Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

A family-friendly road trip through Scotland

April 26, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

It may be small in size. But, what it lacks in stature, Scotland makes up in sheer variety. In just a short space of time, you can see rugged mountains, deep lochs, cosmopolitan cities and remote islands. Here are just a few of the best road trips in Scotland to see some of the most family-friendly attractions this small, but perfectly formed country has to offer.

From Berwick to Edinburgh

If you’re travelling from England over into Scotland, then taking in some of the spectacular Northumberland cost line before heading north over the border is the perfect way to start your trip. From Berwick, driving along the east coast, you’ll find two of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring castles. Don’t stick to the main A1 road, but dive off onto the A198, which will take you to Dirleton Castle and Tantallon Castle. Dirleton Castle has a pit dungeon, which is horrifically fascinating for little ones who love Horrible Histories, while Tantallon Castle is a dramatic semi-ruined mid 14^th century fortress. Kids will love to see the replica gun in the East Tower, which looks exactly like the one which was used to defend the castle against James IV and James V in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

Drive time: 2 hours

Glasgow to Oban

It has a reputation as a grittier, more streetwise city than Edinburgh, but Glasgow also offers plenty to do with little ones. The Glasgow Science Centre, with its hands-on displays and interactive workshops, is a must-do, as is the Hunterian Museum, with its dinosaur, Egypt and meteorite displays. From Glasgow, the route along the A82 offers plenty of opportunities for breathtaking pitstops. Loch Lomond should be your first stop. You can cruise the loch on one of the ferries which take you to little islands and villages or you can hire your own boat to explore at your family’s pace, perhaps stopping off to enjoy a picnic. From here, head north and west on the A85 and the road winds dramatically through rugged terrain before you get to Oban and the surrounding coastal villages. Ganarvan beach is perfect for kids, with safe, shallow waters, swathes of sand and rock pools to search for sea creatures. From Oban, you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Mull, heading north to Tobermory, made famous by the television series Balamory. If you’re ready for a stop-off mid trip, then Parkdean’s Wemyss Bay site makes a great base for exploring Scotland’s west coast.

Driving time: 2 hours 15 minutes

The Scottish Highlands

Just about anywhere you drive through the Scottish Highlands is guaranteed to be stunning. But no road trip through Scotland would be complete without driving along the incredible mountainous route though Glencoe to Fort William. While the Glencoe Mountain Chair Lift was designed to carry skiiers and snowboarders in the winter season, it’s worth a diversion even if you’re here during the summer months as it stays open year-round, affording excitement for children and spectacular views for everyone. You soar high above waterfalls, admiring views across Rannoch Moor from 2200ft.

Driving time: 30 minutes

Around the Isle of Skye

There’s not really any right or wrong route around the Isle of Skye, the most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides. Try the A855 road, which loops around the Trotternish Peninsula. You’ll pass the Old Man of Storr, a rocky hill made famous through its appearance in the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus as the birthplace of the alien. From this otherworldly landscape, further north, you’ll find plenty of places to watch dramatic waterfalls tumbling into the sea. The best is the Kilt Rock and waterfall. Also worth a visit is The Skye Museum of Island Life, a quirky museum housed in a selection of thatched cottages, which gives an insight into life there in days gone by.

From the mainland and driving a circular route around the peninsula: Around 3 hours

Tarbert to the Isle of Islay

The road from Tarbert to catch the ferry to the Isle of Islay gives you incredible views of the Arran mountains. The little fishing village of Carradale is worth a stop. Impossible pretty, the village has a harbour and a broad sweep of sand, with shallow, shelving water. Just south of the harbour, there’s a herd of feral goats, which has thrived on the rough grass and seaweed here as long as anyone can remember. From here, you take to A83 to West Loch Tarbet, where you can catch the ferry to Islay. Here, you can try pony trekking, kayaking and paddle boarding, or just meander around some of the single-track roads on the island. Try the Port Ellen to Ardtalla circular route, which will take you alongside the appropriately-named Seal Bay, where you’re likely to be lucky enough to see seals resting on the rocks. If you want to stay for a while and immerse yourself in island life, then the Ballygrant Inn is a good option when travelling with kids as there are two-and-a-half acres of grounds to let off steam in.

