Interstate - Pitstops for Kids

The Choo Choo Barn

June 16, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

A traffic jam along the tracks is just one detail in the displays at Choo Choo Barn. Photo property of Mother of All Trips.

226 Gap Road
Strasburg, PA

Do you have a train-crazy kid in your family? Planning a family vacation or road trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country? You’ll want to stop at the Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700 square foot train-lover’s dream featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains!

Mara Gorman of Mother of all Trips, says of the Choo Choo Barn: “I knew it was going to be a hit with Tommy when we walked in and immediately saw a baseball game with tiny players running the bases and a ski mountain with a working lift…there’s also lots of fascinating real-life stuff like construction sites with moving bulldozers, a car accident complete with backed-up traffic, and a house on fire being busily tended to by a crew of firefighters. And of course there are also trains chugging around continuously, passenger cars that you can see in, freight trains marked â€œPennsylvania Railroad and B&O and even some that are pulled by engines who will be familiar to all Thomas the Tank Engine fans.” (Read her full review for more details and travel tips!)

Extra Tip! Can’t get enough of trains? Visit three other train attractions in PA: the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the National Toy Train Museum. Alternatively, check out the cool railroading offers at modelbuildings.org.

Please Note: Route 30 has many outlets and tourist attractions along it, and during the summer months the traffic on the far side of Lancaster (the side closer to Strasburg) can be beastly! There are lots of lights because of all the businesses. Plan accordingly!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Route 30. Approximately 30 minutes from either I-76 or I-83.

Hours: Generally open 7 days a week, but hours are varied by season.

Admission Prices:

Adults (13 and up) $6.00
Kids (4 to 12) $4.00
Kids under age 4 are admitted free

Food Services: The Mother of all Trips recommends the restaurant next door to the Choo Choo Barn for lunch!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Choo Choo Barn

Directions: From I-83, take exit 19 for PA-462 W, then merge onto N Hills Rd. Turn right at US-30 E, then right at PA-896 S/Hartman Bridge Rd. Continue to follow PA-896 S two miles, then turn left at E Main St. Take a slight left at PA-741 E/Gap R.

From I-76, take Hwy 283 to Hwy 23 into Strasburg.

North Point Lighthouse

June 10, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Image via Wikipedia

2650 N. Wahl Ave.
Milwaukee, WI

The North Point Lighthouse, standing since 1855, is a fixture in scenic Milwaukee, WI. Better yet for traveling families, it’s located adjacent to a great park for kids! Says Kara (AKA Vacation Gals’ ColoradoGal), “After snapping a photo of both families in front of the lighthouse, we explored a bit: (Double the Adventure’s)Sharlene’s husband actually pointed out this great trail with wooden steps leading down into the woods, and of course we had to explore it. After all, that’s how my family rolls…the kids led the way through all sorts of lush foliage down to the shore of Lake Michigan!”

Extra Tip!: Public tours are offered from 1-4 pm on Saturdays, year-round.

Date last visited: June 2010

Distance off the interstate: Six minutes off I-43.

Admission Prices:

Under 5: Free
Under 12: $3.00
Age 12 and up: $5.00 per person

Money-saving Tip! If you think you might be back, family memberships (starting at $35) might be a better deal for you, depending upon the size of your family!

Bathrooms: Need this information. If you know, please answer in the comments!

Website: North Point Lighthouse

Directions: From Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, drive east on Interstate 794. Take the Lakefront exit and go north on Lincoln Memorial Drive for 2.2 miles. Turn left opposite McKinley Park Beach and drive up the hill on E. Water Tower Road. Turn right on Terrace Avenue and make a quick right onto Wahl Avenue. The lighthouse will be on your right after about half a mile, in the southern end of Lake Park.
(From I-94, go north on I-43, then follow the above directions.)

The Children’s Museum, Seattle

June 9, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Water play at The Children\’s Museum!

305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA

Visiting Seattle or Vancouver on a family vacation this summer? The Children’s Museum, Seattle is a wonderful pit stop which will keep your children entertained for hours! Located on the same campus as the Space Needle, it’s simple to access off I-5 and can be added easily to a kid-friendly Seattle sight-seeing itinerary.

