Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

Travel Gear We Use: Ecoths shirts for teen travel

June 3, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve been singing the praises of men’s clothing line Ecōths for several years now. Part of my favorite clothing company, Aventura, Ecōths is all about comfortable, practical men’s wear that’s environmentally and socially responsible. Not only are many of the offerings made from recycled or organic materials, Ecōths’ GOOD SAM program has donated over 150,000 meals across the US to local food banks. How do they do it? Ecōths provides a minimum of three meals for every garment sold in America to someone in need. Make a purchase of Ecōths, and in turn you will be donating three meals to someone who truly needs it.

While my husband loves wearing Ecōths, no one is more excited about what this company is doing that the resident Millennial in our family, our 16-year-old. He’s all about environmental stewardship and the outdoors, and always needs quality travel clothing. If you have a teen boy who needs clothing that won’t wrinkle in the suitcase, will last through many washings, and will look good enough to pass the teenage test, read on!

My teen’s favorite Ecōths shirts for travel days:

Chandler Tee:

This raglan-sleeve tee is trendy and casual-looking, but made from an organic cotton blend. This means it’s very soft to the touch, and will not wrinkle…even when my teen balls it up and tosses it in his duffel. Pick it up in four neutral colors in sizes M-XL. Our teen is tall and slim, and the medium fits him nicely.

Hendrix:

Our teen is all about plaid. And flannel, but in summer, mostly plaid. He spends a lot of time in the outdoors, so he needs shirts that provide sun protection and breathability. The Hendrix short-sleeve is organic cotton and Coolmax polyester blend that ensures it’s moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant, even when my son is hiking or biking. As a bonus, he loves the built-in microfiber Handy Cleaning Cloth in the front interior of the shirt. It comes in two colors in M-XXL. Note: the Monroe is similar, but just a little bit more ‘rugged’ looking, in our opinion.

Beckett V-Neck:

The Beckett is 100% organic cotton jersey. This is as pure as it gets when it comes to a boy wardrobe, so pick up a couple (they’re on sale)! Our teen loves the Beckett because it’s fashionable with its horizontal stripes and V-neck, and I love it because unlike his other t-shirts, it’s high quality. No holes here! It comes in three colors in sizes M-XXL.

Ecōths discount for you!

I didn’t include pricing in this post. Why? Because I want Pit Stops for Kids readers to get 60% off! Hey, boys grow fast, and we need all the help we can get keeping them clothed, right? To get 60% off your entire Ecōths or Aventura clothing order, subscribe to our FREE travel newsletter email list (at the top of our page), then leave a comment below. I’ll email your discount code for ANY order up to $250 (while supplies last)!

#EcōthsLife:

Instagram users, share your photos of how you live an #ecothslife everyday! Each month, Aventura will pick one winner who has posted a picture using #EcothsLife and they will receive an outfit from Ecōths.

Normandy in a day: What to see with 12 hours by car

May 23, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

If you can carve out a free day during a visit to Paris, it’s well-worth your time to explore Normandy. While this region of France deserves a week or more of your attention, families can hit some highlights with just a day. We’ve written about taking kids on a D-Day site tour from Paris with Viator, and while I highly recommend going this route if you can’t rent a car, it does take longer to visit Normandy by bus, and there will be things you will wish you had the freedom to explore. Plus, you can go further afield by car, exploring as far as the western coast.

Normandy in a day…start with D-Day sites:

By exploring Normandy by car, on your own, you’ll definitely save time. From the center of Paris, it takes about 2.5 hours to reach Caen, which we consider the biggest metropolis within Normandy. You’ll want to stop here to check out the excellent Caen-Normandie Memorial museum. Located at the site of a German bunker and stronghold during the French occupation, this modern museum covers WWII very much in depth, from pre-war time through the liberation.

Note: It does cover the holocaust in detail, including Jewish ghettos and camps, so prepare children. In fact, I’d recommend this whole tour only to families with kids age 10 and up. If you want to skip sections: It’s hard to bypass details because exhibits are intermixed, but the area downstairs towards the end of the hall have the most holocaust stories. The violence of the D-Day battles are much less graphic, even in the film.