Driving time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Wherever you drive in Scotland, you’re sure to be met with incredible scenery. As the old Scottish saying goes, guid gear comes in sma’ bouk’, or good things come in small packages.

Photo credit: Flickr

Kings Canyon lodging pick: John Muir Lodge review

April 21, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Kings Canyon National Park’s John Muir Lodge is located in the heart of the park’s Grant Grove Village. Bustling in summer with campgrounds and tent cabin units, the village is nearly empty in the off-season (any time between September and May). The lodge registration is located at the main complex with convenience store, gift shop, and the Grant Grove Restaurant (more on that soon) but the lodge itself is set back about a five-minute walk from the village center.

The John Muir Lodge lobby is comfortable and spacious, with a big roaring fireplace, plenty of couches and tables with chairs, and complimentary wifi. Rooms are along the ground floor and second floor, with nice deck and patio space on the end of each hallway.

Rooms:

You won’t find a lot of frills here (though the lodge interior is scheduled for a facelift). Standard rooms like the one I experienced include two queen beds and room for a rollaway (sleeping a total of five). Deluxe rooms include one king bed and a pull-out couch to sleep a total of four. As stated, the rooms need some sprucing up, but are perfectly comfortable and adequate. I appreciated the iPod docking stations, allowing me to keep my USB cords packed for the night, and the wifi in the lobby proved fast and easy to connect to. Tip: I heard that some first floor rooms adjacent to the lobby have a wifi signal that will save you the trip to the lobby to connect.

Dining:

As mentioned, there is a small convenience store in Grant Grove Village, but this is primarily for the campers in the summer months; guests at John Muir Lodge don’t have fridges or kitchenettes to do much meal preparation. The Grant Grove Restaurant is causal but upscale, and offers nice meals for families. Their breakfast features standards like egg and breakfast meal combos, omelets, and pancakes or French toast, and dinner fare includes a kids’ menu and wonderful local fish and grass-fed beef options. The included bread course at dinner is to die for: the new chef makes his assorted nut and fruit breads from scratch daily, and if you’re not careful, you’ll fill up on them!

Family-friendly package deal: the Junior Ranger Package will be available May 15 through September 1, and includes a one-night stay at Wuksachi or John Muir Lodge and a Junior Ranger vest, tee-shirt, hat, and compass. It encourages checking out the parks’ Junior Ranger programs, which introduce kids to what makes the national parks so special and how to become great environmental stewards. Most programs are free! At the end, each participant will earn a Junior Ranger badge. Rates start at $299 in spring and $365 in summer at Wuksachi and $249 in spring and $339 in summer at John Muir Lodge.

Tip: if you’re looking for a quieter, more upscale lodging experience, we recommend Wuksachi Lodge in adjacent Sequoia National Park.

Directions:

John Muir Lodge is centrally located and within easy driving distance to all points in Kings Canyon or Sequoia national parks. From Fresno, it’s an easy (though windy) drive up Highway 198 to the General’s Highway. Follow signs to Grant Grove Village.

As I disclose whenever applicable, my stay at John Muir Lodge and meals at Grant Grove Restaurant were complimentary, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain my own.

How to make a 5 item outdoor survival kit for $5

April 15, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

survival-kit-for-kids We love getting kids into the outdoors! At Pit Stops for Kids, we’re fans of backpacking, camping, climbing, mountain biking, geo-caching…you get the idea. But as a one-time Search and Rescue volunteer who has spent countless hours teaching school kids how to stay safe in the woods, I want families to be prepared. Kids can occasionally get lost in the wilderness, but by heeding the following advice and being prepared, almost all are found almost immediately by their parents.

The best advice to give your kids: if you get lost, stay in one place.

The second best thing to do: make your kids this 5 item outdoor survival kit for $5. These items fit easily into a waist pack or into any day pack.

5 item outdoor survival kit for kids:

1. Whistle

Go to your local sports equipment store or dollar store, and buy a cheap whistle. Let your kids know this is an emergency whistle: not to be used for play. The sound of a whistle in the wilderness carries 10x further than a shout or scream, and doesn’t wear down with use. Instruct kids to blow their whistle in blasts of three if lost.

