Joshua Tree National Park is a gem! With a higher elevation than our other favorite desert camping location, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree offers a desert experience with more vegetation, wildflowers, and of course, Joshua Tree’s fabled rock climbing boulders. You don’t have to be rock climbers to enjoy it, though you’ll see plenty of that ilk. Our kids absolutely loved the freedom of … [Read more...]
Fall pit stop: Upper Rogue River Trail
November 18, 2015 By
The Upper Rogue Trail outside of Prospect, Oregon offers several starting points for beautiful hiking in Southern Oregon. In the perfect location if you're traveling to or from Crater Lake National Park or Bend, Oregon, this 'off the beaten track' pit stop takes you through scenic woodlands and stunning river views. Best of all, the weather is ideal in late fall. Take the trail downstream … [Read more...]
Bouldering with kids: Mill Creek and Avenue of the Boulders OR
November 25, 2013 By
When I say 'bouldering' I don't exactly mean the sport catching on among the outdoorsy type from Colorado to New Mexico. I mean 'clambering' or maybe 'scrambling', as we really weren't climbing high enough to need mats or helmets. However, I have learned that if you tell kids they're going bouldering, they hike much faster! Any way I can add some excitement to a nature walk or hike, I do so! Tip: … [Read more...]
Family travels in my own backyard: Crater Lake to the Rogue River
June 21, 2011 By
If gas or airline prices are keeping you closer to home this summer, you're not alone. Soaring prices and family commitments necessitate staying in our home region of Southern Oregon this July, too, but we're not letting it stop us from getting away from it all...sort of. We picked a weekend, circled it on the calendar, and created an outdoor family adventure itinerary that won't take us more than … [Read more...]
Thimbleberry Cabin: winter escape in Southern Oregon Cascades
March 10, 2011 By
For a year-round mountain getaway in the Northwest, families can't beat the Southern Oregon Cascades. Easy to access from I-5 (to Highway 140), this region south of Crater Lake National Park and west of Klamath Falls is rich with national forest land, lakes, and recreation. We love the area's 'off-the-beaten-path' feel (and the fact that it's only a few short hours from several Oregon cities)! … [Read more...]
Crater Lake National Park and Lodge
January 12, 2011 By
One of the Pit Stops crew's favorite national parks is in our backyard: Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon. Open year round, Crater Lake is a true natural wonder that's (surprisingly) never swarmed with crowds. It's not too large a park as to be overwhelming for families, and with hiking trails, nature programs, boat tours, and a beautifully maintained historic lodge on-site, its an … [Read more...]
Regional Snow Parks: Winter’s Best Pit Stops!
December 2, 2010 By
If you're traveling by car this holiday season, or have a family vacation road trip planned for this winter, don't forget that snow parks can offer a cheap, fun, and festive alternative to traditional play spaces or restaurant pit stops. Often free (or requiring only a parking permit available locally), snow parks are almost always located directly off regional highways and usually include such … [Read more...]
