Parks or Natural Areas - Pitstops for Kids

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

August 10, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop is submitted by reader Erica Smith.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and is easily accessed from I-94. With 15 miles of beach, outdoor activities, and park programs, there’s plenty for families to do. Stop for a few hours en route on I-94, or make it an overnight!

Things to do: Hike the sand dune of Mt. Baldy, then reward yourself with a swim at the bottom of the trail, or spend the day at either Central Beach or Kemil Beach in Michigan City. For more area hikes, stop by the Indiana Dunes visitor’s center (directions below). Don’t forget to enroll kids to become Junior Rangers!

Date last visited: Summer 2011

Distance from the interstate: Several minutes from I-94.

Hours of operation: Most locations are open sunrise to sunset.

Admission cost: $6.00 per car, per day. Camping fees are $15.00 per night.

Dining options: There’s great picnicking at Lake View, located at the NW corner of Lake Front Drive and Broadway Street in Beverly Shores. Restaurant dining is available in all towns, as are convenience stores and grocery stores.

Overnight options: Dunewood Campground offers 75 sites (both tent and hook-up).

Directions: Families can access the national lakeshore via I-94, the Indiana Toll Road, I-80/90, U.S. Highway 20, Indiana State Highway 12, and various state roads. Check the official page for full driving directions. The visitor’s center is a good place to start: it’s located on Highway 49 between highways U.S. 20 and Interstate 94.

Pier Cove Beach, Fennville Michigan

August 5, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

A small, beautiful beach, Fennville’s Pier Cove Beach features a small creek that lets out into Lake Michigan, which is often warmer than the big lake. It’s perfect for small kids to splash in! Families can also find rocks and logs and make sculptures! In the big lake, kids (and adults!) will swim to their hearts’ content. Oh, and dogs are welcome! This is the perfect pit stop to escape crowds; the only drawback: there are no bathrooms or changing rooms, so plan accordingly!

Travel tip: Beware the poison ivy on the south side of the staircase! Stick to the right! No lifeguard on duty.

For more information on area beaches, head over to Top 10 Beach Towns on Michigan’s Sunset Coast at Wandering Educators.

Closest interstate or highway: US31, Fennville Exit (M-89).

Cost of admission: Free!

Hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Dining options: None; bring a picnic!

Directions: From US31, take the Fennville exit (M-89). Head West toward Lake Michigan. At the T, take a left (south) and drive to another stop. Take a right (west) and go around the curve. Pier Cove is about 25 feet down the road on the Lake side (right). There are about 10 parking spaces.

Oval Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan

August 3, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Saugatuck’s Oval Beach is a popular pit stop along the coast of Lake Michigan for a reason: ranked by Conde Naste traveler as one of the 25th best beaches in the world, it boasts wonderful dunes (including Mount Baldhead), family amenities such as a playground and concession stand, and picnic areas complete with grills and a deck. It features two beach areas (one that is flatter, and one that is accessed by stairs). Sometimes you’ll get huge waves, and sometimes very calm waters. It’s all fun: bring some sand toys, a Frisbee, a kite, and plenty of towels and sunscreen. The only drawbacks? It can get crowded in summer, and the faucets only run cold water (brr!).

For more information, head over to Top 10 Beach Towns on Michigan’s Sunset Coast at Wandering Educators.

Closest interstate or highway: US31

Cost of admission: Park fees apply.

Hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Dining options: Oval Beach does have a seasonal concession stand, but more dining is available in nearby Saugatuck.

Directions: From Highway US31, take the Blue Star Highway exit, and head west. Turn left at the Kalico Kitchen, and follow that along for several miles until you see a sign on the left for Oval Beach.

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

July 19, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

A great way to spend a rainy (or snowy, or sweltering) day with young kids while traveling in western Massachusetts is the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. The conservatory (or as my toddler calls it, “Butterfly Farm”) is a huge greenhouse filled with trees, flowers, turtles, lizards, and of course, butterflies. One of its biggest selling points is the fact that the greenhouse is kept nice and warm year round. This can be especially appealing in winter, or on rainy days when parents are desperate to avoid being cooped up with babies and young toddlers.

Another bonus: the conservatory is always open! They operate 7 days a week, from 9 to 5 (9 to 6 in the summer), every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This makes it a great option during school holidays and family visits (which often coincide with holiday closings and wintery weather).

This is a great option for toddlers. The paths that wander throughout the conservatory are easy for a new walker to navigate, and although the butterflies are the main attraction, there are all kinds of other critters on display. The staff are often willing to take animals (lizards, frogs, etc.) out of their cages to let kids get a closer look.

Date last visited: June 29, 2011

Distance from the interstate: Magic Wings is approximately 3 miles off Interstate 91, in South Deerfield.

Hours of operation:

9-5 during the spring, fall, and winter
9-6 during the summer
Every day of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Admission: Adults are $12, kids 3-17 are $8, and kids under 3 are free. Bring a student ID and get in for $8 until the age of 22!

