I-5 - Pitstops for Kids

The Allison Inn and Spa: Willamette Valley wine country pick

March 21, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Tucked into the green hillside just outside the quiet Portland bedroom community of Newberg, The Allison Inn and Spa somehow feels like both a destination and a detour. Turning up the long drive, you clearly feel as if you’ve arrived, but the location is just close enough to the bustle of downtown Portland that you feel only slightly away. When you’re looking to get away for a peaceful weekend, this is the perfect combination.

Light, airy, and expansive, The Allison is harmonious with the nature surrounding it, from the span of vineyards curving over the hillside to the leafy trees and gardens. Warm wood and highly efficient and eco-friendly features (this is a LEED Gold certified property) combine with bubbling water features, open space, and locally-sourced building materials to create a visually impressive and calming property. I literally sighed with relaxation upon entering the high-ceilinged, bright lobby.

The Allison is very much a labor of love, with owners who believe in drawing in the natural world, leaving a small eco-footprint, and treating guests right. Room rates reflect the luxurious nature of The Allison, but include everything, including things you usually pay extra for, like organic and healthy mini-bar snacks and wifi.

Most guests are here to enjoy the area’s expansive wine tasting (over 200 of the state’s approximate 400 wineries are located in this region), but you could just as easily spend your time on-property, enjoying the Allison Spa (which was too fully booked for us to even tour, a great testament to its popularity), eating gourmet cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients at Jory Restaurant, swimming in the indoor pool, or relaxing with a book on one of the many terraces or heated decks, or walking the grounds.

With kids, The Allison is within easy driving distance of McMinnville Oregon’s Air and Space Museum and adjacent Wings and Waves water park, and families could easily head to Portland for the day or even the Oregon coast. Jory has a full (and reasonable) kids’ menu, and the pool and grounds are kid-friendly.

Allison room amenities:

Hands down, the best room option for families is the double queen room, of which The Allison only has approximately a dozen (so book early). This room option is very spacious, with plenty of room for a rollaway and additionally includes a window seat/day bed perfect for toddlers or small children. The lovely bathroom includes a deep tub for fun baths, and every room has a balcony, fireplace, and the aforementioned free snacks.

The Allison does have suite and junior suites, though for the much higher price point, families don’t get a great deal more than is already provided in their queen rooms. Suites include a limited mini-kitchenette (best for entertaining…not for cooking full meals), and a nice dining table, and additional privacy for parents with a separate bedroom. All rooms, suites and standard rooms alike, include local artwork on the walls which are rotated frequently and always stunning.

Jory Restaurant:

Our meal at Jory was possibly the best food I’ve ever had in Oregon (and I’ve had many excellent meals here). Kids enjoy seeing the open kitchen from much of the dining area, and the kids’ menu is healthy while still being very appealing for little ones. Jory chefs use local ingredients, including their meat, of which they use the whole animal for less waste and in-house, fresh options. In fact, The Allison produces so little waste in general that they are not on a regular waste removal pick-up; they call when they need one. Their breakfast options are as excellent as their dinners (try the signature eggs benedict), and even their compotes, syrups, and butters are made from scratch.

There is an impressive chef’s table at Jory should your party want to indulge; I’m certain the experience would be memorable.

Allison fitness center and spa:

The Allison Spa is beloved among guests and locals alike, but I appreciated that the pool, hot tub, and fitness center is for hotel guests only. The Allison pool is not extremely large, but it’s as lovely and peaceful as the rest of the property, with natural light saturating the water from the glass ceiling and wall (which can retract in warm weather). There’s a hot tub as well as the pool, plenty of lounge chairs, and an outdoor space where you can still keep an eye on kids for summer stays.

The fitness center, adjacent to the pool, is also not large, but again, light and spacious and does not feel cramped as some smaller centers can feel.

Date last visited: March 2013

Distance from the interstate: 20 minutes from I-5.

Directions: The Allison is located at 2525 Allison Lane in Newberg Oregon.

Portland happy hour picks: Where to go for happy hour with or without the kids in Portland

March 15, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re visiting Portland without the kids, have older kids with discerning tastes (as mine have become as they get older) or have younger children who appreciate great dining atmosphere over crayons and chicken nuggets (not mine at that age!), you’ll want to try one (or all!) of the following Portland restaurants with happy hour deals, lively ambiance, and a true Portland city feel.