From Caen, you’re only about 30 minutes away from D-Day beaches and cemeteries, and the route from here is decidedly more picturesque (from Paris to Caen, you’re on the interstate). Start by driving to Pointe du Hoc, which will land you right on the coastline. From there, you can easily drive along the coast to Omaha Beach, and Juno Beach, stopping at the national cemetery as well (located at Omaha). The route is charming, with villages to stop and explore and fields and hedgerows (though it’s good to remember that these hedgerows were sites of one-on-one type battles during the war). At the beaches, it’s permitted to walk along the sand and even wade in the surf; it feels a bit odd to do so given the sobering history of the area, but you’ll also need a break from the museums and exhibits to get fresh air and let kids play a bit.

Seeing Mont St. Michel:

If you’re truly ambitious, or have the luxury of an overnight in Normandy, head along the Normandy coastline southwest to Mont St. Michel. (As an alternative, you can easily get to Mont St. Michel from Caen if you’re not touring D-Day sites.)

If you have young kids, I’d recommend seeing Mont St. Michel perhaps in place of D-Day sites, as this island fortress resembles a fairy tale castle like no other. An abbey built by monks in the 6th century, Mont St. Michel and the surrounding village is touristy now, but somehow still feels authentic. When arriving by car (rather than tour bus), park in the car lot and take a provided shuttle to the entrance. Be sure to get an audio guide if not a tour guide; you’ll miss a lot of the history otherwise.

The best parts of Mont St. Michel to kids is the maze-like hallways and tunnels through the abbey, and the ‘mudflats’ that surround it. This squishy, muddy sand is very fun to play in (bring rain boots if you have that ability). You can dine anywhere in town, though you’ll be paying tourist prices (but the seafood is so good, you won’t care).

The drive from Mont St. Michel back to Paris is about 3.5 hours, so you’ll add an hour to your drive ‘home’. Realistically, you’ll need to decide between D-Day beaches and Mont St. Michel, or stay overnight in Caen to see both.

What you’ll lose and gain by road tripping to Normandy on your own:

You’ll lose a ready-made tour guide: our Viator.com tour guide during our Normandy trip by bus really helped us all grasp the history and significance of the area. If you go solo, be sure to pick up a good guidebook, and prepare kids ahead of time.
You’ll gain a bit of stress: No doubt about it, it’s nice to have someone else navigate and drive, especially on foreign roads.
You’ll lose planned stops, including lunch: On our Viator tour, we were able to have a private lunch in a D-Day museum, which was a special experience.
You’ll gain the freedom to explore villages and find a quiet lunch of your own.

This post was written in partnership with Alamo. All opinions remain our own.

Travel Gear We Use: Spyder battery case review

May 20, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

I’m very picky about my phone case. My iPhone might just have more ‘outfits’ than me during a week! I need a case for everyday use, that’s protective but still slim and offers easy access (for me, that’s my OtterBox Symmetry), a case for the outdoors (hello, LifeProof), and of course, a case for those days I just KNOW my juice will run low. For those days, the Spyder PowerShadow battery case for iPhone 6 wins.

What sets PowerShadow apart:

I’ve tried other battery cases, as well as a wide variety of external batteries and chargers, and the PowerShadow keeps returning to the front of the line because it’s the lightest, slimmest, and easiest case to use. Yes, it’s bulkier than my Symmetry, but actually less bulky than larger, tougher OtterBox cases. The PowerShadow wraps around the phone, leaving the screen free from filters or casing, which I like, because I hate having to jab my finger at the screen really hard when there’s ‘protective’ casing around it.

The PowerShadow is shockproof, water resistant, and offers antimicrobial protection, which is awesome. We all know our phones are the dirtiest, most disgusting germ-attractor in our lives, right? Even though the main purpose of using a PowerShadow is the charging capabilities, I cannot have my phone in a non-protective case, even for a minute. I’m just too clumsy for that!

Powering and recharging:

Let’s talk about the charging capabilities of the PowerShadow, because that’s why you buy one. With it on your phone, you get 10 hours extra web browsing, 15 hours extra talk time, 11 hours extra video time, and 50 hours extra music playback. Most power cases seem to offer something similar, but this is where PowerShadow wins out: you can charge and sync the phone right through the case, charging both the case and the phone simultaneously. The last charging case I owned, I had to take the case off the phone and charge it separately. You can even buy a separate docking station and charge through that, if you desire. Honestly, I have so many devices and gadgets in the house, I didn’t want another…I’m fine charging the case and phone with the provided USB cable.

