Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

Best Ski Towns: Leavenworth, WA

March 14, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Who can resist the charm of a Bavarian village nestled in the heart of Washington’s Cascades in Wenatchee National Forest? Not us! Leavenworth, WA makes our list of Best Ski Towns for its year-round recreation, sunny weather, and all-round adorableness (that’s an important criteria, right?!). Parents will appreciate the area’s many wineries and distilleries, and kids will love the town’s many seasonal festivals!

Where to ski: Leavenworth plays host to both Mission Ridge and Steven’s Pass ski resorts Mission Ridge is less pricey, but kids will find more programs and runs geared to them at Steven’s Pass. Nordic skiing and tubing is also available at the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, where you can get an all-day skiing and tubing pass for $22 and under!

Where to stay: We stayed at the Bavarian Lodge, located right in the heart of the village and within 30 minutes of all ski resorts and outdoor recreation. Rooms are spacious with kitchenettes for families, and the hotel is within walking distance of all Leavenworth has to offer. But it’s their complimentary breakfast that puts the Bavarian over the top: there are no store-bought danishes and tired boxed cereal here…instead you’ll find homemade scones, sticky buns, Starbucks coffee, and house-made granola to start your day (and save you a buck or two)!

Where to eat: You can’t travel to a Bavarian village without visiting a beer garden, right? der Hinterhof is family-friendly with simple, unassuming food, live music, and a festive beer garden. It’s especially fun to visit in nice weather (or summer), when they open the outdoor garden and hand out sidewalk chalk to the kids. Families also shouldn’t miss The Gingerbread Factory, where kids can sample this old European treat (and the smell inside is divine!). (You can get lunch packed to go, here, as well!)

What to do when not on the slopes: Leavenworth is ideally located on national forest land near scenic Lake Wenatchee, providing many recreational opportunities any time of year. Hike and bike in the summer, and sled and snowshoe in the winter. Kids and adults will also like Leavenworth’s Bavarian-themed shops in the village (look for wagon rides in summer and sleigh rides in winter).

How to get here: Leavenworth is located on Washington’s Highway 2, two hours from Seattle. From Seattle, take I-5 to I-405 near Everett, then Exit 23 to Hwy 2. From Spokane, take I-90 to Ellensburg, then Highway 97 to Leavenworth.

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Thimbleberry Cabin: winter escape in Southern Oregon Cascades

March 10, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

For a year-round mountain getaway in the Northwest, families can’t beat the Southern Oregon Cascades. Easy to access from I-5 (to Highway 140), this region south of Crater Lake National Park and west of Klamath Falls is rich with national forest land, lakes, and recreation. We love the area’s ‘off-the-beaten-path’ feel (and the fact that it’s only a few short hours from several Oregon cities)! Situated in the midst of this wilderness is Thimbleberry Cabin.

Pit Stops for Kids reader Cristie Fairbanks of Southern Oregon recommends Thimbleberry, located seven miles from beautiful Lake of the Woods on Highway 140, for its family-friendly location and features. A HomeAway rental property set apart from any other resort or facility, Thimbleberry sleeps five comfortably with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. “With a short walk from the house, you can backcountry ski or snowshoe in any direction through national forest and BLM lands, and the cabin is only one mile from Pacific Crest Trail access. The cabin rental also comes with a variety of snowshoes and sleds (as well as other seasonal equipment) that you can use right on the one acre property or take with you on an adventure.”

What to do: In winter, you won’t need to stray far from the cabin. Sled or enjoy snow play right outside your door, or connect with the Pacific Crest Trail for a longer trek. Visit Summit Snow Park for snowmobile or cross-country fun, and Fish Lake (adjacent to Lake of the Woods, Highway 140) offers even more snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. Extra Tip: In summer, swim, fish, and boat on Lake of the Woods or Fish Lake, or explore the Sky Lakes Wilderness, (access to trail head on Highway 140 across from Fish Lake), our family’s favorite place for a day hike or backpacking overnight.

Day trips in the area: Within easy driving distance is Crater Lake National Park (check road conditions and closings in winter) and Shakespearean Ashland, Oregon.