23 Hoyt:

Located at 529 NW 23rd Avenue, 23 Hoyt is in the heart of the quaint Northwest district of Portland and offers a cozy atmosphere in winter and open, bright atmosphere in summer. Their happy hour (ending at 6 pm at the time of our visit) is one of the best deals in the city, offering extensive cocktails for as little as $3. My blood orange martini was stellar. After happy hour, stay for dinner to enjoy a casual but lively environment that’s still tame enough for the kids.

Pazzo Ristorante:

A Kimpton restaurant located adjacent (and attached to) the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Plaza at 627 SW Washington Street, Pazzo Ristorante is a moderately-priced Italian restaurant with far from moderate food. Their bar area is separate from dining seating, so if you have kids in tow, you can order drinks at the table. Otherwise, soak up the ambiance of this warm, inviting interior at a bar table overlooking the street. The food at Pazzo is stellar: try the butternut squash ravioli as well as the peppered bread brought to each table. Read more about Pazzo Ristorante following our recent Pazzo giveaway.

Special offer for Pit Stops for Kids readers: now through March 31, mention that you saw our recent Pazzo Ristorante dinner giveaway when making your reservation, and receive 20% off your meal!

Thirst Bistro:

Located at 0315 SW Montgomery St #340 along the RiverPlace Escalade, Thirst Bistro is small and intimate, and a great place to pop into during happy hour while walking along the river front. Grab drinks and tapas here, then stay for a light dinner, or walk a few doors down to RiverPlace hotel’s Three Degrees Waterfront Bar and Grill for a family-friendly meal that will satisfy the adults as well as the kids. Children can watch the boats on the river, and parents can always take restless kids for a short walk to see goose and ducks while waiting for food.

Photo credit

A stay at Grand Hyatt Seattle with kids

January 11, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

On our last trip to Seattle, we stayed at both the Hyatt Olive 8 and the Grand Hyatt Seattle. How do they compare? You can read in our review of the Hyatt Olive 8 that the 8 is extremely eco-friendly, and its indoor pool and hot tub make it a hit with kids. While the Grand Hyatt does not have a pool, its location is (slightly) more central to Pike Place Market (only four blocks), and it’s even closer to downtown high-end shopping (especially fun to view during the festive holiday season). Families can easily make either Hyatt their Seattle base for vacation or city touring, and expect to be pampered in either.

Amenities and Rooms:

For our family of five, we fit nicely in two adjoining rooms at the Hyatt. Families of four can easily fit in one. One of our two rooms was a corner suite, a nice addition with a sitting room area, but not necessary to our overall comfort. One of the best features of the room is the floor to ceiling windows: our view was a picture perfect vista of the Space Needle and skyline. The Grand Hyatt also features oversized bathtubs, which the Olive 8 does not…a welcome addition on rainy, dreary days. Each bathroom also includes a shower, and like all Hyatt’s, the Grand Hyatt Seattle is eco-conscious (though not to the extreme of the Olive 8): bath towels and sheets are changed only when needed.

One caveat: each room has a coffee maker and coffee and tea service, but mini-fridges are filled with pay-per-item snacks and liquor. In fact, using them to store your own foods results in a $10 fee. If you have items to store, a separate mini fridge will be brought up to you, but this is still an inconvenience. On the plus side, the kids love Hyatt bathrobes, and those at the Grand Hyatt do not disappoint.

Fitness Center:

The Grand Hyatt Seattle’s fitness center was closed for renovation at the time of our visit, but on-site staff informed me they have a hot tub and sauna, but no indoor pool. If that’s a deal breaker for your kids, book Hyatt Olive 8 instead.

Dining:

Within the same building as the Hyatt is a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (too spendy for my family), but also a sushi place, a Starbucks, and a marketplace with some convenience foods (such as juice, milk, and other necessities while traveling with young kids). We opted to go here (with the adjacent Starbucks) for breakfast.

Tip! Save up to 50% on Seattle’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Date last visited:

December 2012

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, rooms started at $181 for a standard double (though double beds are not guaranteed). We have heard, however, that upgrades are common.

Directions:

The Grand Hyatt is located at 721 Pine Street, Seattle. It’s easily accessed from either I-5 or I-90 (five minutes from either).

My family and I stayed at Grand Hyatt Seattle on a hosted stay, for the purpose of review.

Pacific Science Center in the Seattle Center

January 9, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Families visiting Seattle WA are drawn to the Space Needle like moths to flame, and there’s nothing wrong with that: it brings them straight to one of the city’s best attractions for kids: the Pacific Science Center.

