Regional Snow Parks: Winter’s Best Pit Stops!

December 2, 2010 By

Pit Stops’ kids enjoying winter recreation while on the road!

If you’re traveling by car this holiday season, or have a family vacation road trip planned for this winter, don’t forget that snow parks can offer a cheap, fun, and festive alternative to traditional play spaces or restaurant pit stops. Often free (or requiring only a parking permit available locally), snow parks are almost always located directly off regional highways and usually include such luxuries as groomed snow trails, ready-made sledding hills, warming huts, and bathrooms. Not a bad way to spend that hour or so out of the car on a winter afternoon!

Our family’s favorite snow park is located at Union Creek Oregon, right off Highway 62 en route to Crater Lake National Park. (By the way, if you haven’t seen this natural wonder in winter, what the heck are you waiting for?!) Adjacent to the cozy Union Creek Resort, this full-service snow park offers the best sledding around. A rope tow is operational most days, but you’ll still work up enough of an appetite for a bite at Becky’s, serving up the best pie and hot cocoa around. If you’re crossing from coastal Oregon to central Oregon, be sure to circle this spot on the map! (50 miles from Medford on Hwy 62.)

Will you be traveling across Washington State this holiday? A Pit Stops for Kids reader favorite is Lake Wenatchee State Park, north of Leavenworth on Highway 2. In addition to sledding hills, you’ll find miles of cross-country, snow-shoeing, and even dog sledding trails. And the quaint Bavarian village of Leavenworth is only 25 minutes away!

Need to find a snow park along your winter driving route? The best place to start is with the National Parks Service. Look up state parks by state or region to find parks offering winter recreation. Toss gloves, coats, and a sled or two into the car, and you’re ready to go!

Happy (and safe) winter driving!

Mt. Hood Railroad Polar Express

November 26, 2010 By

A very special guest on the Polar Express!

110 Railroad Avenue
Hood River, OR

It’s that time of year…when everyday roadside attractions become magical! The Mt. Hood Railroad offers scenic tours through the Hood River Valley and the Columbia Gorge, and during the holiday season, they take a detour to the North Pole! Let your kids read along with the Polar Express story as the train makes its journey to the North Pole, meet Santa, and then enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, a treat and a special gift (for each child). Kids can wear their pajamas; be ready for some very cute photo ops! Everyone is dressed up to capture the feel of the story, and the train is beautifully decorated.

Distance from the nearest interstate: Right off I-84 in Hood River, Oregon. (Approximately 1 hour from Portland, OR down the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.)

Hours: Departures at 2 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7 pm nearly daily until December 23rd.

Ticket Prices: $26 per adult, $18 per child (age 2 and up).

Dining options: Cocoa and cookies are included in your ticket price, but no other food or drink are sold on the train. Passengers are welcome to bring their own bottled water and snacks. If you’re looking for a place to eat before or after your ride, I suggest either Hood River’s Andrew’s Pizza (107 Oak St), or, if time permits, a meal at the Multnomah Falls Lodge dining room in Cascade Locks on the way to or from the train ride.

Website: http://www.mthoodrr.com/Polar_Express/polar_mt_hood.html

Directions: From I-84, take the US-30 exit toward W Hood River/Westchill Dr. Turn right at US-30 E, then arrive at 110 Railroad St.

Keeping kids safe this holiday season: SafetyTat review

November 18, 2010 By

Are your kids prone to wandering off while on a family vacation, at a theme park, or just out for the day? Mine can be. (I like to call it ‘being inquisitive’, not disobedient!) One memorable summer day at SeaWorld San Diego, I actually lost sight of then-three-year-old Calvin for a full five minutes (and as any parent knows, that’s a long time!). As I looked for him urgently, I knew the chances of him remembering my cell phone number (or even his full name) if found by park personnel was not likely.

Luckily, I found him mesmerized by the sea lions a moment later, but ever since, I’ve made sure to take important safety precautions with my kids whenever we’re in a crowded or unfamiliar environment. We always review where to meet in case of separation, who to ask for help if needed (we believe mothers with strollers make for the easiest and generally safest demographic to seek out), and write contact information somewhere on their person.

