Cady Cheese Factory

June 7, 2010 By

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

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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Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

May 21, 2010 By
Children's zoo

Image via Wikipedia

3411 Sherman Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Rated one of the top ten zoos in the country by Parents magazine, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a must-see family attraction in the greater Fort Wayne area. What’s to love? The 40 acres of exhibits (well-suited for small legs!), the 1500 animals to view, the ongoing educational programs and conservation efforts of the park, and rides like the SkyFari and Zoo Train! With three distinct ‘lands’ plus an Indiana Farm and aquatic area, there’s more than enough to do, whether you stay for a few hours or all day.

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Just a couple minutes off I-69!

Hours and Admission Prices: Seasonal! Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from April 24-Oct. 10, 2010. Prices are $13 for adults and $8 for children over age 1. (Be aware: rides are extra…you pay for them with tokens, carnival-style. Be ready to pay extra for those attractions.)

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Directions: Take I-69 Exit 111A. Follow Lima Road south. After crossing Coliseum Blvd., follow Wells Street, which forks to the right. At the stoplight, turn right onto Franke Park Drive. At the 3-way stop, turn left onto Sherman Blvd. to the Zoo entrance.

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On the Rise Bakery

May 19, 2010 By

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

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 “package” 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

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

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

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!

Visit the animal pens!

Date last visited: Reviewer visited in April 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Just a few minutes off I-215.

Hours and Admission Prices: Dawn to dusk, every day! Some activities have a fee ($2 a person for historic tours and wagon rides, for instance).

Bathrooms: Located on premises.

Food Services: Try their Country Store for local products and produce! There are plenty of shade trees for a picnic, too!

Website: http://www.wheelerfarm.com

Directions: Take 1-215 and exit at Union Park Avenue, or Exit 9. The Farm entrance is located on the east side of 900 East.

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Umpqua Discovery Center

April 20, 2010 By

Photo courtesy of the Reedsport chamber of commerce.

409 River Front Way
Reedsport, Oregon

Set along a boardwalk on the Reedsport Riverfront, The Umpqua Discovery Center is a cultural and historical museum designed to teach visitors about daily life in the town back when it revolved around whether the tide was coming in or going out. (This story not only applies to Reedsport but also to any number of river towns along the Oregon Coast.) From the official site: “As you enter the exhibits, you hear the sounds of the river rushing and feel nature surround you as you journey back through history.”

Great for all ages, the center serves as an educational starting off point as you drive up the Oregon coast. Interactive “Tidewater Community” exhibits and programs illustrate how land, water and people have shaped each other over time.

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes from Hwy 101.

Hours and Admission Prices: Open 7 days a week. Summer hours (June 1 through September 30) are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Winter hours (October 1 through May 31) are from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission ranges from $2.00 for kids under age 5 to $8.50 for adults, and group rates are available.

Bathrooms: Located within the center.

Food Services: Try lunch at the Schooner Inn Cafe, located adjacent to the center on the river front. Called ‘the best restaurant on the Oregon Coast’ by many TripAdvisor reviewers, it’s well worth the stop!

Website: http://www.umpquadiscoverycenter.com/

Directions: From Hwy 101, take Hwy 38 (Umpqua Highway) into Reedsport. Umpqua Highway turns into Fir Avenue. Take Fir to River Front Way. Turn left and continue to the center entrance.

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Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park

April 15, 2010 By

Wave pool at Raptor Reef

175 W. Orchard
Hayden, Idaho

Located in Hayden, Idaho as part of the Triple Play Family Fun Park, Raptor Reef is a massive indoor water park that’s easy to miss if you don’t realize it’s there. Stopping here makes for at least a half-day pit stop, but it’s well worth mentioning because of its availability to the public (unlike many other indoor water parks attached to hotels such as nearby Silver Mountain Resort, where you must be spending a night to enjoy the waterslides).

Says a member of the parent review site Trekaroo, “This is a great place for my 7,4,2,and 6 mo. old to play. It’s small enough that I feel comfortable letting my 7 year old go on the slides, and I can play with the other children in the kiddie area. The facility is clean, and I think the lifeguards do a good job of watching the pools.”

Raptor Reef houses a wave pool, multiple slides of varying lengths, hot tubs, and a climbing structure/aqua-play. Note that there are height restrictions for the bigger slides. Don’t forget to bring towels (or be charged $2) and swim diapers (required for all guests under age 2).

Date last visited: March 2010

Distance off the interstate: 10 minutes off I-90, one minute of Hwy 95.

Hours and Admission Prices: Raptor Reef is open Monday through Thursday: 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m

Over 42″ is $17.00
Under 42″ is $11.00

AAA and other discounts often apply, so check local media or call for best rates! (1-877-770-PLAY).

Bathrooms: Locker rooms and bathrooms located inside.

Food Services: None. The town of Hayden has plenty to offer in the way of fast food.

Website: http://www.raptorreef.com/RaptorReef.htm

Directions: From I-90 past Coeur D’Alene, take Hwy 95 to Orchard Avenue, directly south of the Super 1 Foods and Hayden Center in Hayden, Idaho.
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