rapidly and with greater ease. The rest stops are owned and operated by the highway operator, in partnership with certain chains of restaurants. It's in that operator's interest to make the stops as comfortable as it can.

The US did not develop such a plan, and therefore users of interstates or similar need to leave the road and look for their own accommodation or food or entertainment, except when a state decides to create a nice rest stop, perhaps at a border, or scenic outlook or historical location.

I drove through France a few years ago and I LOVED the rest stops with playgrounds.The whole driving experience was much more pleasant.

Germany is much the same. I was amazed by how simple and intelligent it seemed the first time I experienced it. Many Restaurants often have playgrounds as well (as well as good patios / outdoor eating options).

+1 Some of ya'll have never traveled and it shows. We could learn a lot from other countries, but we're too afraid to concede something we do in the USA is not the best.

[Anonymous]

We used to stop at the Perryville Outlets which had a playground right off 95. Is it still there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the world does not revolve around kids

Maybe it should

Nope! Childhood is a temporary state.

So is adulthood. And old age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In France, my home country, there is a restaurant (or multiple restaurants) and a playground at every full-service rest stop, and there are many more of these rest stops per unit of distance than in the US.

I used to drive to Pennsylvania rather often at one point, and the rest stop we used has a playground, pet spot and vending machines. It's true that it's not typical of US rest stops.

The difference is that France decided long ago to create an ecosystem along the "autoroute" (highway) that would allow users to never leave the highway, so that they could get to their destination more rapidly and with greater ease. The rest stops are owned and operated by the highway operator, in partnership with certain chains of restaurants. It's in that operator's interest to make the stops as comfortable as it can.

The US did not develop such a plan, and therefore users of interstates or similar need to leave the road and look for their own accommodation or food or entertainment, except when a state decides to create a nice rest stop, perhaps at a border, or scenic outlook or historical location.

That is an interesting perspective, to create a separate "ecosystem" designed to keep people on the highway.

This is not something I would use. I prefer to get off the highway and get a feel.for the area. Often we plan rest stops around places of interest that take only about a half hour to see. I want to look at something different besides highway rest stops.

Of course, there are times when I just want to get to my destination as quickly as possible. Then I will go to a rest stop, go to the bathroom, maybe get a cup of coffee, and get back on the road as quickly as possible. I don't plan to spend a lot of time there, so all I care about are that the facilities are clean.

A separate "ecosystem" that discourages people from exploring/patronizing shops/restaurants/etc. is bad for the local economy too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the world does not revolve around kids

Maybe it should

Relax, it already does, we see you at the pub with Janie and Buford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rest stops are crowded as it is. If the average stop time became any more prolonged, it would be impossible other motorists to get in and out.

When we needed a longer break, we would get off the highway and fine a local park or elementary school, easy enough to do now with an online search. Back when my kids were little, we had them marked on an old AAA Triptik for the 500 mile trip to grandma’s house that we took several times a year. Yes, I’m old.

Now that I think about it, I think you are right and this is the main reason.

This. Rest stops on popular east coast highways are always crowded as is during the peak season. They want people in and out. Buy something, use the bathroom, get gas, get back on the road.

I actually have seen playgrounds at rest stops along less crowded highways in the South and Midwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In France, my home country, there is a restaurant (or multiple restaurants) and a playground at every full-service rest stop, and there are many more of these rest stops per unit of distance than in the US.

I used to drive to Pennsylvania rather often at one point, and the rest stop we used has a playground, pet spot and vending machines. It's true that it's not typical of US rest stops.

The difference is that France decided long ago to create an ecosystem along the "autoroute" (highway) that would allow users to never leave the highway, so that they could get to their destination more rapidly and with greater ease. The rest stops are owned and operated by the highway operator, in partnership with certain chains of restaurants. It's in that operator's interest to make the stops as comfortable as it can.

The US did not develop such a plan, and therefore users of interstates or similar need to leave the road and look for their own accommodation or food or entertainment, except when a state decides to create a nice rest stop, perhaps at a border, or scenic outlook or historical location.

That is an interesting perspective, to create a separate "ecosystem" designed to keep people on the highway.

This is not something I would use. I prefer to get off the highway and get a feel.for the area. Often we plan rest stops around places of interest that take only about a half hour to see. I want to look at something different besides highway rest stops.

Of course, there are times when I just want to get to my destination as quickly as possible. Then I will go to a rest stop, go to the bathroom, maybe get a cup of coffee, and get back on the road as quickly as possible. I don't plan to spend a lot of time there, so all I care about are that the facilities are clean.

A separate "ecosystem" that discourages people from exploring/patronizing shops/restaurants/etc. is bad for the local economy too.

It makes a lot of sense given that many French towns are tight clusters that are hard to drive through. Frequently, when you get to a town, you park on the periphery and then walk in for your shopping/dining experience. Just zipping through xx on their way to yy isn't as convenient as it is in the US. The rest stops in France are quite nice and one we utilized even had a koi pond. Some very nice people shared their baguette with my kids and they got to feed the fish after playing on the playground.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin has them frequently. Not in Illinois though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin has them frequently. Not in Illinois though.

Probably due to crowding at rest stops at you get closer to Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally overprotective I admit it, but I don't go to playgrounds anywhere near highways. Too easy for someone to snatch a kid and be gone in a flash.

Hadn’t thought about that- but it’s the best response yet

Actually, it’s not. It’s extremely more probable that your child would be hit by a Mac truck in the parking lot. Probably more likely even that your child would be struck by lightning while on the swings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as a culture we no longer care about kids. It's really sad. Kids are the future. People who do value kids will conquer us and live in our lands.

Unpopular opinion, but I totally disagree with this. I feel like kids are significantly more on the forefront and catered to than when most of us grew up. People take their kids places and events our parents never would have thought of taking us.

Was just coming to say this exactly. It's hard to imagine us "as a culture" revolving around children much more than we already currently do. How many threads have we had here from parents demanding to be able to take children into adult spaces (bars/pubs/adult restaurants on NYE lol/etc) because the spaces they already have just aren't enough. It's never enough. "Conquer us and live on our lands" lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rest stops are crowded as it is. If the average stop time became any more prolonged, it would be impossible other motorists to get in and out.

When we needed a longer break, we would get off the highway and fine a local park or elementary school, easy enough to do now with an online search. Back when my kids were little, we had them marked on an old AAA Triptik for the 500 mile trip to grandma’s house that we took several times a year. Yes, I’m old.

We do this too for annual drive to see family in Michigan. We know a variety of parks etc along the route. We pack a lunch and snacks and take two 1-hr breaks in a day so kids can run around. We only go to actual rest stops if it’s raining.

I would love if you share where your parks are! We just did the drive and found it hard to find much - or we did, but spent so much time driving around off exits to find something.

Ugh, I'm sorry, my husband is the travel planner and we didn't go this summer due to coronavirus, so I don't recall from last year. We always stop overnight in Cranberry PA, I know that. My advice would be to figure out what's a reasonable distance to drive between stops, then Google (ahead of time!) whether there are towns in those areas that have elementary schools or local parks. It's definitely hard to find this stuff on the fly. He planned it all out the first year we went, in 2014, and we've just done it ever since.