Parks or Natural Areas - Pitstops for Kids

Dominican Republic with kids: 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua

July 15, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Located in the countryside outside of Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic, the 27 Waterfalls of Damajuana is the most talked-about experience on the north side of the island. Is it worthy of the hype? In a word, yes.

What is the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua?

The 27 Charcos of Damajagua is exactly what it sounds like: 27 waterfalls in a row in the middle of the Dominican jungle. Unregulated until 2004, the waterfalls are now controlled by a private company thanks to Peace Corps volunteer Joe Kennedy (yes, of those Kennedys), and there’s quite the operation at the site. When you arrive, either by tour group or on your own, you’ll now find a dirt parking lot, tour booth, bathrooms and lockers, and outdoor dining area. Your group is paired with a guide from the falls, and you opt between navigating 27, 12, 7, or just one waterfall.

We wanted to do all 27, but the water level restricted us to 12. We went with Iguana Mama, and had a fun-loving guide, Raul. Our group of about 10 people were fitted with life vests and helmets (required), and we trekked almost two miles up a dirt trail. (The trail is around 3 km.) The youngest person in our group was eight, and the oldest was probably me, at age 40. The trail included steep wooden steps, rocks, and pretty severe inclines and declines, but overall was in good shape. The way was shaded as we hiked into the jungle canopy, and we were joined by a second guide, plus our guide who came with us from our cruise port.

When we reached the end of the trail to the 12 waterfalls (which took about 45 minutes), we climbed down another steep staircase and entered the river. In places, the water was only ankle deep, and in other places, over our heads. We began making our way back toward the ‘camp’ via the river, alternatively wading, swimming, jumping, sliding, and climbing in, over, under, and through the river. It was amazing.

At each of the 12 waterfalls, our guides would stop us and explain our options, which usually included leaping off a rock or outcropping into a deep pool of water below, sliding on our butts along naturally carved waterslides in the rock, or taking the ‘chicken’ way around waterfalls on questionable-looking ladders and staircases. Honestly, I think the most dangerous route was via those ladders!

Most of the time, I opted to jump (sometimes as much as 10 feet), but I also enjoyed sliding. The kids loved both options, and often, we’d climb back up ladders or ropes to do certain waterfalls a second time. There were groups ahead and behind us, which meant we had to keep to a schedule (see ’tips’ section below), but overall, we didn’t feel rushed. I don’t love heights, but I’m used to jumping off ledges, so the experience didn’t daunt me. If you REALLY don’t like heights, there are work-arounds for each waterfall, but they’re in the form of the aforementioned ladders, which, honestly, are just as scary.

In some places, you can swim underneath the waterfalls or explore partial caves carved out of the rock, and throughout the whole experience, the jungle canopy is above you, shading you and sheltering you. The sunlight cuts through gently (you don’t need sunglasses), and we didn’t find the hike or the swim to be buggy. The water is refreshing but not too cold.

The route down through the waterfalls took us about 1.5 hours, and afterward, we had a short hike back to the camp where we changed and had an included lunch of Dominican beans and rice, BBQed chicken, and a few kid pleasers like (oddly) spaghetti. Soda and rum and coke were included.

How to book a tour:

You can either arrive to the waterfalls on your own, taking a taxi from Amber Cove or an autobus from Puerto Plata, or you can book an excursion through Iguana Mama or Marysol Tours. The latter option is more expensive, but what you’re paying for is the convenience of the transportation (and the expensive gasoline required to make that happen). If you opt to arrive solo, you simply pay as you arrive (about $480 Dominican pesos for all 27), and guides are assigned to you on a first-come, first-served basis. This means you may have to wait a bit for the next guide.

Tips for the waterfalls:

Book a tour early in the day to play in the water with fewer crowds. This ensures you won’t wait for a guide if you’re going solo, either.
Bring waterproof shoes (like Keens or Chacos) or an old pair of sneakers to get wet.
Put on bug spray and sun screen ahead of time.
Keep everything but your waterproof camera on the bus or in a locker.

Cost:

We booked a tour through Iguana Mama, because we wanted the convenience of a port pick-up. Our tour included lunch and cost just over $50 US per adult. If you opt out of a tour, the cost is significantly less per person (around $10), but does not include transportation or lunch. We were quoted everything from $40-100 US for a cab ride for five people from Amber Cove. It IS possible to negotiate a flat rate from taxis on the highway.

How to get there:

If you go on your own, get up-to-date directions at 27charcos.com. More information is found here.

Driving the Creole Nature Trail in SW Louisiana

June 8, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

One of only a handful of All American Roads, the Creole Nature Trail runs in a loop of 180 miles, with numerous wildlife refuges, gulf beaches, and marshes along the way. Driving the Creole Nature Trail sounds like a lot of miles, but can easily be done in a day. It was the highlight of my trip to SW Louisiana.

Along the way, families will find wildlife refuges, beaches, piers, and even a local seafood diner, and view locals crabbing, fishing, and birding. The trail is located in rural Cameron Parish, where alligators far out number people, and during most of the drive, visitors will find themselves nearly alone in nature. There are 479 species of birds alone in Louisiana, and during our visit, we saw countless varieties, as well as alligators, porpoises, shore birds, turtles, and snakes.

