Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

Travel style for men: Best travel wear brands

November 11, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We have three men in our house…at least when it comes to clothing size. Our Pit Stops Dad and our two teenage sons all have a no-frills travel wear style, and they’re never interested in a lot of shopping. But I know how important it is to buy quality travel clothing that can last a long time, stand up to wear-and-tear, and perform in a variety of weather conditions. If the men in your life don’t want to do a lot of travel wear research, point them in this direction: we have the best travel wear brands for men, all in one place!

Ecōths:

Pronounced ecos, Ecōths has been a favorite of ours for awhile. You can read some recent reviews here. Why do we like it? This brand gives back, and since it’s the men’s line of the Aventura Clothing company, you can save money with your #AventuraLife membership (free to join). But none of that matters if the clothes come up lacking, right? Ecōths shirts and tees are primarily organic cotton, which means they don’t wrinkle in your luggage, they’re incredibly soft to wear, and the colors stay vibrant. Our guys love that the same brushed cotton polo worn all day city touring can continue on to dinner that same night. We’re all about packing less.

A few Ecōths favorites:

Noah Zip-Neck Sweater: My husband’s go-to pullover from fall through spring, the Noah is excellent for chilly planes and road trips alike. There are many fun colors to choose from, too.

Asher shirt: Another very simple design that comes in rich jewel tones (but nothing too flashy), the Asher is perfect for layering. Pit Stops Dad wears his over a tee for morning outings, since it can be easily stashed into a backpack.

Hendrix shirt: For warm-weather trips, my sons love the trendy-looking Hendrix (maybe they have a bit more style than their dad?) With a collar and breast pockets, it looks dressy when it needs to, but is also casual enough for a cruise, a bike ride, or a dude ranch.

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Columbia:

The favorite outdoor wear brand of my eldest son, Columbia is where to shop when you need rugged, trail-and-travel ready clothing. No nonsense, no-frills, and usually easy on the wallet, Columbia has proved its value to us time and again. We love their ski wear as well, but for this post, we’ll talk travel shirts and pants.

A few Columbia favorites:

Silver Ridge shirt: If your man in your life needs an all-purpose travel shirt that can go from trail to tour, the Silver Ridge delivers. It’s extremely lightweight, so it works well in tropical climates where you need to protect your skin from sun and mosquitos, and is breathable and loose for those days you’ll be hiking.

Featherweight hike shirt: This shirt is dubbed as ‘titanium’, and my son can attest to this rating…this shirt traveled with him for 26 days on the Pacific Crest Trail, and is STILL in his closest, worn regularly at home. It’s expensive, but worth the investment.

Men’s Cascades Explorer pant: These pants can go anywhere, and look good even when you pull them out of your suitcase on the last day of a trip. Plus, they can be washed pretty well in hotel room sinks.

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ExOfficio:

No way around it, ExOfficio clothing can get expensive. But it’s also extremely well-made, will last a long time, and a few core pieces can perform multiple functions on an outdoorsy or adventure travel trip. Their BugsAway line is especially high in value.

A few ExOfficio favorites:

BugsAway Talisman: This shirt was worn by my husband multiple times during our cruise through Panama and Costa Rica. It serves several purposes: the insect repellent ‘baked’ into it keeps him safe from mosquito-borne illness, and the sun protection keeps sunburn at bay. Plus, it rinses out nicely between uses.

Ziwa convertible pant: These zip-away convertible pants are excellent for hiking and more rugged travel days, especially since they can be made into shorts at any time. I have the women’s version of this pant, by the way, and love it.

GeoTrek’r shirt: If you need a short-sleeved shirt, this is your no-frills, simple option. The GeoTrek’r has a security zip pocket, but is otherwise exactly what it looks like: a basic button-down short-sleeve that will last through many adventures.

Alta for everyone: Why this Utah resort should be on your radar

November 9, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

With fourteen ski resorts within 45 minutes of Salt Lake City, it can be hard to decide which to call your own for your next destination ski trip. I love Park City, but don’t forget about the resorts tucked into the canyons just behind Provo, too!

Alta Ski Resort sits in Little Cottonwood Canyon right next to Snowbird. Due to the terrain, skiers immediately feel completely tucked away and isolated from the bustle of Park City and SLC. In fact, you won’t find a ski village here, complete with manufactured pedestrian streets, ice rinks, and Patagonia shops. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but that’s just not what Alta is all about. Instead, Alta boosts five boutique lodges (the largest has only 90 rooms) nestled into the canyon, where guests sleep, eat, enjoy apres ski, and yes, dream about Alta’s epic powder.

What Alta’s all about:

The first thing I noticed about Alta is, the people are different here. Firstly, they’re all skiers. Snowboarding is not permitted. For the most part, they’re serious about their winter recreation, and, in the case of Alta Lodge’s stellar return rate, over 70% of them have been here before.

Everywhere I went on the mountain, skiers were ardent Alta fans. The terrain is largely black diamond (expert), the chairs are mostly slow-moving doubles and triples, and the slopes are fairly unforgiving. Unlike at some resorts that plan out numerous cat tracks and groomers, Alta expects a lot of its skiers: there are many places its necessary to traverse, many opportunities to hike for higher terrain, and even a rope tow needed to get from one base to the next. In fact, long-time skiers affectionately joke Alta stands for Another Long Traverse Ahead.

