930 Southwest 6th Avenue Portland, OR Portland, Oregon offers a wealth of family-friendly attractions (in fact, I have so many to review, I'm behind!), but if you have a sports fan in your group, you'll want to spend some time at Nike Town. The world headquarters of all things Nike, Portland outdoes itself with this two-story retail center in downtown (near Pioneer Square). Kids (and adults) … [Read more...]
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
September 14, 2010 By
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, or OMSI for short, is both a landmark and beloved institution in Portland, Oregon. Situated right on the bank of the Willamette directly across from the downtown district, OMSI is one of the best places (and arguably the best place) to take kids in the area. Nate and his friend Jonah get a lesson in the Physics Lab. With multiple exhibits … [Read more...]
Courtyard by Marriott Portland/Beaverton
August 30, 2010 By
8500 S W Nimbus Drive Beaverton, Oregon The Courtyard by Marriott in Beaverton makes for a nice, centralized home base while exploring the Portland area. While we'd normally stay downtown and take advantage of the MAX system, if you plan to visit the suburbs as well as the city center, Beaverton is a good option. We had a mixed bag of service at this location. Prior to arrival, I was … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 23): Embassy Suites Sacramento
July 19, 2010 By
We spent our last night on the road at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade (100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento CA). Embassy Suites is a favorite hotel chain of mine due to their high quality amenities, top-notch service, and the extras they provide, such as made-to-order complementary breakfasts and manager's reception' hours with snacks and cool drinks on-hand in the late afternoon. … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 22): Old Sacramento Historical District
July 18, 2010 By
We spent our last day, Day 22, driving from Laguna Beach to Sacramento CA on I-5, visiting Sacramento's historic Old Town and staying our final night on the road at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade. Sacramento's Old Town is a state historic park covering 28 acres along the Sacramento River directly opposite from downtown. Wooden sidewalks, false storefronts, and cobblestones … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 2): Hyatt Place Portland OR
June 26, 2010 By
9750 NE Cascades Portland, OR Our first overnight of our road trip was spent at Hyatt Place in the Portland Airport Cascade Station area. What a great hotel for families (especially families of 5)! The Hyatt Place is definitely geared with convenience in mind, from the spacious lobby with 'guest kitchen' (where you have access to space to heat your own foods or buy freshly-made … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 1): Portland Spirit River Cruise
June 25, 2010 By
Tom McCall Waterfront Park Portland, OR Our Day 1 route (see map) took us from our home in Southern Oregon four hours north on I-5 to beautiful Portland, where we were fortunate to embark upon the Portland Spirit for a cruise down the Willamette River. The Portland Spirit is a 150' yacht with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate controlled. We were met at the dock by … [Read more...]
Enterprise Park and Kids’ Kingdom
June 19, 2010 By
4000 Victor Ave Redding CA We drive through Redding, CA often, and I'm ever on the hunt for a great park. On our most recent pass down I-5, we found one worthy of being declared a pit stop! Kids' Kingdom is a section of the larger Enterprise Park that spans several city blocks. Whereas the park at large seems to cater to the sports and leisure crowd (lots of soccer fields and picnic areas), … [Read more...]
The Children’s Museum, Seattle
June 9, 2010 By
305 Harrison Street Seattle, WA Visiting Seattle or Vancouver on a family vacation this summer? The Children's Museum, Seattle is a wonderful pit stop which will keep your children entertained for hours! Located on the same campus as the Space Needle, it's simple to access off I-5 and can be added easily to a kid-friendly Seattle sight-seeing itinerary. Eleven (11) exhibits stretch … [Read more...]
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
May 24, 2010 By
15101 Lancaster Road Lancaster, CA Think you can't find rolling hills and wildflower habitats right outside of Los Angeles? Think again! If your southern California family vacation takes you down I-5 (especially from February to May, when the wildflower blooms are most vibrant), the detour to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, part of the California State Park system, is worth the … [Read more...]