How to plan your day driving the Creole Nature Trail:

Start at Adventure Point, a nature center located in Sulphur, just outside Lake Charles. Here, the helpful staff can give you a map and help you plan your route. You an also download the free app (search for ‘creole’ and it will pop right up.) Kids will learn more about the area’s eco-systems at several interactive displays at the center. For instance, you can try your hand at crabbing technique and ‘sample’ cajun foods via sniffing bottles. At Adventure Point, you’ll learn that there are few gas stations, restaurants, and bathrooms along the trail, and the staff can help you know where to stop!

You can access the trail from either Sulphur or Lake Charles, via I-10. Just follow the map given to you in the center. You can traverse it from either direction. We started in Lake Charles, so I’ll detail the best stops for the loop from that direction.

Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge:

At Cameron Prairie, stop at the visitor’s center to learn more about bird species in the area. The Creole Trail is located under two major flyways, which means there’s opportunity to see the many birds that migrate across the Gulf of Mexico, especially in spring and fall. Behind the center, there’s a boardwalk out onto the marsh to spot birds (look for the cardinal that takes up residence here). On the boardwalk in front of the center, look for turtles in the pond.

Hit the bathrooms here if needed, because there aren’t more for some time. Next, check out Pintail Wildlife Drive and Boardwalk, right nearby. This three mile gravel driving loop is the ideal place to spot alligators (you’re not allowed to bike or walk it due to the number of alligators here). There is, however, a half-mile boardwalk you can walk; we saw alligators and snakes up VERY close here.

Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours:

As you head along the trail after Cameron Prairie, you’ll be driving toward the Gulf. First, however, Grosse-Savanne Eco-Tours is worth a slight detour. The only activity along the trail that will have a fee, Grosse-Savanne offers two-hour boat tours with knowledgable local guides. Out on the water, we were able to see numerous birds and animals up close and personal, and had someone with us who could tell us what we were seeing.

As a photographer, I was in heaven; I must have shot hundreds of images of egrets, warblers, ducks, cranes, alligators, water snakes, and beautiful lily pads. We navigated the canals of both fresh and saltwater marshes slowly, taking time to stop in hidden coves to spy birds’ nests and alligator slides. Tours cost $75/pp for two hours, and I do highly recommend budgeting for this activity. (Bring sunscreen and bug spray.)

Lunch at T-Boy’s:

By this time, you’re going to be hungry. Stop at one of the only restaurants in Cameron Parish, T-Boy’s. This diner in Creole is located where you’ll turn right onto the gulf shore. It’s rough-around-the-edges, but very friendly, and serves authentic cajun meals. You’ll find the usual fried foods, such as fish and shrimp, but also po-boys, grilled seafood, burgers, and homemade potato salad. Kids can get grilled cheese, too. The ladies who run this place are energetic and welcoming.

Cameron Ferry:

Take the five-minute Cameron Ferry ($5 per car) across the water where Big Lake meets the coast. Let the kids out of the car for a few minutes, and be sure to look for porpoises in the bay. Apparently there’s one called Pinkie, due to her pink coloring. We didn’t see her, unfortunately!

Cameron Jetty or Holly Beach:

If you want to spend some time at the beach, stop at Cameron Jetty to watch fishermen and play on the sand, or head to Holly Beach (more scenic). Neither beach will be great for swimming or wading; the water of the Gulf here is almost brown due to nutrients found in it. However, it’s a good place to see shore birds, look for porpoises, and stretch the legs. (You’ll find public bathrooms at Jetty Pier.)

Sabine National Nature Refuge:

If you want to look for more birds in a more wooded setting, take a detour to see Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary, further out the coast. However, I was told it can be hard for amateur birders to see as much here. If you don’t have time for it, head north at Holly Beach instead, and head to Sabine. You can walk on more boardwalks here, and see song birds as well as more alligators.

Note: The visitors centers, beaches, and refuges are all free along the Creole Trail. You’ll only pay for gas, lunch, and $5 for the ferry. Of course, if you opt for the eco-tour, that will be an extra expense (recommended).

Directions:

Adventure Point is located at 2740 Ruth Street (exit 20) in Sulphur. The trail is accessed via I-10.

Guide to Villa Borghese with teens who want to do everything extreme

May 9, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We’re a very active family who spends significant time outdoors when we travel. In Rome, we noticed the lack of green spaces right away. Luckily, our apartment rental was located directly across the Tiber from Piazzo Popolo with an entrance to Villa Borghese. This sprawling green space and garden is Rome’s version of Central Park, and if you have active kids and teens who need to burn off energy, this is your place.

We visited Villa Borghese several times during our five days in Rome, using it as our backyard after mornings in museums and historical sites. Originally a private vineyard and most elegant villa in the city for the Borghese family, the park is technically a historical site in its own right, but we admit we didn’t take advantage of its Galleria Borghese or other museums. We were simply there to play.

