A Pit Stop a Day (Day 5): Swiftcurrent Lake Cruise

July 1, 2010 By

The Morning Eagle: a wonderful way to see the park interior.

Day 5 found us lucky enough to wake up once again at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. We spent the morning hiking nearby trails, then boarded Chief Two Guns for a Swiftcurrent Lake Cruise offered by the Glacier Park Boat Company.

What a great way to combine sightseeing, a guided tour, hiking, and boating! We departed from the dock of the Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake and cruised to the opposite side (approximately 15 minutes). Passengers then walked .2 mile over a hill to nearby Josephine Lake, where we boarded the Morning Eagle, another cruise boat. From there, we crossed Josephine Lake and passengers were offered the choice of returning to Many Glacier or hiking 2.3 miles (round trip) to Lake Grinnell.

Boarding the boat after a .2 mile walk from Swiftwater Lake to Josephine Lake.

We opted for the latter (as did most passengers¦we had a group of about 30). The guided hike was simply stunning. Before we had walked ten yards, our naturalist (guide) was pointing out a moose and her calf in the reeds by the lake. Later on, we encountered moose and elk prints, many waterfalls on the mountainsides, a swinging and swaying wooden bridge, and Lake Grinnell itself. Our guide was knowledgeable, and while I usually prefer hiking without a large group, it was nice to gain the information. Besides, we were in bear country, so I didn’t mind the extra people (safety in numbers, right?).

The hike to Grinnell Lake includes a wooden cable bridge over icy glacial waters!

The kids had fun on the boats (and Toby once again got to take a turn at the helm). Despite the substantial cost, we give this tour a thumbs up: we’d do it again!

Toby at the helm of Chief Two Guns.

Note: You can access Lake Grinnell and the surrounding area without taking a boat cruise. From the Swiftcurrent Lake loop trail (which begins at the Many Glacier Hotel), it’s only approximately 1.3 miles (one way). In fact, Calvin, Nate, and my dad opted to walk back from the Lake boat dock instead of waiting for the return boat: it took them 45 minutes.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: 21 miles from St. Mary, 12 miles from Hwy 89.

Admission Prices: $22 per adult, $11 per child (under 12)

Hours: Cruises across Swiftcurrent Lake and adjacent Lake run multiple times daily. Cruises with guided hike to Lake Grinnell depart at 9 am and 2 pm daily.

Food Services: None. Bring your own snacks and water, as you’re out for 3.5 hours.

Bathrooms: Pit toilets are located at two locations along the trail. They were as clean as pit toilets reasonably can be!

Website: Glacier National Park lake cruises

Directions: See directions to the Many Glacier Hotel.

Up Next: It’s winter in the end of June as we hike on a glacier!

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 1): Portland Spirit River Cruise

June 25, 2010 By

The Portland Spirit leaving downtown Portland.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Portland, OR

Our Day 1 route (see map) took us from our home in Southern Oregon four hours north on I-5 to beautiful Portland, where we were fortunate to embark upon the Portland Spirit for a cruise down the Willamette River.

The Portland Spirit is a 150′ yacht with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate controlled. We were met at the dock by the skipper (and a photographer), and shown aboard. The kids immediately made their way up the stairs to the top (outdoor) deck to take in the views (and try to climb the rails…we had to implement a safety talk at this point).

Toby and Calvin scope out downtown Portland.

Toby was fascinated by the many steel bridges along the Willamette.

There are several maps of the Spirit’s routes on-board.

The Spirit embarked at 7 pm and cruised south down the Willamette River to Lake Oswego (there are also cruises which will take you down the Columbia Gorge and a jet boat which takes you toward the coast by Astoria). You can eat a gourmet meal aboard the Spirit, or can buy a sightseeing-only ticket; we opted for the latter, and spent the bulk of our time taking in the views on the top deck (although you’re free to explore the entire yacht).

I cannot say enough about the views afforded on this cruise. The scenery was beautiful, and we had fun checking out all the mansions along the banks of the river by Lake Oswego. The many rowing and sailing clubs out on the water kept the kids’ attention, as did the many bridges we cruised under. The entire crew on-board was very friendly and helpful. On the top deck, the First Mate and Skipper were on-hand to let the kids know when the bridges would open up to let us pass and even gave them a turn at the wheel in the bridge.

Uh oh…it’s the Pit Stops crew at the helm!

Hmm…which delicate instrument should I touch first?

A few practical notes for parents: the cruise takes over 2.5 hours. Very young children might get squirmy (although there’s plenty of room to let them walk around and play). If you want to buy additional snacks or drinks aboard, plan accordingly. We spent an extra $20 on drinks for a family of five (a cocktail each for the adults, lemonade for the kids) and $10 for a souvenir photo. There is also a small gift shop on-board.

Extra Tip! Bring sweatshirts (even in summer) if you plan (or your kids plan) to stay outside on the deck. It gets windy, and weather in the Northwest is always unpredictable.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 10 minutes from I-5. (Be aware of possible rush hour traffic from 5-6 pm!)

