A stay at Omni San Francisco with kids

June 14, 2012 By

When we first stepped into the opulent lobby of the Omni San Francisco with our three excited kids, lots of luggage, and a cooler of snacks, I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ It was so beautiful, and so peaceful, and somehow smelled so good (citrus?) I couldn’t imagine this elegant San Francisco hotel could be a good fit for families. I was completely wrong. From the moment of check-in, my boys were greeted with smiles from everyone from the doorman to the valet, offered fresh fruit and herbal tea (the former was welcome after a day in the city, though the latter was a bust) and gifted Omni Kids lunch sack-style backpacks filled with goodies. No sooner had we arrived in our adjoining rooms, than a tray of freshly baked cookies and milk arrived.

Omni san francisco lobby

We found out both perks come as part of Omni’s Sensational Kids program, which is their way to welcome children to the hotel. The kids’ packs contained frisbees, hacky sacks, candy, and a map of the city with fun activities to complete, like crosswords, word searches, and puzzles. (They’d come in handy while waiting for food in restaurants, but I would have traded them in a second for a complimentary continental breakfast bar.) The rooms were spacious, and included all the nice touches you’d expect from a high-end hotel: high ceilings, window molding, nice views, and top-of-the-line fixtures. The oversized tubs were great for kids, and the coffee makers doubled nicely for us while making hot cocoa and instant oatmeal in the mornings.

omni san francisco

The service at Omni San Francisco is fantastic, and what it lacks in extra amenities like the free breakfast I mentioned or free parking (a rare find at urban hotels), it makes up for in convenience. Located on California Street just steps from the TransAmerica Building, the Omni is directly on the California Street Cable Car line and only two blocks from a BART station. It’s also only steps from MUNI bus lines. Every day, we stepped outside and were on our way via cable car or bus within minutes. Chinatown is a block away, and Nob Hill is in easy walking distance. The on-site concierge was always happy to give us (and our itinerary) full attention, guiding us with routes and recommendations.

sensational kids

Could you book a cheaper room elsewhere in San Francisco? Absolutely. We spent the evening before our Omni stay at Fisherman’s Wharf, where the room rates were less but we hauled our own luggage, fought with slow elevators, and got lost a lot. What you’re getting at Omni is luxury, location, and service…amenities that come at a higher price point. For a beautiful hotel experience in the heart of San Francisco, it can’t be beat. While we encountered mostly business travelers during our stay, it was clear at all times that children are welcome.

Deal! Save up to 49% on San Francisco’s Muni and Cable Car rides plus admission to the 4 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from Highway 101 (via the Golden Gate Bridge) or I-80.

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, room rates for standard and premiere rooms ranged from $300-339. Omni Kids Fantasy suites, which feature bunk beds, toys to use during the visit, and bean bag chairs (with a connecting room for parents) is additional, but a very nice set-up, and still less than the cost of two adjoining rooms.

Included amenities:

Kids are automatically welcomed into the Omni Sensational Kids program (with packs and cookies). Concierge service is also included in the room rate, and some room packages include valet parking. (Otherwise, valet parking is over $40 a night, and does include in and out privledges.) Self-parking at an adjacent garage is an option, but will still cost upwards of $35 a night. The Omni San Francisco does not have a pool, but room service is available, and high speed internet access is free for guests in the Select Guest Loyalty Program (free to join). Otherwise, wifi is $9.99 a night.

Dining:

Room service is offered day and night, and there is a restaurant on-site, though it seems a bit too spendy (and grown-up) for our family’s purposes. Within steps of the front doors, however, many options await. We ate in Chinatown one evening, and along Calfornia Street the next.

Directions:

Omni San Francisco is located at 500 California Street, at Calfornia and Montgomery.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Omni as guests of Omni Resorts, for the purpose of review. While their hospitality was appreciated, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

A stay at the Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

June 11, 2012 By

Families have hundreds of lodging options while visiting San Francisco with kids, but if they want to be in the heart of the Pier 39 action, the location of the Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf can’t be beat. Literally steps from the wharf, the Radisson is the only bay hotel with this prime location, with a back entrance opening on the Embarcadero. The surrounding area is busy and crowded and noisy at night (think San Francisco’s Times Square), but with so many attractions and dining options close at hand, the trade off may be worth it. From our adjoining rooms on the fourth floor, we didn’t hear much street noise.

renovated room, Radisson fisherman's wharf

The Radisson is an older hotel showing its wear, but they’re currently in the middle of a large-scale renovation. When we visited in May 2012, the guest rooms and lobby had been redone, with plans to improve upon the outdoor areas next. The standard rooms are not large (pretty standard for city hotels), but the new decor is very nice (especially the large wall murals of the Golden Gate). The bathrooms sport tubs as well as showers, a nice perk, and it was great to have a mini-fridge and closet space. Note: The Radisson beds have Sleep Number mattresses, worth mentioning as people tend to love them or hate them (for what it’s worth, we hate them).