From the Piazza Popolo entrance, you’ll head up a series of steep steps to enter the park at a beautiful overlook. This is, in our opinion, the place to watch the sunset over St. Peter’s dome. You’ll find a number of vendors in this wide space at the top, as well as fountains and paths that lead you further into the park. Younger kids will appreciate the free puppet shows at the little theater in this section, and this is also where you can rent bikes and pedal-powered go-karts.

Garden features like this one are featured amid all the touristy offerings. You’ll see a wide pedestrian bridge adjacent to the bike rental stands, which will lead you across a round-about (with some traffic) to the center of the park. Explore this area on wheels, or your feet will get tired! It’s huge. You’ll find another theater, this one with movies, touted as ‘the smallest cinema in the world’. I don’t know whether this is true, but it’s pretty tiny. It runs kids’ movies in the day and intellectual stuff like documentaries and foreign language films in the evenings. There’s a playground, several cafes, and many more gardens and fountains. In a second section, you’ll find a lake with boat rentals; we visited in winter, so this wasn’t a main draw for us.

Rent bikes, surreys, and go-karts:

The first thing we did was rent bikes so we could explore. Rental stands are plentiful, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one, no matter where you enter the park. At the time of our visit, rentals were approximately €7 per hour. We found one hour to be enough to ride around and get the lay of the land. On subsequent visits, we walked where we wanted to go. Go-kart and surrey rentals were similarly priced, with the exception of the four-person surreys, which were more. You leave your ID with the attendant when you rent (I gave my driver’s license, as my passport doesn’t leave my sight when possible) and pay when you return on time. The teens had a blast with the petal-powered go-karts…mostly, they played ’tag’ with them on the wide dirt paths around the park.

Rent Segways:

In Piazzo Popolo, you can rent Segways by the half hour or longer. You don’t need to go with a guide, and very little to no instruction is given. To the teens, this was awesome. Rentals were €10 for 30 minutes. We rented three (one for each kid). If you rent for longer, you can actually take them from the piazza up to the park, which we saw many families doing, but our budget only allowed for half an hour. The kids loved riding these around the piazza…while undoubtedly a touristy thing to spend money on, we considered it money well-spent. For a total of €30, three kids were in heaven. Like with the bike rentals, we were asked to leave an ID, and the kids were told ‘not to zig-zag and not to run into each other’. If seen doing either, they’d be given one warning, then taken off the Segway. Even though the kids hadn’t used Segways before, they’re easy to learn, and we had no problems until the moment we returned them, during which our 11-year-old ran into the back of our 16-year-old while distracted by the guy’s instructions for parking. He was sternly admonished. We were glad it hadn’t happened earlier.

Watch street performers with serious skills:

All over the park, street performers with various talents show off their skills. We enjoyed a pretty good roller blade demonstration and some great juggling. We heard some good music and some very bad music, then returned to watch the roller bladers in time to see some wince-inducing crashes by some amateurs. Either way, it was entertaining.

Buy a soccer ball or play at a playground:

For about €5 (though they’ll ask for ten, initially), many street vendors have cheap soccer balls for sale. We bought one at the beginning of our stay in Rome, and the boys used it in the park several times before giving it away to another child before we departed. You’ll find plenty of grass areas in which to start a game, and we found other kids joined in almost every time. In fact, when Calvin dribbled it around the city, about every other restaurant waiter standing outside their dining establishments jumped in to pass it around and start conversations with us. Money well spent!

What to eat:

There’s a sit-down cafe by the playground, plus many other carts and stands throughout the park. My favorite was by the round-about and pedestrian bridge. It had outdoor seating (heated in winter) and a crepe station. The espresso and chocolat caldo (hot chocolate) were excellent.

How to get there:

As noted above, we always entered from Piazza Popolo, but you can also enter above the Spanish Steps (we departed the park here once). There’s a metro station in both locations.

Exploring Shasta Cascade: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

April 4, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Northern California hosts wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities for families, from Lassen National Park to Mount Shasta hiking trails and ski areas. If you only have a day, and want a taste of the area’s lakes, trails, and mining history, head to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, just outside Redding, CA.

Whiskeytown is located just 20 minutes from I-5, and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t realize it was there for years! As residents of Southern Oregon with family in Northern California, we drive this stretch of I-5 regularly. We will now add stops at Whiskeytown more often. Here’s why:

Hiking trails and waterfalls:

We visited Whiskeytown in spring, the ideal time to hike to its many waterfalls. However, summer is still a great time to explore this aspect of the park, as the creeks provide excellent swimming holes. Whiskeytown boasts numerous hiking trails of various lengths. Below are our favorites for families:

Brandy Creek Falls: Brandy Creek is located an easy drive from the Whiskeytown visitor center on South Shore Drive, and is only 1.6 miles. You can go out and back and turn around earlier to make the hike shorter, if needed. The trail follows Brandy Creek, which has a series of smaller but beautiful cascading waterfalls, most of which result in tempting swimming holes. There are picnic spots along the way. In summer, this trail provides lots of shade, and I know it would be a good tucked-away spot to spend the day, provided you get there early enough to snag a spot!
Boulder Creek Falls: When Mill Creek Road is open (in the late spring and summer months), the trail to 138 foot Boulder Creek Falls is only one mile. You can also access a trail that ends at the falls via South Shore Drive, but the hike will be 2.75 miles.
Mill Creek Trail: This trail is over six miles, but the first mile takes families past a historic stamp mill, mine, and water ditch, which makes the walk very interesting. If you want to shorten it, just take an out-and-back approach, and stop when you’re ready.

