Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

Oregon Coast Aquarium

June 27, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Abby McCoy gets an up-close view of sharks

2820 SE Ferry Slip Road
Newport, Oregon

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a local gem of northwestern Oregon. Due to it’s manageable size (you can get through it in 1-2 hours), it serves well as a pitstop along US Highway 101. Admission is a little steep at $14.95 per adult and $9.45 for kids 3-12, but the aquarium is on par with the best, despite its size. The aquarium houses six main exhibits, including a deep sea area, an otter habitat, sea bird aviary, and jellyfish room (my personal favorite!). Angie McCoy of Jacksonville, Oregon says of her 22-month-old daughter: Abby loved the ‘Open Ocean’ tunnel in the Deep Sea exhibit. She screamed at the sharks!

If you have extra time (and money), the aquarium’s private Animal Encounter tours have received positive reviews. Also check their website for special events, discount days for homeschoolers, and more.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: Right off of 101 (Oregon Coast Highway).

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: There’s both a cafe and a coffee stand with various drinks and muffins. A nice play area is located at the end of the outdoor walk.

Website: http://www.aquarium.org/

Directions: From 101: Follow 101 through Newport, across the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Turn left onto 32nd Street. At the T, turn left onto SE Ferry Slip Road. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is straight ahead on the right.

From I-5: At Corvallis, take Hwy 20 west to U.S. Hwy 101 and follow directions above.

Source: Angie McCoy
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Sideling Hill Service Plaza

June 23, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Farmers Market at Sideling curstesy of The Mother of All Trips

Taylor, PA

The Sideling Hill Service Plaza is one of 18 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but only one of two hosting a farmer’s market of locally grown fruits and vegetables (the other one is located in Allentown).

Says Mara of The Mother of all Trips, We pulled off at the Sideling Hill Service Area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in between Harrisburg and Altoona to discover that it is a lovely spot! We grabbed our cooler out of the trunk and had a nice picnic next to the memorial garden that is planted on one side of the service area building (a plaque there honors veterans of the armed forces)¦Nicest of all was the farmer’s market, where five days a week it is possible to purchase local produce, jams, and baked goods. I picked up some cherries and blueberry bread for breakfast they should make a nice supplement to the complimentary cereal we get at our hotel. Read Mara’s full article Playing Catch on the PA Turnpike.

Date last visited: Mid-June 2009

Distance off the interstate: Directly off the turnpike. Access from both east and westbound.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: In addition to the farmer’s market, the plaza contains a Burger King, Popeye’s, and Hershey’s Ice Cream.

Website: Find information on all of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s service plazas at: http://www.paturnpike.com/geninfo/srvcplaza/svcplazas.aspx.

Directions: West of Harrisburg on the PA Turnpike (I-78), between exits 161-180.

Photo curtesy of The Mother of All Trips.

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Lithia Park

June 18, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Lithia Park Ashland, Oregon is a stunningly beautiful 93-acre park in a garden setting situated within easy distance of 1-5 for either a quick pitstop or an afternoon detour. Located on the north end of Ashland, Oregon in their pedestrian-friendly downtown, there are several entrances to this sprawling park, but the easiest to access from the city center is on Winburn Way. Park either in the city square or follow Winburn around the side of the park, and cross one of the several arched bridges over Ashland Creek. At this north end of Lithia Park, you’ll find a duck pond and excellent play structure, complete with climbing wall/rock and rope tower. Near the play area is easy access to the creek, where kids can dip toes on hot days (unless signs dictate otherwise¦the creek is closed to waders during some summers).

Almost at the top!

If you have time, continue on the marked paths to the south end, where you’ll find tennis courts, a second (more inhabited) duck pond, and hiking trails.

On the way back to the car, let the kids peek into Small Change, an excellent toy and boutique-quality children’s clothing store at 5 N. Main. Little ones can climb up the ladder into an elevated loft (fully enclosed with a latching gate) where they are encouraged to play with a selection of toys while you peruse the offerings. The other shops along the square are fascinating to poke around in as well, if your kids have the patience!

Nate and Cal climbing the rope tower.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: About five minutes’ drive.

Bathrooms: Clean bathrooms are located by the play structure. Many shops and restaurants are also within walking distance.

Food Services: Downtown Ashland has a plethora of excellent restaurants, but our personal favorite with kids is Munchies, located right in the heart of the square, on the corner of N. Main. They serve great vegetarian fare as well as burgers, pasta, and Mexican selections. There are also several ice cream and candy shops along the same block, as well as Big Town Hero and vegetarian and Thai cuisine.

Directions: From I-5, take exit 19 and turn right at S Valley View Rd. Turn left at Hwy-99 and continue 2 miles. Take a slight right at Guanajuato Way, then turn right at Winburn Way.