Perhaps the nicest amenity of the Radisson is their outdoor pool and courtyard. Situated between the ‘U’ shape of the main building, the large ground floor courtyard features an outdoor fire pit, plenty of comfortable seating, and a nicely sized heated pool. Next to the pool is a small but adequate fitness room. Self parking is available (for a nightly fee of $37…pretty standard for the city) and wifi is complimentary in all guest rooms.

pier 39

We didn’t mind the fact that the outside of the Radisson was still in need of its scheduled facelift. The location more than made up for this. Our only complaint was the difficult-to-navigate layout of the hotel. The parking garage is at the back of the hotel, and uses its own set of elevators, easily confused with the main bank of elevators that lead to the lobby. If you’re coming from your car, the walk through the hallways can be long, and there are so many entrances to the courtyard area (street access, lobby access, and parking garage access) that visitors can get turned around. We could see the pool and courtyard from our room window, so we allowed our 10 and 12-year-olds to go down solo. They took the wrong elevator and got lost for some time, so please accompany tweens (we should have anyway) and note that street access to the courtyard does exist…kids could easily end up there. We’d advise using only the lobby elevators when accessing the pool area.

Plenty of dining exists in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, including fast food and a Johnny Rockets directly connected to the courtyard. One door down is a nice IHOP. A few pizza places deliver to the rooms as well.

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Just a few miles away from either I-80 the or Highway 101.

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, room rates were listed at just over $300 for a standard double bed room. What you’re paying for is the location, and if you plan to spend significant time exploring the Wharf, Embarcadero, and Ghiradelli area, it’s worth it for the prime spot.

Included amenities:

As mentioned above, wifi is complimentary. Parking is an extra fee, but some rooms do come with breakfast vouchers (for the adjacent IHOP) included.

Deal! Save up to 49% on San Francisco’s Muni and Cable Car rides plus admission to the 4 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Directions:

The Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf is located at 250 Beach Street, San Francisco. From I-80 or Highway 101, take the Embarcadero to the wharf.

As I disclose whenver applicable, we stayed at the Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf at a media rate, for the purpose of review. While we appreciate Radisson’s hospitality, this rate came at no expectation of a positive review.

Expedia Kids in the City: Portland Oregon

June 7, 2012 By

Today, Pit Stops for Kids is proud to participate in Expedia.com’s fantastic Kids in the City summer series. For 12 days, 12 American cities are featured by 12 travel bloggers. Each day, readers of Expedia experience a different city, all perfect for family summer vactions. Today, Pit Stops for Kids is presenting the final city of Portland, Oregon.

As an Oregon resident, it’s hard to imagine a better city to explore with kids than Portland. Small enough to navigate easily, yet big enough to host all the excitement families want in a city vacation, Portland is a fun, stimulating mix of beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and often-alternative (yet always free-thinking) urban culture. Read on to see our favorite ways to enjoy Portland, then head to Expedia to view our Portland Fact Sheet, containing all the logistical information you need to plan your own Portland summer visit.

Portland spirit river cruise

Get outside.

Portland is famous for its outdoorsy, sporty mentality. Everywhere you go in Portland, you’ll see cyclists heading to work, joggers on the river front, and crew teams skimming down the Willamette. There are abundant natural areas for families to explore. Kids will love walking the river front at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where they can spy docked ships and watch the working drawbridges lift and fall. Book a cruise on the Portland Spirit to see more of the Willamette, or if you have babies and small children, spend a day in the slow lane at Mt. Tabor Park, where the walking trails meander amid leafy trees and the playgrounds provide hours of fun.

Older kids will love biking the many family-level bike trails, and everyone will enjoy a day trip driving the Columbia River Gorge, located just miles outside the city on I-84. There, families can see the same view as early pioneers at the Cape Horn Overlook, feel the spray of stunning Multnomah Falls, and watch salmon jump up the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam. And myth buster alert: it rains far less in Portland than you might think, but if a downpour catches you by surprise, you can always stop at the REI anchor store or original Nike store (both downtown) for the latest rain gear.

