Alameda Historical Museum

February 13, 2010 By

Photo courtesy of Alameda Historical Museum.

2324 Alameda Avenue
Alameda, CA

Sometimes, you need to find kid-friendly pit stops in the center of urban areas, too! Whether your destination is the San Francisco Bay Area or you’re just passing through, The Alameda Historical Museum is a fun place to stop near the Oakland International Airport if your family is learning about Victorian history. Kids can learn about the past by touring living history displays of every-day life¦right down to turn-of-the-century kitchens and living rooms. Once a month (4th Saturday), the entire Meyer’s House and Garden, erected in 1897, is open to the public.
The Alameda Historical Museum is just one of many locations listed and reviewed at MomMaps, an archive of kid-friendly spots on the go. You can find many of Pitstops for Kids’ reviews listed on the site or while browsing MomMaps’ app for iPhone. (Download it free at iTunes!) So far, MomMaps covers the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City Area, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, and Hawaii.

Distance off the interstate: Ten minutes from I-880, twenty from I-80.

Hours and Admission Prices: Open Wednesday-Sunday 1:30 pm-4:00 pm, (Saturday 11 am-4 pm)

Food Services: None. Many restaurants are within a few city blocks!

Website: http://alamedamuseum.org

Phone for Meyer’s House: (510) 747.7529

Directions: From San Francisco: Go over the Bay Bridge and take 880 South to 23rd Avenue exit. Cross the Park Street bridge. Take Park Street and turn right on Alameda Avenue.

From the Oakland Airport: Turn left on Doolittle Drive and go straight for approximately 5 miles. Go over the Bay Farm Island Bridge onto the island of Alameda. Doolittle Drive turns into Otis Drive. Proceed to Park Street and turn right. Turn left on Alameda Avenue.
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McKinley Park

February 3, 2010 By

Photo courtesy of Tripping with Kids

Photo courtesy of Tripping with Kids


601 Alhambra Boulevard
Sacramento, CA

Some of you may know this already, but the concept for Pitstops for Kids was born after a frustrating afternoon trying to find a nice park while driving through Sacramento, CA. So you can imagine my excitement when I came across this wonderful review at Tripping with Kids! McKinley Park was named Best Playground of 2009 in the Sacramento News and Review, and it’s easy to see why. There’s gardens, tennis and basketball courts, a local pool, and even a library, but as reviewer Lora says, the most important thing is the playground. This one doesn’t disappoint.

“Created by a community collaborative, this playground is castle-like with enough long raised walkways, bridges, and ladders to entertain any school-aged kid who has been house-bound by cold weather. It is made mostly of wood, which blends in with the park quite nicely. The amount of thought and detail behind it is obvious. For example, since much of the structure includes play areas above ground, one space below it is used for a small tire swing. A play area for smaller tots is attached and yet in a separate area.” For Lora’s full article, visit her at Tripping with Kids!

Date last visited: January 2010

Distance off the interstate: 1 minute off I-80 Business, ten minutes from I-80.

Hours and Admission Prices: Open sunrise to sunset. Free admission.

Website: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/

Directions: From I-80 (Business), merge onto the Capitol City Freeway. Take the E St. exit, then merge onto 29th St. Turn left at E St, then right at Alhambra Blvd.

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Julian Price Memorial Park

January 31, 2010 By
Canoeing and kayaking await at Price Lake

Canoeing and kayaking await at Price Lake

Milepost 297 Blue Ridge Parkway
Blowing Rock, NC

Julian Price Memorial Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the Blue Ridge area, at the base of Grandfather Mountain. If you’re traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, you’ll definitely want to stop! Boosting 3900 acres of picnic spots, campgrounds, hiking trails and nature walks, the park has long been a favorite for locals and tourists alike. Says reviewer Angela: “Kids love playing in the stream that meanders through the picnic area. The park also offers hiking along 7 trails, fishing, canoeing, camping, guided walks and evening campfire programs. The 300-seat amphitheater is used for lectures and talks during the summer months.”