Eleven (11) exhibits stretch throughout the 22,000 square feet of exhibit space at the museum, ranging from familiar settings like the grocery store to new settings like the Ghana Village. And this is no hands-off experience: children are expected to touch, play and explore their way to every inch of the museum.

From the official website: “In the Fall and Spring of each year, the Museum welcomes a traveling exhibit to Seattle. This fall we will welcome Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog!! This summer our traveling exhibit space have 5 large than life books for children to explore as part of our Go Figure! Exhibit.”

Pit Stops for Kids reader and review Jillian Lang says of The Children’s Museum, “Our toddler had a blast at this great kids stop. We live in BC and have thought about planing a trip back to Seattle just to to this museum again.” (Thank you, Jillian, for sending in your review!)

Extra Tip!: Be sure to pick up a daily schedule when you enter the building; museum employees play games and plan activities all day long, such as scavenger hunts and storytimes! And for babies through 3-year-olds, check out their Discovery Bay section!

In the Ghana village, buy some fruits at the outdoor market or get a new hairdo or head wrap at the hairdresser\’s shop!

Date last visited: Ongoing visits.

Distance off the interstate: Two minutes, tops!

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday: 10am-6pm (new admission sales end at 5pm) The Museum is closed Labor Day Weekend, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission Prices:

$7.50 Adults and Children
$6.50 Grandparents
$6.00 Groups of 10 plus
FREE Children under the age of one

Food Services: There’s a great food court located in the same building (Center House). Or, for restuarants near the Settle Center, check this directory!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Seattle Children’s Museum

Phone/Information Line: (206) 441-1768

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

Directions: The museum is located in the Seattle Center, by the Space Needle. From I-5, take the Mercer St/Seattle Center exit (exit 167). Turn right at the first traffic light onto Fariview, then turn left at the next traffic light onto Broad St. Turn right onto 5th Ave. The Seattle Center will be on your left hand side. Parking: you can park at the 5th Ave Garage on the corner of 5th and Harrison or the Mercer Street Garage on Mercer between 3rd Ave N and 4th Ave N. After parking, walk into the center of the campus to the Center House. The museum is on the first floor.

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Cady Cheese Factory

June 7, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Shelves stocked with country goodness at Cady Cheese Factory

126 State Road 128
Wilson, WI

Quick: what’s the first thing you think of when I say ‘Wisconsin’? If you said ‘cheese’ and have plans to drive down I-94, then you’re in luck! Make a pit stop at The Cady Cheese Shop and Factory to samples of over 20 varieties and flavors of real Wisconsin longhorn cheese, shop in their store, and learn about how cheese is made. Located a stone’s throw of I-94, the factory is iconic of Wisconsin’s country charm, and tasty to boot!

From the official website: “Cady Cheese makes and sells over 50,000 lbs of cheese per production day. Stop by the factory to see for yourself how it is made. Enjoy free samples of our many flavors. That’s 100% natural cheese, as fresh as it gets!”

Cady Cheese was today’s stop for Vacation Gals’ ColoradoGal and her family in their first leg of the 1K Country Adventure, sponsored by Country Inn and Suites.

Date last visited: June 2010

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes off I-94.

Hours:

January 1st – April 30th:
Mon.-Fri. 9am – 5pm
Sat. & Sun. 9am – 5pm

May 1st-December 31st:
Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-6pm
Sat. & Sun. 9am – 5pm

Admission Prices: None.

Food Services: While you could probably make a meal out of the cheeses, candies, and other gourmet offerings for sale in the store, there is not an actual restaurant on the premises.

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Cady Cheese

Directions: From I-94, take 128 straight to the factory!

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Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

May 24, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

15101 Lancaster Road
Lancaster, CA

Think you can’t find rolling hills and wildflower habitats right outside of Los Angeles? Think again! If your southern California family vacation takes you down I-5 (especially from February to May, when the wildflower blooms are most vibrant), the detour to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, part of the California State Park system, is worth the drive!

From the California State Park website: “Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat…Eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills, including a paved section for wheelchair access, make the park a wonderful place to hike and explore any season. Benches located along the trails make good places to sit quietly and watch for wildlife, such as singing meadow larks, lizards zipping across the trail, gopher snakes and rattlesnakes. If you’re lucky, you may spot a coyote or bobcat.”