Pacific Science Center is showing some age on the surface, but inside, it’s as vibrant as ever (or more so). In addition to its permanent exhibits on life science, natural science, and space exploration (just to name a few), the center also welcomes fantastic traveling exhibits, such as this season’s King Tut display (for extra admission…save it for older kids). Each visit, my kids love the Butterfly house (with bug exhibits), dinosaur gallery, and WellBody Academy, where kids can test their physical skills. There are also mind-bender puzzles and an extensive water cycle exhibit where kids can create dams, direct toy ships, and make the water flow.

There’s an IMAX theater, laser show, and planetarium, but my family has never gotten to these things: there’s plenty to do without upgrading to the extras. (I’d make sure to experience them all if I were a Seattle resident, however.) In nice weather, the outside courtyard is fun with its kid-powered water wheel (it looks like a giant hamster wheel) and water shooters.

Nearby is plenty of dining in Seattle Center, and plenty of space for kids to run around. Expect park entertainers and musicians in the summer months. Parking is pretty easy (though costly), and families can make an afternoon out of it (or add on an evening with dinner).

So, should you go up the Space Needle while you’re there? Not if the line is long. Personally, I don’t think the thrill of the elevator ride justifies the admission price. My only exception: on slow nights, families can usually get seated to eat dessert in the Space Needle Restaurant. Watching the city revolve while dining on dessert is pretty darn cool!

Date last visited:

June 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from I-5.

Admission price:

$16 for adults, $11 for kids ages 6-15, and $9 for kids 3-5. Check to see if your local science or children’s museum memberships gains you entry. Ours did!

Tip! Save up to 50% on Seattle’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours of operation:

9:45 am to 6 pm daily.

Directions:

The Pacific Science Center is located at 200 Second Avenue North,
Seattle. From Interstate 5, either northbound or southbound, take exit 167 (Mercer Street) toward Seattle Center. At the end of the ramp, turn right at Fairview Ave N, then turn left at Valley St. Move into the middle lane and Valley St. becomes Broad St. Continue on Broad St. Turn right at Denny Way. Turn right at 2nd Ave N.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market with kids

January 7, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Any itinerary for Seattle Washington should include a family visit to Pike Place Market. Particularly bustling on weekends, the market is great to visit almost any day of the year, and is open all day, making it perfect to fit into anyone’s travel plans.

The market is best experienced during the morning, when produce stands (and vendors) are at their freshest. Right after 10 am is great, because it gives vendors enough time to set up (produce and other food vendors are usually first on the scene, followed by craft artisans). If the weather is poor, wander through the interior stalls upstairs first, so you can always duck back outside to the street craft booths if the sun breaks through. Kids will love watching the seafood vendors throw their wares from person to person as they shout orders and sing (truly, it’s a whole performance!) and tasting the produce samples throughout.

After seeing all the upstairs vendors (be sure not to miss the toy stall near the cafe and observation deck at the back), head downstairs to check out the novelty and souvenir shops. We like to stop by the ‘fortune teller’ machine to get a ticket declaring our horoscopes and lucky numbers.

We buy berries and other produce, supplement them with picnic supplies, and eat outside on the grass overlooking the bay when the weather cooperates. If it doesn’t, duck into the original Starbucks for a hot chocolate or coffee. (Just be sure to avoid this option when large cruise ships have disembarked…it’s a popular spot.)

Tip: Instead of parking at the market garage, opt to park near the wharf and walk the few blocks up to the market area. This way, after enjoying the market in the morning, you can try out the new Seattle Great Wheel adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium.

Date last visited:

June 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Just a few minutes (in traffic) from I-5.

Admission rate:

None. Parking will cost you between $5-15, depending on how long you stay. For convenience, we usually park at the Market Garage, or take public transit.

Hours of operation:

Open 19 and 1/2 hours a day, 362 days a year.

Directions:

Pike Place is easy to find following signage. The entrance is at 1st Avenue and Pike Street.

A stay at Disneyland Resort’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa

December 24, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

The best Disney theming never seeks to replace what you know and love. It simply taps into it to touch you on an emotional or visceral level. Disneyland Resort’s Grand Californian does this for me. A lover of wilderness lodges (the real ones), I know what they should look like, feel like, and smell like. While the Grand Californian is clearly the romanticized version, its magnificent six-story lobby (called the Great Hall) and wide, thick-beamed corridors succeed in making me nostalgic for those places I’ve experienced in my past while making me ridiculously happy to be where I am at the same time.