Learn a thing or two.

Located downtown, families simply must stop at Powell’s City of Books. A Portland institution, Powell’s consists of multiple rooms (and stories, no pun intended) of new and used books. An entire room is dedicated to children’s books, where readings are often held around the squishy chairs and kid-sized tables. School-aged kids and teens enjoy their own spaces as well, and adult book-lovers will have to be pulled out against their will! Be sure to grab a store map at the entrance to get around!

Portland MAX lightrail

Across the Willamette from Powell’s lies OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. OMSI boasts a full-scale hands-on museum, with permanent exhibits on earth, life, and chemical science, a baby and toddler area, a fun logistical puzzles and brain teaser section, and working science labs for school-aged kids. Everyone will love the IMAX and planetarium shows, and past visiting exhibits have included headliners like Sue the dinosaur and Richard Scarry’s Puzzletown.

Portland bicycle cab

A short MAX ride away (more on Portland’s public transit to come), Portland’s Washington Park houses the Oregon Zoo and Portland Children’s Museum. Small enough to be manageable and yet big enough to feature all the animals families want to see, the Oregon Zoo remains one of our favorites for its friendly, knowledgeable staff, great shows, and park-like atmosphere (feel free to bring in a cooler on a wagon and picnic on on the center green spaces). On rainy days, the Children’s Museum can’t be beat. Featuring three stories of interactive fun, young kids will love the tree fort, working grocery store, vet clinic, and waterworks, but the museum’s most unique exhibit is its pottery art studio and ‘recycled art’ lab. Open during select hours and fully staffed, these spaces allow kids to create freely, using real art equipment, supplies, and tools. My kids have spent literal hours inside!

Minutes outside of the city, families will find countless Oregon farms and vineyards, many with you-pick opportunities and country entertainment, and in McMinnville (45 minutes away), kids will go crazy for the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and adjacent Wings and Waves indoor water park. Plan to spend the better part of a day at this highly educational (yet completely entertaining) complex, which will teach families about WWII aviation history, space program events, and even the science of water. The water park is as big and comprehensive as any we’ve seen, and includes attractions for everyone from toddlers to teens.

Voodoo doughnut

Eat like a local.

Portlandians love their local, whole foods, which are abundant at the Portland Saturday Market and at downtown’s many Portland food carts during the summer months. During a weekend walk along the water front or downtown blocks, food trucks are available at every corner, offering everything from gourmet grilled cheese to escargot. Our favorite trucks include The Honey Pot, selling slices of pie, and Herb’s Mac and Cheese, featuring delicious, farm-to-table–you guessed it–macaroni and cheese. If you want to sit down for a meal, a McMenamins is likely nearby. A chain of restaurants in Oregon, McMenamins are always converted from historic or fated-to-be-demolished buildings, ranging from old schools to fire stations to train terminals. For a morning treat, head to Voodoo Doughnut, located near the Burnside Bridge downtown, for some of the world’s most unqiue doughnut creations.

portland saturday market

Stay in the heart of it all.

Families centralized in the downtown area will have little use for their car, due to Portland’s efficient and simple-to-navigate public transit system. Both the Hotel Monaco Portland, which caters to kids, and the Embassy Suites Portland, which offers a fantastic free breakfast, lie within Portland’s ‘Fareless Square’, where rides on the MAX lightrail are free. The Hotel Monaco also rents out free bikes to families, so they can explore downtown on wheels. Within the downtown area, families can spend time at Pioneer Square, Portland’s signature shopping and eating mecca, and in the adjacent Pearl District, where antique shops and speciality stores invite families to poke around.

Whether you spend a day or spend a week, you’ll fall in love with Portland. While you’re planning, don’t forget to check out our Fact Sheet and video at Expedia.com. While you’re there, check out the other cities represented: Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, and Minneapolis.

Pit Stops for Kids was compensated to support the Kids in the City summer-travel campaign.