The park is open year-round, but you’ll want to visit in the spring to see the wildflowers (fall is also a pleasant time to visit). An interpretive center is also on-site, offering a short video, wildlife and plant displays and gift shop (only open during the wildflower season).

Date last visited: Reviewer visited in April 2010.

Distance off the interstate: 22 miles off I-5

Hours and Admission Prices: Open sunrise to sunset. $8 per vehicle.

Food Services: None. There are picnic tables located new the interpretive center which look out over the valley to the San Gabriel Mountains.

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (Phone: (661) 724-1180)

Directions: From I-5, take Exit 207 onto CA-138 E toward Lancaster/Palmdale. Drive 22 miles, then turn right at 170th St W. Turn left at W Ave F-8/Lancaster Rd, then continue to follow Lancaster Rd for two miles. Turn left at 150th St W, then take a slight left to stay on 150th St W to the entrance to the State of California Poppy Reserve.

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On the Rise Bakery

May 19, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Photo courtesy of On The Rise Bakery

Bridge St & Esplanade
Richmond, VT

Sometimes, you just want to have your cake and eat it too! And if your family vacation takes you through scenic Richmond, Vermont, On The Rise Bakery offers just that…literally. A wonderful place to stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, On The Rise is more than just a quaint eatery; it’s kid-heaven. Located adjacent to a park, kids can burn off energy while waiting for their bagels or muffins.

Even better, On The Rise is dedicated to sustainable food services. Most of what they serve comes from the local farming community, and if you’re looking for gluten-free fare, you’ll be right at home! (Another bonus: the building is equipped with wi-fi.)

Says MissMagPie of Find and Go Seek, an awesome guide for all things Vermont, “There are several tables set up inside the building and on the deck. Within eyesight is Richmond Volunteers Playground if the kids want to run and stretch their legs. There is even a sandbox right on the porch of the restaurant. In the evenings this is also a venue for local musicians.”

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes off I-89.

Hours: New extended hours! Monday/Tuesday: 6AM-6PM, Wednesday-Saturday: 6AM-10PM, Sunday: 6AM-2PM (Brunch 8AM- 1PM)

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Directions: Take Exit 11 off of I-89, then go to the center of the village (east on RT 2). Take a right at the light onto Bridge Street, then head down the hill, across the tracks past Railroad and Church street. The bakery is on your right. Turn into the parking lot at Volunteers Green.

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Hormel SPAM Museum

May 16, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

SPAM Museum, photo courtesy of minnemom, Travels with Children

1101 N. Main St.
Austin, MN

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly is in that famous mystery meat, and you happen to find yourself driving along I-90 through Minnesota, you simply have to stop with your family at Hormel’s SPAM Museum in Austin.

Opened in 2002 and located directly across the street from Hormel’s main meat plant, the 16,500 square foot museum is housed in its own custom building and introduces visitors to every aspect of SPAM-making (which would certainly be educational!). “Spambassadors” roam the main floor, acting as guides (and serving SPAM on toothpicks), adding to the lighthearted fun.

Hands-on SPAMMY fun, photo courtesy of minnemom, Travels with Children

TwinCitiesGal of The Vacation Gals recently reviewed the museum, saying, “My kids’ favorite section was the Spam Production where they could dress up like factory workers and â€œpackageâ€ their own SPAM. Mine on the other hand was the Changing Market Place. It showed the difference between the shopping habits of the 1950’s and today. The comparison was astounding!” Read her full review!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off I-90!

Hours and Admission Prices: Admission is FREE! Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5. (Closed major holidays, open Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day.)

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Food Services: If you’re feeling daring, Johnny’s Spamarama restaurant is located directly across the street. Beware: the menu is full of SPAM dishes!

Phone: 507-437-5100

Directions: From I-90, take exit 178-B. Turn south onto 6th St, then right at the T onto 14th Ave. Bear right (straight) onto 15th Ave, which turns left and becomes Main St. Cross the bridge, turn right onto 11th Ave., and the museum will be on the left.

Whale Watching in Crescent City, CA

May 12, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Photo courtesy of Aquarium of Pacific

1001 Front Street
Crescent City, CA

Crescent City, CA has long been a favorite location for whale watching year-round, but the best time to get a glimpse of a gentle giant or two is in May! If you find yourself traveling along scenic Highway 101 this spring, it’s well worth a pit stop on your family vacation!