Alta is an experience more than it is a mountain. It’s about the people, the traditions, the light, deep snow.

Average snowfall in Little Cottonwood Canyon is a whooping 551 inches per season, and Alta uses it to the max, with 2,200 lift-served acres (more if you skin it) and over 115 runs. Words to come to mind while I ski Alta include ‘authentic’, ‘old-school’, and ‘no joke’.

While Alta is known as an ‘expert hill’, there’s terrain for everyone. On its Sunnyside base, the Alta ski school provides a welcoming, genuine experience, and there are plenty of green runs to get you going. What I noticed Alta lacked was the in-between: if you like long, blue groomer or rolling corduroy, it seemed to be in short supply. If you’re an expert, the Supreme and Collins lifts will take you to big bowls, powdery slopes, and tree stashes. We skied on a powder day, and there was so much terrain (with so few crowds), we easily found powder well after lunch.

Alta Lodge:

As mentioned above, Alta Ski Resort has five lodging options, as well as a collection of mountain homes for rent privately. I stayed at Alta Lodge, situated just above the base area overlooking Goldminer’s Daughter and the expanse of the canyon. From the outside, Alta Lodge is decidedly rustic; in fact, it reminded me of the lodges we stayed in at Tahoe back in the ’70s and ’80s. A poma lift takes you to the door, which opens onto a cozy, warmly-appointed lobby and living space. Here, skiers can warm themselves by the fire in comfy chairs, enjoy coffee, tea, and cookies in the afternoon, and take in stunning mountain views in the small sitting room.

Downstairs, the ski locker room has been recently redone, and even features a ping pong table to use before or after your ski day. The lodge is ski in, ski out, and a four-course dinner and full breakfast is included in your nightly room rate.

Down the winding hallways of the lodge, two hot pools and saunas await skiers needing to soak, and upstairs, the Sitzmark Club offers incredible ambiance for apres ski drinks. It’s true that when not skiing, your Alta lodging choice will be where you spend all your time while in Little Cottonwood Canyon, but trust me, you won’t mind.

In fact, I loved the simplicity of knowing I’d park my car once, and spend all my time in the same cozy place.

During my stay at Alta Lodge, I noticed it was not unusual to see the CEO and the owners frequently. This lodge has been family-run since 1959, and is currently celebrating their 75 anniversary (of opening)! Guests come back year after year; in fact, return guests get first dibs at rebooking for the following year. I loved the all-inclusive feel to the lodge, as well as the genuine community atmosphere. Skiers mingled in the bar and at dinner, sharing stories of the slopes.

Included in the room rate:

In addition to a full dinner and full breakfast daily, guests have complimentary ski lockers, the hot tubs, and a full childcare program. Kids are taken to ski school and brought back, given a kids’ dinner separately (while adults are still enjoying the bar or pools), and entertained in a staffed childcare area after dinner. They also transport kids to and from ski school lessons. (Note: full-time childcare is not available). I met the childcare staff and was impressed by the quality of this free program.

Guests can invite additional friends to dinner (using credit for the next night…eat out or trade with friends) or substitute a lunch for dinner. A full lunch is available at the lodge during the day (extra charge unless substituting). There’s also the daily afternoon tea, including pastries, cookies, and hot beverages, and complimentary yoga classes in the mornings before the ski day.

Standard room rates are around $400, with lower priced rooms that have not yet been remodeled, and even dorm rooms for as low as $122. All rooms, regardless of type, come with meals. I believe the value is absolutely there. We will be back with the whole family!

Skiing at Snowbird:

While at Alta, you should absolutely ski Snowbird as well. Located right ‘next door’, Snowbird offers terrain that rivals Alta (some say it’s better) and both can be skied with the same Mountain Collective Pass. It’s possible to ski from one resort to the other, so I absolutely recommend the dual pass. Alta lift tickets start at $89/day for adults, making it significantly less than larger Park City area resorts. Snowbird is under $100, and in spring, is reduced as much as 50%. It’s possible to upgrade day passes to include both Snowbird and Alta.

We experienced Alta and the Alta Lodge as guests of Ski Utah, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Gift for outdoor adventurers: Cairn subscription box review

November 8, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

I adore subscription boxes. Maybe it’s the thrill of getting regular packages in the mail, or the fun of never knowing exactly what’s going to be inside, but we’ve tried several varieties, from kids’ craft boxes to snack boxes. By far the best we’ve seen, however, for our crew? The Cairn box.

Named after one of my favorite sights along mountain trails, the trusted rock cairn, Cairn boxes contain goodies of the outdoor adventure variety. Subscriptions are $25/month, and even at a glance, I can tell the items sent have a value of at least that, or more, every time. You never know exactly what you’ll get, which is part of the fun, but Cairn does guarantee they’ll include things from the following five categories:

Gear: this could be a headlamp, a backpacking food container, a carabiner, etc.
Apparel: wool socks, a beanie, lightweight gloves, etc
Food/Energy: maybe a new hydration supplement, an energy bar, or a dehydrated snack
Skin care: perhaps a tube of sunscreen or lip balm
Emergency/Medical: think first aid items, fire starters, and the like

Could I go out and buy these types of things for myself for $22/month? Maybe, but I wouldn’t know what to get. This, to me, is the point of subscription boxes like Cairn: it will introduce you to new products and cool stuff you didn’t know existed. For me, Cairn is a teaser…a chance for me and my hiking sons to say, ‘Whoa, I didn’t know they made battery packs like this,” or, “Now this is an energy bar I’d actually eat.” Or, perhaps we find an item or two we’d never use again. Either way, it’s fun, it’s experiential, and it’s adventurous.