Toby demos the Quick Stick Write-On SafetyTat.

The company SafetyTat has made that process easier than ever. These temporary tattoos, customized with your emergency contact information, last for up to five days, are waterproof, and are fun for kids to wear. Pit Stops for Kids tried both their original SafetyTat Child ID Tattoos and their Quick Stick Write-On applique (sticker), and both worked beautifully. I love that they’re waterproof (you don’t have to worry about them fading or coming off while your child is swimming, and applying sunscreen doesn’t damage them in the least), and that the Quick Stick variety stay on so well (they’re made of medical-grade adhesive).

There are many designs and styles to choose from with their online ‘Tat Builder’ (so both your princess and your sports fan will be happy), and SafetyTat has included alllergy and autism alert options as well. As a Search and Rescue volunteer, I know how important information like this is to searchers and other authorities. If you’re traveling with a larger group of family or friends, the Write On variety is ideal; it comes with a waterproof pen to customize your SafetyTats with different mobile phone numbers. (Remember not to write kids’ first names on tats.)

We’ll be using SafetyTat on our next trip, at the airport, at our next holiday parade, and during our next visit to a theme park!

SafetyTat generously provided Pit Stops for Kids with the aforementioned products at no charge. This compensation did not come with any expectation of a positive review.

Coeur d’Alene Resort’s Fantasy Cruise to the North Pole

November 11, 2010 By

Photo credit: Coeur d\’Alene Resort

Bet you never knew the North Pole is in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! Celebrate this holiday season while in the Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho area with a family Fantasy Cruise to the North Pole, hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

These 40 minute cruises offer spectacular views of the many floating holiday light displays decorating lovely Lake Coeur d’Alene. The most memorable point in the journey, at least for the kids, lies across the lake, as the boat momentarily pauses by Santa’s workshop, where the big man himself awaits amid a magical snowfall (although in Coeur d’Alene, chances are certainly good for the real deal)! Best of all, in the spirit of the season, children are FREE!

When my family and I attended this cruise several years ago, cookies and hot cocoa were served to all the kids in the boat en route, and holiday music was played. The atmosphere was festive, and my three-year-old had a great time!

Note: Be sure to bundle up! Even a mild night can feel chilly on the lake, and while the boat has an interior section, kids will want to spend time on deck to view the light displays. Expect wait time on the dock as well.

Distance from the nearest interstate: Right off I-90.

Hours: Departures are scheduled at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm nightly November 27th-January 2nd. (A special fireworks cruise kicks the season off on Nov. 26th!)

Ticket Prices:

Adults – $15.95
Seniors (65 yrs. & over) – $14.95
Children (12 yrs. & under) – Complimentary

Room rates: If you decide to make a trip to ‘Idaho’s North Pole’ an overnight (highly recommended!), The Coeur d’Alene Resort is offering several Fantasy Cruise packages, starting at $155.

Dining options: Our family’s favorite area restaurant is Tito Macaroni’s with their make-your-own-pizza for kids (210 Sherman Ave).

Website: http://www.cdaresort.com/activities/holiday_lights

Directions: Fantasy Cruises depart from the Coeur d’Alene Resort dock, located at the back of the resort (just ask in reception). The resort is located at 115 S. 2nd St., Coeur d’Alene. From I-90, take the Northwest Blvd. exit and drive into the city. Turn left on Sherman Ave. and right on 2nd.

 

 

Sunriver Resort, Oregon

November 8, 2010 By

Toby kicks back and relaxes in the snow at Sunriver.Located thirty minutes from Bend, Oregon along Hwy 97, Sunriver, Oregon is an outdoors-lover’s paradise four seasons out of the year. The Pit Stops for Kids family has visited in winter, spring, and summer, and had so much to do and see each time that we definitely need to go back!