Food services: Monarchs Restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday and has many kid-friendly options, including burgers, sandwiches (shaped like butterflies), mac and cheese, etc. You can also bring your own food and eat at the outdoor picnic tables, weather permitting. When going on this outing with napping kids, I found that the best option was to spend the morning at the conservatory, then let the kids eat lunch in the car on the drive home, getting back just in time for nap (of course, this only works if you’re not picky about car seat cleanliness…).

Contact info: (413) 665-2805

Directions: Magic Wings is located at 281 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA. Detailed directions are found on the website.

Liberty Park, New Jersey

July 13, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

A main gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ offers much more than a boat ride to the harbor. With over one thousand wooded acres, it offers amazing views of Manhattan, and it’s waterside, so fishing, crabbing, and kayaking are popular. Visitors can easily hop on a ferry to the statue or Ellis Island, but upon return, the Central Railroad Terminal of New Jersey museum offers more insight into what early immigrants went through to become Americans.

Seasonal Tip (submitted by reader Amanda Vazquez): The 4th Annual City of Water Day Festival is a free day-long event celebrating the potential of the NY-NJ harbor and waterways hosted by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, July 16 on both Governors Island and at Liberty State Park. The celebration will include dragon boat puppet creations; touch tanks with sea stars, clams, whelks, hermit crabs, and horseshoe crabs; a reptile show with turtles, snakes and more. Festival goers will also have the opportunity to kayak, sail and fish. This free event includes free ferry rides between event locations in New York and New Jersey; a flotilla of kayakers and other human-powered boaters; special children’s activities; a Waterfront Activity Fair; food; live music; and more!

Park Hours: 6 am to 10 pm daily

Cost: No admission cost; parking is $7 a day.

Directions: Liberty Park is located at 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ.

Exploring Vancouver, B.C.: Granville Island with kids

June 20, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

When I set out to explore Vancouver’s Granville Island on a sunny Monday afternoon, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Known best for its upscale public market and boutique shops, I certainly didn’t think it would have much to entice kids. I was wrong. Granville Island began winning me over before I even got there: from the dock at the very end of Hornby Street, I waited (all of two minutes) for the Aquabus to carry me across the hairsbreath of water that separates the mainland from the island, and when it arrived in all it’s cute, multi-colored glory, bumped up against the dock, and the operator gave a friendly wave, I was in love.

Once on-island, the public market is only a few blocks away. I stepped in, looked around, and instantly reached for my camera: the colors, smells, and sheer artistry of the arrangement of food and wares was enough to take my breath away (or just make me want to breathe very deeply). I’d wondered what there’d be for kids to do, but between the samples being offered around every corner, the merchandise piled high in all directions, and the people watching, I shouldn’t have worried.

I immediately bought a French crepe with cinnamon and sugar, then set out to see what other tricks this little island had up its sleeve. The shops along the adjacent streets were indeed upscale, but not stuffy. I’d estimate that I’d feel comfortable taking my kids into at least every other one to poke around. The best was one (or rather several) I stumbled upon by accident: Kids Market on Cartwright Street. This two-story marketplace stuffs 25 shops under one roof, and the result is an eye-popping array of toys, stuffed animals, puppets, clothing, and books overflowing from every countertop, shelf, and hallway. If the kids get tired of wandering (ha!), there’s even a play space with brightly colored tubes and ball pits that run the length and height of the building.

After my visit to toy heaven, I returned to the public market for lunch: the countless options within close proximity make it an ideal place for a family meal. Among the long stretch of food stalls, I found a vegetarian Thali dish served on a tin plate (you get a $2 deposit back for returning it). Next to me, a toddler ate organic cheese and grapes bought a few isles down, and a little girl worked her way through a danish as big as her head.

Also on-island are restaurants, comedy clubs, art galleries, parks, and kayak and boat rentals. Talented street musicians perform most days, and kids can walk along the harbor watching the boats come in. It’s a wonderful way to either spend very little money or quite a lot while experiencing Vancouver.

Date last visited: June 13, 2011

Distance from downtown Vancouver: Two minutes by boat or bridge.

Admission: None, but passage on an Aquabus will cost $3.25 for adults and $1.75 for kids (one way) from the Hornby dock. No need to purchase ahead of time. (Full list of schedules and fares.)

Hours of operation: The island is open seven days a week, 9 am to 7 pm.

Directions: The Hornby dock is a 15-20 minute walk from most points in downtown Vancouver. (It took me 20 from Canada Place.) City bus routes can also get you there. If you opt to drive, the Granville Bridge is accessed by Granville Street.

Vancouver on Dwellable

Bear Lake State Park Rendezvous Beach

June 3, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Clear, turquoise-blue water. White sand beaches. Scuba diving, fishing, and wind surfing. Would you guess you’re in Utah? I wouldn’t! In fact, until I saw Bear Lake’s Rendezvous Beach for myself, I assumed the state park was exaggerating with its claim to be the ‘Caribbean of the Rockies’. But it’s no lie: right on the Utah-Idaho border near the touristy town of Garden City, weekend visitors (and weary travelers) will find a veritable paradise laid before them.

