Sweet Tomatoes

6600 SW Cardinal Lane Tigard, OR I once forced my children to sit tight in the car an extra 70 miles past our pre-determined dinner-stopping-point in order to push on to Sweet Tomatoes. And even considering the whining, loud singing, and general disgruntlement, it was worth it. For those who aren't familiar with this restaurant chain (which is brought to us by the same fine folks as Soup … [Read more...]

The Varsity Restaurant

61 North Ave NW Atlanta, GA Make sure you're hungry for a meal while cruising through Atlanta on I-75, because you're going to want to stop at The Varsity. According to a member of Disboards.com's Transportation board, it's a must: To say they serve burgers and chili dogs is unfair. It's indescribable. You'll find burgers, hot dogs, and chili at The Varsity, but according to most reviews, … [Read more...]

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

1 Jelly Belly Lane Fairfield, CA What I seem to remember most about Jelly Belly's California factory is the absolutely horrendous tantrum my then-three-year-old (now seven-year-old) decided to throw somewhere between the sorting floor and the tasting room. And yet, despite the fact that mortal embarrassment is my first connotation with this attraction, it still makes my list of reviews. It's … [Read more...]

Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery

Exit 40 of I-84 Cascade Locks, Oregon The first time my husband convinced me to stop at the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, I was skeptical at best. To me, a fish hatchery sounds about as exciting as a coma, but kids love it. You also can't beat the price (free!) or the stunning Oregon scenery. The dam is about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and perfect for a quick stop after or before … [Read more...]

KidZone in Club Northwest

2160 N.W. Vine Street Grants Pass, Oregon You can't miss KidZone from I-5 (see photo of the outside of the building), but you will be left wondering what it is you're looking at, it's so poorly marked from the outside. Put simply, it's kid-heaven: 60,000 cubic feet of tubes, slides, and ball pits, housed within Club Northwest, a fitness and health club. It's open to the public, and while it … [Read more...]

Fairytale Town

3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento CA I'd like to start this, my first review on this site, with a short story. In the summer of 2008, my mom and I found ourselves six hours into a 10 hour drive with my three kids when we became desperate for somewhere fun to stop. The eight-year-old was squirmy, the six-year-old was getting carsick, and the three-year-old was...being a three-year-old. It was … [Read more...]