What makes the Grand Californian so great as a Disney resort pick for families (and specifically, worth its hefty nightly rate)? Whether you, too, have a connection to historic national park lodges or just want a great home base for your family Disney trip, the Grand Californian will deliver on convenience, location, and perks.

Amenities:

Everything you need in a theme park resort is on-hand at this hotel. The Grand Californian offers two restaurants, including signature dining at Napa Rose, which I highly recommend, and character dining at the Storyteller’s Cafe. There’s also a poolside snack venue, and the cozy Hearthstone Lounge. In-room dining is available, as is a convenient express menu for breakfasts.

If you’d like to have an adult evening out or a spa treatment at Mandara Spa, Pinocchio’s Workshop is open from 5 pm to 12 am daily, and costs $13/hour per child. Alternatively, free staff-organized poolside activities are ongoing on the Children’s Pool deck. Speaking of pools, the Grand Californian has three of them: the Redwood Pool, Children’s Pool, and Mariposa Pool, as well as two hot tubs and a decent-sized slide. The pool deck area is spacious and shaded, and includes a vast army of well-padded lounge chairs perfect for an afternoon park break.

In addition to the perk of Magic Mornings for all Disneyland Resort guests, guests staying at Grand Californian can take advantage of the opportunity to grab World of Color FASTPASSes prior to all other park guests. (Available at the Grand Gate between Napa Rose and Mandara Spa prior to regular park hours.)

Location:

All the above amenities are nice, and yes, you will crane your neck to look up into the Grand Hall’s impressive architecture more than once, but the #1 reason I’d recommend a Grand Californian stay is its ideal location. I can’t emphasize enough how convenient it is to be literally steps from the action in California Adventure: a short path and tunnel, and you’re there. No busses to hassle, no monorail to wait for, no dragging kids with tired feet. I love the Disneyland Hotel as well, but can’t tell you how tired we got of the walk between the theme parks through Downtown Disney. Guests at the Grand Californian could go from riding California Screamin’ to jumping in the Grand Californian pool for a much-needed afternoon cool-off swim in under 10 minutes.

You’d have to have a pretty perfect room to see all of World of Color from the Grand Californian, but I was able to see most of the water and colored lights and hear all of the music from my 5th floor pool view room. It made for nice ambiance while I wrote this review. Just down the hallway from my room, the Fifth Floor Parkview Terrace is an ideal location for taking a load off, seeing just a bit more of the World of Color than I could from my room’s balcony, and getting away from crowds.

Immersion:

As with all Disney does, total emersion, in this case into the world of wilderness lodges, is promised. The rooms feature warm wood tones, ‘lantern’ style lamps, mission style dressers, and muted colors. Huge stone fireplaces reside inside and out and rocking chairs dot the many decks and garden outdoor spaces.

The rooms themselves are spacious, feature tubs as well as showers, mini-fridges, and quite large tables/desks with two chairs. As with most Disney properties, lots of storage space is available, and the housekeeping staff was prompt and attentive every day.

Date last visited:

June 13, 2012

Room rates:

Disney resort rack rates vary greatly between seasons, room type, and more. Families can keep track of it all online. Check room categories and rates here. Keep in mind: you do need separate park tickets to gain entry; even from the Grand Californian private entrance.

Dining:

See above. The only thing the Grand Californian does not have that I wish it did: a quick service breakfast option. Room service is available, but expensive.

Directions:

The hotel is located at 1600 S. Disneyland Drive in Anaheim, CA. Follow signage from I-5.

Seattle’s Museum of Flight with kids of all ages

November 15, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

For most visitors, Seattle WA is synonymous with Boeing and aero-engineering. For airplane and space lovers, there’s no better stop than at the Museum of Flight. A huge, multi-building complex, the Museum of Flight can feel intimidating at first, especially if you have small children. For true fans, a full day is needed, but the highlights can be hit in a few hours if needed. On our last visit, we were touring the museum with six kids, ages 2-13, and though it was challenging at times, we found something for everyone in each part of the complex. Below, I’ve broken down the museum by section, so you can be sure to visit the parts of most interest to your family.

The Great Gallery: This cavernous hanger houses fighter jets and other war air models, some of which kids can climb into to check out the cockpit. Also in this area are several flight simulators with 3-D screens (motion rides) that cost extra (and are not worth the price, though kids will beg to go). Stick to the ground floor where the ‘real’ planes are.