Note: Watch for poison oak on all trails, during all times of year. It’s very active in this area.

Historic buildings and mining artifacts:

The Tower House Historic District at the top of the park is accessed via Highway 299 and features the homestead and mining claim of pioneering friends Charles Camden and Levi Tower. They made their fortune both in mining and in supporting others who came for mining, opening a hotel on the premises and stamp mill. You can tour through their orchards, Tower’s gravesite, the El Dorado Mine (on the Mill Creek Trail), and the hotel and homestead. The buildings are closed in winter, but open on select days for interior tours in summer.

Stop by the visitor center when you enter Whiskeytown to pick up a family guide to the Tower House Historic District. This single paper has talking points for families. It gives a basic itinerary for viewing the area, with suggested questions for parents to ask kids and suggested activities in the site.

After leaving Whiskeytown, be sure to take 30 minutes or so to stop at the historic town of Shasta. This historic state park on Highway 299 (between Whiskeytown and Redding) has the remains of mining era buildings to explore.

Creek and lake swimming:

If you’re visiting Whiskeytown during Redding’s hot summer months, there are four designated swimming beaches along the lake. Only Brandy Creek beach has lifeguards. We suggest taking one of the hiking trails to find a swimming hole a mile or so inland on foot…the crowds will be much smaller and the shade will be fantastic. There are multiple campgrounds within the park as well.

Admission fee:

There’s a $10 per car fee to enter the park, good for up to seven days. Pay this fee at the visitor center at the entrance. If it’s closed, there’s a self-serve fee station at the parking lot. Note: as a National Recreation Area, kids can get national park stamps at the visitor center, and participate in Junior Ranger programming.

Directions:

From Redding, Whiskeytown is on Highway 299, about 20 minutes from downtown. It’s an easy detour from I-5, but will be at least a half-day pit stop if you’re on a road trip.

Five family friendly activities in Sarasota

March 31, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

While a vacationing family may be perfectly satisfied with spending their entire vacation on the beach in Sarasota, a family that wants to dig deeper (or is considering Sarasota as their new home), will need to have knowledge of some of the more family-oriented activities in Sarasota and the surrounding areas. Even a vacationing family may want to get off of the beach for a while, especially during adverse weather conditions. Fortunately, Sarasota has plenty of family-centered activities to keep everyone busy.

Following are five of the top family-friendly activities in and around Sarasota

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

For families that are enamored by the vast variety of marine life in Florida, the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium offers the entire family the opportunity to come out and get their hands wet while meeting the sea lions. They will also have the opportunity to view some of the most extraordinary specimens of sea life anywhere.

South Lido Nature Park

For the family that is either tired of the water, or still attempting to get their sea legs, visiting the South Lido Nature Park will allow them to enjoy nature absent of the large body of water. They will be able to enjoy hiking along the nature trails. One of the highlights of visiting this park is the ability to view the water and the skyline at a distance, once they reach the end of the boardwalk. Some other attractions at this park are the mangroves and the trees in pairs that grow in this natural habitat.

Sarasota Jungle Garden

Families can visit the Sarasota zoo, where they will be able to pet and pose with a number of the animals. The kids will be able to feed the flamingos, as well as watch the lemurs at play. For the really adventurous kid, they can get up close and personal with a vulture.

Sarasota Opera

When it comes to the refined cultural arts, Sarasota is not lacking. There is always some type of Opera event taking place, such as the Barber of Seville and the Flying Dutchman. So, after a day at the park or the beach, the family can get dressed up and head out to the opera.

Kids Komedy Club at Florida Studio Theatre

The Kids Komedy Club is an event at the Florida Studio Theatre in which kids perform comedic sketches that they write themselves. It is a great opportunity for the entire family to enjoy unending laughter.

While Sarasota boasts some beautiful beaches, there is so much more to the city. For the vacationing family, or for the family that will be making this beautiful city their home, there will not be one dull moment.

Lara Adams recently relocated her family to Florida for her job in real estate. She writes on the subject in her spare time in the hope of helping others.

Photo credit.

Shasta Cascade pit stop: Turtle Bay Exploration Park

February 29, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’ve taken I-5 on a west coast road trip, chances are you’ve driven right through Redding, California. We had passed through numerous times before we had the opportunity to stop and check out this Northern California town. If you’re looking for a place to stop with kids, it’s a great choice! The Sacramento River runs through town, offering plenty of opportunity for families to cool off in summer. In the winter, it rarely gets too cold here. The best place to stop within Redding with access to the river is Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

This sprawling indoor and outdoor park is home to a natural history and science museum, botanical gardens, live animal exhibits, butterfly gardens, and walking trails. Young kids will find playgrounds and interactive exhibits, and older kids will love the miles of trail.