When I use the PowerShadow:

With my job, I have to be connected when I travel. This means lots of moments powering up my phone to take photos, engage in social media, and check in with people. I almost always go through a full charge by mid-afternoon during busy travel days and conferences. At home, I rarely do so, which is why my PowerShadow is my ‘travel day’ phone case. For $99, it’s well worth not having to bring an extra phone charger or look for wall outlets.

Pick up a PowerShadow online for $99 in several colors for iPhone 5 and 6/6+, or look for it at Amazon for a few buck less.

Disclosure: I received a PowerShadow free of charge, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain my own.

Exploring Garden of the Gods, Illinois

May 18, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

One of the prime attractions in the Shawnee National Forest, which covers 280,000 acres in Southern Illinois, is Garden of the Gods, a collection of fantastic rock formations that towers above a vast expanse of wilderness. The short hiking trail there makes this a great place to let the kids get up close and personal with nature.

The most famous rock formation is called the camel, but there are many others along the trail, each one beautiful in its own right and showcasing different geological processes and features. It’s a paradise for kids who like to climb, and the views are expansive and beautiful.

A well-groomed walking trail lined with paving stones opens the rock formations to most families. If you have babies or new walkers, you’ll want a carrier or a jogging stroller. There are hills and a few steps, but our four-year-old did just fine on his own two feet. For older kids and adults, the U.S. Forest Service has provided QR codes and a call-in number for a guided tour as well as interpretive signs along the path.

The trail can be walked in 30-45 minutes, but if you explore the formations in depth, you can spend several hours. Garden of the Gods is largely wilderness, which means nothing is off limits for climbing. It’s a fabulous opportunity for the adventuresome souls in your party.

However, “wilderness” also means there are no safety railings. That being said, I was not overly worried about my crowd of four kids. From the trail, the dropoffs look abrupt, but once you get to the “edge,” you generally find several lower levels of rock preceding the long drop. Still, parents will want to take reasonable precautions. We kept our developmentally disabled daughter well away from the edge, and our four-year-old, who sees every even surface as a race track and every uneven one as a launch pad, was required to hold an adult’s hand when he ventured onto the rocks.

This is a remote location and the only services are a pair of pit-style outhouses. Come prepared with your own water and snacks, but leave them in the car and come back when you need them, as they are not allowed on the hiking trail. Garden of the Gods is a place set up to enjoy the splendor of the outdoors in its natural state.

Location:

The Garden of the Gods lies southeast of Harrisburg, Ill., between Illinois Routes 34 and 1.

Ultimate family vacation in Pittsburgh for the younger set

May 16, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

If you have toddlers and preschoolers who love Daniel Tiger and visiting kid-friendly attractions like children’s museums, consider an easy-to-plan summer getaway to Pittsburgh.

How to plan a vacation in Pittsburgh:

If you’re not sure where to start in the planning process, or aren’t familiar with this kid-friendly city, Visitpittsburgh.com/Kidsburgh is your one-stop destination to book your perfect family vacation. You’ll find savings up to 50% on tickets to Pittsburgh’s top family attractions when you book a hotel through the website. Plus, you can create a personalized itinerary so you won’t miss a single attraction on your Pittsburgh adventure.

What to do in Pittsburgh with young kids:

From scientific learning to stepping inside Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, there’s fun for family members of every age. The highly rated Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is perfect for younger explorers and Daniel Tiger fans won’t want to miss the visiting exhibition: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit. Meanwhile, teens and young children alike will adore Kennywood Amusement Park’s historic and exhilarating rides. From indoor fun at the educational Carnegie Science Center to outdoor excursions at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, summer in Kidsburgh offers non-stop family fun. Be sure to explore Pittsburgh’s famous three rivers on the Gateway Clipper or on a Just Ducky Tour. Climb to new heights and see award-winning views on 140-year-old cable cars of the Duquesne Incline. Meet more than 500 birds at the National Aviary and step into your favorite fairy tale with Idlewild & Soakzone. Adults and children alike find the interactive Senator John Heinz History Center amazing and visitors of all ages love the original set pieces from Pittsburgh’s own Mister Rogers Neighborhood! Explore visual botanical art, meet friendly butterflies, and get interactive at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. No matter what your interests or age, Kidsburgh has a full summer of family fun!

Book the perfect adventure for your family through VisitPITTSBURGH.com and keep your family vacation affordable and fun with discounted attraction tickets, hotels and more.

Photo credit

Eight top adventurous destinations to explore with your kids

May 13, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

The following guest post is brought to you by G Adventures.