Where to eat: If staying in a rental cabin such as Thimbleberry, be prepared to bring all of the food you will need. The closest store and restaurant is located at Lake of the Woods Resort and is not always open. With a kitchen and BBQ at Thimbleberry, however, you won’t want to bother with eating out!

How to get there: From I-5 in Medford, Oregon, follow signs to Highway 140. Follow 140 east toward Klamath Falls.

Ashland on Dwellable

Best Ski Towns: Kellogg, ID

March 7, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Located forty minutes past Coeur d’Alene on I-90 in the Idaho panhandle, the town of Kellogg, Idaho offers year-round outdoor and indoor recreation for a family vacation paradise. Hardly your typical ‘resort town’, Kellogg is not all slick boutiques and over-priced restaurants: it still thinks of itself as a mountain mining town with some really, really beautiful scenery and world-class skiing. It makes our list of Best Ski Towns for families due to its laid-back, friendly atmosphere, reasonable prices, perfect location (just close enough to a major city without being too close), and list of fun things to do as long as your arm.

Where to ski: Silver Mountain Resort offers two mountains of family-friendly skiing and boarding. With 1600 acres of terrain at your fingertips, you can easily spend a long weekend here and still not experience everything. A convenient gondola loads skiers right from the center of town, so there’s no need to cart equipment hither and yon, and for kids, there’s a great tubing center and ski school.

Where to stay: This is a no-brainer. Families will want to stay at Silver Mountain Resort’s Morning Star Lodge, where kids will go wild over their Silver Rapids indoor water park. Open year-round and only to resort guests, this huge complex is housed under an enormous glass roof (you can actually get a sun tan!) and sports a surf simulator, lazy river, and water slides galore. Parents will be happy to hear that resort suites include a full kitchen and lots of space for kids to have their own room. Prices are reasonable, especially if you snag one of Silver Mountain’s many seasonal deals. Oh yeah: and kids ski free when staying at the Morning Star!

Where to eat: With a kitchen at your disposal, you may want to eat in. A grocery store is within easy distance of the Morning Star, and two fast food counter service restaurants are housed in the water park. Also on resort grounds are two full restaurants: a pub and a pizza place.

What to do when not on the slopes: You’ll be in the water park, of course, but also located within Kellogg are a mine museum and tour, hiking and biking trails in the summer, and a scenic gondola ride. Fishing and ATV riding is also offered seasonally. If you’re up for a day trip, head west to beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene for swimming in the summer!

How to get here: From Spokane, WA, take I-90 east to Exit 49 in Idaho.

Best Ski Towns: South Lake Tahoe, CA

March 2, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Spring is a wonderful time of year to spend in South Lake Tahoe! Skiing and other snowsports are still on offer, and sunny skies and warmer temps make hiking and lake days possible, too.

Note: As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and within regulation as any travel is at your own risk.

If you do decide to travel at this time, here are our recommendations:

Wear a face mask.

Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands on a regular basis.

Check official websites before your trip for the latest updates on policies, closures and status of local businesses.

Book a hotel with free cancellation in case you need to change your plans at the last minute.

During a time when many vacations are not possible, outdoor activities in road trip-accessible locations offer the ability to safely social distance. Hotels.com asked me to share my favorite activities and tips for exploring South Lake Tahoe, so start here as you plan a safe and responsible vacation.

Having grown up in the Tahoe area, I am no stranger to the Sierra snow, sunny weather, and beautiful scenery that makes this family ski haven an obvious choice as a ‘Best Ski Town’. Split by the California/Nevada border, families are presented with the best of two worlds in South Tahoe: on the Nevada side, bustling businesses, resorts, and casinos. On the California side, a quiet ski village. We recently returned for a week of fun, powder, relaxation, and more powder; the following is a round-up of what makes Tahoe the perfect town for traveling families.