Families enter the park via the parking area by the Sundial Bridge. It’s worth letting the kids stretch their legs on this bridge first; it’s pedestrian only, and visually interesting with a tinted glass floor and sundial feature. Afterward, head to the Turtle Bay park entrance and museum, and explore the indoor exhibits. We loved the aquarium with fish from the Sacramento River, the mining exhibits explaining the area’s rich mining history, and the river lab, with information about watersheds and the nearby Shasta Dam.

The museum does a great job incorporating local landmarks, such as Lake Shasta, into its educational exhibits on water and land management.

Don’t miss the temporary exhibits, tucked a bit out of sight in the museum’s Exploration Hall and Art Gallery room. During our visit in the early spring of 2016, they were featuring an interesting Charles Schulz exhibit called Peanuts…Naturally, and an interactive maze-type exhibit on the water cycle in which kids can pretend they’re a raindrop and spin wheels to determine their fate. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

Outdoors, the Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp is a huge area with winding trails leading to animal enclosures, play areas, and outdoor exhibits. Be sure to grab a program and look for daily shows and demonstrations on offer. Our crew enjoyed the creek water feature at Stipple Creek, where they could create dams and watch a water wheel turn, and the Mill Building, which houses reptiles. The bird exhibits in crude hawks, golden eagles, and magpies, among others. I enjoyed seeing red and gray foxes and a bobcat. By far, our son Tobias’ favorite exhibit was the Parrot Playhouse, where he could feed nectar to lorikeets (bring $1).

Dining at Turtle Bay:

There’s a small gift shop and coffee shop attached to the museum, but while it has some snack type items, you’re best off bringing your own picnic lunch. There are numerous places to eat outdoors, and Redding is almost always warm enough for this. Find a place along the paths by the river, or find shade at the tables outside the coffee shop.

Lunch in Redding:

If you’re not bringing a picnic lunch into the Turtle Bay area, we suggest one of the following two excellent lunch spots for families, only 5-10 minutes from Turtle Bay and the Sundial Bridge:

Wilda’s Grill: This small restaurant has limited indoor seating and some nice patio seating, but the main draw is the great food! Choose between their Buddha bowl (rice and veggies with tofu or chicken), their falafel, or their gourmet hot dog options. Either way, be sure to get their ‘hot mess’ instead of fries: this side order consists of all Wilda’s side dish offerings in one, including sweet potato fries, french fries, onion rings, and cheese and chili fries! I loved the Buddha bowl, and the others each tried a hot dog entree. Located at 1719 Placer Street, Redding.

Carnegie’s: Carnegie’s is a local favorite, with hearty sandwiches, soups, and craft beer on tap. It’s located adjacent to Wilda’s, and often gets crowded at lunch. Take this as a good sign, as we did, and enjoy! Located at 1600 Oregon Street, Redding.

In the area:

From the same parking area, you can access miles of walking and biking trails, especially along the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail. We didn’t see a bike rental shop in the Turtle Bay area, but it would do a brisk business if it existed…this area is perfect for a family bike ride. After crossing the Sundial Bridge, you can pick from several riverwalk trails. If you bring your own bikes, even better. In the summer, Redding gets very hot, so plan to stay close to the river to cool off as needed.

Note: there is currently some construction going on in the area behind Turtle Bay, as they build a Sheraton hotel. It didn’t impact our visit, but families should be aware.

Admission and hours:

Turtle Bay Exploration Park admission is $16 for adults (16 and up) and $12 for kids. Children under age 4 are free. On the 5th and 10th of each month, Turtle Bay hosts ‘Nickel and Dime Days’, in which admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. By far the best deal, if you think you’ll find yourself passing through even a handful of times a year, is a family membership for $80/year. Check here for current hours.

Directions:

Turtle Bay is located at 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, about five minutes from I-5.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we were hosted at Turtle Bay Exploration Park for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.

Ecotourism activities in Costa Rica: Nature parks and lodging

December 17, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

The Republic of Costa Rica is a rough and tropical rain forested Central American country, with a population of around 4.5 million. The country is popular for nature travel destination among the tourist because of its rich flora and fauna, beaches and volcanoes. Costa Rica has the highest population of plants and animals species on earth.

There are around 26 nature parks, 8 biological reserves, 32 protected zones, 11 forest reserves, 58 wildlife refuges, 15 wetlands in Costa Rica (source: Costa Rica National Parks) which is home to 850 type of bird species, 237 mammal species, 1,260 tree species, 1,200 orchid species, and 361 reptile and amphibian species. Because of the rich wildlife, ecotourism activities in Costa Rica are one of the popular and key activities of the tourism industry which attracts large crowd of tourist to this country. As ecotourism is a major source of income; the country has very strict environmental policies, to safe guard the environment. Government also implemented special programs like Bandera Azul Program (Ecological Blue Flag) and Voluntary Certification Program to evaluate and maintain sustainable tourism with the conservation of the environment.