The Acqua Hotel: kid-friendly boutique hotel in California’s Bay Area

May 24, 2012 By

I’m pleased to announce I’ve found a new (to me) hotel brand favorite for traveling families: Broughton Hospitality’s boutique hotel collection, with properties across the west. On our recent California road trip with kids, we had the pleasure of spending a night outside San Francisco at Mill Valley’s Acqua Hotel, which served our family’s needs perfectly.

acqua hotel

What made the Acqua, and the other Broughton hotels we’ve experienced, so well suited? These boutique hotels fall right in-between the price point of a economic motel and a high-end luxury hotel, while including a host of hotel amenities families need. The Acqua, perfect for bay area travel, is priced only marginally higher than a standard motel, and yet offers large rooms, plenty of outdoor space to play, adjacent biking and walking paths, an ideal location to Sausalito and Muir Woods National Monument, a full breakfast, free parking, and wifi. The value for amenities cannot be beat.

We checked into the Acqua Hotel just in time for their complimentary wine and cheese reception hour (from 5 pm to 6 pm), which we enjoyed in the sunshine on the expanse of lawn overlooking the bay. The kids played touch football on the grass while we sipped a nice pinot noir, and we all snacked on grapes, cheese, and crackers…perfect to fend of hunger pre-dinner. We were minutes away from Mill Valley, where we ate a fun dinner at Joe’s Taco Lounge (recommended by the hotel staff), and once we returned to our room, we had enough space to stretch out for a family movie night. Our corner room (a junior suite) boasted a nice view with patio (though sizes vary), and slept five very comfortably, and the style was chic, fresh, and modern. The bathroom was very large with a huge tub and shower, and the hotel’s unique, airy layout makes you feel like you’re always outside.

acqua hotel

The following morning, we ate our fill at the far-above-average complimentary hotel breakfast buffet, laid out in the Acqua’s second floor breakfast room with outdoor patio overlooking the back bay. “Finally, a hotel breakfast buffet with enough seating,” my husband noted, and he was right: there was more than enough room…no jockeying for a table in the morning rush. The buffet featured highly decent coffee and tea options, fresh sliced fruit, gourmet danishes (nothing out of the package here), cereals and oatmeal, and your standard breads and bagels (topped with artisan jams and jellies). We were very impressed (and trust me, we’ve seen our share of free hotel buffets).

For what you get, I can’t stress the Acqua’s value for families enough: it’s perfect for exploring the Bay Area, and close enough to the city (five miles or so from the Golden Gate Bridge) to make for a good home base for city excursions (though note: you’ll pay for tolls and parking in the city). The hotel does boast free bike borrowing (for use on the nearby bike paths), but at the time of our visit, they only had two adult-sized bikes. My single recommendation for the Acqua is to offer child-sized bikes as well, so a family could enjoy this amenity.

acqua hotel

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 101 (though we couldn’t hear street noise at night).

Room rates:

Our junior suite was listed at $169.00 a night, and deluxe king and double rooms are generally under $150 a night. Check with Acqua’s reservation system for exact rates, of course.

Included amenities:

In-room wifi, parking, breakfast, wine reception, all-day coffee and tea service, plenty of outdoor space for kids.

Directions:

The Acqua is located at 555 Redwood Highway. From the San Francisco Airport, take Hwy. 101 North/I-380 West ramp en route for I-280 North toward San Francisco. Continue on I-280 North, and stay to the left as it turns into 19th Ave. Exit. Follow 19th Ave. all the way to and over the Golden Gate Bridge (approximately 7 miles), then continue on the 101 North. Take the Seminary Dr. exit, and turn right at the first light at the bottom of the exit, which is Seminary Drive/ Redwood Highway.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Acqua as guests of Broughton Hospitality. While we appreciate this opportunity to review the property for our readers, all opinions are our own, and I was under no obligation to write in a particular view point.
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Muir Woods National Monument

May 21, 2012 By

Nestled in the lush hillside just minutes from Mill Valley, CA, Muir Woods National Monument is a must-do for families visiting San Francisco’s Bay Area. Only minutes outside of the city, it makes for a perfect pit stop en route to San Francisco or a nice day trip to escape city crowds.

muir woods

Called a ‘tree lover’s monument’, Muir Woods is a very accessible park of walking trails and visitor information on California redwoods. Visually breathtaking, the paths take families through groves of redwoods, past creeks, and among ferns. Because multiple loops are available, families with kids of all ages and abilities can enjoy Muir Woods. On our visit, our seven-year-old was only up for the 1/2 hour loop, while my older boys wanted to go farther, so we easily split up with one adult on each trail, meeting up at the visitor’s center later. The longest route only took us approximately 45 minutes (the map calls it 1 hour), and takes visitors on a trail above the forest floor for a different perspective. Families who want even more hiking have many additional trails to choose from just outside Muir Woods proper.