Rendezvous Beach is located at the south end of the lake near the aptly named town of Laketown. There you’ll find plenty of beach space, picnic areas, boat ramps, and facilities such as bathrooms and showers. Before reaching Laketown on Highway 30, however, other lake access is available, and visitors can be found parking along the side of the highway and enjoying day use along the shore from Garden City. We joined them, hoping to avoid the largest congestion. I’m not sure we succeeded: it was a busy summer day, and the beaches were crowded throughout the lake, but we enjoyed our location. With plenty of white sand, a wide eddy of water for young kids to play in, and shallow water well into the lake, it was a very safe and fun space for families. Note: bring an umbrella or other shelter; the one thing Bear Lake lacks is much natural shade!

We stopped at Bear Lake only long enough to take a swim and enjoy a picnic, but if you have more time to spend, many outdoor recreation opportunities abound. Rent water sport equipment, hire a fishing guide, or learn about area hikes.

Distance from the interstate: On Utah Hwy 30, right off well-traveled Highway 89. (Bear in mind that in the summer months, traffic can back up at Garden City, making for a slow final few miles to the beaches.)

Date last visited: July 2010

Admission fee: To visit Rendezvous Beach proper, you’ll be entering state park property, and an $8 per car admission will be enforced for day use. Other beach access along Highway 30 is free. (The $8 may be money well-spent for the use of facilities, however; there were no bathrooms along the shore elsewhere.

Hours: 8 am until 10 pm year-round.

Food services: Garden City offers plenty in the way of fast food, grocery stores, and small cafes and food stands. We suggest packing a picnic or BBQing on the beach!

Website:http://www.utah.com/stateparks/bear_lake.html

Directions: From I-15, take Highway 30 (89) south to Garden City. From

Kennedy Park, Helena MT

May 16, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’ve road tripped through Montana on a summer family vacation, you know that while beautiful, the state of Montana is vast…and often empty. Pit stops are sometimes scarce, which makes Kennedy Park (located on Harrison Avenue) in the heart of East Helena all the more attractive.

We loved the wide space of grass (the boys dug the soccer ball out of the car), the picnic areas, and the huge wooden fort structure. There were several shade canopies and plenty of shade. Best yet, unpack the swim suits, because this park has an exceptional city pool and water park attached.

The pool, called Memorial Park Swimming Pool, features a large water slide, splash pad, and spray area in addition to a full-sized pool.

Distance from the interstate: Five minutes

Date last visited: July 2010

Admission fee: None. Swimming pool admission varies.

Hours: Sunup to sunset. For pool hours, check the city’s recreation page.

Food services: None. Pack a picnic!

Website: None.

Directions: From I-15, take Highway 12 into East Helena. Turn left on First Street, right on Main, and left on Harrison.

Desert Botanical Garden

May 4, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona makes for the perfect pit stop or sun-filled family outing. (Or maybe I’m just suffering from a severe case of sun-envy here in Oregon!) But what makes Desert Botanical so great (in all seasons, but especially spring)? The new blooms, of course! In springtime, this 50 acre garden is positively alive with color, making for a beautiful contrast with its desert surroundings. What’s more, this Friday marks National Public Garden’s Day, during which entrance to Desert Botanical will be free of charge. No matter when you go, there are exhibits to explore, photography to admire, plenty of outdoor areas to play in and paths to walk, making for a great respite from the car or from the day’s usual grind.

Note: If you do go on Mother’s Day, get there in time for the Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch! It’s spendy, but Mom’s worth it, right?

Distance from the interstate: Ten minutes.

Admission fee: Adults: $15 Children: $5

Hours: 7am to 8pm, daily

Food services: None. Pack a picnic!

Website: http://www.dbg.org

Directions:The garden is located at 1201 N. Galvin, Phoenix, AZ. From I-10, take exit 147A to merge onto AZ-202 Loop E, then take exit 4 toward Van Buren St. Merge onto N. 52nd, then turn left onto E Van Buren St. Turn left onto N. Galvin Pkwy.

Stanton Park, Douglas County Oregon

April 22, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

This review of Stanton Park has been submitted by Pit Stops for Kids reader, Anne.

A regional park that is good for an hour’s respite from the car, the Stanton Park in Douglas County, Oregon has a day use area with a nice playground and big grassy area. It’s located on the banks of the Umpqua River in Canyonville, and includes a campground with immaculate toilets/showers. We were feeling frazzled and stopped (we thought) to use the restrooms but were lured into a hour of play with our frisbee and balls and on the playground. for more info, see the link to Stanton Park.

Distance from the interstate: Right off I-5.

Date last visited: March 2011

Admission fee: No admission fee for day use.

Website: http://www.co.douglas.or.us/parks/campgrounds.asp

Directions: The park is located at 1540 Stanton Park Road, Canyonville, Oregon. It’s easy to spot right off I-5 (visible to it, in fact). Take Exit 101. You have to do a little dipsy-doodle as you come off the interstate but it is well marked–you follow the signs to Stanton Park.