Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa: Adventures by Disney excursions

September 30, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

During a stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, families have the opportunity to participate in something very unique: authentic Hawaiian excursions run by Adventures by Disney. As a huge fan of what Adventures by Disney does–expose families to a region’s culture and history in an adventurous way–I was eager to sample some of what they offer Aulani guests. I was fortunate to participate in two: Aulani’s Catamaran Experience and Kailua Sea Kayaking Experience.

The Catamaran Experience began on-board a 53-foot Gold Coast Catamaran, as we set sail from a nearby harbor (transportation time was less than 15 minutes). For this excursion, Adventures by Disney works with a local tour operator crew who did a wonderful job making us feel right at home on the boat. Not only was the entire catamaran at our disposal (daring guests can even sit on the mesh at the aft of the vessel as the boat glides through the tropical waters), but we had on-board entertainment in the form of expert information and ukulele music. Food was provided, and the catamaran takes families to one of the best snorkeling locations on the coast. During our sail, dolphins were spotted, and many photo opportunities were taken. Kids as young as four can participate, and you won’t worry: the Hawaiian Ocean Adventures crew were professional, fun, and educated about their beautiful coastline!

The Kailua Sea Kayaking Experience takes place on Oahu’s lush windward side of the island; families shouldn’t leave Oahu without seeing it. The drive time to the stunning Kailua beach where the kayaking begins (consistently voted one of the top five most beautiful beaches in the world) is about 45 minutes, but you won’t notice: the scenery is absolutely stunning (and some guests might recognize it as the location where the TV show Lost was filmed). Once in Kailua, guests meet up with Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, who bring you beachside where your kayaks await you. After instruction, you set out across crystal-clear water (never more than 10 feet deep!) to the bird sanctuary at Flat Island, where their guides (one a marine biologist) teach you about the Shearwaters (sea birds) who nest here as you hike the small island. Once back onboard kayaks, families catch the current back to shore. I loved being on the water–we even saw a sea turtle swim by!–but the unexpected highlight was definitely the nature walk and education about this unique area.

The logistics: For all Adventures by Disney excursions, guests meet guides in the open-air lobby of the Aulani, where transportation is provided for them. Adventures start at approximately $150 per adult (less for kids), and vary by excursion. Reservations can be made in advance (the website lists which days each excursion takes place) or once families are at Aulani, by stopping by the Holoholo Tours and Travel Desk.

I strongly believe in families exploring their surroundings and getting to know local culture while on vacation, and I’m convinced that Adventures by Disney excursions are the absolute best way to do this. There is tremendous value in the level of both customer service and local knowledge on Adventures by Disney excursions, which is why I highly recommend budgeting at least one during an Aulani vacation. If one is all your family’s budget allows for, it’s still easy to explore more of the island: in addition to their nine Adventures by Disney excursions, Aulani’s Holoholo desk can book dozens of publicly offered excursions directly through local Hawaiian tour operations. The difference is that families will not be attending as part of an Adventures by Disney tour, which means it will not include transportation, snacks, and the full treatment of educational components. It will, however, include peace of mind: the operators are all fully vetted by Disney, and families can still expect a quality experience away from the resort. On the other end of the price-point scale, families can book three-day Adventures by Disney Explorer package, which include three full days’ worth of Adventures by Disney excursions (running Tues-Thurs.), with virtually everything taken care of for your family.

When considering additional, non-Adventures by Disney excursions at the lower price point, I suggest renting a car for one day (available through Aulani on-site for approximately $30 cheaper per day than airport pricing). Just be sure to return the rental car in the evening (again, conveniently at Aulani), even if you’ve reserved it for 24 hours, to avoid the overnight parking fee.

Oahu on Dwellable

Aulani, a Disney’s Resort and Spa: what’s included in the Aulani value

September 28, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

There’s no doubt about it: Aulani, Disney’s new Hawaiian resort on the leeward side of Oahu, is jaw-droppingly fabulous. Throughout my stay, I experienced first class service, amenities, and activities across the board. For the average traveling family, however, it’s also jaw-droppingly expensive. Utilizing a quick room rate and availability search on Aulani’s reservations page, I was hard pressed to find a standard room for under $400 a night. Families of five or more can go ahead and double that (though room rates vary considerably depending on season, type, etc). Is the value worth it? I believe the answer is yes, if families take advantage of all that comes included with a stay and educate themselves on resort values.

