Puerto Vallarta offers a bit of everything for families enjoying a Mexican vacation, from beaches to city life to mountains, all touched by the warmth of the sun. While accommodations are an important aspect of any family vacation, no matter how great the resort, I always advocate getting outside hotel grounds to explore your destination further. During our recent stay, we couldn't pass up the … [Read more...]
Best ski towns: Ashland, Oregon
February 13, 2012 By
A friendly community with a small-town yet academic atmosphere, Ashland, Oregon makes our list of Best Ski Towns despite the fact that it's a full 20-minute commute from the slopes. What it lacks in proximity to powder it more than makes up for in charm, family-friendly shops and restaurants, and seasonal events, making it impossible to exclude. Located directly off I-5 in Southern Oregon and … [Read more...]
Winter camping: extend your outdoor travel season
December 22, 2011 By
'Tis the season for everyone at the Around the Campfire community to be talking about winter camping. What's quickly become apparent, however, is that everyone's interpretation of 'winter' and 'camping' is different. As an avid camper and backpacker, I'm glad to know so many versions of outdoor overnights exist; no matter what your comfort level or geographic location, there's a way to continue to … [Read more...]
Full-time family travel: live chat with Britt Reints
December 12, 2011 By
Tonight at Around the Campfire, we're hosting a live chat with Britt Reints of In Pursuit of Happiness, in which she will discuss her family's monumental decision to sell their possessions, alter their daily lifestyle, and set off to explore the U.S. in an RV full time. The Pit Stops crew has taken our fair share of long road trips (as many as 21 days in a row!), so the idea of taking to … [Read more...]
The Oregon Vortex and House of Mystery
October 6, 2011 By
The Oregon Vortex, location of the House of Mystery is described as a natural wonder. A spherical field of force half above the ground and half below the ground, it amazes both kids and scientists alike. A guide takes visitors on a tour explaining the "vortex"; how it was discovered and what it actually is. She or he demonstrates the phenomena and it is quite interesting. In our group, we … [Read more...]
Pier Cove Beach, Fennville Michigan
August 5, 2011 By
The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com. A small, beautiful beach, Fennville's Pier Cove Beach features a small creek that lets out into Lake Michigan, which is often warmer than the big lake. It's perfect for small kids to splash in! Families can also find rocks and logs and make sculptures! In the big lake, kids (and adults!) will swim to their hearts' … [Read more...]
Oval Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan
August 3, 2011 By
The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com. Saugatuck's Oval Beach is a popular pit stop along the coast of Lake Michigan for a reason: ranked by Conde Naste traveler as one of the 25th best beaches in the world, it boasts wonderful dunes (including Mount Baldhead), family amenities such as a playground and concession stand, and picnic areas complete with grills … [Read more...]
Road-trip troubleshooting: when things go wrong on the road
July 25, 2011 By
I'll admit it: I've run out of gas on the road during a family vacation. (I've also had a U-Haul trailer break down on me in the middle of the night in the middle of Washington State, but that's another story.) It wasn't much fun, and I'll tell you what I wish I'd had at the time (both times): Allstate's Good Hands Roadside Assistance. Now I do (which as the laws of the universe dictate, … [Read more...]
Nantucket with kids: guide to beaches and biking
July 18, 2011 By
The island of Nantucket, Massachusetts is well-known as a summer playground for travelers of all ages, but with so much to do in the immediate vicinity of the harbor, the further reaches (only a few miles in any direction!) are often overlooked. Ferrying your car to the island is expensive, rentals even more so, but that's ok: biking is more affordable, more fun, and easy to do on such a flat and … [Read more...]
NYC with kids: making sense of subways, taxis, and trains
July 10, 2011 By
During our four days in New York City this past June, we relied exclusively on subway trains, taxi cabs, and our own feet to get us where we needed to go. Despite being accustomed to using public transportation in other cities, I will admit we found the NYC subway system to be overwhelming with kids...at first. By the time we were ready to leave, we (almost) felt we had it figured out, but to help … [Read more...]