Where to ski: With so many world-class ski resorts dotting the shore of Lake Tahoe, you really can’t go wrong finding slopes that won’t disappoint. If you want to enjoy your family ski vacation without breaking the bank, however, we recommend Sierra-at-Tahoe. Located on the South shore of the lake near Twin Bridges, Sierra-at-Tahoe is truly committed to a family ski experience. You’ll find runs expertly groomed with families in mind, dedicated ski school instructors, extreme attention to the details of resort layout, and prices that make other Tahoe area resorts’ fees seem laughable. We’re expert skiers, and found Sierra’s slopes to be challenging beyond expectation, and yet families with beginners are catered to as well. We don’t know how they do it, but they do!

Where to stay: It’s hard to go wrong! If you want to stay on the Nevada side, you can opt to be at the heart of the action at the base of Heavenly ski resort, or away from the crowds closer to Sierra-at-Tahoe. There are many lakefront hotel options in South Lake Tahoe as well. Look for suites or condos run by hotels and resorts, which will allow you to have more space and the use of a kitchen.

Where to eat: Hands down, the best food we ate in South Lake Tahoe was at Freshies (3330 Lake Tahoe Blvd). This ‘hole in the wall’ location inside a small strip mall serves up excellent Hawaiian specialties, great microbrews, and kid favorites like rice and noodle bowls in a fun setting. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds; word is getting out about this restaurant!

What to do when not skiing: South Tahoe is full of options for non-skiers, so what you choose will depend on the ages of your kids, how much time you have, and their sense of adventure! We loved sledding at Adventure Mountain (Hwy 50), a tubing mecca just outside of town. If you’re up for a longer outing, consider a snowmobiling cruise with Zephyr Cove Resort, located in town. South Tahoe on the Nevada side also provides plenty of distraction in the form of evening shows, buffets, gambling, and movie theaters.

How to get here: From Reno, Nevada, take Highway 395 to Highway 50 into town. From Sacramento, take I-5 to Highway 50.

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Disclaimer: This post has been written in partnership with hotels.com. All opinions remain my own.

Best Ski Towns: Bend, Oregon

February 25, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Up next in Pit Stops for Kids’ series on best ski towns for families is Bend, Oregon. Not only is this central Oregon high desert town ideally situated at the base of Mt. Bachelor and the Sisters peaks, it offers much more than downhill skiing: families will find plenty to do biking, river rafting, and fishing in the summer months and skating, sledding, and spotting wildlife in the winter.

Where to ski: Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort is the only show in town, not that you’ll hear anyone complaining. We love Mt. Bachelor for their challenging terrain, great crowd and chairlift line control, and affordable pricing. For extended visits, take advantage of their flexible multi-day passes and kids ski or ride for free!

Where to stay: Just twenty minutes from the slopes is the resort community of Sunriver. We always opt to stay in one of its many vacation rentals, but the centerpiece of the village is without doubt the beautiful and sprawling Sunriver Lodge, where you’ll find indoor/outdoor pools, tennis courts, and a full spa and fitness center (vacation rental guests also have access to these facilities). Also within the Sunriver community are walking and biking trails, playgrounds for kids, full childcare program centers, and a central village with ice skating, shops, restaurants, and outdoor gear rental.

Where to eat: If staying in Bend, stop for breakfast before skiing at Pilot Butte Drive In (917 NE Greenwood), voted locally as ‘best breakfast in Bend’. If you’re staying in Sunriver, drive through Bend to their Trader Joe’s location for groceries you can prepare yourself in your rental’s kitchen!

What to do when not skiing: Whether you have little ones who aren’t ready to hit the slopes, or just find yourself with a stormy day, we recommend the High Desert Museum (59800 Hwy 97) outside of Bend. Inside, you’ll find wonderfully done exhibits on Oregon history and culture as well as natural history lessons in the form of replicas, tours, talks, and live animal shows and habitats. Outside, visit the river otter habitat or beaver dams, and see live eagles and hawks take flight. In summer, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument (1645 Hwy 20) boasts a caldera to climb, a great challenge for families!

How to get here: Bend is located on Highway 97, approximately 2.5 hours from I-5. To find the Sunriver Resort, take highway 97 from Bend to the exit at Cottonwood Road.

