Any self-respecting ski lodging will include a hot tub or two. Maybe even a heated swimming pool. But only at Silver Mountain's Morning Star Lodge do you get a full indoor water park to top off your ski day. Intrigued? Let's back up, and start with Silver Mountain itself, which offers 77 runs and 1,600 skiable acres along Idaho's panhandle, right off I-90 in the historic mining town of Kellogg. … [Read more...]
Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center
May 3, 2009 By
2211 Dug Gap Battle Road Dalton, Georgia If you miss the Georgia Welcome Center a few miles north, or it's too cold or wet to let the kids run around outside it, consider a pit stop at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, locally called the Dalton Trade Center. There is room to stretch, but small enough to not get lost. The bathrooms are spectacularly clean. And of course, … [Read more...]
Bear Creek Park
May 1, 2009 By
1520 Siskiyou Blvd Medford, OR Bear Creek Park is an excellent pitstop that quite frankly, I forgot to review earlier because it's right in my hometown. It's also, however, right off of I-5 but tucked out of sight, making it a perfect candidate for Pitstops for Kids. Bear Creek Park is huge, and has something for everybody. On the east end of the park are a dirt BMX track (try it out if you … [Read more...]
Sweet Tomatoes
April 25, 2009 By
6600 SW Cardinal Lane Tigard, OR I once forced my children to sit tight in the car an extra 70 miles past our pre-determined dinner-stopping-point in order to push on to Sweet Tomatoes. And even considering the whining, loud singing, and general disgruntlement, it was worth it. For those who aren't familiar with this restaurant chain (which is brought to us by the same fine folks as Soup … [Read more...]
The Varsity Restaurant
April 22, 2009 By
61 North Ave NW Atlanta, GA Make sure you're hungry for a meal while cruising through Atlanta on I-75, because you're going to want to stop at The Varsity. According to a member of Disboards.com's Transportation board, it's a must: To say they serve burgers and chili dogs is unfair. It's indescribable. You'll find burgers, hot dogs, and chili at The Varsity, but according to most reviews, … [Read more...]
Play Area in SEATAC Airport
April 17, 2009 By
Ahhh, the layover, everyone's favorite travel hiccup. I don't know about anyone else, but I've spent some of my most miserable parenthood moments on the floor of airport terminals, trying in vain to corral unhappy and overtired kids. Over the course of nine years of travel with children, I've stumbled upon more than one nice airport play space (and 'stumbled upon' really is an apt description, … [Read more...]
Jelly Belly Factory Tour
April 11, 2009 By
1 Jelly Belly Lane Fairfield, CA What I seem to remember most about Jelly Belly's California factory is the absolutely horrendous tantrum my then-three-year-old (now seven-year-old) decided to throw somewhere between the sorting floor and the tasting room. And yet, despite the fact that mortal embarrassment is my first connotation with this attraction, it still makes my list of reviews. It's … [Read more...]
Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery
April 8, 2009 By
Exit 40 of I-84 Cascade Locks, Oregon The first time my husband convinced me to stop at the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, I was skeptical at best. To me, a fish hatchery sounds about as exciting as a coma, but kids love it. You also can't beat the price (free!) or the stunning Oregon scenery. The dam is about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and perfect for a quick stop after or before … [Read more...]
KidZone in Club Northwest
April 7, 2009 By
2160 N.W. Vine Street Grants Pass, Oregon You can't miss KidZone from I-5 (see photo of the outside of the building), but you will be left wondering what it is you're looking at, it's so poorly marked from the outside. Put simply, it's kid-heaven: 60,000 cubic feet of tubes, slides, and ball pits, housed within Club Northwest, a fitness and health club. It's open to the public, and while it … [Read more...]
Columbia Park
April 7, 2009 By
 Highway 240, W. Columbia Drive Kennewick, WA Columbia Park is located in Washington's Tri-Cities, just off Highway 395 (from I-84 from Portland, OR or I-90 form Spokane). It's a great place to stop to stretch legs and have a quick picnic. Situated along the Columbia River, the park is over five miles long, but the section you want is at the west end where a large fort-style climbing structure … [Read more...]