So what is included in that rack rate? Much more than is offered at most high-end destination resorts. With the price of a room, families will not pay a penny extra for the following amenities:

Within the room itself, families will love the extra touches provided for convenience. For starters, all rooms come pre-stocked with a port-a-crib. All rooms also feature a mini fridge (snacks and breakfast foods are available in Kalepa’s Store as well as across the street from the resort for a more reasonable price), flat-screen TV, wireless internet (at no extra charge), an iPhone/Pod docking station, and a large-for-standard-rooms table and chairs. Suitcase storage is provided under every bed to increase usable space in the room, bathrooms include deep bathtubs as well as showers, and toilets are separate from the main vanity, making heavy bathroom traffic more bearable.

Your kids will love the kids’ club at Aunty’s Beach House. Designed for kids ages 3-11 (up to age 13 welcome), Aunty’s is a cozy and welcoming respite where children are fully supervised for no additional charge. Just drop in anytime during open hours (open until 9 pm or 11 pm). With multiple (adorably themed) rooms for different ages and activities, as well as a large outdoor play area, kids have the run of the place, enjoying individualized attention from staff and engaging in fun and educational activities (think volcano or space goo creations!). While I stopped by during my Aulani stay, I watched a ten-year-old girl receive an impromptu ukulele lesson, preschoolers play dress up with the many Disney costumes, and a group of boys engaged in a computer game competition. Daily special events are also offered (to be listed in each day’s resort schedule.) The Disney details are abundant at Aunty’s: kids love the way it always rains outside the windows of the media/movie room (because you can only watch movies in Hawaii when it’s raining outside!), the climbing fort outside, and ‘Uncle’s workshop’, an extensive art and craft center. What I loved best: special toddler programming for kids too young to be dropped off at Aunty’s is offered for parents to enjoy with their kids…and these programs are scheduled for select mornings at 7:30 am, a time when kids are up and restless, but other activities are not yet open. (Bonus: parents can go off-site while kids are at Aunty’s…nearly unheard of in the resort business!)

Everyone will love the unlimited water recreation in the Waikolohe Valley. Cruise the lazy river (complete with volcanic bubble action underfoot!), play in the free-form pool, slide down the plunge and tube slides, soak in the whirlpool spas, or just hang out in the lush garden areas. Papalua Shave Ice is the best deal going: for $3.75, kids get a huge snow cone with up to three tropical flavors.

The instant beach access means time and money saved on a car rental. Not only can guests dip their toes in the Pacific just a few steps from their room in the Aulani Lagoon, but miles of additional beach access is available as well. Snorkeling is an option right in the lagoon, but only two short coves away by foot (past the JW Marriott) is an absolutely fantastic snorkeling location. Bring your own snorkeling gear, or rent gear for a reasonable fee at the beach rentals shack on the lagoon (you get to use it all day). If you have young kids who might be intimidated by the (small) ocean currents, Aulani also offers Rainbow Reef, a manmade snorkeling cove in Waikolohe Valley. There is a $20 fee per person, which seemed steep until I realized that for the price, you can keep your gear all day, using it in the ocean as well as the reef. (Tip: If you want to try Rainbow Reef, be sure to rent your gear from that location, not the beach shack. You can take Rainbow Reef gear into the ocean, but not vice versa.)

Fish feeding viewings are both free and fun to watch. Families can watch the fish feeding at Rainbow Reef (at 8 am and 1:30 pm), or go next door to the JW Marriott to watch their daily 7:30 am ocean feeding. Tropical fish will swim right up near shore, where kids can watch them as they gobble up fish food.

Free cultural tours, evening entertainment, and fun is offered multiple times a week. At any time during their stay, guests can drop in at the Pau Hana Room, the starting point of the interactive Mehehune Trail (a bit like a scavenger hunt) and location for Mo’Olelo Storytelling, offered multiple times nightly. Additionally, ‘Ohana Disney Movie Nights are held every Friday on the Makaloa Garden lawn, starting at dusk.