Ecotourism activities in Costa Rica provides a combination of luxury and adventure activities, which includes visits to rich wildlife to experience flora and fauna, visiting volcanoes, hiking, river rafting, bird watching, whale watching, canopy tours, horse riding, bungee jumping, surfing and snorkeling are some of the few mentions. You can also visit to the local coffee plantations and visits to the local communities to know more about their culture. In Costa Rica you will experience rainforest, volcanoes, beaches, wetlands and caves all at one place. These activities are not only for fun and leisure but also take you closer to the nature and help you understand the natural life more properly.

Top 5 nature parks in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park (Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio)

A small national park established in 1972 near Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Although smallest of all Costa Rican natural parks, the park is among the most beautiful natural parks in the world. It covers an area of around 680 hectares. About 150,000 tourists visit this park annually. Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses tropical rain forest, white sand beaches and coral reefs. Although the park is smallest of all in Costa Rica, the diversity of wildlife is immense. This park is home of is 109 mammal species and 184 bird species. Brown-throated three-toed sloth, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth and white-headed capuchin monkey are the major feature of this park.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park ( Parque Nacional Volcán Rincón de la Vieja)

A national park situated in the Guanacaste province of the northwestern part of Costa Rica. This 34,800 acre national park is a combination of active volcanoes and tropical forests with naturally heated pools, mud fumaroles and beautiful waterfalls. Rincón de la Vieja, Santa María and dormant volcano Cerro Von Seebach are the volcanoes in this national park. The park is rich of flora and fauna which include species like pumas, jaguar, monkeys-howler, spider, and white-faced-kinkajous, sloths, and tapirs.

Isla del Coco (Cocos Island)

An uninhabited island declared as a protected national park, situated in Pacific Ocean around 550 kms from Costa Rica. Cocos Island is the only oceanic island in Pacific region with such a dense rainforests and diverse flora and fauna. Because the island is never linked to the continent, the island is home of endemic species. There are around 230 species of plants, 400 species of insects, 90 bird species and rich marine fauna with a large population of yellow fin tuna, giant mantas, sailfish and sharks such as white tip reef shark, scalloped hammerhead shark and the whale shark. About 3200 of tourists visits this park annually. One of the major attractions of this park is the rich underwater world, ideal for scuba diving.

Corcovado National Park (Parque Nacional Corcovado)

A national park established in 1975 situated on Osa Peninsula in south eastern part of Costa Rica covering a 42,400 hectare of area. It’s the largest park in Costa Rica, with intense and richest bio diversity in the world. The park is open for day and overnight visits (with professional guides) for tourists. This park is home to abundance of wildlife like, scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, Central American squirrel monkey, mantled howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, pumas, white faced capuchin monkeys, woodpeckers, hermit crabs and pelicans just to name some few.

Tortuguero National Park

This is third most visited national park, which is situated in the northeastern part of the Costa Rica, reached only by airplane or boat. It covers an area of 31173 hectare. This national park is a protected area because of its bio diversity and eco system, which supports endangered species of flora and fauna. The park is located in a tropical climate, which includes rain forests, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. This national park has a long beach nearly 35 kilometers, which serve as protective nesting ground for the sea turtles which is the main attraction. This park consist of around 400 species for trees and 2200 species of plants and fauna species like, sea turtles (hawksbill, loggerheads, green, and leatherbacks), bull shark, eel and 30 species of freshwater fish.

Where to Stay in Costa Rica

Apart from the ecological activities, Costa Rica is also famous for the ecofriendly resorts. As the government in the country have very strict environmental rules. Every resort in the country has to go through CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism) program. Under this program, the resort has to be made and run in such a way that they have minimum impact on the nature. Some of the key parameters which all the resorts have to maintain is recycling products, implementation of water and energy saving devices, proper disposal of the waste and conservation and expansion of Costa Rica’s forests.

These ecofriendly resorts are built very close to the nature, far from the towns, which gives the visitors a direct access to the natural outdoor. Tourists can very easily hike through the trails from the resort property to the surrounding forests, hill sides and beaches. As they are situated in isolated locations, they are dependent on solar and wind power for electricity and grow their own food with the help of the local people. These resorts are less fancy and no that much luxurious in comparison of the regular resorts, but definitely they provide accommodation in places like these, which is hard to find mostly. Also the Costa Rican food available in eco lodges is very organic, tasty and fresh. Still some of these are providing luxury rooms, villas and bungalows with AC and WIFI facilities.

Not only the stay, the activities offered in Costa Rica resorts is numerous and also very popular, which includes day and night tours to the wild life, hiking tours, horse-back riding tours, tours to the natural hot springs with local eco-guides, volcano views from observation towers, visits to herbal farms, bird watching, dolphin, whale-watching and adventure activities like mountain bike rides, canopy zip line tours, sport fishing, white-water river rafting, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking and scuba diving. Also the resort helps you to properly schedule your activities and tours for you. So if experiencing nature is your priority travel goal in Costa Rica, these eco lodges will be your priority spots for stay. Here are some popular eco-friendly Costa Rica resorts, Lapa Rios, Luna Nueva Lodge, La Cusinga Lodge, Bosque Del Cabo, Danta Corcovado Lodge, Costa Rica Tree House Lodge, Cerro Escondido and Rara Avis Rainforest Lodge and Reserve.