Sunriver is a vibrant resort community of vacation homes and a village center of shops and restaurants centered around a main lodge, all nestled among the pines of central Oregon and in the shadow of Mt. Bachelor. The lodge often runs special packages ideal for families and weekend getaways, but if you’re looking for a magical place to spend your winter holiday vacation, Pit Stops for Kids recommends one of Sunriver’s vacation home rentals, such as these listings currently offered by HomeAway.

We were fortunate enough to spend a Christmas week here, and the kids (and I!) have never forgot it. Right in the Sunriver community, you have it all: snow outside your door (most of the time, anyway!), a sledding hill within walking distance, a year-round pool and hot tub (at the lodge, free access with most home rentals), cross-country and snow-shoe trails (doubling as walking and biking trails in the summer months), a village center with outdoor ice skating rink, award-winning restaurants, and kids’ activity clubs.

Holiday lights at the Sunriver Resort.

During the holiday season, there are tree-lighting ceremonies, cookies with Santa, The Night Before Christmas readings, bonfires, and more. We ate a delicious and festive Christmas Eve dinner at one of the lodge’s several dining rooms before returning to our cozy rental to hang the stockings and leave out cookies and milk for Santa. Christmas Day, we spent most our afternoon sledding, sipping cocoa, and playing board games. It really couldn’t be beat!

If you’re a skier, Mt. Bachelor ski resort is only twenty miles away, (arguably) offering the very best downhill experience of the area. Check for bundled ski/stay rates with Sunriver!

Distance from the nearest interstate: Right on Hwy 97 (30 minutes from OR Hwy 20).

Date Last Visited: December 2009

Rentals and Room Rates: Vary. Check the above links for room rates from the source!

Dining options: There are many, but our favorites are The Grille at Crosswater (for fine dining) in the lodge and Goody’s in the Sunriver Village. There is also a grocery store in the village, but for better prices, you might want to head into Bend, where you’ll find a Trader Joe’s, Albertson’s, and the like.

Website: Sunriver Resort

Directions: To get to the resort from Bend, take highway 97 to the exit at Cottonwood Road. Take a left at S. Imnaha Rd, then another left at E Cascade Rd. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on E Cascade Rd, then turn left to stay on E Cascade Rd. At the next traffic circle (yes, it’s confusing!), take the 3rd exit onto Abbot Dr, then turn left at Summit View Dr to the resort entrance.

Home (Away) for the Holidays: Introducing an Alternative to Hotels

November 4, 2010 By

Halloween is over, and for me and my family, that means one thing: the holiday travel season is upon us! Instead of staying home for the holidays, the Pit Stops family is excited to be reviewing >this beautiful HomeAway property near Lake Tahoe, CA during the week of Christmas, and can’t wait to share the experience with Pit Stops for Kids readers!

Does your family travel for the holidays? If so, where do you stay? With extended family, sharing a guest room or the living room couch? In a hotel room, cramped for space? I’ve done both, and needless-to-say, I’m looking forward to trying something different in vacation rental site HomeAway. I recommend checking it out if you, too, plan to travel this holiday season (or any time at all!).

Why rent a home for holiday travel?

It can be cheaper. Whether you find yourself on the road to visit family this holiday season or to get away from it all, you’ll probably want to stay in one location more than a day or so. Vacation homes are ideal for multi-night and weekly stays. I always look for one because my family of five usually requires two hotel rooms per night. Two rooms x seven nights = a hefty hotel charge on our hands! In contrast, most HomeAway rental properties rent weekly for less. And don’t forget about the cost of eating meals out: the price of your weekly rental property includes the built-in money-saver of your own kitchen!

It’s more relaxing. Cramped hotel rooms mean more noise, more kids underfoot (ok, the kids don’t multiply, but it sure feels like it!), and less sleep for everyone at night. In a rental property, we can spread out, cook our own food (or at least pour our own cereal…a savings in itself), do our own laundry, sleep in separate bedrooms…you get the idea. It’s more like home. And there’s a lot less of ‘get off of that!’, ‘stop that right this minute!’ and ‘So-in-so’s hogging the bathroom!’.