Here’s what we found in our first Cairn box:

LuminAID PackLite 16 ($25 value): I’d actually been eyeing this lightweight, waterproof, solar-powered LED light for some time now. It easily clips to backpacks and inflates to be a great lantern for backpacking trips.
Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide ($10 value): I haven’t looked at this yet, because my 16-year-old took it immediately and began reading. He’s an avid hiker and backpacker, and I’m glad he’s brushing up on his skills.
Kate’s Real Food Grizzly Bar ($3 value): I’ve reviewed Kate’s Real Food bars in the past, and have recommended them ever since. I know this product well, and can vouch for the quality. Well done, Cairn!
Mancha by Nazqiz ($2.50 value): this corn snack made with heirloom chulpe corn is completely new to me. In my opinion, this is what Cairn is all about…being introduced to new products.

In our most recent box, we received:

Uco Leschi Lantern and mini flashlight
Urban Gear tool (the kind you can put on your keychain)
HumanGear GoTubb (those little water-resistant containers perfect for packing small items)
GoToob (the squeezable kind)

As noted above, I was already aware of several of these outdoor gear products, but as a reviewer, I’m more in touch with the outdoor industry than most consumers. I imagine Kate’s Real Food, UrbanGear, and LuminAID is new to most people.

We learned about new gear from Cairn in time to outfit our son for his PCT trip last summer. It’s easy to gift a Cairn box, perfect for holiday giving!

Grown-Up Getaway: Sundance Resort Utah

November 7, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

You probably don’t need an excuse to plan a luxurious grown-up getaway this fall or winter, but just in case, I’ve got the ultimate: a stay at Sundance Resort. An easy commute from Salt Lake City, Sundance is located in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains directly under the shadow of dramatic Mt. Timpanogos. It’s affectionately known as ‘Bob’s place’, for founder and owner Robert Redford. And yes, he still spends ample time here.

In summer and fall, Sundance is a prime location for hiking, biking, and generally communing with nature, and in winter, its ski resort offers 450 acres of terrain. All year round, guests can enjoy Sundance’s stellar spa, art studio (with classes), yoga, meditation, and fine dining.

Why I recommend Sundance for the grown ups:

Don’t get me wrong: Sundance Resort is equipped to accommodate kids. It has refreshingly low lift ticket rates, which appeal to families, and the woodsy setting will certainly make kids feel at home. The thing is, you may not want them there. Sundance’s vibe is decidedly serene, with an emphasis on self-reflection, revitalization, and pampering. Imagine yourself sliding into your private jacuzzi tub or chilling on your deck in an adirondack chair, cocktail in hand…without kids to supervise.

The feeling of relaxation starts before you arrive. The drive from Salt Lake City (I came from the airport) takes about 45 minutes, the last few winding through a slotted canyon as you climb into the mountains. Immediately, you feel isolated from the bustle of the valley, a feeling that’s reinforced when you visit the reception center then wind uphill to find your accommodation tucked into the trees. The entire resort feels very intimate and manageable: you won’t see big parking lots or lodge buildings.

Lodging at Sundance:

I stayed in a studio suite about a 10 minute walk from the reception area. Lodging ranges from rooms and condos (of which there are 100) to a smaller selection of mountain homes. Condos range from studios to three-to-four bedrooms. My studio included a kitchenette (microwave, sink, coffee maker, and mini-fridge with counter space), a wood-burning fireplace, sitting area, large bathroom with jacuzzi tub, bedroom area with one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in, and a porch with chairs overlooking a creek and woods. The entire space was decorated with purpose: it was artsy, warm, and inviting.

Dining and shopping:

Sundance is known for boutique shopping, high dining, and outdoors-pursuits. In the central area at the base of the hill (by the reception area) is Sundance’s main shop, with everything you’d find in the Sundance catalogue, from jewelry to boutique clothing to logo items. Across the street, the small art studio offers classes as well as fine art. In fact, Sundance hires two glassblowers to be on staff seasonally, who make all of the resort’s glassware.

Sundance has a marketplace with items like sandwiches, smoothies, and pastries, plus candy and snacks to buy a la carte. The Foundry is what Sundance calls its ‘casual’ dining restaurant, but I might beg to differ (in a good way). The log cabin feel of the room is both warm and elegant; don’t miss the wall-to-wall mural at the back. You can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner here; we ate a wonderful breakfast before skiing.

Sundance’s signature restaurant is the Tree Room, where I dined surrounded by the private art and native artifact collections of Robert Redford himself. The dining experience here is exquisite, with impeccable service and a deep wine list. Expect to pay at least $30-40 per entree, but also prepare to be very satisfied with the experience. The atmosphere in the Tree Room is certainly refined, but not in a stuffy way. We had a lively group who loved socializing, and we felt right at home.

Also not to be missed: The Owl Bar, located adjacent to the Foundry. This rustic (yet again, somehow elegant) bar is the ideal apres ski spot, with craft cocktails served over the bar that once stood in Thermopiles, Wyoming during the late 1890s. Its most famous guests back in the day: Butch Cassidy and his gang. You can get appetizers and small plates in the Owl Bar, as well as beer on tap.

