We're gearing up to move, and I'm excited about making our new backyard a dreamy space for the summer. My husband wants a chiminea (I love them too), but wasn't sure if there were any pros and cons against them or those lower firepits that are pretty popular.
Obviously, both are "super kid-friendly", so aside from that aspect ... 
Links to ones you've loved would be extra appreciated.
grapefruit / 4361 posts
I don't feel like you can make smores as easily in a chimnea?
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@DesertDreams88: We do love s'mores! 
I see a fire ring as a more family-friendly addition to the yard. The chiminea seems like a fantasy backyard item for the life where my kids go to sleep at 7:00 pm, it never rains, and I have endless red wine. 
grapefruit / 4903 posts
We have a chiminea and love it. We do use it for post bedtime date nights at home with a bottle of wine, but we also use it with the kids for s'mores. I liked the terracotta ones, especially where we live, and the open fire pit made me more nervous with kids for some reason. I like that the chiminea can be a focal point, but it can't also function more like a fireplace we can have have going while we're having dinner or playing board games on the back patio.
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@rattles: That's exactly what we're looking for! Did you buy yours online or locally?
grapefruit / 4903 posts
@littlejoy: We bought it locally. We live in Texas, so they're somewhat ubiquitous. We found ours out in front of a local grocery store for about $75. It seemed like most of what I found online was cast iron.
ETA: just looked through my records and the maker is Amigos Pottery. http://amigospottery.com/newsite//mobile/products.php?cat=15&page=1
persimmon / 1005 posts
We have a fire pit and it's nice t gather around but what I don't love about it that I think would be better with a chiminea is that when there's a breeze, smoke is always blowing on someone.
papaya / 10560 posts
We know a lot of people with chimineas but personally avoid them because of the shelf life--they crack too easily!
We have an iron fire pot and it is amazing!! Some of these are the closest I can find to what we have. https://www.thebluerooster.com/catalog/outdoor-fireplace-10freetips.php
Ours the top chimney part comes off and it also came with grates so we can grill on it. It does get extremely hot!!
pomegranate / 3658 posts
You're doing wood-burning, not gas?
We're going to buy a gas firepit for our yard/deck. It's affordable, it gets really hot fast, keeps you warm. My plan is to just not turn it on when DD is back there. She goes to bed at 7:30p so it'll be for our chilly spring/fall evenings.
pomelo / 5573 posts
Check your by-laws, they're actually not allowed where I live (and yet they're sold all over).
nectarine / 2521 posts
@PawPrints: I was about to ask the same!
We are about to purchase a gas fireplace pit from Lowe's and have the same plan to not turn it on until the kid is in bed. And I like that it doesn't take any effort to get a fire going.
persimmon / 1483 posts
I vote chiminea at least until the kids are much older. A friend of a friend's child was seriously burned in a fire pit mishap and it freaked me out enough that we'll never have one.
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