An afternoon or evening spent enjoying live music in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater at Tanglewood is a great addition to any family vacation in western Massachusetts. Tanglewood is located in the picturesque town of Lenox in the heart of the Berkshires. On a recent visit, we packed our cooler with sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit salad, and strawberry shortcake and picnicked the night … [Read more...]
The New England Aquarium and Boston Children’s Museum
July 2, 2011 By
Both The New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum are perfect half-day activities, especially if the day in question is as cold and rainy as ours was! We decided to spend one afternoon at each, and could have easily spent more time! My nephew and niece joined us for our time in Boston, so we had kids aged 8 months to 12 years touring both attractions. We loved the aquarium … [Read more...]
Boston with kids: walking the Freedom Trail
July 1, 2011 By
A must-do when visiting Boston with kids, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 historic sites, every one an important piece of the road to American freedom. I've heard of families worrying this tour would be too dull for kids, but we didn't find that to be true at all! Not every site garners kids' full attention, but it's ok to gloss over a few in order to fully … [Read more...]
Boston with kids: Boston Duck Tours
June 30, 2011 By
Before visiting Boston, I kept hearing about Boston Duck Tours, and how it was a must-do with kids. Turns out, their reputation precedes them for a reason! This tour is the perfect way to gain an overview of the city while the kids (and adults) are highly entertained. The fun begins as soon as you board your 'duck', a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle, and are introduced to your … [Read more...]
Exploring Vancouver, B.C.: Granville Island with kids
June 20, 2011 By
When I set out to explore Vancouver's Granville Island on a sunny Monday afternoon, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Known best for its upscale public market and boutique shops, I certainly didn't think it would have much to entice kids. I was wrong. Granville Island began winning me over before I even got there: from the dock at the very end of Hornby Street, I waited (all of two … [Read more...]
New York’s Adirondack Museum
June 9, 2011 By
The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York makes for a great half or full day pit stop during your Adirondack summer family vacation! Dedicated to families with young kids through teens, the museum features indoor and outdoor exhibits, nature studies, and family programs filled with hands-on experiences. It seems like there's always something going on at the museum, whether it's … [Read more...]
Bear Lake State Park Rendezvous Beach
June 3, 2011 By
Clear, turquoise-blue water. White sand beaches. Scuba diving, fishing, and wind surfing. Would you guess you're in Utah? I wouldn't! In fact, until I saw Bear Lake's Rendezvous Beach for myself, I assumed the state park was exaggerating with its claim to be the 'Caribbean of the Rockies'. But it's no lie: right on the Utah-Idaho border near the touristy town of Garden City, weekend visitors (and … [Read more...]
Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
May 26, 2011 By
Situated next to the all-seasons tourist town of Sandpoint in the scenic Idaho panhandle, Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced pon-der-ay) is an outdoors-lover's heaven. By winter, it serves as base camp to popular ski resort Schweitzer, and in summer it's the ideal family playground for water sports, swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, and just about any other outdoorsy activity you can think of! We … [Read more...]
Kennedy Park, Helena MT
May 16, 2011 By
If you've road tripped through Montana on a summer family vacation, you know that while beautiful, the state of Montana is vast...and often empty. Pit stops are sometimes scarce, which makes Kennedy Park (located on Harrison Avenue) in the heart of East Helena all the more attractive. We loved the wide space of grass (the boys dug the soccer ball out of the car), the picnic areas, and the … [Read more...]
Desert Botanical Garden
May 4, 2011 By
Just in time for Mother's Day, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona makes for the perfect pit stop or sun-filled family outing. (Or maybe I'm just suffering from a severe case of sun-envy here in Oregon!) But what makes Desert Botanical so great (in all seasons, but especially spring)? The new blooms, of course! In springtime, this 50 acre garden is positively alive with color, making … [Read more...]