cathedral grove

Whatever route you take, it’s well worth the effort to make it as far as the Cathedral Grove, where the towering trees replicate the sanctity of a cathedral dome. (Quiet is requested as you walk through this area, and the effect is very peaceful, even with a gang of kids in tow.) The rangers stationed at the various information stations are very helpful and during our visit, engaged the kids with birding books and tree charts. There is a gift center with lots of tempting souvenirs, and a small cafe. Families can also picnic. Tip: This park gets crowded. On days when the parking lot is full, be prepared to walk some distance from street-side parking spaces, or take the shuttle, running from Mill Valley.

muir woods

Distance from the Interstate:

Just off Highway 101.

Admission price:

The monument is only $7 per adult and free for kids under 15 (yes, 15!). A national park annual pass will also get you in.

Hours of operation:

Park hours vary by season, but generally, is open at 9 am and closes at sunset.

Food services:

A cafe is on-site, as well as picnic areas. Families can’t bring food (other than water) onto the Muir Woods trails, but food is permitted on the additional trails outside the park.

Directions:

Muir Woods is 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take Highway 101 to the Highway 1/Stinson Beach exit. Follow signs to Muir Woods. Warning: the road is very windy! RVs are not permitted. The shuttle, running during the busy summer season, is a great way to go, to avoid parking hassles. Pick up the shuttle from Mill Valley (operated by Marin Transit).

Note: Muir Woods has a Kidscore of 84. Learn more about Kidscore.

Portland Saturday Market, Portland Oregon

May 10, 2012 By

Often, one of the best ways to get to know a city is to experience one of their seasonal festivals or street markets. From March through December of every year, the Burnside Bridge area of Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Ankeny Park in Portland Oregon comes alive with the Portland Saturday Market.

portland saturday market

One part artisan vendor market, one part touristy festival, and one part foodie heaven, the Portland Saturday Market is entertaining for everyone from fussy babies to grandparents. Families will want to spend a couple of hours here, tasting local farm-to-market food cart fare, watching (and listening to) the many street performers (including one-man bands, drum circles, magicians, and jugglers), and shopping for everything from handmade jewelry to clothing to wood carvings. Our boys’ favorite booth featured hundreds of varieties of pocket knives, but you’ll also find children’s toys, fine art photography, hand-stitched hats and scarves, and beading. Special events are scheduled throughout the summer, with featured bands and entertainers on the main stage every Saturday.

Note: One aisle of stalls on the far side of the market do feature smoking paraphelia and marajuana use promotion predominently. It’s easy to avoid if you should desire, but is there.

Distance from the interstate:

You can reach the market area within 15 minutes of I-5, but you’ll have to stop somewhere along Naito parkway for parking.

Hours and admission prices:

There’s no admission to the market (though you’ll pay for parking). The hours are generally 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 11 am to 4:30 pm on Sundays.

Food options:

There’s plenty of food stalls at the market, but should you want something a little healthier than traditional ‘fair food’, head up to Oak and 2nd for lots of Portland food truck choices.

Note: market-going receive two hours of free parking validation at Smart Park locations with any market food purchase of $25 or more.

Directions:

From I-5, exit at 299B to take 405 North toward City Center. Exit 1A to Naito Parkway. Park at the Smart Park on NW Naito and Davis Street.

Guide to Portland food carts with kids

May 3, 2012 By

Ever since getting my first taste of food cart eating in Vancouver last June, I’ve sought out food trucks and carts while in cities. I’ve found great food cart fare in Boston and traditional hot dog cart fare in New York City, and given Portland, Oregon’s foodie bent, I wasn’t surprised to find the food cart craze had hit the City of Roses as well.

Mexican food cart

During an overnight at downtown Portland’s Hotel Monaco this April, we hit the pavement in search of the best food carts in Portland.

Our favorite Portland food cart finds:

A Taste of Greek: Located on SW 2nd and Oak, A Taste of Greek has, in my 12-year-old’s opinion, ‘the best gyros he’s ever had’. My falafel was tasty too. And we fed two people for under $10.

Starchy and Husk: Also on Sw 2nd and Oak (this is food cart mecca), Starchy and Husk has gourmet mac and cheese kids and adults will love, with add-ins like sweet potato and pancetta. Best of all adding a side salad and corn bread is only $1.