Hours: The evening (dinner and/or sightseeing) cruise boards at 6:30 pm and departs at 7 pm, returning to the dock at 9:30 pm.

Admission Prices:

$68 Adults
$63 Seniors and Children
Sightseeing only (no dinner): $28 per person

Food Services: If you’re interested in eating aboard the cruise, you’ll be booking the dinner cruise. If you opt for sightseeing only, the bar is still open to you. You can buy drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks at any time.

Bathrooms: Located on-board.

Website: Portland Spirit

Directions: The cruise departs from the Salmon Street Springs Fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. From I-5, take exit 299B on the left for I-405 W toward US-26 W/City Center/Beaverton, then take exit 1A on the left toward Naito Pkwy/Japanese-American Plaza. Merge onto SW Harbor Dr. Turn right at SW Naito Pkwy. The park is on the right-hand (river) side of the street, and you want to look for the cross-street of Salmon St. We found a parking garage for only $3 for the night (on a Thursday after 6 pm) in the World Trade Center building directly across from the Salmon Street fountain.

More parking in the area:

Smart Park Garage at SW First/SW Jefferson
Pay lot underneath the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to northbound traffic on Naito Parkway
Pay lot north of the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to southbound traffic on Naito Parkway

As I disclose whenever compensated while reviewing an activity or location, my family and I were hosted on the Portland Spirit at no cost. This compensation came with no expectations or agreements for a positive review.

Up next! We spend the night at Portland’s Hyatt Place!

Moab, Utah and Arches National Park

February 16, 2010 By

Since not all great places to stop with kids are along the major interstates, Pitstops for Kids! has added a new series called Off the Beaten Path.

First up, beautiful Moab, Utah and its surrounding areas. We had the pleasure of visiting Moab while touring national parks of the southwest, and quickly realized we could have happily spent many more than the one night we’d reserved in the town. Located 45 minutes from I-70 in Utah along US Highway 191 (2 hours from Grand Juncton, Colorado), Moab is one part champion of the arts, one part gateway to adventure and three parts sun-baked natural beauty.

Moab, Utah and Arches National Park:

Double Arch in Arches National Park…great for climbing and hiking!

Why it’s worth the drive: Moab is home to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, which showcase some of the most stunning geological formations we’ve ever seen! Arches in particular is breathtaking, and offers many easy hikes and vista points for kids to explore. We started at the overlook for Delicate Arch (an easier hike with great views), then drive the short distance to Double Arch. You’ll see the visitor’s center directly after entering the park, but do that last when the temperatures rise. (General Tip: whatever your activity, get up and go early; later in the day, temperatures can be unbearable in summer.)

The town of Moab has much to offer in and of itself. If your kids will tolerate such activities, there’s ample shopping (for everything from boutique clothing to high end outdoors equipment to fine art). If you’re up for some adventure, rent bicycles and explore the area on the many trails or book a dune buggy or Jeep expedition to see more of the desert. Read more about our impressions of Moab.

Chuck-wagon style dinner at the Bar M

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: 45 minutes.

Hours and Admission Prices: The National Parks charge $10 per vehicle. Hours vary by season. Check the official websites for more information. There are many hotel and motel options. We stayed in the Days Inn Moab (426 N. Main), which was in walking distance to restaurants and shops and had a nice pool and free wi-fi.

Food Services: Moab is known for both its fine and casual dining. Our favorite spot was a small cafe called the Wake and Bake (57 S. Main), where you can get homemade crepes with a multitude of fillings and eat out on their sun-touched patio. We also ate one dinner at the Bar M Chuck Wagon, a fun wild-west themed dinner show located a few miles out of town. The BBQ offerings and entertainment were family-friendly (and the pre-show ‘shoot out’ was great), but very young kids might get bored (ours did). If you go, be sure to get reservations!

Website: http://www.moab-utah.com/

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tips

September 13, 2009 By
Thrill rides remain the biggest draw to Discovery Kingdom

Thrill rides remain the biggest draw to Discovery Kingdom

1001 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, CA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom may seem more like a destination than a pitstop, but given its location off I-80 and near the I-5 corridor between LA and Sacramento, it serves as a great overnight break from long-distance driving. We stopped on our way home to Oregon from Laguna Beach this past summer, staying one night at the Courtyard by Marriott Napa Valley (which was very comfortable although predictably packed with families) directly across the street and playing for one day at Six Flags before continuing home.

In the interest of full disclosure, my family enjoyed the park using complimentary admission vouchers. We did, however, pay full price for all food and extras. This compensation came with no expectations or agreements for a positive review (as you will see).