Access to characters are free at Disney Friends Meet and Greets. Three times daily (on the week of my visit), Disney characters such as Stitch, Mickey, and Chip and Dale made appearances.

Teens can hang out at Painted Sky. Designed for kids ages 14-17, Painted Sky is one part teen spa, one part teen dance club, and one part teen computer cafe. Events are planned there daily, such as Xbox Zumba Fitness or teen movie nights, but kids can also just congregate there to hang out and chat.

Parents will appreciate the state-of-the-art Mikimiki Fitness Center. Located adjacent to the impressive Laniwai Spa, the fitness center includes weight-lifting and toning equipment, cardio equipment, and classes both in the center and on the beach (though a fee applies to some).

Do all these perks add up to that pricy rack rate? I believe they do, especially when you add the intangibles on top: I’m speaking, of course, of the Disney touch. In addition to the total immersion into the culture and fantasy Disney so effortlessly seems to provide in all their experiences, guests can also count on the Disney standard of guest services and quality. Could you spend less at a another hotel brand on Oahu? Certainly, but when families pay Disney prices, they get…well, Disney. And that’s pretty priceless.

Honolulu on Dwellable

A stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa

September 26, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

I’ll admit it: as my airport shuttle pulled up to Aulani, Disney’s destination resort on Oahu, I expected to find Mickey front and center. I was prepared to greet that familiar pair of mouse ears from every angle: in person, in silhouette, in every scrap of signage and decoration. I was wrong. And while I have nothing against the guy, I’m so glad I was wrong.

Throughout my four-night stay, my experience at the resort emphasized one key fact time and again: Aulani is not a Disney resort that just so happens to be in Hawaii. It’s a Hawaiian resort that just so happens to be (expertly) owned and operated by Disney. Put another way, if Aulani were a cupcake, the Hawaiian environs and culture would be the cake, its people and traditions the frosting. Disney would be only the sprinkles on top. What does that mean for vacationing families? It means you’ll be treated to a true Hawaiian experience, a rarity at large destination resorts. Will your kids also see Mickey? Of course! But as with everything at Aulani, the mouse and his friends are only one part of the greater Hawaiian story being told.

Families are immersed in the Hawaiian culture in a multitude of ways at Aulani, some of which most guests will never notice. The attention, of course, is in the details (this is Disney, after all). Hawaiian artwork by local talent is implemented throughout the resort (from the Maka’Ala lobby murals to the kapa textile in every guest room), taro fields (the indiginous plant used to make the food staple poi) line the outside entry, and everywhere you look (if you think like a kid), menehune, Hawaiian culture’s legendary mischief makers, are celebrated in sculpture and wood carving.

Guests who’d like to know more about any one of these features need only ask: Aulani Cast Members not only exemplify the Disney standard in guest relations, but are very knowledgable about the traditions and customs illustrated throughout the resort. Or join local artists, storytellers, and experts at one of the many family activities scheduled daily: take Ohana Hula from a local practitioner, attend Mo’Olelo storytelling in the Pau Hana Room, or learn how to carve a pineapple or prepare poi. Walk the Menehune Trail or take one of several self-guided cultural or environmental tours.

The design of the resort itself is a nod to Hawaiian tradition as well as Disney’s tradition of nurturing childhood delight. I had the pleasure of meeting several of the talented artists whose work adorn Aulani’s walls and corridors, and the word each of them continually used was ‘pride’. When asked about his vision from an engineering standpoint, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Vice President and Creative Executive Joe Rohde explained that he tried to design the resort in a way that would make children notice the details before adults do.

Of course, Aulani is also all about recreational fun: there’s so much for families to do together on-site, you could be outside all day. The resort’s two main towers cradle the central Waikolohe Valley, where the Waikolohe Stream (lazy river) flows, the Menehune Bridge (water play structure) beckons, and the Rainbow Reef snorkel lagoon promises tropical fish sightings. In addition, families will love the zero-depth entry pool, water slides, infinity whirlpool spas, a quiet pool, and of course, the beach, with floating swimming platforms, snorkel and recreational gear rentals, and plenty of space to sit back and relax is located only steps away.

