Kid Time! Discovery Experience

Kid Time!, previously K.I.D.S, is a great place to stop and play while driving I-5 or just visiting the Rogue Valley, especially if the weather isn't cooperating. A large, hands-on kids' museum and play space, Kid Time has lots of imaginary place areas, including a store, a kitchen, a lemonade stand, a full stage and costumes, a camping set-up complete with tent, picnic table, and camping … [Read more...]

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

5400 N. Pearl St. Tacoma, Washington If you're looking for a zoo that's easy to access off the freeway but rivals the big names, stop at Tacoma's Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Exhibits and sections include an Asian forest, marine discovery center, aquarium, polar exhibit, and red wolf sanctuary. The newly added Kid Zone is a great place to let kids run around and explore. From the … [Read more...]

Cantrall Buckley County Park

Cantrall Road Ruch, Oregon If you're exploring the pioneer town of Jacksonville (10 minutes off I-5) and have more time to spend, drive out into the Applegate Valley and visit Cantrall Buckley County Park. Set on the shores of the Applegate River, Cantrall Buckley has a long, sloping lawn and picnic areas. The river is slow-moving in this area and great for wading, minnow-fishing (bring nets!) … [Read more...]

Del Mar Motel on the Beach

1702 Coast Bvld. Del Mar, CA The San Diego area is a family vacation wonderland (Legoland and SeaWorld, anyone?) and Del Mar Motel on the Beach is a wonderful option for your accommotions, often overlooked in travel magazines and guidebooks. There are countless luxury hotels scattered throughout Del Mar, and in comparision, Del Mar Motel on the Beach is a no-frills operation (although it's … [Read more...]

Mt. Shasta Treehouse Inn

111 Morgan Way Mt. Shasta, CA My family and I have stayed at The Best Western Treehouse Inn in Mt. Shasta, CA several times, and while most chain motels are not worth a review, this one is an exception! If you're traveling I-5 and need a place to stay the night, skip Redding (to the south) and Medford (to the north) if you can, and stay in Mt. Shasta. Not only is it a beautiful area in all … [Read more...]

ScienceWorks Hands On Museum

1500 East Main Street Ashland, OR Sometimes, I'm guilty of forgetting to feature all the excellent pit stops in my own backyard! ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum sits just west of I-5 in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. With both permanent and limited-time (featured) exhibits, there's always something new (and something for every age, from preschool to adult). Explore the Bubble-ology Room, the … [Read more...]

Splash! Lively Park Swim Center

6100 Thurston Road Springfield, OR We've driven up and down I-5 through the state of Oregon dozens of times, but until a neighborhood family told us about it, we had no idea Splash! Lively Park Swim Center existed! A wonderful pitstop when you have two or more hours to spend, Splash is much more than a community pool; it's an indoor waterpark complete with a 144 foot slide, wave pool, water … [Read more...]

La Tarasca Restaurant

1001 W. Main Centralia, WA All the other reviews out there are right: La Tarasca has excellent Mexican food¦perhaps the best, and certainly the most authentic, I've ever tasted. Due to its close proximity to The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, this restaurant has been heavily reviewed (just do a Google search), but all those words really do bear repeating. From the street, the place is nothing … [Read more...]

Extensive Great Wolf Lodge review: Grand Mound Washington

This past week, my family and I spent two nights and two days at The Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA. We arrived at the resort at approximately 9 pm on a Sunday night. The lobby was still filled with children watching the evening animatronics show by the Grand Hall's main focal point, the clock tower (more on that later), but there was no wait to check in. Get our top Great Wolf Lodge tips … [Read more...]

Lithia Park

Lithia Park Ashland, Oregon is a stunningly beautiful 93-acre park in a garden setting situated within easy distance of 1-5 for either a quick pitstop or an afternoon detour. Located on the north end of Ashland, Oregon in their pedestrian-friendly downtown, there are several entrances to this sprawling park, but the easiest to access from the city center is on Winburn Way. Park either in the city … [Read more...]