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Best Ski Towns: Park City, Utah

February 23, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s the ideal ski town: beautiful scenery, dozens of kid-friendly resorts, and a downtown bursting with great restaurants and shops surrounded by not one, not two, but three major ski resorts, with half a dozen more nearby. It’s Park City, Utah, and I challenge you to go once and not want to come back for many more family ski vacations.

Where to ski: You really can’t go wrong whichever resort you choose, but our pick is Canyons Resort, Park City’s largest ski resort with over 4000 acres and 19 lifts. You certainly need more than one day to truly explore this mega-mountain, and with long runs (some over a mile) and plenty of terrain parks, you won’t be spending your valuable time in line for the chairlift. Their ski school is excellent, but given the diversity of their mountain, from groomed trails to expert chutes, the kids can ski all day with you.

Where to stay: We loved Westgate Park City, located near the base of The Canyons and five minutes away from downtown. This resort has it all: luxury (think plush towels, spa, and adults-only pool), cozy ambiance (the huge lobby’s fireplace is always ablaze), roomy suites, and a wonderful indoor-outdoor pool and hot tub complex complete with game room, tennis courts for the summer months, and playground. Westgate hosts a full kids’ program with off-site activities as well.

I more recently stayed at Grand Summit Hotel at Canyons Resort, which is more ideally located to the slopes, offers a ski valet and storage service, and a pool that rivals that of The Westgate. Dining is closer at-hand at Grand Summit Hotel, though standard rooms are more spacious at Westgate.

Where to eat: Head to historic downtown for the best grub. Kids will like the Red Banjo Pizza Parlor (322 Main Street), which looks like an old west saloon, and if you get a night out without the children, try Wabo House (1385 Lowel Avenue).

What to do when not on the slopes: Families would be remiss to vacation in Park City and not visit Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games (3000 Bear Hollow Drive). If you think your family will want to ride on ‘The Comet’ (bobsled), the ‘Gold Package’ ($75 per person) is a good value, and includes entrance to the museum and a guided tour in addition to the ride. There’s also a zip line, ski jumps, and other extreme fun at-hand.

Wherever you stay and ski, you’ll want to reserve ample time to explore downtown. Parking is free in the public lots, or if you’re staying nearby, check the free shuttle service for times and stops (they run near-continuously). We love Park City’s community atmosphere; you truly feel as though you’re visiting someone else’s hometown, not a tourist destination. Be sure to visit the U.S. Olympic Spirit Store (751 Main Street) for a glimpse at Park City’s merchandise of Olympics past, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate (510 Main Street), where your kids can select caramel apples nearly as big as a melon.

How to get here: Getting to Park City is easy, thanks to Salt Lake City International Airport being a major hub. From the airport, most resorts offer a shuttle, but if not, booking passage on one is easy. (We’ve had good luck with Park City Transportation.) Car rentals are also available of course, but depending on where you’re staying and skiing, you may not need one in compact Park City, given their great inter-town transportation system.

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Our top ten national park travel moments

February 21, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Posing on the brink of the Angel’s Landing knife edge.

The Pit Stops for Kids family does our best to do more than ‘talk the talk’ of family travel: we pack up the kids and walk the walk…through rainforests and woods, deserts and beaches, striving to take our kids beyond the boundaries of what they know of our corner of the natural world. I suppose it’s no surprise that our top travel moments have occurred on just such ‘foreign’ soil as our own national parks, a land which, despite many visits, remains largely undiscovered:

10. Watching Toby canoe across Grand Teton’s Jackson Lake under a mid-morning sun.

9. Feeling swallowed whole in the cold and eerie gloom of the Oregon Caves’ Passageway of the Whale.

8. Nate’s absolute joy upon dipping his bread into Many Glacier Hotel’s famous Swiss fondue.

7. Toby’s deep breath before disappearing into an ancient kiva within Mesa Verde’s Puebloan ruins.

6. Coming to a ‘black bear traffic stop’ on Glacier’s Going to the Sun Road.

5. Sweating in the rock solid desert heat under Arches National Park’s Double Arch.

4. Spending a lazy afternoon escaping Yellowstone’s crowds in the Firehole River.

3. Attempting to traverse the ‘knife edge’ on Zion National Park’s Angel’s Landing (and failing to find the nerve).

2. Standing amid the utter isolation of Death Valley’s empty landscape.

1. Watching my kids sworn into 12 junior ranger programs in two years.

This post has been entered in the Grandtourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition in conjunction with HomeAwayUK.