Pick up any children’s story-book and you’ll quickly discover a love for adventure. From timeless classics like Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island and Paddington Bear to the more recent Harry Potter and 39 Clue series, kids love to throw themselves into the wild, mystical, and magical terrain of a good adventure tale.

Children are born with an innate motivation to master their environment. A sense of adventure is normal, healthy, and should without a doubt be encouraged.

A great adventure can develop your child’s:

Curiosity and creativity
Decision making
Resilience
Strength to overcome fear
Self-efficiency
Confidence

For the ultimate adventure with your children before they grow up, check out some of our favourite family travel hot spots.

China – The Great Wall

The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, winds up and down over deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus. It stretches almost 9,000 kilometres, and has a history of more than 2,000 years.

The historical significance and absolute grandeur of the Great Wall is what makes this a must-see for all families. It carries a great deal of Chinese culture, and has long been incorporated into Chinese mythology and symbolism.

Originally designed to protect China from invasion by nomadic tribes in the Eurasian Steppe, the wall has served China well over the years to protect the country from land-hungry neighbouring countries.

To best explore this historic monument, take one of the many tours which explores the who, when, and why behind the Great Wall.

Ecuador – The Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands, and is home to some of the most incredible wildlife and sealife including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, fur seals and blue-footed boobies. Snorkelling is a highlight, giving you the opportunity to explore the fascinating underwater world of the Galapagos Islands.

Charles Darwin used this natural haven as the headquarters for his studies of endemic species, and it was through his observations of this Ecuadorian province that he developed his renowned theory of evolution by natural selection.

When visiting the island no experience is necessary for snorkelling, and experienced naturalists will guide you through basic safety, what to look out for, and where to look. Children are provided with special snorkelling life vests that help them keep their heads in the right position for the ultimate snorkeling experience.

Morocco – Camel Trekking

A trip to the Sahara Desert is something every person should do at least once in their life. Staggeringly beautiful in its sheer isolation, the vast sky is clear and the night is filled with millions upon millions of stars. It’s one of the most peaceful experiences you’ll ever have and will open up your children’s eyes to the varying landscapes of the world.

To experience the Sahara in authentic Arabian style, you can’t beat a camel trek across the dunes to a secluded oasis. Stay a night in Dades Valley, or stop for lunch at the World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou and enjoy a spicy Berber tagine prepared over an open fire. Camp in traditional Nomadic Berber tents, experience a drum party, and ride the incredible sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.

The Sahara has long been a place of nomadic exploration, and it covers a vast area of 9,400,000 square kilometres.

Peru – Machu Picchu

Talk to any traveller about their most incredible experience, and if they’ve been to Peru then they will undoubtedly say Machu Picchu. A wonder of the Ancient World, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level. If you’re wanting to give your kids a good history lesson that won’t leave them bored and doesn’t include a 4 day hike, it doesn’t get better than this.

The site was abandoned in the 1500’s during the Spanish Conquest, and was then largely ignored until the early 20th century when American historians brought the site to international attention. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and was voted a New Seven Wonder of the World in an online global survey.

For the ultimate adventure in Machu Picchu, join an experienced guide and explore ancient ruins off the beaten path in the Sacred Valley, meet local artisans at a Planeterra-supported Women’s Weaving Co-op, take delight in a scenic train ride and its views over the Andes mountain range, or enjoy a traditional pachamanca-style feast. Leave no stone unturned and your kids will thank you forever.

Thailand – Chiang Mai Cookery School

One of the greatest gifts you can give to your children before they leave home is the skill to be handy in the kitchen. Once out in the big wide world, they will need to know how to cook – and as everyone loves Thai food, why not attend a Thai cooking school together?

Thai cuisine is all about the balance of flavours with a strong attention to detail. As a lighter cuisine than Chinese, Thai food strikes that perfect note between lots of flavour without being too overpowering.

Discover the latest recipes from Thailand’s top-rated chefs, enjoy gourmet dinner parties, and brush up on skills you never knew you had. Choose a beginner’s course to learn about spices, curry pastes, shopping for produce and vegetable carving, or select a master’s course and learn innovative and mouth-watering Thai dishes, chef’s best kept secrets, and how to prepare a five-star gourmet dinner.

India – Jaipur Rickshaw

The autorickshaws of Jaipur are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the city, and can dodge and weave their way through the heavy traffic with ease. More often than not, the price you are given is in fact double what it should be, so haggling is something you’ll need to get good at. Perhaps you can even pass on that task to one of your older children? It’s a great confidence booster if they manage to get a great price!