2. Plastic poncho

Is an expensive jacket better protection than a dollar store poncho? Sure, but chances are, your kid won’t want to bring it along on a hot summer day. A plastic poncho fits down to the size of a fist (or smaller) and weighs almost nothing. When needed, it retains body heat well.

3. Glow stick

Grab a cheap glow stick and put it in your kid’s kit. Glow sticks don’t require any batteries, and will give off light in 360 degree direction. A glow stick will last 12 hours, getting a kid through a night if necessary.

4. Bandana

Search and Rescue volunteers are trained to look for anything out of the element when searching in the wilderness. Therefore, a bright color, such as neon green or yellow, will stand out and alert searchers to the presence of a person. Instruct kids to hang their bandana on a tree limb, wearing it on their head, or spread it out in the open. Alternative item: a used or blank music CD or DVD can be used as a cheap reflecting device, often seen by spotters in helicopters.

5. Non-perishable snack

Why not water? Because for almost any hike or outdoor excursion, parents have already thought to pack a water bottle for their child. In addition to water, a non-perishable snack is cheap and light to pack. We keep a Nature’s Valley granola bar in each of our kids’ packs. Power Bars or other energy bars last a long time, too. Alternative: a bouillon cube.

99% of the time, kids are completely safe in the wilderness. But for piece of mind, the above items in your kid’s pack will go a long way. For more information on kids’ wilderness safety, check out the Lost But Found Search and Rescue program I’ve been a part of.

Travel gear we use: sun protection clothing for kids and adults

April 11, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Today in Travel Gear We Use, we’re talking about best sun protection clothing for kids and adults. If your family plans to visit a warm-weather spring break destination, it’s time to make sure you have the right gear to protect everyone from the sun. Our sun protective clothing picks will last you through the whole summer, unless your kids outgrew them first!

Sun Day Afternoons clothing and hats:

Sunday Afternoons has sun protective clothing and hats for the whole family. We love their packable hats, like the Sun Tripper Cap with a foldable brim, and my husband prefers their Charter Hat. Young kids can be outfitted in wide-brimmed hats with SmartStrap–which uses an adjustable toggle and breakaway clip– like the Play Hat, and clothing ranges from long or short-sleeved shirts for the whole family to pool onesies.

Columbia sun protective shirts:

For on the trail or while traveling, I love the lightweight feel of Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirt. Columbia wear is affordable, always returnable, and easy to order online…win, win, win! I can’t get my kids to wear collared, button-down shirts while on vacation, no matter how comfortable, so instead, I trick them into sun protection with Columbia’s Adventureland Long Sleeve Tee. While we’re on the subject, my older kids refuse sun protective wide-brimmed hats (they looked so adorable in them as little ones!) so they opt for bandanas or cowboy hats while under the sun. As long as something is on their heads, I don’t really care!

Exofficio cover-ups:

My favorite sun protection for a day near the pool is my Exofficio Women’s Sol Cool Hoody. Incredibly thin, very flattering, and always appropriate, the Sol Cool is the perfect go-to cover up for swimming that transitions well to the pool-side restaurant or even onto a hiking trail.

Madrone headwear for men:

My husband has absolutely fallen in love with his Madrone Navigator hat. This is a miracle, as he usually isn’t willing to wear anything on his head except a baseball cap. The Navigator offers full sun protection, a chin strap, and great ventilation. He’s worn it everywhere from on the river while fishing to hiking in California deserts. It can be found currently at CampMor for $49.

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All of the above picks are linked to the lowest possible pricing on Amazon. All are affordable for families with growing kids!

Find more gear in the Travel Gear We Use series (click below):

Educational Travel: End of the Oregon Trail Museum

April 9, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Historic Oregon City marks the official end of the Oregon Trail. It’s also home to the best Oregon history museum you’ve probably overlooked. Only minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon City and its End of the Oregon Trail Museum is easy to access via car or MAX, but often becomes overshadowed by other excellent Portland attractions for kids. The museum includes a wonderful indoor exhibit hall, a country store selling pioneer-era toys, candies, and garb, and gardens in the summer months. Families can also get information on area historic home tours.