Great Basin National Park

February 17, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

View from the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, Great Basin.

Near the Utah-Nevada border, at the end of the ‘Loneliest Highway in America’ (Hwy 50), in the midst of the stark Nevada high desert, lies Great Basin National Park. Arguably one of the furthest destinations off the beaten path featured on Pit Stops for Kids, Great Basin is remote enough that the greater national park area only boasts one tiny town, a scattering of motels and RV parks, and a few restaurants, never mind a large grocery store. Oh, and those ‘Last services for however many miles’ signs? You’ll want to pay attention to those.

Is Great Basin worth the drive? Definitely. Especially if you pair it up with a road trip to or from other Utah or Nevada destinations, such as Arches National Park or Reno. The geography of the park is quite amazing: you’ll climb from the basin floor to 10,000 feet up Mt. Wheeler in a matter of minutes as you drive through the park, and the terrain alters from desert to high alpine and back again.

What to do: Great Basin is best known for Lehman Caves, the entrance of which is adjacent to the park’s main visitor center (another center with additional exhibits for kids is below the park near Baker). Visitors must sign up for a guided tour to see the caves, and it’s recommended that you reserve tickets prior to arrival in the busy summer months (we saw people being turned away). Ticket prices are $8 for visitors 16 and up, $4 for visitors 5-15, and free for anyone under age five. We chose a 60 minute tour, which was just long enough to hold our four-year-old’s attention. Guides make it fun by offering geology lessons, historical anecdotes, and spooky stories throughout the tour, and the cave interior really is amazing. After your tour, be sure to take the short hike around the side of the visitor’s center to see the site of the originally discovered entrance to the cave. (Extra tip: bring a jacket for the cave, no matter how warm it may be outside!)

Toby is ready to hike on Mt. Wheeler.

Mt. Wheeler towers about the Great Basin, and due to access on the paved scenic drive, visitors can tour past the 10,000 foot mark of this 13,000 foot mountain. Stop at the Bristlecone Parking Area near Wheeler Peak Campground to hike the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail (2.7 miles), a fairly strenuous climb past two pristine lakes and through high alpine forests. If that’s not for you and your family, other hikes are available. Take care as you climb in altitude: drink lots of water and take it easy until you get used to it!

Stargazing is a major facet of Great Basin National Park’s junior ranger and campground programs, so be sure to attend one of their nighttime presentations or night walks. As (bad) luck would have it, our arrival brought overcast skies, so we missed out on this wonder during our visit!

Where to stay: There are few choices in Baker, NV, so plan ahead! If you’re camping, consider staying in the alpine area of the national park; it’s beautiful, but gets unexpectedly cold at night! If you’re looking for a motel or cabin, your options are limited. We stayed at the Border Inn, which was comfortable enough for a 1-2 night stay (although the rooms are very small). The grounds are nothing to look at (a service station/restaurant/motel complex right on Hwy 50), but the full-service restaurant was friendly and offered a good breakfast, and the stars at night made up for any lack of landscaping or decor. A few other motels/cabins exist in Baker, but after driving past them several times to and from the national park, we felt they were all more or less cut of the same (serviceable) cloth.

Inside the Lehman Caves.

Where to eat: A great dinner spot can be found at T&D’s, a friendly Mexican/Italian/American restaurant. Yes, all three! We had Mexican food, and found it quite good. If I recall, the kids ate pizza. There’s a small grocery store attached, but if you’re only in Baker a few days, it’s better to eat out or bring your own food in; grocery prices are high and the selection is limited.

Directions: From U.S. Highway 6 & 50, turn south on Nevada State Highway 487 and travel 5 miles to Baker, NV. In Baker turn west on Highway 488 and travel 5 miles to the park.