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Jetterz Kids Club

June 10, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Terminal 3 at London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport

If you find yourself with restless kids and a layover in Heathrow Airport this summer, Jetterz Kids Club Lounge in Terminal 3 just might be worth its weight in gold. One of several kid-friendly lounges in Heathrow (there are others in both Terminal 1 and 2), Jetterz is located airside, in the transfers check-in area and is open daily. It’s not free, but is fully supervised, meaning that you can drop off kids and go eat or shop if so inclined. Inside, you’ll find a TV, DVD player, reading material, computers and other games, as well as toys.

(Airlines using Terminal 3 for their departures include Air Canada and American Airlines.)

Cost: Â£15 per child for two hours worth of play; Â£10 per hour thereafter.

Hours: 8 am to 7 pm

Food Services: Landside includes fast food such as a Burger King, a Granary, and a Sbarro. Airside includes a bistro and a table service restaurant.

Website: You can book in advance at 020-8897 9183 or 07767 368600 or ops@diamond-air. co.uk. For a Heathrow map, check here. For more kid-friendly airport locations throughout the U.K., see Kids and Airports: A Survival Guide in the Independent.

Gunter Air Force Base

May 25, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base

Gunter Air Force Base
Montgomery, Alabama

As today is Memorial Day, it seemed fitting to post a pitstop for military families. If that applies to you, and you are driving I-65 in Montgomery, Gunter Air Force Base may be a good (and affordable) overnight option. Lucia at Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish stopped over with her family recently: $46 for two bedrooms separated by a bathroom and fairly close to major interstates. We stopped at the commissary the next morning to stock up on gas and snacks for the road.

Distance off the interstate: 4.5 miles

Food Services: Check out the commissary (links are below).

Website: Both of these provide good contact information:
http://militarymediainc.com/maxwell/
http://www.au.af.mil/usefullinks.asp

Directions: From I-65 south:

Take Exit 172. Turn right at Herron St. Herron St turns slightly left and becomes Bibb St. Continue on AL-108/Madison Ave, then turn left at Federal Dr. Continue on Cong W L Dickinson Dr, then turn right at N Turner Blvd, turn right at Spaatz St, turn left at S Morris Ave, and turn left at Clarke Park.

From I-65 north:

Take exit 173 for North Blvd toward US-231, then merge onto AL-152/Northern Blvd. Turn right at Emory Folmar Blvd, left at Cong W L Dickinson Dr, right at N Turner Blvd, right at Spaatz St, left at S Morris Ave, and left at Clarke Park.
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Multnomah Falls

May 18, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Multnomah Falls
Oregon

It’s hard to miss Multnomah Falls when traveling I-84, but you really need to stop and see it up close to appreciate its 620 foot height. And this pitstop doesn’t have to take a lot of time. From the parking lot, walk under the road through the pedestrian tunnel to the lodge and base of the falls (amazingly, even with a spectacular waterfall yards away, my kids were still more enticed by the tiny creek that runs the length of the parking lot¦go figure!). You can view the falls right from here, but to get the kids some much needed exercise, I’d suggest taking the fairly easy, short hiking trail up to Benson Bridge (midway up the falls). If you have even more time and energy, the trail to the top of the waterfall is worth the effort, but keep in mind that it’s steep (with switchbacks) and over a mile long. A historical center resides inside the lodge, by the gift shop (yes, of course there’s a gift shop! It’s a nice one, though!). …read more»

Silver Mountain Resort and Morning Star Lodge

May 8, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Any self-respecting ski lodging will include a hot tub or two. Maybe even a heated swimming pool. But only at Silver Mountain’s Morning Star Lodge do you get a full indoor water park to top off your ski day.

Intrigued? Let’s back up, and start with Silver Mountain itself, which offers 77 runs and 1,600 skiable acres along Idaho’s panhandle, right off I-90 in the historic mining town of Kellogg. We found the skiing here to be refreshingly authentic, with as many locals on the slopes as vacation-goers. Lifties clearly knew many skiers, and vice versa. Prices are reasonable, but services and grooming are still above standard. During our visit to the ski terrain, only about half the mountain was open (darn drought!) but what was open was very good skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers.

The ski terrain is a good 15-minute gondola ride from lodging and town amenities. Families won’t find a slick ski village in this small town, but rather a small but family-focused ski area complex at Morning Star Lodge. While additional lodging is available throughout town, this is where families want to be, for easy access to the gondola (the longest in North America, by the way), dining, shops, and Silver Rapids waterpark.

The waterpark comes included in any Morning Star Lodge stay, and is available to lodge guests only (with the exception of group private parties). At 42,000 square feet, its amenities rival those of any major indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodges included. Our school-aged kids loved the lazy river best, followed closely by the FlowRider surf simulator. There are several dedicated areas for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, and a family raft ride for anyone over 42 inches (or even smaller, if with an adult). There are two additional tube rides, plus activity pools with basketball hoops and ‘lily pads’ to traverse. There’s a nice hot tub on the lower level, plus two additional hot tubs and a bar on an upper level. If you have kids who will want to try surfing, the line does get long on the weekends. We found the entire waterpark nearly empty during weekdays in winter, and watched the facility fill up substantially by Friday evening. Two dining areas offer standard counter service food options, including a massive sundae your kids will definitely ask for.