Designed to carry four passengers, rickshaws are like a roller coaster ride, and are much more fun than sitting in a stuffy taxi.

Rickshaw-like transportation models have been used in society since the invention of the wheel, but the first known use of the term rickshaw has been traced back to 1887.

Egypt – Sailing on the Nile

Crewed by friendly local sailors, the traditional feluccas found on the mighty River Nile have been there since ancient times, but are now updated to provide absolute comfort. Being wind-powered crafts the itinerary is not set in stone, however you can be assured there will be lots of swimming and plenty of points of interest.

Carrying 8-13 passengers, a felucca offers a rare insight into life on the River Nile. The peaceful routine of life aboard offers escape from everyday stresses, and it’s an ideal opportunity to bond with your children while looking at some spectacular sights.

As the largest river in the world and home to historic civilisations such as the ancient Egyptians, the Sudanese and most of northern Africa. As such, it has a rich cultural history that is well worth hiring an experienced guide to learn more about.

Jordan – Camp at Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum, also known as the “Valley of the Moon”, is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock of southern Jordan. The area’s main source of income is eco-adventure tourism, attracting climbers and trekkers from all over the world. But you don’t have to be a climber to enjoy this magnificent part of the globe.

Visitors to Wadi Rum can live the authentic Bedouin life in small or large Bedouin goat haired tents, traditional for families living in the area. Complete with campsite staff, you can enjoy special Bedouin meals, camel and horse tours, hiking trips, 4×4 jeep tours, or even a hot air balloon ride.

You’ll also have a chance to view the rock paintings and temples left behind by a number of cultures since prehistoric times. Taking the family to Wadi Rum is like taking the family to a whole other world.

Where would YOU go among these adventurous destinations?

Coleman camping gear and #FindYourPark

May 11, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s camping season in most of the US and Canada, and I’m excited to spend time in the outdoors for the next few months. Most of us are now familiar with our National Park system’s #FindYourPark initiative, which is helping more families than ever discover outdoor recreation in state and national parks.

Most families are also familiar with Coleman, an outdoor gear brand with a long tradition of creating family-friendly camping equipment. We’ve been using Coleman gear since I was a kid. Right now, Coleman is partnering with #FindYourPark. Through 2017, Coleman will host a variety of outdoor experiences that will enable America’s youth and their families to connect with our national parks in unique ways.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

To round out this partnership, Coleman will also offer a limited edition line of products including grills, stoves, lanterns and coolers that commemorate our national parks to ensure Americans are well equipped to head out to the parks. To kick off the camping season, we wanted to share reviews of some of our favorites, and let you know how to get them.

Coleman camping gear we’re using this summer:

Carlsbad Fast-Pitch tent:

The Carlsbad tent sleeps six and includes two living spaces: a 10 x 9 ft. tented space and a 10 x 5 ft. screen room. It’s roomy vertically too, with a ceiling of 5 ft. 8 in. Families can easily spread out, with extra sleeping space in the screen room if the weather is dry, or you can use that space for a few chairs, a game of Uno, or everyone’s shoes and gear.

A few features we love: The Carlsbad features Coleman’s ‘Dark Room Technology’, which means it stays darker inside than the average tent. When you have kids with an earlier bedtime or hope that you’ll all sleep in a bit, this is golden. You also get window awnings, which is more than just a cute feature: they allow you to keep windows zippered down, even in rain, which reduces condensation in the tent. Lastly, the Carlsbad is one of Coleman’s ‘Fast Pitch’ tents, which means that for its size, it’s very easy to set up. Forget the heavy, awkward set up stage: some of the poles are pre-inserted, and it really only takes five minutes to be up and running. Buy on sale for $169 on Amazon, or grab a 4-person model for only $134.

Big N Tall cot:

We’ve really fallen in love with cot sleeping when we’re car camping. To be honest, we sleep outside on cots much of the summer. Cots are more comfortable than air mattresses for us, and sleeping off the ground simply feels like a luxury when we’re camping. The Coleman Big N Tall cot is part of their Big N Tall line, which, in our opinion, isn’t just for bigger people. The oversized cot is simply more stable and wider, which is good news for anyone. It’s designed in a military style with an X frame, and is quick to set up.