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tips:

We had not visited Six Flags for a number of years (I believe it was Marine World Africa USA last time we were there) and this trip, we found our enjoyment of this park varied greatly depending on our age and propensity toward high speed thrill rides. Perhaps it’s not fair to compare Six Flags to the likes of Sea World, Disney World, and Legoland, but we did¦and they must too, since their admission prices are compatible. The staff we came in contact with at Six Flags was generally apathetic and at times downright rude. We found the areas geared toward young children to be lacking; in short (no pun intended) there wasn’t enough for someone under 48 to ride. This was especially hard for our thrill seeking 36er and our almost tall enough 47-and-a-halfer. The family attractions, such as the animal shows, were nice to have on hand, but compared to the degree of professionalism at Sea World (from both the trainers and the animals), Six Flags fell flat.

That said, our ten-year-old loved the park. As in, absolutely LOVED everything about it. He couldn’t get enough of the roller coasters and thrill rides (and so those of us tall enough to accompany him did so over and over and over again).

We purchased the Flash Pass for three people in our group, which allowed us to squeeze more quality time out of our experience in the park. Simply put, the Flash Pass is a programmable beeper you can rent which will essentially hold your place’ in line, much like the buzzers handed out at casual restaurants to let you know when your table is ready. Basically, it calculates how long you would wait in any given line at any given time of day, then sets a timer for you. You don’t have to be physically present in the line until it beeps, and then you walk through a separate entrance (the exit) to get on the ride. It worked well (though not as well as Disney’s Fast Pass, which, of course, is free). My theme park philosophy is always to do what is necessary to make the most of your investment–in other words, saving time equals saving money. Therefore, even though we had to pay extra for this service, I’d recommend renting a beeper (for those members of your group tall enough to take advantage of most of the rides) if you visit on a busy day in summer.

In summary, we found Six Flags to be overpriced for what it offers. In the future, we’ll stay a night in San Francisco and explore the city for the better part of the day instead.

(I do, as always, welcome additional parent reviews of this pitstop. If you stopped at Six Flags recently and loved it, tell us why!)

Date last visited: early August 2009

Distance off the interstate: two minutes from I-80

Hours and Admission Prices: General Admission: $44.99
Child Under 48″: $29.99
2 & Under FREE
Everyone is admitted for the child’s price if tickets are paid for online.

Food Services: There are many counter service restaurants, all of course, priced in the theme park’ range. The souvenir drink bottles sold throughout the park (with free refills) is a good deal, even if you’re only drinking water. The lines for refills can get long, however.

Website: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx

Directions: From San Francisco/Oakland: take Highway 80 eastbound. Take the Highway 37 exit, just five miles east of the Carquinez Bridge.

From San Jose/South Bay: take Highway 680 over the Benicia Bridge. Then Highway 780 through Benicia to Highway 80 and then east to the Highway 37 exit.

From Sacramento: take Highway 80 westbound. From Highway 80, take the Discovery Kingdom exit.
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Slide Rock State Park

July 29, 2009 By
Slide Rock State Park, July 2009

Slide Rock State Park, July 2009

6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, Arizona

Slide Rock State Park may be a bit further off the beaten path than most pitstops (18 miles from Flagstaff), but it’s a mere five miles from the popular vacation town of Sedona, and well worth any amount of effort.

Slide Rock State Park planning:

Located down Highway 89A along a particularly scenic stretch of Oak Canyon, Slide Rock State Park is exactly what it professes to be: a slippery, natural waterslide. Upon first sight, my kids were awestruck, and quite frankly, so was I. At least a quarter mile of the river is cut so perfectly out of the red rock canyon, it appears man-made. The water pools and eddies around smoothly rounded slabs of granite, creating both slick slides and deep diving holes.

Nate, sliding down a shute.

Nate, sliding down a shute.

There’s about a quarter mile walk from the parking lot to the swimming site. It’s easy to access, but bring good water shoes. I know this is simply common sense, but the rocks are very, very slippery. We fell many times, and saw worse. There’s very little shade, and not much room on the slabs of stone for chairs. We opted to bring only beach towels and a cooler with cold water, which worked out great. We didn’t spend much time out of the water, anyway!

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: 18 miles off I-17 on Hwy 89A from Flagstaff; five miles from Sedona.

Hours and Admission Prices: Slide Rock is a state park, and entry is $10 per car or $2 per person. Hours are sunrise to sunset, but be advised: the park becomes very crowded on hot summer days, and when the parking lot fills, the park is closed. We visited on a Tuesday in July, and were one of the last cars admitted at 11 am. Get there early!

Bathrooms: Near the parking lot.

Food Services: There is a small general store located near a historic homestead en route to the slide (after the parking lot). It was well-stocked with cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks, but don’t plan to get a full lunch here.

Website: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/SLRO/

Directions: From Sedona: Head north on AZ-179 toward Sombart Ln. Turn left to stay on AZ-179, then turn right at N Hwy-89A/AZ-89A.

From Flagstaff: Take AZ-89 toward Sedona. Turn left at S Hwy-89A/AZ-89A. Turn left at N Hwy-89A/AZ-89A.

 

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