You’re given personalized attention. Forget a concierge. HomeAway rental properties offer something better: independent owners who know their properties (and locations) inside and out (quite literally). In the process of reserving my HomeAway property, I was put in immediate contact with the property owner, who was (and continues to be) an invaluable resource for me as I plan our vacation. She knows the community, the best local restaurants, and the most popular activities for kids. She’s been able to explain not only the trash pick-up schedule and how to work the thermostat, but where we should plan to ski and which local holiday celebrations are not to be missed.

You’re in good hands. HomeAway is the world leader of vacation home rentals, and with more than 425,000 rentals offered in 120 countries, travelers are bound to find an ideal property almost anywhere. In addition, by renting through HomeAway, you have the option of signing up for their first-of-its-kind Carefree Rental Guarantee, which provides up to $10,000 of payment protection.

Find Vacation Rental Deals!

Stay tuned for our next Home (Away) for the Holidays segment and details on our HomeAway vacation rental experience this holiday season!

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

October 28, 2010 By

There are few places as stunning as the California Redwoods.

The summer tourist crowds have left beautiful Northern California, leaving near-empty (and ever inviting) state parks and recreation areas behind. If you’re looking to take an off-season road trip or family weekend getaway this autumn, consider a stay (or day trip) in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

We love this state park (located right along Highway 199 and not far from Highway 101 and the coast) for its unsurpassed beauty, spacious campsites hidden away under towering redwoods, fun hiking trails, and proximity to both wooded terrain and the rugged Pacific. Our favorite activity: walking the shores of Smith River and wading in the chilly water!

But this fall, there’s another reason to pack up the car and visit a California State Park: budget cuts have put the state park system at risk. On November 2nd, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on a proposition that will make a significant difference for California State Parks, while at the same time giving Californians greater opportunities to explore California’s natural wonders. Proposition 21 adds an $18 vehicle license fee for all vehicles registered in the state of California. In return, California drivers will receive free unlimited day use admission to the California State Parks. This is huge! Imagine if every state offered such a perk to its residents!

Learn more about Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park here.

One of many ‘tucked away and out of sight’ campsites at Jed Smith!

Date Last Visited: August 2010

Distance off the interstate: Nine miles from Hwy 101 (the CA/OR coast), and approximately 1.5 hours from I-5.

Hours: Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.

Camping: JSR State Park offers camping, and the easiest way to reserve a spot is through their online system at Reserve America. If you want to spend time on the coast as well, consider staying an extra night in a yurt at nearby Harris Beach State Park in Oregon. If you are coming from I-5, your whole family will love adding a night in a tree house at Out ‘N About Treesort in Cave Junction, Oregon!

Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413

Directions: Nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199. If you’re coming from I-5, take the Redwoods Highway exit at Grants Pass, then follow Hwy 199 to JSR State Park!

 

Spooky Pit Stops: Fernbank’s Pirate Weekend

October 25, 2010 By

Ahoy mateys (and kids of all ages)! Fernbank is serving up some swashbuckling fun!

767 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA

By this time of year, you have all your little ghosts and goblins ready to hit the streets in pursuit of candy (which reminds me I need to buy new bed sets after creating costumes out of our old ones!), but Pit Stops for Kids’ quest for spooky pit stops continues! We love family-oriented museums like Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, GA, and are happy to let readers know about their upcoming Pirate Weekend!

Does Fernbank sound familiar? We’ve reviewed their great children’s programs before! If you find yourself in the greater Atlanta area, stop by to set sail for a swashbuckling adventure with both Yo-Ho-Ho and H2O during this special weekend inspired by Fernbank’s newest family-friendly exhibition, Water: H2O=Life, which looks beneath the surface, above the clouds and all around the world on a hands-on exploration of the amazing power of water.

Best of all, Pirate Weekend activities and the water exhibition are included with museum admission and free for members! (See below for regular museum admission.)

Dates offered: November 6-7.

Distance off the interstate: Right off I-75/I-85!

Hours: 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, noon to 4 pm on Sunday. (Museum hours longer.)

Dining options: The Fernbank Cafe, located inside the museum, offers sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more!