While there’s plenty to do at Aulani, families will want to book excursions at the Holoholo Desk, where it’s possible to choose from a number of off-site Oahu experiences in three distinct price ranges. Book an adventure with an affiliated local tour operation (fully vetted by Aulani), opt for one of several Adventures by Disney two-hour to half-day excursions, or participate in a multi-day Adventures by Disney program. The Excursions Guest Services team has done all the work for you, finding the best Oahu has to offer, and no less.

No matter how much families do (or don’t do) while on an Aulani vacation, one thing is certain: they’ll be surrounded by the rich storytelling tradition that always equals a magical time. From the moment I stepped onto the property, I was fully emersed in this wonderful story being told, a feeling emphasized during a meeting with Bob Iger, President and CEO of Walt Disney Company, and Tom Staggs, President of Parks and Resorts. Both emphasized what I was already finding true at Aulani myself: that Disney is indeed in the experience business, not the hotel or theme park business.

Date last visited: September 20-24, 2011

Room rates and options: Standard Aulani rooms feature five distinct view categories (all of which are very decent), and sleep up to four. They are just under 400 square feet, and include a spacious balcony or veranda. Rooms come with mini-fridges, coffee makers, hot water kettles, and bathrooms with deep tubs as well as showers and separate spaces between toilet and vanity. Parlor suites sleep five and include a separate bedroom area and additional half-bathroom. (Tip: for families of five, it’s more economical to reserve two adjoining standard rooms.) Aulani is also a Disney Vacation Club property, and guests also have the option of reserving DVC one-three bedroom villas as available.

Rates vary depending on view, season, and room type, so it’s best to check the reservations page online for current pricing.

Kids’ Club: Aunty’s Beach House is included in guests’ room rate, and offers unlimited care and fun for children 3-12. Painted Sky, also complimentary, is designed for kids 14-17.

Dining: Aulani includes several quick service dining options (including One Paddle, Two Paddle), two bars (The Olelo Room, which teaches you the Hawaiian language while you sip your cocktail, and Off the Hook, which also serves a poolside menu), Makahiki Buffet (with a character breakfast option two days per week), and ‘AMA’AMA, a signature dining restaurant. Dining is not inclusive, and menus reflect typical resort pricing, but families have the convenience of charging meals and snacks to their room card. Reservations can be made through the room phone or in advance (recommended for character breakfasts).

Directions: Aulani is located in Ko Olina at 92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive, Kapolei, HI, only 17 miles from the Honolulu International Airport. Car rentals are available at the airport of course, as is The Bus, the local public transportation (which will get guests within 1 mile of Aulani).

As I disclose whenever applicable, my stay at Aulani was fully hosted by Disney. My opinions, however, remain my own: this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Krupka’s Blueberry Plantation

September 23, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop is submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Krupka’s Blueberries is located in the resort lakeside town of Saugatuck, Michigan, and makes for a nice day trip if staying in the area or a pit stop if driving through. Our family finds them to be the best blueberries in the whole state (which is quite a fruit belt)! You can buy pre-picked if you’re in a hurry, or take some time to pick your own (super fun!).

Note: Ten pounds of blueberries for a family of three will only last about 100 miles (at least for my family!). And if it’s hot out, buy the pre-picked!

Distance from the interstate: One mile from Highway US31.

Cost: 10 pounds of picked blueberries cost $22 (at last visit)

Website: None.
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Directions: Take the Blue Star Highway exit and head east less than one mile. Krupka’s is on the left; it’s a big field fronted by blueberry bushes. Enter the driveway and drive to the shop at the back.

Key Lime Cove, Gurnee Illinois

September 21, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop is submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Heading to Wisconsin, north of Chicago, and stopping to shop at Gurnee? Or perhaps spending some time at Six Flags? We’ve got the perfect place to stay: Key Lime Cove, in Gurnee, Illinois.

Key Lime Cove is a Key West-inspired waterpark and destination hotel. It includes a Key West-themed marketplace, restaurant, bar, and ice cream parlor, a huge arcade, a spa, and more. The interior is uniquely themed with Key West beach shops and kids’ activities.