After checking in at the front desk in the country store, visitors are directed to the three main exhibit halls, where docents take you through the space. This is not a traditional tour, where guides are speaking to you all the time, but rather leading you and helping you along. In the first building, for instance, is a hands-on pioneer-era store, school, and wagon supply area, where kids are encouraged to play for a while. Young kids will like the school and store area, and older kids will love creating their own Oregon Trail supply list, then physically collecting the required items (bags representing flour, bacon, and coffee, medicines, tools, and the like) and fitting them into an actual wagon bed. All supplies must come in under 1000 pounds, so we kept track on our phone calculator.

When they’ve played their fill in the first building, visitors are led to a hands-on activity (candle-making during our visit) and then to a 30 minute film depicting life along the Oregon Trail. All our school-aged kids were interested in the film, but very young children may want to opt out. The docents then lead families through to the third building, where the talking portion of the tour includes information on the Oregon City land office (where all Oregon Trail travelers had to ‘check in’ to get their land) and Oregon City history (it was the first capital of Oregon, and boasts additional firsts, such as the first hotel west of the Rockies, etc). The docents do a great job of keeping the talk engaging, with many questions directly to kids and many stories kids are interested in. You can stay here as long as you like (the docents will gamely keep answering questions) or can head outside to run around on the lawns, check out the gardens, and shop in the store. Free hot chocolate and coffee are offered in the store post-visit.

Date last visited:

January 2014

Distance from the interstate:

10 minutes from I-5, right along I-205.

Admission:

$9 for adults, $5 for children 5-17. Kids under 5 are free.

Hours:

Summer: 9:30 am to 5 pm. Winter: 11 am to 4 pm.

Dining:

No food services are on-site. Pack a picnic lunch; picnic tables are available outside.

Directions:

The museum is located at 1726 Washington St., Oregon City. From I-5, take I-205 to Oregon City.

Where to stay in Death Valley: Furnace Creek Ranch California

April 5, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

In stunning and desolate Death Valley, CA, The Furnace Creek Ranch is THE place to stay with kids. This place has everything, from lawn games to a spring-fed outdoor pool and dining options, and is in the best location for exploring this vast park. Read on for a full review of Furnace Creek Ranch.

Much more than just your average motel, The Furnace Creek Ranch is a desert oasis centrally located on the eastern side of Death Valley National Park. Recent improvements to Furnace Creek Ranch include an updated pool patio area with new chairs, tables, and gardens, a new sport court for basketball and volleyball, bocce ball and shuffleboard areas, and free sport recreation rentals.

Would you rather camp? We have tips and reviews for Death Valley camping at Furnace Creek!

Why it’s worth the drive:

Located 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, Death Valley is a considerable distance from most other sightseeing venues in southern Nevada, but the moment you drive over the mountains to the vast valley floor, you’ll understand why it’s recommended time and again. Even very young children can handle the moderate hikes through stunning canyons and/or ride in an all-terrain jeep through bumpy washes and across cracked desert floors. While this national park can be done in a day trip, it’s a vast area to cover, with lots of driving time. Our family highly recommends at least a two-night stay to see all the valley has to offer.

Why we Recommend Staying at the Ranch:

Death Valley NP offers several accommodations within its borders, ranging from the 5-star Inn at Furnace Creek to campgrounds. We always choose the ranch at Death Valley–Furnace Creek Ranch–for its welcoming atmosphere and accommodation of families with young children. The Ranch consists of an entire complex of motel units (the deluxe rooms, which open out directly onto the green across from the pool are worth the extra $$), restaurants, playgrounds, stables, swimming pool and more. There’s a general store (convenient when we needed Tylenol, ice for the cooler, and after-dinner ice creams) bike-rental booth, and museum. The 80-degree spring fed pool is the highlight. Plus, you can walk to the park service visitor center from the grounds.

Nate and Calvin get sworn in as new rangers at Death Valley National Park.

What to see: Death Valley offers desert hikes, off-road excusions, horseback riding, and tours. Check out our family’s top Death Valley hiking picks.

Accommodations: Options at the Ranch include cabins (one room), standard rooms, deluxe rooms (ideal location), and RV or tent camping (does not include pool pass). Bear in mind that the best rates are on the shoulder seasons, which in the case of Death Valley are early fall and late spring. Our favorite time to visit? Spring break!

Food Services: Several restaurants are available onsite. Our favorite was the family diner, ’49er Cafe, serving general family fare like burgers, pasta, and kid meals. The Wrangler Steakhouse is spendier, but does have an extensive breakfast buffet.