The Spa at Sundance:

My massage therapist at Sundance told me that she has clients who fly into Sundance and book a stay solely for the spa. After the most in-depth facial I’ve ever had, I can see why. The spa is located amid the lodging rooms at Sundance, and like the rest of the resort, it’s small and intimate. When I arrived, I was shown a place to change and given a Sundance tote bag to store my belongings (no locker rooms here). I was next directed to a chair by the fireplace, where I enjoyed a hot stone foot soak pre-treatment. The spa has a full line of services.

Outdoor recreation at Sundance:

Every day during our stay, complimentary yoga and meditation classes were offered at the yoga yurt at Sundance. There are also numerous walking and jogging trails. In summer, you’ll find horseback riding, mountain biking, and golf. In winter, there’s both a downhill skiing resort and nordic center for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The downhill resort has just one base area (right by the shop and Foundry), with its own rental center, small pro shop, and lift. Three additional lifts connect the first to a total of 45 runs.

Would I come for the skiing? Maybe not…after all, Sundance has some stiff competition in that department in the region. However, at Sundance, it’s about the overall experience: no lift lines, great service, wonderful food, a relaxed atmosphere. I’d be hard pressed to name a more beautiful ski area, as you ski directly below stunning Mt. Timpanogos. If you go, absolutely take a ski break at the top for some nachos at Bearclaw Cabin; you’ll feel as though you’re at the top of the world.

Rates:

Rates begin at about $395 per night, and go upward from there. However, rates vary widely by season and room type, and come with major perks: rooms come with two complimentary lift tickets, as well as first tracks privileges. You also get free yoga and other wellness classes. Some rooms do include full kitchens and lofts for kids; if you do bring the family, you’ll want this amenity because eating every meal out would get very expensive. Without the kids, I’d splurge on the wonderful dining opportunities.

Directions:

Sundance is located at 8841 N. Alpine Loop Road . From Salt Lake City, get onto I-80 east. Then turn right onto I-215 heading south. Next take I–15 South towards Provo. Continue on I-15 to exit #272 (which is 800 North in Orem) turn left heading east. Stay on 800 North through Orem to the mouth of the canyon. Stay in left hand lane, which will drop onto Hwy 189. Continue up the canyon approximately 7 miles to Scenic Route #92 which is the first left after the tunnel. Sundance is 2 miles up the canyon on the left.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Sundance Resort for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

WiFi hotspot in your car: ZTE Mobley review

November 4, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

AT&T reached out to us to product test their mobile hotspot, the ZTE Mobley. We said we’d give it a whirl on a seven-hour road trip, because I was curious about the pros and cons of having a WiFi hotspot in your car: after trying it out, would we want to keep it? Would we decide we needed it, or not?

We opted to set up the ZTE Mobley mobile hotspot in our Toyota van for use during a seven-hour road trip from Southern Oregon to Eastern Washington. I figured it was a good journey for testing: most of the route is on interstate, with plenty of cell towers close enough to be in range, with only occasional loss of coverage during mountain passes. It’s also a mixture of rural, suburban, and urban areas. It’s a typical road trip route for us here in the Northwest.

Note: this review is written for AT&T customers. If you’re not with AT&T, you can skip the set up instructions and scroll down to the part where we describe whether we think the hotspot is worth bringing on road trips.

Setting up the ZTE Mobley:

I tend to dread the ‘set up’ process when it comes to new technology, but as it turned out, setting up the mobile hotspot was easy-peasy. The ZTE Mobley is shaped a lot like an ink cartridge, and inserts directly into the OBD II connector port in your car (yeah, I didn’t know I had one, either). All you need to do is start your car’s engine, then connect your smart phone (or other WiFi-enabled device) to the network. To do this, you go through the usual steps: under WiFi on your phone, search for the WiFi network name and input password. Launch your browser.

Note: you can always manage your hotspot at http://attwifimanager.com.

On the road:

Once we were up and running, we could connect up to five wireless devices to the mobile hotspot, shared across main and guest networks. Parents: you can block certain devices from logging onto the WiFi, though it would seem to me that if you have activated the hotspot in your car, you’re ok with everyone using it. Just like any other WiFi network, you can change the password as desired.

The ZTE Mobley worked great for us on our road trip, during which we had three devices logged onto the WiFi. My teenaged sons streamed some Netflix TV shows, and I was able to work on my laptop, researching an upcoming travel story, when not in the drivers’ seat. Normally, we have a ‘no streaming’ rule on road trips, because we go through 4G data so fast when we allow it. The kids thought it was a nice treat to entertain themselves with Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes.

Of course, there were a few places en route where we lost connection due to signal strength, but this was expected. We simply refreshed. I read criticism of the Mobley that sometimes, the signal dropped from LTE to 3G or lower, but we didn’t experience this problem.

So, do you need a WiFi hotspot in your car?

Potentially, a hotspot in your car can allow you or your kids to entertain themselves with gaming in the car, movies, TV shows, and other apps that require WiFi. I really enjoyed the ability to get work done. We were also able to stream audio books we didn’t want to have to download, saving us time and storage before our road trip. That said, in my opinion, a WiFi hotspot in the car is a nice luxury, but certainly not a necessity. We don’t personally allow screens in our car for short trips, but do allow them on long trips, making the hotspot desirable sometimes, but not all the time. With a two-year contract, however, you unfortunately can’t turn your hotspot on and off as desired.