Check in at the Cultural Center (1001 Front Street) first in order to see if any programs or events are being offered at the time of your visit. On May 23rd, from 11:30 am to 3 pm, a whale event is planned, organized by Coastal Commissioner Sara Wan and hosted by volunteers. (Thank you to Pit Stops for Kids reader Paul for this info!). If you don’t visit at the time of a planned event, the best locations to spot gray whales on your own are:

Crescent Beach Overlook
Enderts Beach
Battery Point Lighthouse
Point St. George

Klamath Overlook (located approximately 15 miles south of Crescent City off Highway 101 past the end of Requa Road), also offers Redwoods National Park ranger talks on gray whales every Wednesday from 2-4 pm and every Saturday from 10 am-2 pm. Bring binoculars!

Photo courtesy of Friends of Battery Point Lighthouse

Gray whales are best seen from an elevated spot close to the shore, so the locations with overlooks are your best bet! If you’d rather watch for whales from the deck of a boat, Tidewind Sportfishing in Brookings (800-799-0337) offers the chance for an up-close encounter! But if it’s not your lucky day, stop by the Marine Mammal Rescue Center instead (at the end of the park by the Cultural Center). If the sun is out, Beach Front Park also features a great playground! (Read about more family attractions in Crescent City.)

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Crescent City is directly on Highway 101 just past the California border.

Hours and Admission Prices: Most overlooks and beaches are free; some have car fees on state park land. Hours are generally sunrise to sunset.

Bathrooms: Located in Cultural Center when open.

Food Services: Picnics in the park or on beaches are your best bet! The town of Crescent City has plenty of grocery or fast food options, as well as seafood fare.

Phone: (707)464-7483

Directions: From Hwy 101 (Redwood Highway), take Front Street to Beach Front Park.

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Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

May 7, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Village at Indian Grinding Rock, photo courtesy of Tripping with Kids

14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Road
Pine Grove, CA

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park makes for an excellent family road trip pit stop while you’re exploring California’s Gold Country. Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills eight miles east of Jackson, the park offers not only a great outcropping of marbleized limestone with some 1,185 mortar holes, but the Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum, which features a variety of exhibits and an outstanding collection of Sierra Nevada Indian artifacts. After visiting the museum, head over to the Miwok village complete with a ceremonial roundhouse that has been reconstructed in the middle of the small valley.

Reviewer Lora of Tripping with Kids comments on the excitement of exploring the village: “I watched the kids take off running to investigate some of the (other) teepees. Across from the hun’ge (roundhouse) was a large field, used even today as a playing field during living history events. Two trails are available to lead you around the woods, one is a half-mile and one a mile long. At the head of the trails, you can pick up a brochure that identifies particular local plants and what they were used for by the indigenous people.”

Date last visited: April 2010.

Distance off the interstate: 1 hour 15 minutes from I-5, 20 minutes from Hwy 49.

Hours and Admission Prices: Park hours are sunrise to sunset. Museum hours: Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays, 11 am to 2:30 pm. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am to 3:30 pm. Admission: $8/car for day use.

Bathrooms: Located on premises.

Food Services: None. Picnic areas are available, or the town of Jackson offers several diners and a deli.

Directions: The park is northeast of Stockton in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains (or about 1 hour from Sacramento). Take State Highway 88 east through Jackson to the town of Pine Grove. Take a left turn on the Pine-Grove-Volcano Road, and about a mile and a half later you will enter the Park. The SECOND turnoff is the main entrance (the first is to the small campground).

Wheeler Historic Farm

May 3, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Barn at Wheeler Historic Farm

6351 South 900 East
Salt Lake City, UT

Traveling this spring or summer? What better way to take a break from summer vacation family fun (ie, the long drives!) than to run around a real farm? The Wheeler Historic Farm, listed on the National Register of Historical Places and commanding 75 acres, is the ideal place to stop and play while driving through Salt Lake City and the surrounding metropolitan area. You’ll find an activity barn, tree house, ponds and animal pens. Adults and older kids will like the tour of the historic buildings, including the farmhouse. You can even milk cows (every day at 5 pm, cost is 50 cents) and go on a tractor-drawn wagon ride.

Check out a map of Wheeler Farm to get a fuller picture of all it has to offer!