A few features we love: The design on the Big N Tall cot is a manly yet understated topography map design in sand tones. I realize a cot’s selling feature isn’t its looks, but it’s always nice to have something nice looking in your campsite! It comes in a rolling carrying case, with is really good, since this baby is heavy! Pick up the Big N Tall for $135. You can also find standard-sized Coleman cots for $79 and under.

Mountain View Screen Dome Shelter:

Coleman’s 12×12 screen dome shelter went up in our yard in May and won’t come down until August, except to go camping! We use it daily for bug-free outdoor space and outside sleeping space throughout the summer months, and it’s a wonderful addition to car camping sites when you need a bug-free zone. It has an open bottom/floor, which means you can set it up around fixed picnic tables at campsites for mosquito-free eating or card games during the twilight hour. I won’t lie: set up takes longer than for your average tent (it took us about 15 minutes) and the poles are bulky and heavy.

A few features we love: You get 50+ UPF, and the roof is waterproof (we’ve tested it extensively). You get some side-panel ‘walls’ you can drape on one or more sides if you desire, which is helpful for keeping out sun on one side, privacy, or during rain storms. If you don’t need the shelter to be screened to keep out bugs, you can zip away the attached screens to use the shelter as just a sun dome (great for sporting events). The inside height is over 7 feet, so you won’t need to duck. Pick it up for $181 on Amazon.

Conquer 200L LED Headlamp:

Sorry, flashlights, but we’ve switched entirely over to headlamps for our illumination needs while camping. We love the hands-free convenience, and the way headlamps easily convert from pathway illumination to reading lights to lanterns (just wrap one around a large plastic bottle of water). The Conquer headlamp is bulkier than we’d like for backpacking, but ideal for car camping and for kids to take to camp. It’s rugged exterior can take a beating, and the headband can be adjusted to fit just about everyone.

A few features we love: The Conquer features BatteryLock, which stops battery drain. Believe it or not, you won’t be changing out the batteries constantly! It has five modes, including high spot, high flood, low spot, low flood, and red, and lumens ranging from 200 (high spot), 150 (high flood), 70 (low spot), and 20 (low flood). You need three AAA batteries, but the LEDs never need replacing. Pick it up for just $25. There are stronger, brighter models available as well, going up to about $45, but honestly, this is all you need.

Guide to Villa Borghese with teens who want to do everything extreme

May 9, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We’re a very active family who spends significant time outdoors when we travel. In Rome, we noticed the lack of green spaces right away. Luckily, our apartment rental was located directly across the Tiber from Piazzo Popolo with an entrance to Villa Borghese. This sprawling green space and garden is Rome’s version of Central Park, and if you have active kids and teens who need to burn off energy, this is your place.

We visited Villa Borghese several times during our five days in Rome, using it as our backyard after mornings in museums and historical sites. Originally a private vineyard and most elegant villa in the city for the Borghese family, the park is technically a historical site in its own right, but we admit we didn’t take advantage of its Galleria Borghese or other museums. We were simply there to play.

From the Piazza Popolo entrance, you’ll head up a series of steep steps to enter the park at a beautiful overlook. This is, in our opinion, the place to watch the sunset over St. Peter’s dome. You’ll find a number of vendors in this wide space at the top, as well as fountains and paths that lead you further into the park. Younger kids will appreciate the free puppet shows at the little theater in this section, and this is also where you can rent bikes and pedal-powered go-karts.

Garden features like this one are featured amid all the touristy offerings. You’ll see a wide pedestrian bridge adjacent to the bike rental stands, which will lead you across a round-about (with some traffic) to the center of the park. Explore this area on wheels, or your feet will get tired! It’s huge. You’ll find another theater, this one with movies, touted as ‘the smallest cinema in the world’. I don’t know whether this is true, but it’s pretty tiny. It runs kids’ movies in the day and intellectual stuff like documentaries and foreign language films in the evenings. There’s a playground, several cafes, and many more gardens and fountains. In a second section, you’ll find a lake with boat rentals; we visited in winter, so this wasn’t a main draw for us.

Rent bikes, surreys, and go-karts:

The first thing we did was rent bikes so we could explore. Rental stands are plentiful, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one, no matter where you enter the park. At the time of our visit, rentals were approximately €7 per hour. We found one hour to be enough to ride around and get the lay of the land. On subsequent visits, we walked where we wanted to go. Go-kart and surrey rentals were similarly priced, with the exception of the four-person surreys, which were more. You leave your ID with the attendant when you rent (I gave my driver’s license, as my passport doesn’t leave my sight when possible) and pay when you return on time. The teens had a blast with the petal-powered go-karts…mostly, they played ’tag’ with them on the wide dirt paths around the park.