Website: http://fernbankmuseum.org

Admission: $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, and $12 for children ages 12 and under.

Directions: From I-75/I-85/GA400 head toward downtown Atlanta. Take exit 248C Freedom Parkway (GA 10 East). Go 1.7 miles to Ponce de Leon Avenue and turn right. Go 1.7 miles to Clifton Road and turn left. Go 1/10 mile to the Museum entrance and turn right.

Spooky Pit Stops: Harmon’s Tree Farm

October 21, 2010 By

Harmon’s offers seasonal fun all year long!

3152 Augusta Highway (US Highway 1)
Gilbert, South Carolina

Looking for a family-oriented fall festival in a beautiful setting? Want to add a haunted house, corn maze, and spooky hay ride to liven things up? Harmon’s Tree Farm, located half an hour outside of Columbia, SC has it all! Their ‘Boo House’ is tame enough that most young kids can have fun touring the spooky exhibits (the haunts will not jump out and startle you), while older kids will love the challenging corn maze and haunted hay ride.

Dates offered: Harmon’s has farm events for all seasons, but their fall attractions are open now through October 31st.

Distance off the interstate: Ten minutes from I-20 (directly on US-1).

Hours: Monday-Friday 1 PM-6 PM, Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, Sunday 1:30 PM-6 PM

Dining options: None on site.

Website: Harmon’s Tree Farm

Admission: Prices are reasonable, and vary by activity. Check their full list of fall activities and Halloween events for exact pricing.

Directions: From Columbia SC, follow US-1 N/Us Highway 1 to destination near Windy Hill Road.

While you’re in the area: Check out nearby Riverside Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo!

Not in South Carolina? Be sure to check out our other Spooky Pit Stop picks: Salem, Massachusetts. Or if you’re looking for something truly scary (not for the faint of heart, young or old), check out this directory of haunted houses listed by state!

Out ‘N About Treesort

October 6, 2010 By

Hanging out in the trees in the Swiss Family tree house!

Last weekend, the Pit Stops for Kids crew had the opportunity to stay in one of the most unique locations we’ve ever experienced: a tree house high in the air! At Out ‘N About Treesort near Cave Junction, Oregon, guests have their pick of one of 15 tree houses, elevated yurts, cabins, and tree ‘gazebos’ in which to spend the night. Each one is different, offering different views, different features, and different amenities (or as they say there, ‘amenitrees’).

It only took us approximately ten minutes to reach the resort from Highway 199 (which runs between I-5 and the Oregon coast), or 40 minutes from I-5. When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly resort staff and shown around the beautiful property of mountain meadows, sugar pine trees, pasture, and hillside. It didn’t take us long to realize that Out ‘N About is all about making guests feel at home: in addition to the main lobby with couches, games, TV, freshly brewed coffee, and wireless, a ‘Central Amenitrees’ cabin is situated adjacent to a communal fire pit housing a full kitchen for guest use, a spacious bathroom with shower for those guests without plumbing in their tree house, and numerous BBQs, dishes, wood, charcoal, and the like.

Exploring the rope bridges at Out ‘N About!

Further exploration of the resort yielded elevated tree platforms, rope bridges high in the air, a rope swing the kids couldn’t get enough of, stables, an expansive zip line course, and a swimming hole beautifully landscaped and fed by the nearby Illinois River. Put simply: this is kid paradise.

Of course, we were anxious to see our tree house. We stayed in the ‘Swiss Family’ complex, which comfortably slept the five of us in two distinct tree house cabins: the upper two-story adult unit has a double bed along with a child size single and rocking chair on the landing and large covered open deck below. ‘The kids’ unit, connected by a swinging bridge, has a bunk bed and a small table with chairs like the playhouse all kids want. We used the bathroom facilities in the ‘Central Amenitrees’ (only 75 feet away), but had electricity and heat.