The hotel rooms are spacious and well-equipped. We had a separate room for the bedroom and then another room (with southern-type sliding doors) to the family area. There was a microwave and fridge, a kitchen table, a couch and lounge chair, and a large flat screen tv. In the bedroom, there was an ipod dock that served as a charging station and speakers. There was also a Keurig coffeemaker and Paul Newman Organic Coffee pods.

There are plenty of kids activities, from a scavenger hunt in the marketplace to an entire kid activity area, with things to do, color, and play.

The waterpark is set at 82 degrees, so it is a perfect winter getaway. There are towels, many lifeguards, and a manned first-aid station that helps set the tone for safety. While the waterpark isn’t as large as, say, Great Wolf Lodge, it is plenty big enough. There is a hot tub, a lazy river and wave pool, a smaller kiddie area, and several slides. For more information, read a full review at Wandering Educators!

Distance from the interstate: Just off I-94.

Room rates and reservations: For reservations and current room rates, visit the website at www.KeyLimeCove.com or call 877-360-0403.

Directions: Key Lime Cove is located at 1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee, IL, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Take the Grand Avenue exit (132) off I-94. The hotel is right next to Six Flags Great America, across from Gurnee Mills.

The Minnesota Zoo

September 19, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Located off 35E and Highway 77 in Apple Valley (just south of Minneapolis), the Minnesota Zoo is a destination in and of itself. The Zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and also boasts an IMAX theater. There are plenty of educational programs–just call ahead, or look online. There are strollers and wheelchairs for rent, a gift shop, and food available. The restrooms all have diaper changing areas, and there is a nursing area as well.

Special Events include:
dolphin Training Sessions (10, 12, 2 & 4)
Biodiversity Puppet Adventure (Mondays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until September 5, 2011)
Coral Reef Dive Show (10:30am)
seasonal cow milking demonstrations at the Wells Fargo Family Farm
seasonal splash pad with animal sculptures in an interactive water fountain
World of Birds Show
Shark Feedings (3pm daily)
Woodland Adventure (play area)

But let’s say you just want to walk around and explore! You can take the monorail through the outdoor part of the zoo, and see animals from Russia’s Grizzly Coast (sea otters, brown bears, tigers, leopards, and wild boar), takin, gazelle, prairie dogs, bison, Bactrian camels, Asian wild horses, moose, caribou, and musk ox. You can also walk the trail. There are benches along the way, restrooms, and occasionally a kids’ play area.

The Minnesota Trail is my favorite part: you can see lynx, cougar, wolverine, timberwolves, and beavers. There are educational stations and even places where you can get rubbings of tracks. This is outdoors, as well.

Heading there in the winter? Spend most of your time inside, and be warm in the Tropics Trail and Discovery Bay. You’ll see animals from tropical rain forests, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific, such as tamarin, red panda, lemurs, and gibbons. Also inside are penguins, bees, sharks, dolphins, snow monkeys, dolphins, and more. It’s a welcome relief from the cold!

Tip: Want to prepare your kids before you go? Spend a few weeks watching their live webcams (http://www.mnzoo.com/animals/animals_liveCam.asp) of beavers, dolphins, or gibbon. Be sure to take your camera: there are SO many opportunities to see such a wide variety of animals! And, there are so many kid play areas throughout the zoo, you’re sure to get good photos of your own critters!

Distance from the interstate: Minutes from I-35E

Admission cost: Kids 3-12 are $12, adults $18. Kids under three are free. More ticketing information can be found on the website.

Hours of operation: The zoo is open either 9 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 6 pm, depending on the season.

Directions:: The Minnesota Zoo is located at 13000 Zoo Boulevard in Apple Valley, MN just minutes south of Mall of America. Take Interstate 35W south to Highway 62 east. Exit taking Highway 77 south and follow it to County Road 38 east. Follow the brown-colored “Zoo” signs. For more information, visit mnzoo.org.

Polar Caves Park

September 15, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

My favorite stop during our family trip through the New Hampshire lakes district was the Polar Caves Park in Rumney, New Hampshire.