My conclusion: I view car WiFi much like I view GoGo Inflight WiFi: well worth paying for when you need it, but not needed for every trip.

With a two-year contract, you can’t, unfortunately, turn your hotspot on and off as desired.

Cost:

If you decide a mobile hotspot is right for your family, it’s pretty affordable. If you’re an AT&T customer, the Mobley is free with a two-year contract. You can get 1 GB for $20/month or 3 GB for $30/month.

Disclosure: We tried the ZTE Mobley free of charge for six weeks, for the purpose of review. We are AT&T customers, and unfortunately for us, AT&T does not pay our monthly cellular bill.

Travel gear we use: packing cubes and TSA bags for the family

October 28, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Today in our Travel Gear We Use series, we’re talking about using packing cubes to make family packing easy! Below are the packing cubes we use for every trip, as well as the carry-on liquid quart bag we recommend. Many families consider packing cubes just for air travel, but we use them every time we pack. Most recently, packing cubes made our lives easier en route to a Lake Tahoe vacation rental.

Any packing cube is a good packing cube to use for family travel. Why? They make parents’ lives much easier on the road, and allow you to take much more in a carry on bag. Packing cubes keep kids’ clothing organized so they can find outfits and accessories themselves, and keep clean clothes away from dirty clothes. If you don’t have packing cubes and cannot buy them, use zip-lock bags! If you are planning to purchase packing cubes, here are our tried and true picks:

Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube Set

Eagle Creek’s packing cubes with compression have changed my life. On a recent trip to Mexico, I knew we needed to bring light rain jackets for the family just in case, but hated the idea of dedicating the needed space to five coats. I was able to fit all five (three in adult size) into one compression cube! How they work: unzip the cube and fill it with clothing (roll clothes to fit the most). Zip up the cube, then zip the outer compression chamber. Packing with cubes already saves space, but these compression cubes also reduce the size of the cubes themselves, sealing in your clothes and giving you much more space in your luggage. We love them! get a set at Amazon for $38, or buy individually.

eBags Packing Cubes – 3pc Set

eBags packing cubes won’t set you back as much, but are still roomy and able to fit more than you’d think. We usually use the biggest for all the kids’ shoes (this works for young kids) and then use the smaller sizes to organize socks, underwear, and other smaller pieces of clothing that usually gets lost at the bottom of the bag. Packing cubes make for great stocking stuffers: get everyone a set for Christmas!

TSA Quart-Size Carry-On Toiletry Pouch

In addition to using packing cubes, we like to stay organized while going through TSA checkpoints with carry-on luggage by using reusable, clear quart-sized pouches. They’re easier to find and grab in your carry-on when you need to present them, and you already have them on-hand at home when packing. We’ve reused ours for years. There are multiple brands out there, but no need to spend much: we have a Timbuk2 version that’s hard to find these days, but the Louis and Clark version linked above is only $5 on Amazon.

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More Travel Gear We Use:
Best carry-on luggage for kids
Best overnight backpacking for kids and youth

Photo credit: Flickr/angryjuliemonday

How to visit the Paris catacombs with kids

October 24, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

One attraction near the top of my teen’s list of things to do in Paris was the Paris Catacombs. This underground network lies in the heart of the city, spanning two km. It’s creepy and fascinating and toured completely on one’s own, unless you opt for a guide. We recommend it, as the actual visit only takes about 45 minutes and can easily be added to a Paris itinerary with teens or older kids, but there are many things to know ahead of time to make your day run smoothly. Here’s how to visit the Paris catacombs with kids:

You can start on the catacombs’ official website, which will tell you the essential details, but it won’t tell you the number one bit of information you need: to tour, you’ll be given a timed ticket, which involves two different lines and waiting times unless you either 1. buy online, or 2. get there right at opening.

We did not buy ahead of time OR get there early, and this was the process:

Start in a queue to get your timed ticket. You don’t pay at this time. It will be confusing to figure out where this line is or where it starts, as the entrance to the catacombs looks like a boarding line for an airplane…lots of people merging and clustering without a clear queue. Ask any of the officials for the timed ticket line until you find it.
When you get to the front of this line (on our visit, this took about 30 minutes), you’ll be given a slip of paper saying what time to come back. We were there on a pretty busy day and our timed ticket was for 3 hours later. Note: if you arrive in the later part of the afternoon, you’ll probably be told to come back the next day.
When you come back at your timed ticket hour, you will need to show the slip to the official at the front of the entrance and he or she will direct you vaguely in the direction of a vague line. They let in about 50 people at a time (for a total of 200 or so in the catacomb network at once), so you’ll basically be grouping with all the other people who have the same time as you. The wait isn’t long; maybe another 15-20 minutes.

Note: don’t try to come AFTER your time indicated. We were 30 minutes late, and it took some persistence to be allowed in.

Once inside, you’ll pay at the counter and descend the staircase to the underground level. Once there, you’re on your own to walk the (quite long) distance through an underground tunnel to where to opens out into a wider space. Here, you’ll see some signage talking about the history of the catacombs, then the catacombs themselves.

