Marlay Park

Marlay Park is a wonderful place about a mile from my apartment, and is the primary destination for Molly Dog and I on our walks.  It's hard to have a bad day when you are walking through the park, unless it starts to rain on you, which happens, but even then it's not that bad.

The park has lots to offer, including a dog park, which we don't use much because Molly Dog gets intimidated by too much attention, and a walled garden, which we haven't seen because you have to go through a cafe to enter, and I don't think they want dogs in the cafe.  I have only actually seen about 1/3 of the park.  There is a whole section I've never ventured into and apparently has a huge playground, but I think this little one is still cool.

Part of the reason I haven't seen more of the park is because I am so happy with the parts I am familiar with.  The other is that I keep getting lost in there.  Hubby wonders how I can get lost, but he clearly hasn't been at an intersection under tree canopy (where you can't see any landmarks), and come across this super helpful sign.

I mostly stick on the "hiking" trails, which I think is gorgeous.

There are lots of cool bridges, both stone and more modern.

Usually plenty of birds: seagulls, ducks, heron, swans...

Then there is this surprise.

I am told that the decorations on this Fairy Tree are a combination of folklore, mainly leaving wishes for the fairies to grant, and leaving pacifiers (soothers), bottles, and other things behind for the fairies to use once the children have grown out of them.   I was shocked the first time I ran into it.  I was scanning the ground looking for spaces that would inspire a fairy home, and saw an actual little door carved into the tree.  Wasn't expecting that!

There is also the restored Marlay House, which has some craft shops in the courtyard, also the location of a weekend lunch market.  Not sure if you can go into the house on a tour or not, but I have yet to take the tour, if there is one.

Bonus: I get to walk through this other park on the way there, and we are usually by ourselves, so Molly Dog gets to run around a bit!

If you come to visit, I am definitely taking you on a "hike" though Marlay park!