I admit I was skeptical at first: the park looks a little funky with giant (and somewhat weather-worn) polar bear statues and a cheesy gift shop at the entrance. But once we entered the park and started up the wooden walkway to the caves, I took back every snide comment. The scenery is beautiful, the caves are dark and refreshingly cool, and there’s even a little zoo at the entrance with some surprisingly exotic pheasants.

The cave tours are unguided, but you can bypass any one of them if it looks a little too cramped for your comfort. They are surprisingly fun to navigate, with a good number of tricky spots and tight quarters. We managed all but one cave with a three year old, and part of the fun was letting him figure out how to scramble up and down the boulders and explore each nook and cranny.

A few tips will help you get the most out of your visit. First, the website says that the park opens at 9am, when actually, the gift shop opens at 9 and the rest of the park opens at 10. We’re early birds, so we showed up well before the park opened and had to spend about 45 minutes wandering around a gift shop with a toddler. Enough said. Second, strollers and baby backpacks are not allowed in the caves and they mean it: there is no way you’ll get through the caves with a stroller, and there’s only one or two where a backpack might fit. That being said, we had a 10-month-old in a front carrier and went through all but one or two caves.

Distance from the interstate: Five miles off I-93.

Date last visited: August 24, 2011

Hours of operation: Polar Caves Park is a seasonal park, and is open until October 16. Hours are for ticket sales; the park is open a little later, but tickets must be bought during the following hours: summer hours are 9am–5pm, and fall hours are 10am¬–4:30pm.

Ticket prices: Ages 11 and up: $15, ages 4–10: $11, under 4: free

Food services: Food can be bought in the main lodge, but there is also a nice picnic area with barbeques available (the website even mentions that you’re welcome to borrow barbeque tools if needed!).

Contact info: http://www.polarcaves.com/ (603) 536-1888

Directions: Polar Caves Park is located at 705 Route 25, Rumney, NH 03266. From I-93, take exit 26 for New Hampshire 3/New Hampshire 25/Plymouth/Rumney, then merge onto New Hampshire 3A S/Tenney Mountain Hwy. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto NH-25 W, then turn left onto Old Route 25.

One Tank Wonders: where to travel after school starts

September 12, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Our family vacations extensively during the summer months, but by autumn, school and sport schedules once again reign. Do we stop traveling? Never! But our adventures do take place closer to home. In fact, some of our favorite trips have taken place less than one tank of gas away from our hometown. Shorter trips are less stressful, usually less expensive, and easier to plan. You can be in the car by breakfast and home by nightfall if needed, or you can opt to pack for only an overnight.

Here in Oregon, the following are some of our favorite one tank wonders. If you live here too, I hope you’ll check them out!

Crater Lake National Park: Crater Lake is not just one of the true wonders of the world; it’s also full of kid-friendly activities in (almost) all seasons. Roads can close in the middle of winter, but spring and late fall afford snowshoeing, while summer and early fall offer perfectly clear days and miles of hiking trails. We always stop by Union Creek on Highway 62 on the way, where Beckie’s features the best milkshakes and burgers money can buy, and Natural Bridge campground gives kids a glimpse of the icy river rushing through lava tubes.

Bend: This Central Oregon high desert town offers whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, and more volcanic activity at Lavalands Recreational Area. Families will also love the High Desert Museum and in the winter, the skiing at nearby Mt. Bachelor. Stay in Sunriver, or to splurge, Camp Pronghorn.

Oregon Dunes Recreational Area: This past summer, we discovered the fun of camping on the Oregon dunes. Spread out by the Pacific near Reedsport, this section of land is protected from recreational vehicles, and is ideal for hiking and playing on. Families can camp directly adjacent to the dunes, and spend the day on the coastline, or driving to the nearby Sea Lion Caves.

Oregon Caves and Out and About Treesort: Cave Junction, Oregon is less than one hour from our home, and offers the fun of sleeping in your own treehouse! While at the resort, horseback ride or zip line, and be sure to bring food to cook in the communal kitchen or over the bonfire. A short drive up a scenic highway away is Oregon Caves, where kids can spelunk during 90 minute guided tours through the caverns.

I’d love to hear about your one tank wonders! This week, I’m discussing the topic over at the Around the Campfire online community. Come share your own one tank wonder!