The Lear Gallery: The space exploration section of the museum houses much to see on the ‘next frontier’, including the newly acquired space shuttle trainer, which I actually saw brought into the museum by the famous ‘Guppy’ transporter when I visited with my family in late June of 2012. Kids will like the anti-gravity simulator and the early Apollo capsules.

The Personal Courage Wing: This wing can be overlooked (as we did on our last visit), but actually houses fascinating studies of courageous air force fighters and aviation pioneers.

The Red Barn: Most interesting to my school-aged kids was the Red Barn, which was the original building Boeing used for their early manufacturing. Inside, the history of Seattle area flight production and world war aviation history is displayed in a way that’s interesting even to preschoolers.

Outside Airpark: Outside the museum, a number of aircraft are available to tour on the massive grounds. On the day of our visit, we walked through a retired Air Force One, which was more than a little bit cool. A concorde and several military planes are also on-site, but were closed at the time.

Tip! Save up to 50% on Seattle’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Date last visited:

June 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Five minutes off I-5.

Admission:

Adults are $17, youth (5-17) are $9. Age four and under are free. Be sure to ask if your local science museum membership is honored. Many are! You can also use your CityPASS (see tip above).

Hours of operation:

10 am to 5 pm most days of the year. On the first Thursday of each month, the museum is open until 9 pm, and is free from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Dining options:

A full-service museum cafe offers everything from snacks to meals, and has several healthy options. Expect to pay museum prices, but not much else is nearby.

Directions:

The museum is at 9404 E. Marginal Way S. From I-5, take Take exit 158 and merge right onto S. Boeing Access Road. Turn right at the first stoplight (E. Marginal Way S.) The Museum is on the right, 1/2 mile. Parking is free.

Portland Saturday Market, Portland Oregon

May 10, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

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.

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.

Wildlife Safari

May 7, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Every once in a while, a potential pit stop surprises me. We’d traveled Oregon’s I-5 stretch countless times before we took the opportunity to visit Wildlife Safari outside Winston, Oregon. Why the delay? I tend to be suspicious of roadside animal attractions: as a card-carrying PETA member, I want to be sure the zoos and preserves I support are in the best interest the animals. I’m glad to say that Winston’s Wildlife Safari is a first class operation and a truly fantastic zoological park.

Located just a few miles off I-5 south of Roseburg, colorful billboards will direct you to the park (don’t be fooled by the somewhat less classy looking animal ‘ark’ attraction located nearby…this is a separate operation). Upon entering Wildlife Safari, you have two options: begin with the driving tour of the safari grounds, where you’ll cruise slowly through various sanctuaries housing free-roaming zebras, giraffes, elephants, and everything else you can imagine (lions and tigers and bears oh my!), or park and walk through the center safari square, where you’ll find the gift shop, surprisingly decent food, and some smaller animals, like reptiles, turtles, a very loud monkey, and a small train ride. Intuition would tell you to start there–get out and release your own monkeys from the confines of the car–but my suggestion is the driving tour, because with admission, you get to go through twice. It works well to drive through, park and visit the walking grounds, then drive through once more on your way out.

Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here to see it all (1.5 to drive through, and at least one more to tour the grounds).

Tip: If you have very small children, they’ll probably only have the ability to sit in the car for one drive through the grounds. Depending on how crowded the tour is, this loop can take as long as an hour. We let our kids unbuckle to see better (you’re only driving 5-10 MPH), but of course that’s a parental preference.

Pets: If you’re traveling with your pets, they are not allowed in the park, but very nice kennels are available on-site for only $5. This is a great option to avoid leaving your pets in a potentially overheated or cold car.

Distance from the interstate:

Ten minutes from I-5.

Admission cost:

Adults are $17.99, and kids (ages 4-12) are $11.99. Depending on the size of your family, a family (annual) membership might be a better option. The membership is only $99, and gets two adults and up to five children into the park and drive-through safari for unlimited visits. This is also a great choice if you think you might traverse I-5 more than once a year.

Hours of operation:

Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The cafe closes slightly earlier (usually 4:30 pm).

Food services:

There’s a nice cafe on-site, which serves the usual burger and fries, but also healthy sandwiches and veggie burgers. It’s not cheap (think theme park pricing) but the kids’ meals are a good deal. Families can also picnic in an designated area.

Directions:

Wildlife Safari is located at 1790 Safari Road, Winston Oregon. From I-5, visitors will take Exit 119 west onto Highway 42 to Lookingglass Road. Follow signage from there!

Photo credit: SpringfieldHomer.

Wings and Waves Water Park

April 26, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

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.

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.

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