Rent Segways:

In Piazzo Popolo, you can rent Segways by the half hour or longer. You don’t need to go with a guide, and very little to no instruction is given. To the teens, this was awesome. Rentals were €10 for 30 minutes. We rented three (one for each kid). If you rent for longer, you can actually take them from the piazza up to the park, which we saw many families doing, but our budget only allowed for half an hour. The kids loved riding these around the piazza…while undoubtedly a touristy thing to spend money on, we considered it money well-spent. For a total of €30, three kids were in heaven. Like with the bike rentals, we were asked to leave an ID, and the kids were told ‘not to zig-zag and not to run into each other’. If seen doing either, they’d be given one warning, then taken off the Segway. Even though the kids hadn’t used Segways before, they’re easy to learn, and we had no problems until the moment we returned them, during which our 11-year-old ran into the back of our 16-year-old while distracted by the guy’s instructions for parking. He was sternly admonished. We were glad it hadn’t happened earlier.

Watch street performers with serious skills:

All over the park, street performers with various talents show off their skills. We enjoyed a pretty good roller blade demonstration and some great juggling. We heard some good music and some very bad music, then returned to watch the roller bladers in time to see some wince-inducing crashes by some amateurs. Either way, it was entertaining.

Buy a soccer ball or play at a playground:

For about €5 (though they’ll ask for ten, initially), many street vendors have cheap soccer balls for sale. We bought one at the beginning of our stay in Rome, and the boys used it in the park several times before giving it away to another child before we departed. You’ll find plenty of grass areas in which to start a game, and we found other kids joined in almost every time. In fact, when Calvin dribbled it around the city, about every other restaurant waiter standing outside their dining establishments jumped in to pass it around and start conversations with us. Money well spent!

What to eat:

There’s a sit-down cafe by the playground, plus many other carts and stands throughout the park. My favorite was by the round-about and pedestrian bridge. It had outdoor seating (heated in winter) and a crepe station. The espresso and chocolat caldo (hot chocolate) were excellent.

How to get there:

As noted above, we always entered from Piazza Popolo, but you can also enter above the Spanish Steps (we departed the park here once). There’s a metro station in both locations.

Travel Gear We Use: best overnight backpack brands for kids and youth

May 6, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

As an editor at Practical Travel Gear and a gear reviewer for OutdoorsNW, I test a lot of travel products and outdoor gear. Some of this gear we keep and continue to use as a family, and some of it gets pushed to the wayside. Some of the most-frequent questions I’m asked on Pit Stops for Kids is related to what to pack, what to bring, and what to wear. Our Travel Gear We Use series will address our most commonly requested gear recommendations.

Quality, backpack trip-worthy packs are hard to find that fit young kids and youth (tweens and teens). Many so-called kids’ packs are flimsy, or simply not designed for multi-day, serious hiking and trekking. It’s very important to find a pack for your kids that takes the weight off their shoulders and onto their hips, just like the grown-up models do. As with all travel-related activities, your kids will have better success and more fun when backpacking with the right gear. Here’s what we use when it comes to best overnight backpack picks for kids:

For young kids (ages 6-11):

Kelty Junior Tioga External Frame Pack

Why we use this pack: firstly, Kelty is a brand we trust to be of quality design at a reasonable price. Kids grow out of gear quickly and pack styles are improved upon often…no need to spend top dollar to hand-down something obsolete. The Kelty Jr. Tioga (shown in the photo above, worn by Toby, age 8) is 34L, which offers a large enough capacity to be helpful, but not so large that the child is over-burdened with too much weight. (Tip: our young kids carry only their own clothing, their own sleeping bag and pad, and lightweight food items, such as freeze-dried meals).

While the Jr. Tioga isn’t too large, it still offers a secure waist belt and sternum straps, allowing weight to be carried on the hips. The external frame is nice at this age, because the pack is more highly adjustable than most with internal frames. Not only can the waist belt and shoulder straps be adjusted to size, but the frame can be made larger or smaller. This pack has grown with our kids from age 6-11. Buy at sale price on Amazon.

Deuter Fox 40

Why this pack: once kids have outgrown the external frame pack above, enter the Deuter Fox. We tried many internal frame packs for kids in the 40-45L range, and found the Deuter to provide the best ‘adult’ features in a kid-friendly package. There’s a dedicated sleeping bag compartment and an adjustable torso, and good ventilation on the back panel and hip belt. We kind of wish it wasn’t top-loading, and kids tend to toss everything out of the bag to find that one thing at the bottom, but this is a feature we can live with. Buy on Amazon for $109.