In addition to the restaurants, the Ranch General Store is well-stocked with items to make your own picnics and light breakfasts, like milk, cereal, bread, lunchmeats, etc. Be prepared to pay dearly for this convenience, however! (We stock up on groceries before entering the park.)

Directions: From Las Vegas: take I-15 N, then take exit 42A to merge onto US-95 N toward Reno. Turn left at NV-373 S. Continue onto CA-127 S, entering CA. Turn right at CA-190 W into the park.

Where to backpack with kids in Northern California

April 4, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Will you be backpacking with kids this coming summer? Most families who love backpacking with kids are familiar with backpacking options in popular regions such as Yosemite National Park, but the following lesser known areas offer backpacking just as scenic and often crowd-free.

Tahoe and Northeastern Sierra Nevada:

Our favorite section of the Northeastern Sierra Nevada mountain range is located in California’s Plumas County, adjacent to the town of Graeagle. The Lakes Basin Recreation Area, just south of Graeagle up Gold Lake Road, offers 47 trails and over 30 alpine lakes. Some of these trails are available only for day hikers, but link families to backpacking regions. To start out directly on a backpacking route, begin at the Jamison Mine Trailhead en route to historic Johnsville (10 miles from Graeagle) and hike approximately three miles uphill to beautiful Rock Lake. This alpine lake offers idyllic camping, swimming, and rock jumping. Adjacent Jamison Lake offers great trout fishing.

Tip: consider renting a Tahoe vacation home before or after your backpack trip. We like to spend a few days pre-trip in a home, where we can organize backpacking foods, pack our backpacks, and enjoy a few luxurious days before entering the backcountry.

Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains:

Further north near the California/Oregon border, the Trinity Alps Wilderness in Shasta Trinity National Forest consists of chiseled granite peaks and alpine lakes, with elevations from 2,000 feet in creek drainages to 9,000 feet at summits. This wilderness offers many different trails ranging from 1.5 miles to 15 miles at varying levels of difficulty. Spring backpacking is often an option here (in the lower elevations) and mid-week trips are encouraged to beat crowds. Our pick: the five mile hike to Granite Lake on the Swift Creek trailhead. Tip: families will want to arrive early on weekends or during mid-week to secure the prime campsite lakeside.

The nearby Marble Mountains are less populated, and easily accessed from I-5. Our favorite backpacking route through the Marble Mountains is to Campbell Lake, located off the Shackleford Creek Trail (three hour hike). Visibly stunning, Campbell Lake offers great swimming. The Trinity Alps and Marble Mountain region offers many loop trails perfect for families wanting to adjust their trip to suit kids’ abilities.

Lassen National Park:

Lassen National Park is one of the least visited in the US, and we have no idea why! However, families can take advantage of the low crowds and find prime backpacking wilderness with relative ease. Grab a wilderness backpacking permit when you enter the park, and then head east, to where the top backpacking loop trails depart. You’ll find alpine lakes, creeks, and lodgepole pine forests in ample supply. The weather tends toward hot and dry, which means families will encounter fewer mosquitos than in damper areas. If you head toward geothermal regions of the park, bear in mind that camps cannot be set within 1/4 mile of geothermal activity (bubbling pots, etc).

No matter where you backpack, be sure to get the necessary permits at the ranger station or forest service station nearest your trailhead, and check conditions before arriving. Make sure you have a water filtration system or means of fresh water, and bear canisters where required. For more general backpacking tips, read How to Plan a Multi-Day Backpacking Trip with Kids. For gear suitable for kids while backpacking, check out our Travel Gear We Use series.

The above post is written in partnership with VacationRoost.com.

Stay the night in a fire lookout: a weekend on Pickett Butte, OR

April 2, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We love camping in all seasons, but we also like to be (reasonably) comfortable. A number of years ago, we discovered Oregon state park yurts, and this year, we’ve added national forest fire lookouts to our off-season camping picks. If you might stay the night in a fire lookout, read on!