Lassen National Park

February 14, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

We love Lassen National Park for its beautiful wilderness, fun geothermal parlor tricks, and low crowds. It can be done in a day, but if you spend a night or two, you won’t be sorry! Come in the summer as part of a family road trip when neighboring Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park are packed with people, or visit in the fall or spring to catch wildflower blooms and foliage.

What not to miss: Stop at the new Kohm Yah-mah Visitor’s Center at the park’s Southwest entrance for a map, Junior Ranger packets for the kids, and maybe a bite to eat (the restaurant is great!). When we visit, we like to follow the park’s main driving tour, stopping at several of the geothermal wonders within hiking distance from the road. Our favorite: Bumpass Hell, a three mile loop trail featuring a boardwalk view of bubbling, gurgling mud pits that smell like rotten eggs! Stop again at Summit Lake for stunning views of Mt. Lassen and picnic facilities.

If you and your family aren’t up for the trek up Mt. Lassen itself, hike up a cinder cone instead! The trail head is located at Butte Lake Campground (from Highway 44 take the dirt road turnoff to Butte Lake Campground and follow the road for about 6 miles). The hike is over three miles round trip, but only the last 800 feet or so are uphill. (And we do mean straight up!) Kids love running down the soft sand (and the view from the lip of the crater!).

Entrance fee: $10 (one of the lowest in the national park system)

Dining: At the time of our visit, Summit Lake had a sandwich and salad counter service menu by their picnic areas. Otherwise, there’s a nice camp store for lunch supplies at the Manzanita Lake Campground.

Overnight options: Visitors can camp in one of the park’s beautiful high country campgrounds, but if you’re looking for something a bit more comfortable while still relaxed and fun, consider our favorite: St. Bernard Lodge on Highway 36 just three minutes from the park. Situated in the lower Lassen meadows, this lodge is perfect for families: kids (and St. Bernards…yes, the owners have several) have the run of the place, from the ponds and creeks outside to the cozy rec room. Breakfast is included!

Directions: The Southwest entrance is approximately 45 miles east of Red Bluff (I-5) on Highway 36, or 160 miles west of Reno, Nevada via 395 and Highway 36.

Standing Alone

February 11, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Inspired by our travels to Arches National Park.

The only downfall of Moab, Utah? In summer, it tops 100 degrees by 11 am.

But during our visit, we got a fairly early start and hit Arches National Park before ten. I’d never been here before, and I can say with solemn reverence that it was nothing short of stunning. I’m not usually the type to ohh and aww over geological wonders (I’d much rather learn about the people of a place, for instance, than how old its rocks are), but Arches certainly accommodated me in keeping with my recent travel theme of perspective and scope.

Walking through its canyons (or scrambling up them, as the case may have been as I chased after errant children), I was once again made painfully aware of my insignificance. Just as I had felt inside the vast caverns of Great Basin a week prior, staring at stalagmites millions of years in the making (quick, are those the ones hanging down or the ones pointing up?) Moab’s arches reminded me that the universe does not care that I, a random human being, chose the 23rd of July, 2009 to tread upon these particular coordinates of earth. Or any other, for that matter. The arches were there countless years before me, and will likely be there countless after me.

I think, if only for my own benefit, that I need to repeat that: does not care. That’s hard for us to grasp, isn’t it? I think this may be why time as a concept feels so elusive to us, and distance, for that matter: earlier in this road trip, I could barely wrap my mind around The Loneliest Highway in America, let alone the distance between a single star above my tent’s canvas and the path of its light to our planet. Our entire perspective is limited to such a tiny pin drop of experience.

We’re so self involved, the human race.

So in keeping with that theme as well, I can only offer these words. Of mine. And these photos. Of my family. On this date. In this place. Where, for the briefest of moments (brief to the universe, anyway…long as only a car trip with a four-year-old can be to me), my microscopic blink of an existence made contact with the impossibly long span of earth’s history, touching ground upon the smooth desert sandstone of dusty Moab.