Note: if you find you simply can’t find a narrow enough hip belt for a thin child, try the REI brand Passage 38. It was the only pack to properly fit our narrow-hipped child!

For tweens and teens (ages 12-17):

Mountainsmith Youth Pursuit

Why we use this pack: It is so hard to correctly size tweens and teens! They may be ready to carry the load of many adults, but for most teens, adult packs are still too large-framed, either in torso length or sternum/waist belt width or both. The Youth Pursuit is 45L (a nice in-between capacity) and offers an internal frame that’s fully customizable by velcro adjustment (for torso length). The waist belt fits our 12-year-old and our 14-year-old, and there are plenty of organizational pockets so older kids can be in charge of packing and using their own tools and gear. Kids get adult-pack quality ventilation on the pack pads, and pack material is equal to that of mom’s and dad’s. Read a full review here. Buy at sale price on Amazon.

Granite Gear Leopard

Why this pack: the Granite Gear Leopard is our older teen son’s all-time favorite pack. Yes, he’s in a height category that opens up his options to include any men’s pack, but with a thin waist, it can still be hard to find a proper fit. The Granite Gear Leopard fits perfectly, isn’t too big at 58L (most men’s packs are 65 L or more), and doesn’t break the bank. It also comes in a minimalist 46 liters! He loves all the pockets and included loops for his accessories like an axe and a collapsible shovel, and how easily it can be cinched down or expanded. Buy on Amazon for under $150.

Top youth backpacking packs at a glance:

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Whaleshead Beach Resort

May 3, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Summer isn’t the only time to visit the Oregon Coast. In fact, our favorite time of year for a coastal getaway is late fall, when the beaches are empty, the rental prices drop, and the weather remains near-perfect.

If you’re lucky enough to getaway this November to the Southern Oregon Coast, Pit Stops for Kids recommends Whaleshead Beach Resort, nestled along a hillside just outside of Brookings. A casual resort which embraces kids, Whaleshead is comprised of dozens of rental units dotting the coastline directly across Hwy 101 from the beach. You can rent them weekly or nightly, and no matter the size or needs of your group, there will be the perfect accommodations for you, from multi-bathroom, multi-bedroom cottages to cozy two-person cabins. We have found the reservation staff to be very helpful, especially when booking a single cabin for two families to share: we’ve needed everything from adjoining rooms to single stories to cribs, and it’s all been accommodated.

At Whaleshead, you have your pick between Ocean View and Creek View, and you really can’t go wrong with either. Ocean View affords the most breathtaking views of the, well, ocean, obviously, but if you’re bringing kids who will want to ride their bikes, opt for Creek View, as Ocean View cabins are situated on a steep slope. (Creek View cabins are also within walking distance of the beach trail, making it possible to skip driving back and forth for sand castle building and kite flying…beloved past-times on Oregon beaches). No matter what cabin you choose, you’ll have a full kitchen at your disposal, a living area, and in almost all cases, a TV with DVD player and hot tub (and sometimes game systems).

After enjoying your cabin and the resort, walk through the 700 foot tunnel from Whaleshead to the beach, or drive over. Not only is Whaleshead Beach beautiful, but it’s more protected than other nearby beaches, making it possible to set out a picnic or spread out a blanket in the cherished Oregon Coast sunshine.

Extra Tip: There’s also a camping area: if you’re traveling with an RV, their camping/hook-up sites are the nicest I’ve seen, with full built-in wooden decks and lush greenery.

Date Last Visited: September 2013

Distance from the Interstate: Directly off Hwy 101 (about 15 miles from the Oregon/California border).

Room Rates: At the time of our visit, cabins ranged from approximately $110 per night to $195 per night, depending on size and season. Beware of extra fees for additional people to your reservation. We found that base price was misleading on the website, since we were traveling with several kids, who cost extra in some cabins.

Dining Options: Whaleshead does have a restaurant on-site, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can find your typical burgers and sandwiches here, as well as good seafood at dinner. Brookings offers more (just five miles south) in the way of fast food, seafood, and the like.

Directions: From Brookings, follow Hwy 101 to Whaleshead Road (on right). Full address: 19921 Whaleshead Rd, Brookings, OR.