What to expect in the catacombs:

Once you’re in the catacombs themselves, there’s no signage or explanations of anything, apart from a few very generalized dates. Stacked bones line the walkways, primarily made up of femurs, tibias, and skulls. Some are in interesting patterns and geometric shapes, but most are just lining the walkway like a wall. Certainly, it’s an interesting sight, especially for kids and teens but they are human remains, which gives them a decidedly creepy tone. Parents will need to use judgement as to whether their kids are ready for this.

I wished there was more explanation of the remains, but the point made is that these are unknown people, moved here as needed to make room elsewhere. Most of the remains are from the era of plagues when mass graves were necessary. At least, that’s as much as we could put together with little information. If this is a site and subject that interests you greatly, I advise booking a private tour. I know Viator.com has one.

When you arrive at the catacombs, whether you have timed tickets from booking online or need to stand in the queue for timed tickets, expect a certain level of chaos. The official website does not explain the ticketing process well (or at all, really), so many visitors are confused and frustrated. Of course, this would be simple to fix, but when we heard a visitor suggest information be placed on the website, the ticket operator simply chuckled. I guess it will never happen.

A few more logistics:

The stairs both going down and coming up from the catacombs are steep and long. There is no alternative, such as an elevator. Needless to say, this site is not handicap-friendly.
The temperature is 14 degrees C, so wear a light sweater or coat.
There is no bathroom or anywhere to store a backpack.

Visitor numbers are restricted to 200 at any time. Admission may be delayed for a short time during busy periods.

Cost and hours:

Open daily from 10am to 8pm, except Mondays and some public holidays. Last admission: 7pm. To buy tickets online, try this website. Adults are €12, kids under 18 are free.

Directions:

The catacombs are located at 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy – 75014 Paris. You’ll want to take Metro line 4 to the Cité stop.

Products for parents who work on the go

October 21, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

None of us want to, but sometimes as parents, we simply must work on the go. My job has me working on the fly on airplanes (pun intended), in cars, and in hotel rooms on just about every trip we take, and while I’m the exception, I know most parents have to check in with work at least a few times during most family vacations.

Below are my favorite products to help ease the pain of working while away, plus some tips for getting that proposal sent or that project done from the road.

Tip: Parents trying into balance work and family life can use Cloud Services such as Windows Desktops hosted with CloudDesktopOnline and online file storage with CloudAppsPortal .

Logitech Keys to Go:

Anyone who’s ever tried to get actual work done on an iPad knows how crucial it is to have a keyboard. We’ve tried many portable keyboards, but find the Logitech Keys to Go pad works the best for us. It works on both iPads or iPhones, which we love, and is small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. The keys are still full-sized with iOS shortcuts, and the pad is spill-resistant (which we’ve put to the test). Pick one up in one of several colors for under $80 on Amazon…if you work from the road even a few times a year, it’s worth it.

Tip: Use an internet fax service if your hotel isn’t business friendly.

Yurbuds noise-isolating wireless ear buds:

Ear buds that don’t get tangled, stay in your ear, and don’t restrict your movements? Yes, please. I love Yurbuds Leap (for women) when I need to listen into a conference call or edit a video while traveling because I can move around in the car or on the plane and not feel tethered to my screen. These bluetooth enabled ear buds have three inline remote buttons that make it easy to pause or resume work, control volume, and skip tracks, and Yurbuds ‘twist and lock’ technology that keeps them from slipping out of your ear. This feature is nifty: by angling the buds when you place them in your ears, then twisting, they become very secure in your ear (read the instructions when you get them, or you’ll be confused!) You get two bonuses with Yurbuds, too: 1. they double as great workout ear buds, and 2. they’re easy to pack in their own carrying case (included). Pick up a pair for $99 on Amazon.

Cube light from Enevu:

I love this little (big!) light. Billed as a personal light by Enevu, the cube is a small but efficient LED light you can take anywhere. Great for emergencies, it also works wonders when you have to see while getting a bit of work done after the kids go to sleep in a hotel room, or as a nightlight for kids in unfamiliar places. Extremely lightweight and packable, I toss our cube into my day bag or carry-on to have for whatever comes up. Its especially useful when you don’t have a power outlet nearby on trains or when the overhead light in a plane cabin is just too bright or intrusive. The cube can be set to multiple settings, from dim to bright to colored light. Best of all, it’s under $30! (Beware of cheaper knock-offs online.)

Amplifyze TCL Pulse bluetooth alarm:

Let’s say you need to get up earlier than everyone else to get some work done, but don’t want to wake everyone else in your hotel room with your alarm. The TCL Pulse is a bluetooth enabled vibrating alarm you can set bedside, or even under your pillow. Controlled by your smartphone, the Pulse has adjustable vibration levels and snooze option. You can set it to wake you by sound if you prefer.

What I love about it: I used to set my iPhone alarm in hotels, never wanting to figure out different alarm clocks in each room. But sleeping next to my phone is not restful, as it wakes me throughout the night with various buzzes and updates if not in sleep mode. With the Pulse, I can set the alarm on my phone, then put it far from my bed. Pick it up for $39.

Put your newfound productivity to use with these tips:

1. Pick a work hour and stick to it. Having a schedule while on vacation may not always be possible, but if you need to carve out some work time, it simply won’t happen unless you schedule it in. Opt for a quiet time of day for your family. Maybe that’s nap time at mid-day, or maybe it’s the hour just before dinner or the hour after the kids go to bed.