The waterpark is a balmy 84 degrees at all times, making it a very welcome respite after a ski day. We saw many families who booked a night just for the waterpark, too. The ‘village’ area around Morning Star Lodge reminds us of the lodging options at major Colorado or Tahoe resorts…buildings are modern and handsome, fire pits blaze in set areas outdoors, there’s a nice children’s playground, and additional hot tubs for each of four main buildings. Each building at Morning Star Lodge also features ski lockers and their own lobbies. The main lobby near the registration desk features a guest hospitality room with coffee and tea at all times, plus a lounge area.

There’s an arcade, family dining restaurant called Noah’s Canteen, plus pizza place and several shops in the village area, and no matter what building you’re in, you’re only steps from all of it (plus the waterpark). Guests have several choices in lodging, from single rooms to multi-bedroom suites. We were very comfortable in a one-bedroom suite with rollaway bed for our family of five. We debating upgrading to a two-bedroom mostly to have two bathrooms. If you have older kids and teens, you may want to consider this. Each suite has a full kitchen, including dishwasher and full oven/range and full-sized fridge. We also loved having a washer and dryer for all those ski clothes!

Silver Mountain and Morning Star Lodge is certainly a four-season resort. We’ve now visited in both summer (during our first visit nearly seven years ago) and winter, most recently. While we love the ski terrain in winter (there’s also a tubing park), in summer, families can expect hiking trails and mountain biking, including a full scale gravity-based mountain biking park.

Date last visited: First time: June 2008, most recently: February 2015

Distance off the interstate: Less than a minute.

Food Services: There are two counter food service areas within the water park, as well as a pizza place and family dining restaurant located on the resort property. A grocery store is two minutes away by car; ask for directions at the front desk. On the mountain, two venues offer food services. We found the prices on-mountain to be very reasonable (about half what we’d pay in Tahoe).

Website: http://www.silvermt.com/

Directions: Take Exit 49 (Bunker Avenue) off I-90. Drive a mile. Follow the signs!

As we disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Silver Mountain and Morning Star Lodge as guests of the resort during our most recent visit. All opinions are our own.

Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center

May 3, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

2211 Dug Gap Battle Road
Dalton, Georgia

If you miss the Georgia Welcome Center a few miles north, or it’s too cold or wet to let the kids run around outside it, consider a pit stop at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, locally called the Dalton Trade Center.

There is room to stretch, but small enough to not get lost. The bathrooms are spectacularly clean. And of course, there are vending machines. I admit it seems wierd at first to crash a trade center, but wait, there’s more……read more»

Bear Creek Park

May 1, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

A section of the Bear Creek Greenway

1520 Siskiyou Blvd
Medford, OR

Bear Creek Park is an excellent pitstop that quite frankly, I forgot to review earlier because it’s right in my hometown. It’s also, however, right off of I-5 but tucked out of sight, making it a perfect candidate for Pitstops for Kids. Bear Creek Park is huge, and has something for everybody. On the east end of the park are a dirt BMX track (try it out if you have bikes with you!) and a large skate park. Parking is available there, or on the opposite end, by the large fortress’ playground. This is the most shaded area, with a huge climbing structure, tire swings, slides, and more. Bike paths connect this playground with the skate park (and tennis courts in-between). Also connected to the park is the Bear Creek Greenway bike path, which runs miles in either direction (toward Ashland, Oregon and Central Point, Oregon). If you have time, the greenway is a shady place to be on a summer day.

Sweet Tomatoes

April 25, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Buffet at Sweet Tomatoes

6600 SW Cardinal Lane
Tigard, OR

I once forced my children to sit tight in the car an extra 70 miles past our pre-determined dinner-stopping-point in order to push on to Sweet Tomatoes. And even considering the whining, loud singing, and general disgruntlement, it was worth it. For those who aren’t familiar with this restaurant chain (which is brought to us by the same fine folks as Soup Plantation), imagine food that’s fast, but nothing like fast food. Or, if you will, a Hometown Buffet that’s actually good (sorry, I’m not a fan of the latter). Sweet Tomatoes is a buffet filled with fresh, whole foods: every type of salad you can imagine, six to eight homemade soups, pasta, bread to die for, drinks, and dessert. If you’re a newbie, don’t make the same mistake we made our first time: be sure to grab the compartmentalized child trays for your kids (they’re molded to keep foods from running into each other¦ewww), and if your kids want to skip all the specialty salads offered at the beginning of the buffet, don’t panic¦there’s tons more kid-friendly options (including a Kids Only station) further in the back.

Try to avoid this Tigard location on weekend nights (but that’s probably true for all of them).
…read more»