Fall pit stop: Upper Rogue River Trail

November 18, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

The Upper Rogue Trail outside of Prospect, Oregon offers several starting points for beautiful hiking in Southern Oregon. In the perfect location if you’re traveling to or from Crater Lake National Park or Bend, Oregon, this ‘off the beaten track’ pit stop takes you through scenic woodlands and stunning river views. Best of all, the weather is ideal in late fall.

Take the trail downstream for rockier vistas and steeper grades, or the trail upstream for a more moderate hike through dense forest. We went this way, and in several places, the river was accessible (which the dog loved!). Watch the current; its best to let kids enjoy the river from the sandy banks. Both trails continue for 3+ miles, so you may want to turn around prior to the end or take two cars to avoid back-tracking (the upper trail ends at the River Bridge Campground on Forest Road #6210). On the lower trail, we turned at about the 2 mile mark, and the kids had no problem with the moderate terrain.

Date last visited: October 2009

Distance off the interstate: A few miles off Highway 62.

Hours and Admission Prices: None.

Bathrooms: None. The nearby River Bridge Campground is your best option when it’s accessible in the summer months.

Food Services: Hands down your best option: Beckie’s, known for their fresh berry pies. Located just a bit further down the road at 56484 Highway 62. Call for hours: 541-560-3563.

Website: This one gives a fairly good overview of the upper hike and general driving directions.

Directions: From Prospect, travel north on Highway 62 and turn off at the sign for the Woodruff Bridge Picnic Area (Forest Service Road 68). Proceed under 2 miles to the picnic area. The actual address is 47201 Highway 62, Prospect, Oregon.

Bonus Pit Stop! Six miles south of the Upper Rogue Trail, also directly off Highway 62, is Mill Creek Falls and the Avenue of the Boulders. Only a half mile walk, this is a good option if you have less time (and affords stunning views!).

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

November 9, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Just 20 minutes from the bright and bustling Las Vegas strip, Red Rock Canyon can be a welcome respite from the crowds, especially in the spring or fall. (If visiting in summer, try to make it a morning expedition.)

Start at the visitor’s center, located at the start of the scenic loop drive. The Canyon Interpretive Association puts on occasional classes and programs, so check when you arrive. After orienting yourself to this large conservation area, hop in the car and start the loop drive, which takes you through red rock formations and canyon vistas. Families will find numerous locations to stop and take a trail. For young children, your best bet is the Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail.

Families with school-aged kids may want to try our favorite trail, Pine Creek. Located just two miles from the end of the scenic loop, Pine Creek starts with a decline into the canyon bottom and past the site of a historic settler’s cabin (just the foundation remains). After about a mile, the trail starts to incline, taking hikers along shaded Pine Creek. This creek is flowing year-round, and is lined with greenery including trees and ferns. It’s truly a special grotto in the heart of the desert! The entire trail is about three miles out-and-back, or there are numerous additional trails that stem from the same trailhead for more options.

Tip: be sure to look up…this canyon is well-known by rock climbers, and families may spot a few on the cliffs above.

Date last visited: October 2015

Distance off the interstate: 15 minutes from I-15.

Hours and Admission Prices: Hours are from dawn to dusk. Fees are by vehicle ($20 for an annual pass).

Bathrooms: Several along the Children’s Discovery Trail, pit toilets at trailheads

Website: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Directions: From I-15, take exit 34 to merge onto Bruce Woodbury Beltway/Clark County 215 W. Take exit 26 for Charleston Blvd, then turn left at W Charleston Blvd. Continue onto Charleston Bl/NV-159 W. Turn right.

Best Mountain Towns: Breckenridge Colorado

October 26, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Yes, Breckenridge, Colorado could certainly fall into Pit Stops for Kids’ Best Ski Towns category; however, this resort town truly is a four-season destination. While it’s best known for winter sports, Breckenridge shines in the warmer months as well, boosting hiking, rafting, biking, and lots of storied history.

Here’s what to do with kids and without in Breckenridge, truly a Best Mountain Town.

For all ages:

Hiking: The Tenmile Range, plenty of 14-ers, and a network of in-town hiking trails give families an entire vacation’s worth of hiking at their fingertips. We love that parents with young kids can access trails like the Burro Trail directly from Main Street in town, whereas serious hikers will be quite challenged at higher elevations. See our entire post on hiking in Breckenridge with kids.

Shopping and eating: Always important activities on a vacation, shopping and dining options abound on Breckenridge’s Main Street and the blocks surrounding. Read our post on where to eat in Breckenridge, and be sure to take the time to walk along the Blue River Rec Path, taking in the fall colors in autumn and enjoying the snow in winter.