2. Find a place to work. Maybe this is in your hotel room or vacation rental, but if you’re trying to work after the kids go to sleep or while it’s noisy in the room, it simply won’t work. Think outside the box that is your 300 square feet…head down to the lobby or a coffee shop in the immediate area. The change of scenery will motivate you to get to work.

3. Think strategically when looking for wifi: Always have an app ready to tell you where the closest free wifi is, but also be ready to think on your feet. If you’re camping or staying in an otherwise remote location, the local grocery store or postal center will likely have wifi. Ditto for laundry facilities. I once found excellent wifi sitting on a picnic table outside the public laundry area of a national park lodge. In less rural areas, opt for quiet corners of hotel lobbies, coffee shops, or libraries. Worst case scenario: just suck it up and pay for wifi in your hotel room or on the plane. Sometimes, it’s worth it. Check to see if joining a loyalty program (always free) will grant your free wifi first, however! This is true of Kimpton hotels, among others.

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How do you tackle work while on vacation?

As we disclose whenever applicable, Pit Stops for Kids received the products above for the purpose of review. Not all products we looked at made the cut. All opinion is our own.

Guide to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Peru

October 17, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We traveled through Peru with Vantage Adventures, which I highly recommend. However, this guide is designed to be useful to you whether you’re traveling with Vantage, another tour company, or on your own.

The Sacred Valley of Peru is a stunning region of high mountain plains dotted with quinoa, wheat, and Incan corn, impossibly high peaks covered in glaciers, and valleys nestled with medium to small-sized towns. This is the gateway to Machu Picchu, a lower valley of almost tropical rainforest and glacier-carved mountains. This is truly the land of ‘Pachamama’…the Peruvian term for ‘mother earth’.

Guide to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley:

Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the best known Incan site, but the Sacred Valley is filled with them. You’ll want to spend at least three days in this region: two at Machu Picchu and at least one full day and night in the Sacred Valley. Here’s how to go about it:

From Cusco, drive the 1.5-2 hours into the Sacred Valley, and tour the historic ruins at Ollantaytambo (Ollanta for short). This is where you’ll catch your train to Machu Picchu, by the way. But for now, these ruins are a great second to the Saqsayhuaman ruins you probably already saw in Cusco. Built on the mountainside, the Ollanta ruins have three main parts: a hillside granary area that can be explored by sturdy hikers, a sun temple area that can be accessed by about 200 stone steps (definitely worth it), and an Incan town at the base. In the town area, you can see the Inca village’s temple to water (with spring water flowing through it to this day), their irrigation/water system cut into the stone, their family dwellings, and their marketplace. Above, you can see their sun temple and terraces, where they grew crops in the mountainside.

Allow at least three hours to tour it all (and longer if you want to hike to the granary), plus some time in the modern village, which is filled with street hawkers, tourist shops, and the like. This is a busy, lively place, and worth exploring for a bit. You can also visit the salt flats nearby, and other ruins such as Moray, accessible by the Boleto Touristico del Cusco, which has multiple site entry available for one entry fee of 130 soles.

Stay in the Ollanta area; I recommend the luxury oasis of Casa Andina Sacred Valley, if only for the lovely grounds with gardens, hammocks, and a kids’ playground. You’ll want somewhere to unwind after all the bustle of the cities.

Note: If you tour Peru with Vantage Adventures as I did, you’ll send even more time in the Sacred Valley, going places solo tourists cannot, such as a weaving co-op and local school. This type of access is one reason I do recommend Vantage.

On your second day in the Sacred Valley, take the Inca Train from Ollanta to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The ride takes about 1.5 hours, and if you book the Vista Dome train, you’ll get stunning views the whole way. The train experience is very upscale in Vista Dome: you’ll be served a ’snack’ that’s large enough to be considered lunch, plus soft drinks, water, or coffee. The seats are comfortable, situated around a table. Note: Book the Inca Train at least six months in advance.

We recommend taking the train around 10 am, arriving at Aguas Calientes around noon. From there, check into your hotel (again, I recommend the Casa Andina option, which is the Casa Adina Machu Picchu), and take the 20 minute bus ride from the town to Machu Picchu. The line for the buses (and therefore the number of people at Machu Picchu) peaks in the early morning (from about 5 am to 7 am), so if you time your visit for mid-day, you’ll have a shorter line and arrive at the site as the early-birds are departing. By timing it this way, we toured Machu Picchu without any crowds at all, staying until closing time at 5 pm.

Absolutely, definitely, without a doubt get a guide for Machu Picchu. This site is absolutely huge, and there is so much to learn. Spend this day taking photos, learning about the site, and enjoying exploring the area. Then, return for a second day at Machu Picchu to do some hiking. (More on that in a minute.)

In the evening, you’ll find the town to be bustling and fun, with a blend of locals and many, many tourists and backpackers finishing the famed Inca Trail. There’s great shopping, and wonderful restaurants, In fact, the best meal we had our entire stay in Peru was at Indio Feliz, where a French expat and his Peruvian wife cook amazing meals. Take time to explore the town…it doesn’t close up early in the evening. Look for souvenirs at the big market by the train station; I noted that jewelry in the established stores were the same price as at the market.

On your second day in Machu Picchu, plan to do some hiking. Take the bus ride back up, and either hike the challenging Wina Picchu (mountain facing the ruins), or hike a few miles of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu. I recommend the latter for families who want a tough but short hike (it’s one mile up, one back) with stunning views. To do the even harder Wina Picchu, you need a hiking permit (get it six months in advance) and an early start (line up for the bus around 4 am). This hike is not for kids or anyone afraid of heights; I only recommend it to teens and adults who hike difficult terrain regularly. Consult a guide before attempting.