Exploring the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

September 9, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Directly along Oregon’s stretch of coastal Highway 101 lie the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: miles of sandy hills and valleys awaiting exploration! Never heard of it? I’m not surprised…many don’t realize these mammoth mountains of sand are so close at-hand for Northwest visitors!

The biggest of these dunes are about 10 miles south of Reedsport near the town of Lakeside in Eel Creek Campground. Off road vehicles are not allowed along this stretch of “seafront Sahara”. There are picnic tables and restrooms, and a $5 parking fee. It is only .05 mile walk (you cut through the campground) to the open dunes, which makes this a great pit stop for families traveling further as well as a destination. It’s possible to make a longer loop of it by following the trail from the campground to the beach and back (2.5 miles). We took snow sleds to try our hand at sand sledding, but they didn’t work as well as you might think! Instead, our kids had more fun just running up and down the dunes.

Families can also rent sand boards (like snowboards) nearby in the town of Florence. These rentals are about $20/day, and are a great activity for families with older kids who like skateboarding or snowboarding. They can be used wherever you like!

We opted for the day hike and hiked out to the ocean. Then we played at the beach for about an hour before walking back. Most of the hike we did barefoot, as the trail is sandy. The kids loved the wide expanse and played all kinds of games along the way; you could see them from miles away!

Another fun hike is Tahkenitch Creek, located north of Reedsport about nine miles. Due to the expanse of the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area, this area is still within its limits. It is well marked along Highway 101 and at one point, the trail crosses a creek that our kids ended up swimming in. The hike is two miles round trip to the ocean, but we got a bit lost on the trails and ended up hiking closer to three miles! The best part of this hike: finding dozens and dozens of sand dollars! (The weather can change quickly on the coast!)

Tip: About three miles east of Reedsport is Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. It is right along the highway and well worth the stop in case there are elk. There is telescope viewer there to find out! We did not see any this time, but we have before. Families can picnic there, but there are no tables, just benches and large information panels. (No bathrooms!) Also nearby is the Umpqua Discovery Center, in Reedsport, which is a great way to acquaint yourself with the dune area.

Date last visited: November 2014

Distance from the interstate: All attractions located right along Highway 101.

Overnight options: We stayed at Eel Creek Campground. Want to overnight in a yurt? Try Sunset Bay State Park (a family favorite) or William Tugman State Park. The latter is closest, but in summer, does get quite loud with motorized sports on the nearby lake.

Dining options: Nearby Reedsport offers the usual restaurant fare: we ate at a pizza place with a nice salad bar, and there is also a Safeway and McDonalds. In the small harbor town of Winchester, try the fish and chips place floating at the T dock. It’s delicious!

Rates and reservations: Start at the Eel Creek Campground site!

Directions: Eel Creek Campground (gateway to the dunes) is located at 72044 Highway 101 in
Lakeside OR, 10 miles south of Reedsport.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

September 6, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

On a recent family trip to the New Hampshire lakes region, we spent a blissful morning at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, New Hampshire.

The science center is made up of a network of trails dotted with animal exhibits ranging from insects and birds to mountain lions and even a black bear. For the younger crowd, the highlight of the morning was the Gordon Children’s Center, an interactive (and indoors!) playspace with slides, tunnels, and games, all focused on the animals and habitats on display at the science center. The staff also offer fun, informal animal shows every hour between 11am and 3pm.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center also offers lake cruises on Big Squam Lake, and summer camps for kids as young as four years old. Overall, this is a fun, educational way to get off the lake for a morning or afternoon with kids of all ages.

Date last visited: August 23, 2011

Distance from the interstate: Approximately 5 miles off 93N.

Hours of operation: Trails are open daily from May 1 to November 1, 9:30–4:30.

Admission: Adults: $15; kids (3¬–15): $10; 2 and under free.

Food services: Picnic! There are picnic tables located in a covered area just inside the ticket office, as well as a grassy area to set out a blanket. There is also food available for purchase at the Kirkwood Café (June through September only).

Website or contact info: www.nhnature.org

Directions: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located at 23 Science Center Road, Holderness, New Hampshire. Directions can be found on the website, or on googlemaps.