Skiing: Of course, Breckenridge Ski Resort is omnipresent in and around town. The peaks of this world class resort span across the town, and lift access is available at multiple points (making many lodging choices ski-in, ski-out. In addition to downhill skiing, Breckenridge’s hiking trails become snow shoe and nordic ski trails in winter. Pick up rental equipment at any one of a vast number of sporting goods stores in town.

Bike riding: There are miles of mountain bike trails around town (more on that below) but for families who don’t want to tackle this extreme sport, the Recreational Bike Path is paved, and connects Breckenridge with Frisco and even Keystone. Families can rent bikes and trailers and spend a day on the path. A rec bike path also winds through town, adjacent to the Blue River. Family tip: For families that pedal together, take a ride from the gate along Boreas Pass Road. It’s an old railroad grade, so the climb is mellow and you’ll see incredible views not far from where you start. The best part? It’s all downhill back to the car.

Historical tours and sites: Everywhere you go in Breckenridge, you’re surrounded by early settler and mining history. Families can see remnants of mining on the area’s trails: an easy hike on the short but beautiful Reiling Drudge Trail boosts an actual drudge and hydraulic mining area, and a longer, steeper hike on the Spruce Creek loop yields mining cabins and an old bull wheel.

Tip! Kids and adults will love the zipline and Gold Runner Coaster at the Fun Park. For history on the town, families can participate in gold mine tours and try their hand at gold panning. There’s also an array of outdoor activities for families to enjoy including, full moon rafting, summer dog sledding, fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding and more.

In town, stop at the Breckenridge Welcome Center on Main Street to tour an excellent and free museum on the town’s mining history. Next, go to the Edwin Carter Discovery Center, where kids learn about one of the area’s first naturalists, and the Barney Ford Victorian Home, also both free. The latter offers a living history tour of the home of Barney L. Ford, an escaped slave who made his fortune in the West. His is an inspiring story for both kids and parents (one tidbit: his mother stole a dictionary for him, hoping it would lead to a better life). There’s also a schoolhouse replica in his home.

If you have school-aged kids, consider booking a walking tour with the Heritage Alliance. Tours are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, and take about an hour and a half. Our guide taught us about the historical buildings in town we didn’t even realize were of significance, and toured us through two 1880s homes not open to the general public. It was absolutely interesting and relevant to kids of about eight and up. See all tours offered.

Check out the Country Boy Mine, just outside of downtown, to tour an actual mine shaft and learn about mining conditions for miners in the late 1800s. Best for older kids who are not afraid of the dark!

For families with young kids:

Be sure to take time while walking along Main Street to play at the small but inventive playground at the River Walk and River Walk Square. In summer, kids can wade in the Blue River here, too, jumping between the stones. The Breckenridge Mountain Top Children’s Museum sits adjacent to the ski village, within easy walking distance of Main Street, and is a good option during bad weather.

For families with older kids:

Rent mountain bikes if you’re family is comfortable on trails, and use Breckenridge’s excellent trail network. Trails are rated green, blue, and black, just like on the ski slopes, and are well-marked. Bike rentals can be found throughout town; we opted for Avalanche Sports. We love that you can ride directly from the rental shops (or your lodging) to the trails, but there are also trailheads with parking lots if you’re coming from further afield. Here are my favorites:

Lower Flume: Access the Lower Flume trail directly from town via the recreational bike path (more on that below). From the Breckenridge Recreation Center, follow the path out of town to where it connects with Lower Flume. Or, follow Main Street down to the 7-Eleven, turn right, and access from the recycling center.
Betty’s Trail: Find this intermediate trail right off Reiling Road. It’s just under one mile, and parallels the road most of the way (you won’t get disoriented). While it goes up and down, it’s not too rocky, though you’ll want to take care on the sharp turns.
Turk’s Trail and Reiling Drudge Trail: Further up Reiling, a parking lot offers access to a wider network of trails, including intermediate Turk’s and easy (and short) Reiling Drudge. Turk’s has quite the incline and tends to be rocky, but intermediate to advanced riders will love that it connects to more in the blue category, or can be looped with easy B&B.The Reiling Drudge Trail is fun because of the historical plaques marking remnants of mining history in the area.
XLOU8: My favorite intermediate trail I experienced, XLOU8 can be accessed from the same Reiling Drudge parking lot, and connects to Minnie Mine trail. It’s up and down, fairly free of rocks, and has an interesting mine to ride past.
Pence Miller: This intermediate trail can be accessed directly from Mountain Thunder Lodge via a short access trail. It winds above the resort area at the bottom section of the ski runs.

If you go:

Many families visiting Breckenridge in the summer months rent a car, but if you are flying in and out of Denver and the Breckenridge area is your only stop, a car is not necessary. We like to take Colorado Mountain Express to and from the airport (there’s WiFi onboard, so I can get work done on the drive) and once in town, we can access all hiking and biking via foot or with the Breckenridge Free Ride shuttle, which runs year-round!

Do you love Breckenridge? What time of year do you visit?