The reason for allowing two days in Machu Picchu, even if you don’t care about hiking, is twofold: first, there are times when traveling to the Sacred Valley is inhibited. During our trip, a farmers’ strike closed the main roads into the valley from Cusco, stranding many would-be tourists of Machu Picchu. For those who had planned only one day for the site, they missed out entirely on the number one attraction in Peru. Secondly, Machu Picchu is often shrouded in fog. Going for two days betters your odds for getting a nice day. If you plan two days and then end up only wanting to visit during one, you can find plenty of shopping and exploring in Aquas Calientes.

Tips for touring Machu Picchu:

Get Inca Rail train tickets 6 months ahead.
Get Wina Picchu permit 4 months ahead. Buy Machu Picchu tickets ahead of time as well, to save time at the gate.
If you plan to hike the entire Inca Trail, get permits ahead, and know that guides are required for the 4-day hike.
Try not to look down when taking the 20 minute bus ride from Aquas Calientes to Machu Picchu…it’s quite the ride up the mountainside!

While not as high in elevation as Cusco, Machu Picchu is at around 9,000 feet. Take precautions for altitude sickness.
Bring a packed lunch to Machu Picchu. There’s no where within the site to buy food; you won’t want to leave and come back in.
Get your passport stamped at the station by the buses, just for fun.

You WILL NEED your passport at Machu Picchu. I have no idea why, but you have to show it at the turnstile, as well as at the bus.
Bring mosquito repellent, and double your protection with long sleeves and long pants. The high Andean mosquitoes are not the virus-carrying kind, but they do bite like crazy.
Dress in layers: while you’re relatively close to the equator, you’re also at around 8,000 feet elevation. The weather changes often!

Travel Gear We Use: Four most comfortable travel pants for moms

October 14, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

A few great pairs of travel pants go a long way…my favorites have gone from Northwest hiking trails to European cities to Central American marketplaces, and many more locations in-between. If you plan to pack light and travel carry-on only, it’s essential to bring a few pairs of pants that can do it all. For women, here are my absolute most comfortable travel pants:

Toad & Co Cassi pant:

The Cassi pant wins top honors here because it’s urban and stylish, but also stretchy and athletic. It’s moisture-wicking and quick drying, crucial for all-weather, all-season travel, and the polyester-wool blend adds nice give to the waist and knees. The Cassi is equally comfortable on the plane as it is on the trail, and because this pant features a tailored look, you can definitely wear it during city travel (out to dinner, touring museums or historic sites, etc).

You get a zippered stash pocket on the thigh for valuables, plus a coin pocket in addition to two back pockets. It comes in just graphite and black, but I don’t mind the lack of bright colors; when I travel, I stick to basic color palettes so I can mix and match clothing.

Pick up the Cassi for $85.

Aventura Carlin:

If you need a less ‘technical’ pant that looks less trail-ready and more city exploration-ready, the Carlin has the same stretchy goodness you need when traveling with a brushed organic cotton feel. (The 3% lycra makes it forgiving.) The Carlin is very earthy-looking, with oversized buttons and exposed seams. I was reminded of cargo pants when I first saw it (though it does not have cargo pockets).

If your travels will not take you up mountains or through brush but you want to be able to climb steps, navigate traffic, and relax in cafes looking put-together yet comfortable, grab a Carlin pant (or two) in neutral colors to add to your travel wardrobe. And as always with Aventura clothing, subscribe to our FREE mailing list for your 60% off discount code!

Pick up the Carlin in Walnut, Black, or Smoked Pearl for $85.

Prana Halle:

The PrAna Halle has been a travel companion of mine for over a year. It comes on just about every major trip I take. Like the Cassi, the Halle is moisture-resistant and quick-drying, and reinforced at the knees for durability. It’s stretchy like all the travel pants I’m listing, made with a combination of nylon and spandex. The Halle deserves its own place on this list because of the variety of sizing and colors available: you can get the Halle in tall or petite sizing in burgundy, coal, cargo green, and dark khaki, in addition to black.

You can also roll up the leg of the Halle and secure with snaps to create capri pants, ideal for creek crossings, chilly mornings that turn into warm days, and water sports like kayaking. Like the Cassi, the look is fitted and tailored, so you’ll fit in wherever you find yourself adventuring.

Pick up the Halle for $85, or save as much as $30 on Amazon.

ExOfficio Damselfly:

The Damselfly is the least fitted/tailored and most rough-and-tumble of my picks, perfect for serious adventure when you’re traveling. I have loved ExOfficio clothing for years, and the quality never disappoints. The Damselfly is distinctive in that it is part of their BugsAway line, which means it’s treated with insect-repellent ExOfficio calls InsectShield. This repellent stays on the clothing for as many as 70 washes, saving you from spraying anything directly on your skin. I’ve been wearing BugsAway clothing in Central and South America to protect against the Zika virus as I travel.

Other note-worthy features of the Damselfly: a packable back zip pocket, and a drawstring waist (with velcro closure at the fly). It doesn’t get any more comfortable than this!

Pick up the Damselfly in three basic colors for $80, or save significantly via Amazon.

What comfortable travel pants are your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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