Fire lookouts available for civilian stays are located across the US. To find one in your state, start with this US Forest Service list, then click over the Recreation.gov to reserve (you’ll want to plan way ahead, and reserve as early as possible). We stayed at Pickett Butte fire lookout in Southwestern Oregon, located in Umpqua National Forest. Pickett Butte served well for a winter fire lookout stay because of its relatively low elevation of 3,200 feet; while it sits at the highest rise in the surrounding forest and towers three steep stories into the air, it usually is accessible in all seasons. We loved that the immediate terrain around the tower was open and accessible to play in: we could stage air soft ‘wars’ and games of tag, plus build fun forts. There is also room for a tent and you get a campfire ring and picnic tables.

Pickett Butte is accessed via seven miles of winding forest service roads (do not use a car navigation system to find it), and is very isolated. We were the only people within miles, which meant we could enjoy peace and solitude (and also meant our chocolate lab could run freely). The lookout consists of a single 12×12 room at the top of one of the steepest towers we’ve ever experienced: the three flights of stairs are more like ladders. Our dog we spoke of? He couldn’t ascend them, and opted to sleep in the car. The lookout features a nice pulley system to help you haul your stuff up, which was fun for our kids, and you can drive directly to the base of the tower. The single room features gas-powered lanterns, stove, oven, and fridge, plus a heater. There’s a single bed, and plenty of floor space for sleeping bags. The wrap-around observation deck and floor-to-ceiling windows offer incredible views (plus a great flight deck for homemade wooden airplanes we built during our stay).

Preparation before arriving at any lookout:

Before arriving at your lookout, call the ranger station or forest service office closest and ask about conditions. Depending on your lookout, you may need to ask for a combination lock code or key access as well. We’re very glad we called ahead before our Pickett Butte stay; had we not had the correct combination lock code, we’d have been forced to retrace our steps back to the ranger station for information.

Find out what provisions you’ll need. For instance, at Pickett Butte, gas fuel is in ample supply, so we didn’t need to bring our own. Ditto for pots and pans and some utensils, including a can opener and bottle opener. However, no potable water was available, so we knew we needed to bring our own. Tip: three gallons for two nights was not enough for our family of five. We ended up boiling water from a creek 1.5 miles away for our last breakfast of oatmeal and hot cocoa (be sure to boil water a full five minutes). We also brought more cooking tools than needed, but didn’t want to be caught unprepared.

At Pickett Butte, it’s understood that each guest will try to leave something to better the experience for the next person; when we arrived, we found a half-bottle of wine awaiting us. We left a set of balsa wood airplanes for the next kids to fly off the top of the tower. In the cupboards, we found canned goods, instant soups, and an assortment of batteries.

Before packing your gear for any lookout, ask whether a campfire is allowed, and make plans for purchasing local firewood. Determine your menus based on what appliances you have at your disposal. We opted to cook over the fire one night, and used the oven and stove top the next. Don’t forget about the details: is there an outhouse? Will you need to bring toilet paper? (We wished we’d brought wet wipes for easy hand washing.)

Pack plenty of dry clothes if camping in the off-season; the small heater in Pickett Butte would not have been up to the challenge of drying all our clothing. We packed rain and snow gear, just to be safe, and plenty of pairs of socks, gloves, and hats. Bring extra garbage bags in order to haul out all garbage from your stay. Print out directions to your fire lookout before departing home, and don’t rely on your navigation system. Enjoy!

Date last visited:

February 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Pickett Butte is located approximately 20 miles from I-5 off the Canyonville exit.

Rate:

Cost of a fire tower lookout stay in Oregon is $40/night.

Portland Children’s Museum

March 31, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

The Portland Children’s Museum is one of the best places to spend a rainy morning or afternoon with young kids in Portland. For better or for worse, the word is out, and this excellent museum can get very crowded. Before describing any of the many reasons to visit, I have to start my Portland Children’s Museum review by saying, ‘Get there early!’ Every time we stop by, we get there at opening at 9 am, and practically have the place to ourselves for about the first hour.

Now, why visit? With 12 main exhibits ranging from a play grocery store, a stage with working lights, curtain, and ticket booth, workshops and multi-level climbing and play spaces, baby and toddler sections, story times and planned events, and a wonderful water play area, Portland Children’s Museum is sure to keep kids 0-12 happy, happy, happy.