To read in more detail about the various hiking trails Julian Price has to offer (as well as other great spots to stop and hike in the Charlotte, NC area), see her full review at Trekaroo.

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway (1 hr. 45 min. from I-85 near Charlotte and 1 hr. from I-40 near Brookford)

Hours and Admission Prices: Open to the public 24 hours a day. Free admission. (Camping has a nominal fee.)

Bathrooms: Clean and well lit.

Website: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Phone: Park Campground Kiosk: (828) 963-5911

Directions: Located at Mile Marker 297 of the Blue Ridge Parkway

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Fort Sherman Playground

January 28, 2010 By
Well shaded and lake-side: Fort Sherman is the perfect playground!

Well shaded and lake-side: Fort Sherman is the perfect playground!

416 Mullan Road
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Fort Sherman Playground is the perfect place to stop along mountainous I-90 during a summer vacation. A beautiful city in any season, Coeur d’Alene is a is a summer recreation mecca with ample hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, and golf. Fort Sherman Playground at City Park offers a sprawling, 14,000 square foot wooden ‘fort’ play space on 17 acres near the lake’s edge. Sit in the shade while your kids play on the structure, then take a quick dip in the lake.

If you have more time, the Downtown Waterfront area offers a number of other options such as parasail rides high above the water, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboats and canoes for rent. The main office for rentals is located along the world’s longest floating boardwalk, located at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes.

Hours and Admission Prices: Free.

Bathrooms: Nice public bathrooms are located by the play structure.

Food Services: Many restaurants line the lake-front area. A good bet for a sweet snack is The Bakery by the Lake. Kids love all the homemade muffins and scones.

Website: http://parks.cdaid.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=56

Directions: From I-90 take NW Boulevard South all the way downtown. Turn right on Mullan Road for parking.

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Spokane’s Riverfront Park with kids

January 25, 2010 By
Riverfront Park during one of many summer festivals!

Riverfront Park during one of many summer festivals!

507 N. Howard St
Spokane, WA

If you find yourself driving I-90 from Seattle or Idaho’s ski and outdoor country, Spokane’s Riverfront Park is a beautifully appointed greenbelt worthy of a stop. Much more than a simple pit stop, the park spans both sides of the Spokane River and includes a pavilion originally built for the 1974 Expo, amusement rides, an ice skating rink, a Sky Ride gondola, an old fashioned carrousel, a giant red wagon slide, and plenty of grassy slopes, mature trees, and ducks to feed.

Riverfront Park with kids:

Try to grab the 'golden ring' on the carrousel!

Try to grab the ‘golden ring’ on the carrousel!

If the weather isn’t cooperating, try the IMAX theater (schedule listed under ‘Hours and Admission Prices below) or Mobius Kids Children’s Museum, located on the lower level within River Park Square, downtown Spokane’s premiere shopping center.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: Two minutes off I-90.

Hours and Admission Prices: For the hours and admission prices of the various attractions (which change seasonally), click here. Be sure to ask about all admission options: during the summer months especially, day passes and punch cards can offer the best discounts for families.

Bathrooms: The nicest bathrooms are located within River Park Square on the lower level (through the entrance adjacent to the park). Others are located within the pavilion near the Ice Palace (winter) and carnival rides (summer).

Food Services: Food vendors and concessions abound in the summer months; year round, great options for families can be found in River Park Square. My family’s favorite? The Sawtooth Grill (located on the lower level), where TinkerToys and board games line the a shelf awaiting antsy children.

Website: http://www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com

Phone: 1-800-336-PARK

Directions: From I-90, take exit 281 to merge onto S Division St/US-2 E/US-395 N. Turn left at W Spokane Falls Blvd.