Fuego 1: If you crave Mexican fare, you have lots of options (our favorite, Fuego, has three locations alone). The burritos are great here, and you can find lots of vegetarian options. Fuego 1 is located at 6th and Yamhill.

The Honey Pot: For dessert or an afternoon snack, head to The Honey Pot, located at 43rd and Belmont. They serve slices of pie that will please everyone in your group from the artisan foodie to the pickiest kid. Our favorite: The Boyfriend, which is peach pie made from coconut milk. Plus, they sell pre-made pie dough for only $2.50 if you want to bake at home.

Greek food cart

How to find Portland food carts:

Walking through the downtown blocks of Portland guarantees running into one or more ‘pods’ of food trucks, but if you want to find that particular cart you’ve been hearing about, we’ve found Food Carts Portland to be most helpful for pre-trip review reading, and the Portland Food Cart Directory most useful on the fly. Food carts group together on downtown parking lots, and a sure bet is the Burnside Bridge area near the Portland Saturday Market. Keep in mind that most food trucks are seasonal, so hit ‘food truck and cart season’ from April through October for the most variety.

3 things to do with kids in Paso Robles CA

April 30, 2012 By

The following pit stop was submitted by Bay Area blogger and mom Whitney Moss of 510Families.

Located exactly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles, California is an excellent pit stop if you want to get out of the car and feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special. (Pro tip: locals pronounce the town name Paso Robuls, not Paso Roblase.) Here are three things to do with kids in Paso Robles:

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe

Did you say CANDY? The downtown of Paso Robles is set up around a traditional town square, similar to Sonoma if you’ve been there, or the town in Back to the Future with the clock tower on one side and the soda shop on the other side. The square itself is a sufficient park for running around with playground equipment. Parents can take turns manning the playground usage while the other roams around the shops on the perimeter. Powell’s Sweet Shoppe is a super fun vintage candy store which is actually a chain, but maintains a unique small town feel. Find it at 840 11th Street.

Paso Robles children's museum

Paso Robles Children’s Museum

A short distance from the square is the Paso Robles Children’s Museum. Best for kids 2-7, it has art projects, dress-up, a real fire truck to climb on, and a mini-ball pit for toddlers with a wine barrel theme. There’s lots of amusement packed into this relatively small building, the most noteworthy of which is a netted area that features a complex system of ball chutes and blasters. If you have child whose first word was BALL, you should maybe drive straight there this instant. The museum located at 623 13th Street and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Barney Schwartz Park

Out a little further from the town (10 minutes) sits our favorite park, Barney Schwartz. The equipment is pretty novel and the setting can’t be beat. Well maybe in Kauai, but it’s like nothing you’ll find in LA or San Francisco — the view is pure Paso Robles. Find it at 2970 Union Road, Paso Robles.

Paso Robles Barney Schwartz park

Bonus: wine country:

Paso Robles is wine country. Not a great fit for a day on the road, but I would be remiss to leave out this fact and even downtown, you’ll see tasting opportunities. To really appreciate where the grapes are coming from, head out to winery on one of the nearby highways. I can’t promise that the tasting room won’t have a gift shop full of breakables, but there are certainly several with picnic areas ideal for running around. Bianchi has automated toy sailboats; Castoro has a pot-bellied pig as the house pet; and, Sylvester features vintage train cars in front of the picnic grounds.

Note: Paso Robles has kid-friendly dining listed on Kidscore. Learn more about Kidscore.

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from HWY 101 (and CA-46)

Cost of admission and hours:

The children’s museum admission is $7 for adults and $6 for kids 1-13.

Headed to the San Francisco Bay Area? Find more pit stops, family outings, and recommendations at PasoKids and 510Families!

Wings and Waves Water Park

April 26, 2012 By

wings and waves

After lunch would be a good time to move from the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum to the Wings and Waves water park. (The exception to this rule would be during peak holiday weekends, when the lines for rides at the water park escalate by mid-day. This, however, is not the norm.)

You can’t miss the water park, which is adjacent to the museum buildings and topped by an Evergreen commercial craft (more on that in a minute). Inside, you’ll find a spacious and airy, well-lit, and very high quality water park four large slides (one body slide and three inner-tube style slides), a wave pool, a leisure pool with basketball hoops and a whirlpool vortex, hot tubs, and an activity water play structure with additional slides and a dumping bucket. The larger slides do have height requirements (42′ for the tube slides and 48′ for the body slide), but quite young kids probably won’t be up for them anyway: visitors climb countless (dang, I should have counted them!) steps up to above roof-level where they enter the bay of the aforementioned aircraft to the slide entrances.