The older two kids loved having their own ‘place’ connected by the bridge, and Toby was more than happy to curl up on the cozy bench bed in the main unit. And while this was a tree house in the truest sense of the word (we had to climb a ladder to enter our unit by a trap door), it was comfortable and all our needs were met: fresh towels and sheets awaited us, and we had plenty of warm blankets to accompany our heater. We even had a fridge and the kids had a fire pole to shimmy down to the ground! (See more photos of the tree houses and even virtual tours of the interiors!)

Bridge from the Swiss Family kid suite to the main complex and lower deck.

Date Last Visited: October 2, 2010

Distance from the Interstate: 40 minutes from I-5.

Room Rates: Tree house rates range from $120-$250 per night.

Dining Options: ‘Central Amenitrees’ is stocked with everything you need to cook or BBQ a meal (minus the food), and breakfast is served daily (included in the price of your tree house). We found the breakfast to be delicious (in fact, the kids went back for a ‘second breakfast’ about an hour later!). Completely homemade, during our stay we had our pick of quiches, egg dishes, french toast, muffins, fresh fruit, and cereal. If you want to dine elsewhere for lunch or dinner, nearby Cave Junction offers several choices. Our pick: Wild River Pizza on Hwy 199.

Calvin listens to final instructions before zipping across the meadow.

Activities: There’s plenty to do at Out ‘N About. In addition to simply letting your kids have the run of the place (kids under 8 need to be with an adult while exploring), families can sign up for a number of activities and classes on the grounds, all listed daily in the main lobby. During our visit, horseback rides were offered, in addition to a mosaics and felting class and the activity my kids were most looking forward to: the zip-line.

Out ‘N About has an extensive network of zip-lining courses on their property, designed to put a smile on the face of both novices and experts. We signed up for their ‘Basics Course’, which gave us five long zip-line experiences over the meadow and through the trees. The zip-lines soared over 70 feet over the ground in some places, and we had an absolute blast zipping from tree platform to tree platform high in the air.

The Out ‘N About zip line staff were professional, capable, and very friendly, putting the kids (and us) instantly at ease and making the afternoon all the more fun. We felt very safe in their hands as they suited us up in harnesses and taught us the basics on a practice line. Even Toby (only 35 pounds) was able to join the fun (and had a blast!). After completing the Basics Course, guests have the option of more zip-lining fun on their more advanced lines.)

Toby soars through the air!

Zip-lining starts at $45 per person, and you don’t have to be a guest to give it a try. If you are driving along Hwy 199 and have a few hours to spare, it’s well worth the pit stop! (Call ahead to reserve a spot!)

Other Attractions in the Area: There’s a lot to do in Southern Oregon, from swimming in the Illinois River in the summer to picking blackberries in the fall. We combined our stay at Out ‘N About with a day trip to Oregon Caves National Monument, located approximately 20 miles away on OR-46. Check out our review of Oregon Caves and consider making it a stop!

Website: http://www.treehouses.com/

Phone: 541-592-2208

Directions: Out ‘N About is located at 300 Page Creek Road, Cave Junction OR. From I-5, take Grants Pass exit 55. Take Hwy 199 28 mi. to Cave Junction. South of Cave Junction about 1/2 of a mile, take a left on Rockydale Road. Go 7.5 miles to the stop sign at Waldo Road and make a left. About a mile to next stop sign, make a right on Takilma Road. In 2.5 miles you will see Page Creek Road on the left; turn left and go about 1/4 mile. You will see mail boxes and 300 Page Creek Rd. Turn left on gravel road and take it to the end.

From the south on HWY 199, turn right just past the flashing light and old cop car at the O’Brien store onto O’Brien st. O’Brien street dead ends on Waldo Rd. Take a right onto Waldo Rd. Stay on Waldo for about 4 miles until you hit the stop sign at Takilma Rd. Make a right on Takilma Road, and in 2.5 miles you will see Page Creek Road on the left. Turn left and go about 1/4 mile; you will see mail boxes and 300 Page Creek Rd. Turn left on gravel road and take it to the end.

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Out ‘N About generously compensated us for the price of our rooms and my zip lining adventure. While we greatly appreciate their hospitality, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.