NOTE: Vehicles are not permitted in the park. Parking is available in several lots on the north end. The easiest place to park, however, is in the parking garage at River Park Square. Follow the signs from Spokane Falls Blvd!
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ScienceWorks Hands On Museum

January 22, 2010 By
Dream Cycles kinetic sculpture outside of ScienceWorks

Dream Cycles kinetic sculpture outside of ScienceWorks

1500 East Main Street
Ashland, OR

Sometimes, I’m guilty of forgetting to feature all the excellent pit stops in my own backyard! ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum sits just west of I-5 in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. With both permanent and limited-time (featured) exhibits, there’s always something new (and something for every age, from preschool to adult). Explore the Bubble-ology Room, the Pedal-Powered Railroad, the Shadow Wall, and the Water Rocket, or sit down and relax while your little ones play in Discovery Island, filled with water tables, a playhouse full of pulleys and levers, and Coconut Hollow, a forest of trees that launch air-powered balls through vacuum tubes to different spots.

My kids, ages 5-10, can easily spend several contented hours at the museum. Be sure to check the daily schedule when you arrive; there’s often a demonstration or experiment performed in the laboratory!

Date last visited: January 2010

Distance off the interstate: Three minutes

Hours:
Wednesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m.
Summer Hours (June-August): Wednesday through Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: Noon – 5pm

Admission Prices: $5.00 for kids ages 2-12 ; $7.50 for teens and adults ; $5.00 for seniors 65+ If you think you’ll visit more than three times a year, a membership might be the better option for your family!

Bathrooms: Located inside the museum.

Food Services: Limited snacks are available. For a kid-friendly meal in Ashland, my family’s top recommendation is Munchies, located downtown on the plaza.

Website: http://www.scienceworksmuseum.org

Directions: From I-5: take exit 14 toward Ashland/Klamath Falls. Turn right at Ashland St. Turn right at Walker Ave. Turn left at E Main St.
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Naval Aviation Museum

January 13, 2010 By
Photo courtesy of Two Kids and a Map

Photo courtesy of Two Kids and a Map

1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C
Naval Air Station
Pensacola, FL

The National Naval Aviation Museum, located within Navel Air Station Pensacola, makes for a wonderful (and free!) pitstop along I-10. Parent reviewer Jen of Two Kids and a Map and Pensacola with Kids has written about this attraction in her hometown numerous times, and gives it her expert seal of approval. In one entry she writes: The Air Museum is great for all ages. There are so many exhibits, an IMAX theater that shows several movies a day, a small restaurant, a flight simulator, and lots of hands-on activities! Kids visiting the museum (and adults too!) can climb into the cockpit of several aircraft, watch a flight simulator, and get up close and personal with the famed Blue Angels.

Date last visited: Often!

Distance off the interstate: About 15 miles off I-10.

Hours and Admission Prices: FREE! The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week year-round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. The IMAX movie theater begins shows on the hour starting at 10 am and ending at 4 pm.

Food Services: The Cubi Bar Cafe, located within the museum, is both a restaurant and an exhibit!

Website: http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org

Phone: (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606

Directions: From I-10: Take Exit 7 (Pine Forest Road, 297). Head south about 1.5 miles to Blue Angel Parkway. Turn right and drive about 12 miles to the west gate of NAS Pensacola. Museum is three miles ahead on left.

Splash! Lively Park Swim Center

January 11, 2010 By
Splash Lively Park Swim Center in Springfield, OR

Splash Lively Park Swim Center in Springfield, OR

6100 Thurston Road
Springfield, OR

We’ve driven up and down I-5 through the state of Oregon dozens of times, but until a neighborhood family told us about it, we had no idea Splash! Lively Park Swim Center existed!

A wonderful pitstop when you have two or more hours to spend, Splash is much more than a community pool; it’s an indoor waterpark complete with a 144 foot slide, wave pool, water activity pool (complete with water basketball) kiddie/splash pool, and hot tub! The best part? It boasts community pool prices!

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: 10 minutes off I-5.