My own kids are starting to ‘age out’, but I’m hesitant to use that term, because on a very recent visit, our 12-year-old had a great time in both the Garage (a building and creation space using recycled materials) and in the clay studio. While kids of any age (with parental supervision) can try their hand at clay, kids do need to be 5 and up to enter the Garage (due to the use of glue guns and hammers and nails). I love the inclusion of this room to keep the attention of older kids!

The layout of the museum is fairly open and free-flowing with the exception of the exhibits toward the back of the building (accessed down a hallway). If you have kids under 6, you’ll probably need to keep them on a short leash, so to speak, so as not to lose sight of them. It’s easy for kids to migrate from one section to the next as their interests dictate (which can be either a good thing and a bad thing, depending on your point of view). There’s space in the lobby to use as a ‘meet up’ place for older kids, but note that the museum’s traveling and temporary exhibits are housed off the lobby too.

New Outdoor Adventure:

During our January 2014 visit, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the new Outdoor Adventure, to open in April 2014. This inviting outdoor space lies adjacent to the museum, and encompasses the downhill slope around to the back of the building. With trees, rocks, trails, and a creek water feature, this space is dedicated to outdoor play…with unlimited options. It warmed my nature-loving heart to hear that the creative team behind the space understood the importance of keeping this area largely under-developed, allowing kids freedom of exploration. While switchback trails do exist up the slope, kids are not restricted to them, and the water feature is meant to be played in, around, and through. A covered wooden group space and amphitheater sits at the bottom of the outdoor space, and at top, digging space and a toddler space will sit adjacent to parent sitting and observing areas. The museum will provide rubber boots and other outdoor gear for play in any season, thanks to local gear donations.

Admission:

Ages 1-54: $10, over 54: $9
If you have a membership to another NW science or children’s museum, it’s likely good for admission for four. Be sure to bring your membership card with you and ask!

Hours:

9 am to 5 pm daily

Dining:

The museum cafe is located in the lobby, and offers very healthy fare for kids and adults, from soups, salads, wraps, and organic snacks.

Directions:

The Portland Children’s Museum is located in Washington Park, easily accessed by car or MAX. The address is 4015 SW Canyon Road, Portland.

Disclosure: As I disclose whenever applicable, we visited the children’s museum as guests of the museum, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

Orlando: Life besides Disney

March 29, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

When people think of Orlando with kids, Disney World is likely to be one of the first places that spring to mind on the list of “must-dos”, particularly if you’re traveling with children However, there’s so much more on offer in Orlando that people seem to forget about. Alongside the thrills and spills of the theme parks, there are some terrific kid-centric activities that everyone should consider if they’re planning a trip. There are also some good deals on hotels and timeshares in Orlando outside of the Disney sphere, as well as bargains on flights, depending on when you travel.

First thing’s first, you’re definitely going to want to visit some of Florida’s beaches. While Orlando is inland, the coast is only about an hour away, so if you’re going to be renting a car, you may as well go on an old-fashioned trip to the seaside, that most popular of trips! The kids will love the sun, sand, and surf here, and it’ll give you a great excuse to relax and soak up a few rays yourself. Be sure to pack your sunscreen though as temperatures here can soar to a whopping 92°F (33°C) in July. The Siesta Key is the perfect spot for a serene day out, with crisp white sands and clear blue waters.

Just because you’re on holiday, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t test the kids’ imaginations a little. You can take them to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, where they can put their own grasp of what’s real and what’s imaginary through its pace, and then drop in next door at WonderWorks. The kids will love this completely upside-down building — when you enter you’ll be the wrong way up. Step into the inversion tunnel and you can then head off into more than 100 interactive exhibits that the whole family is sure to love.

This is Orlando and the sun will be beating down on you, so, naturally, you’ll want some time to cool off. Lucky for you, Orlando is home to all kinds of water parks. SeaWorld’s Aquatica is amongst the best, with attractions including the HooRoo Run, a super speedy waterslide that will barely give you chance to scream before you’re plunging into the waters below. While you’re there (not on the slide itself, of course!), you can check out the sea life on display here, which will keep the kids enthralled and maybe even encourage them to learn more about animals.

So there you have it, already plenty of things to do other if Disney World doesn’t tickle your fancy. With a little research, you can find all kinds of extra activities. So, what’s on the agenda?

Photo credit: MarialArtsNomad. The above post is sponsored.