Evergreen wings and waves

Our kids spent the most time in the wave pool (floating tubes and life vests are complementary) and leisure pool, but loved the slides as well. Evergreen describes their water park as an ‘educational water park’ and though I was skeptical, they really do deliver on this front. Upstairs (overlooking the wave pool) is an entire hands-on museum space coined ‘H20: Water Needs Life’, which features water cycle exhibits and play areas, hands-on water rocket launchers, a submarine to climb into, and even an ‘astronaut training’ fitness station. Best of all, kids can run around in their swimsuits, and no one cares if they get wet.

wings and waves slide

Date last visited:

April 15, 2012

Distance from the interstate:

The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is located 45 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon and 30 minutes from I-5 off Highway 18.

Hours of operation:

Hours vary depending on season. Check the most recent museum and water park hours.

Admission prices:

Admission isn’t cheap at $20 per adult ($18 per youth) for the museums and $30 per adult ($25 for under 42′). Combined admission is not yet offered. There is a non-swimmer rate of $10 for the water park, and kids 3 and under are free.

Tip: Another guest informed me that the museum does honor other Northwest children’s and science museum memberships for entry, though I was unable to confirm. If you need a car, an option is Easyrentcars.

Food and drink:

There is a concession area at the water park and a healthier cafe at the museum. Outside food and drink are not permitted, but a nice picnic area is located outside. Visitors are free to bring coolers to the outside areas.

Directions:

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and Wings & Waves Waterpark are located 3.5 miles southeast of McMinnville, Oregon, on Highway 18 across from the McMinnville Municiple Airport. It is approximately one hour from Portland and 40 minutes from Salem. If using GPS, insert the address: 500 NE Cumulus Avenue.

 

Portland on Dwellable

 

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

April 26, 2012 By

When I first heard that McMinnville Oregon’s Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum was one part aviation history museum, one part military vehicle and firearms collection, one part 3-D theater, and one part water park (yes, water park), I couldn’t imagine how it all fit together. I worried that the 70,000 square foot indoor water park would seem gimmicky in comparison to the museum, which would feel overshadowed. I didn’t know what to think of the firearms, and most of all, I worried we wouldn’t have enough time to see it all.

Evergreen aviation and space museum

After visiting this spring, I’m happy to say I was 1) wrong (the water park is extremely well designed) 2) wrong (the aviation museum shines in its own right) and 3) wrong (the firearms collection was my tween son’s favorite part), and 4) right (visitors definitely want to dedicate a full day to Evergreen). Since it opened an hour earlier on the day of our visit, we started at the museum, which I definitely recommend. After your kids get a taste of the water park, it will be hard to pry them away. (Bear in mind: admission is separate at the museum and water park.)

The museum and theater:

The museum is spread out in several large bays, and it’d be easy to miss a big section if you’re not careful. Directly after paying admission, you enter at the general aviation and military craft collections, which will definitely catch your children’s eye. Most impressive however, is the towering body of Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, which visitors can board. If you’re not a military history buff (and all those planes look the same to you, like they did to me), never fear: there’s comprehensive signage and literature on everything, including very appealing videos and interviews that really draw you in. Most fascinating was learning about the early smoke jumper fire fighters, and the WWII air strike battles. Our school-aged kids were engrossed, but even if you have young children, there’s so much to see in the bay, they’ll be happy for a good amount of time. The firearms exhibit, which my boys went crazy for, is on the second floor; don’t miss it if you have gun enthusiasts (or boys of any age).

Best of all, the many docents stationed around the museum were simply excellent. They answered all our questions, particularly about WWII, and engaged the kids with questions of their own, stories, and even paper airplanes sailed at their heads.

Tip: Additional aircraft are open to tour as well, but there’s an additional charge for most.

The space flight exhibits take visitors from early space program history to present day, and includes a Titan II missile booster rocket, which kids can explore from inside its silo. The theater offers a 3-D IMAX-style viewing (which can be added onto your ticket), which I’m sure is impressive (but which we ran out of time for). Outside, a fun space-themed playground is available to burn off energy, before touring the military tanks along the lawn. Tip: This is a good area for a picnic between visiting the museum and the water park.

Read Part 2: Wings and Waves Water Park for water park and admission information, hours of operation, and directions.