Hours: Complete hours and prices are listed here. At the time of this posting, the center is open in the evenings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Admission prices: Toddlers (under 3 yrs.): $4.25, Single (3+): $6.25, Family of 4: $19 ($3.25 for each additional family member). Group prices are available and discounted prices are offered during certain hours (see website).

Bathrooms: Yes, with locker rooms and showers.

Food Services: A snack counter is open year round, during pool hours.

Website: http://www.willamalane.org/pages/swimcenters/lpsc.shtml

Phone: (541) 747-9283

Directions: Take I-5 to exit 194A and take I-105 east to Main Street. Turn left onto Main Street, left on 58th Street and right on Thurston Road. Lively Park is on the left two blocks ahead.
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Dinosaur World visit with kids

January 7, 2010 By

Photo courtesy of Dinosaur World website711 Mammoth Cave Road
Cave City, KY

Just 10 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, Dinosaur World in Cave City is a great place to stop and play while traveling I-65. While walking (or probably running!) along the well-groomed paths, kids come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs complete with displays with their names, era, etc. Says parent reviewer Kristy of Appleton, WI, They not only have life-size dinos along paths in the woods, but also a fossil dig area, playground, museum, and picnic areas. We loved it¦it was cool to stand next to the dinos! (There’s also a Dino World in Plant City, FL and Glen Rose, TX.)

Distance off the interstate: Directly off the interstate.

Hours and Admission Prices: Open 8:30 am until sunset every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prices: $12.75 for adults, $9.75 for children ages 3 to 12, $10.75 for seniors over 60 (friendly pets on leashes – free!)

Food Services: From the official website: there is no food service at Dinosaur World, however, we have excellent picnic areas. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy one of the local fast food or dine-in restaurants and bring the food back to the park picnic areas.

Website: http://www.dinoworld.net/

Directions: Right off I-65 at Exit 53 – you can even see some of the dinosaurs from the interstate!
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Agrirama: Georgia’s Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village

December 30, 2009 By

1392 Whiddon Mill Road
Tifton, Georgia

Photo courtesy of Brown's Guide to GA

Photo courtesy of Brown’s Guide to GA

Always one to love living history exhibits, I knew Id found the perfect pitstop in Tifton, Georgia’s Agrirama, Georgia’s Museum of Agriculture and Living History Museum. Touted as where the present meets the past’, Agrirama is a 95-acre complex featuring an historic village with over 35 structures which have been relocated to the site and faithfully restored or preserved. Included is a museum, a main street, farmsteads, homesteads, a schoolhouse, community buildings, and more, all replicating the 1870-1890’s era. And it’s located on I-75, which makes it a very convenient pitstop for families heading down the interstate toward Florida! Sherri Smith Brown of Brown’s Guide to Georgia reviewed it recently, writing:

Costumed interpreters perform the daily activities of life¦you’ll see people working in the fields, the sawmill, the turpentine still, the blacksmith’s shop and the gristmill. On Main Street, you can visit the drug store, the print shop and the train depot. A 1.3-mile railroad system circles the site; but due to state budget cuts, the steam locomotive only runs during special events. You can walk through farmsteads of different eras as well as a mid-1890s one-room schoolhouse.”

Distance off the interstate: Less than a few minutes!

Hours and Admission Prices: Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am until 4:30 pm
Closed for Labor Day, Thanksgiving Holidays (Thursday & Friday) and
Christmas Break (December 20 – Jan 5).

Admission is as follows: Adults – $7.00, Seniors – (age 55+) $6.00, Children – (5 – 16) $4.00, Children 4 and under FREE. (Group rates are available.)

Food Services: The Sandwich Shop is on premises. For a good price, you can find hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, or get it to go with one of their sack lunch options!

Website: http://agrirama.com/main/index.php

Directions: Easy to find right off I-75 at Exit 63B. Turn right at 8th St, then continue onto Whiddon Mill Rd.
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