Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

October 28, 2010 By

There are few places as stunning as the California Redwoods.

The summer tourist crowds have left beautiful Northern California, leaving near-empty (and ever inviting) state parks and recreation areas behind. If you’re looking to take an off-season road trip or family weekend getaway this autumn, consider a stay (or day trip) in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

We love this state park (located right along Highway 199 and not far from Highway 101 and the coast) for its unsurpassed beauty, spacious campsites hidden away under towering redwoods, fun hiking trails, and proximity to both wooded terrain and the rugged Pacific. Our favorite activity: walking the shores of Smith River and wading in the chilly water!

But this fall, there’s another reason to pack up the car and visit a California State Park: budget cuts have put the state park system at risk. On November 2nd, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on a proposition that will make a significant difference for California State Parks, while at the same time giving Californians greater opportunities to explore California’s natural wonders. Proposition 21 adds an $18 vehicle license fee for all vehicles registered in the state of California. In return, California drivers will receive free unlimited day use admission to the California State Parks. This is huge! Imagine if every state offered such a perk to its residents!

Learn more about Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park here.

One of many ‘tucked away and out of sight’ campsites at Jed Smith!

Date Last Visited: August 2010

Distance off the interstate: Nine miles from Hwy 101 (the CA/OR coast), and approximately 1.5 hours from I-5.

Hours: Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.

Camping: JSR State Park offers camping, and the easiest way to reserve a spot is through their online system at Reserve America. If you want to spend time on the coast as well, consider staying an extra night in a yurt at nearby Harris Beach State Park in Oregon. If you are coming from I-5, your whole family will love adding a night in a tree house at Out ‘N About Treesort in Cave Junction, Oregon!

Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413

Directions: Nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199. If you’re coming from I-5, take the Redwoods Highway exit at Grants Pass, then follow Hwy 199 to JSR State Park!

 

Out ‘N About Treesort

October 6, 2010 By

Hanging out in the trees in the Swiss Family tree house!

Last weekend, the Pit Stops for Kids crew had the opportunity to stay in one of the most unique locations we’ve ever experienced: a tree house high in the air! At Out ‘N About Treesort near Cave Junction, Oregon, guests have their pick of one of 15 tree houses, elevated yurts, cabins, and tree ‘gazebos’ in which to spend the night. Each one is different, offering different views, different features, and different amenities (or as they say there, ‘amenitrees’).

It only took us approximately ten minutes to reach the resort from Highway 199 (which runs between I-5 and the Oregon coast), or 40 minutes from I-5. When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly resort staff and shown around the beautiful property of mountain meadows, sugar pine trees, pasture, and hillside. It didn’t take us long to realize that Out ‘N About is all about making guests feel at home: in addition to the main lobby with couches, games, TV, freshly brewed coffee, and wireless, a ‘Central Amenitrees’ cabin is situated adjacent to a communal fire pit housing a full kitchen for guest use, a spacious bathroom with shower for those guests without plumbing in their tree house, and numerous BBQs, dishes, wood, charcoal, and the like.

Exploring the rope bridges at Out ‘N About!

Further exploration of the resort yielded elevated tree platforms, rope bridges high in the air, a rope swing the kids couldn’t get enough of, stables, an expansive zip line course, and a swimming hole beautifully landscaped and fed by the nearby Illinois River. Put simply: this is kid paradise.

Of course, we were anxious to see our tree house. We stayed in the ‘Swiss Family’ complex, which comfortably slept the five of us in two distinct tree house cabins: the upper two-story adult unit has a double bed along with a child size single and rocking chair on the landing and large covered open deck below. ‘The kids’ unit, connected by a swinging bridge, has a bunk bed and a small table with chairs like the playhouse all kids want. We used the bathroom facilities in the ‘Central Amenitrees’ (only 75 feet away), but had electricity and heat.

The older two kids loved having their own ‘place’ connected by the bridge, and Toby was more than happy to curl up on the cozy bench bed in the main unit. And while this was a tree house in the truest sense of the word (we had to climb a ladder to enter our unit by a trap door), it was comfortable and all our needs were met: fresh towels and sheets awaited us, and we had plenty of warm blankets to accompany our heater. We even had a fridge and the kids had a fire pole to shimmy down to the ground! (See more photos of the tree houses and even virtual tours of the interiors!)

Bridge from the Swiss Family kid suite to the main complex and lower deck.

Date Last Visited: October 2, 2010

Distance from the Interstate: 40 minutes from I-5.

Room Rates: Tree house rates range from $120-$250 per night.

Dining Options: ‘Central Amenitrees’ is stocked with everything you need to cook or BBQ a meal (minus the food), and breakfast is served daily (included in the price of your tree house). We found the breakfast to be delicious (in fact, the kids went back for a ‘second breakfast’ about an hour later!). Completely homemade, during our stay we had our pick of quiches, egg dishes, french toast, muffins, fresh fruit, and cereal. If you want to dine elsewhere for lunch or dinner, nearby Cave Junction offers several choices. Our pick: Wild River Pizza on Hwy 199.

Calvin listens to final instructions before zipping across the meadow.

Activities: There’s plenty to do at Out ‘N About. In addition to simply letting your kids have the run of the place (kids under 8 need to be with an adult while exploring), families can sign up for a number of activities and classes on the grounds, all listed daily in the main lobby. During our visit, horseback rides were offered, in addition to a mosaics and felting class and the activity my kids were most looking forward to: the zip-line.

Out ‘N About has an extensive network of zip-lining courses on their property, designed to put a smile on the face of both novices and experts. We signed up for their ‘Basics Course’, which gave us five long zip-line experiences over the meadow and through the trees. The zip-lines soared over 70 feet over the ground in some places, and we had an absolute blast zipping from tree platform to tree platform high in the air.

The Out ‘N About zip line staff were professional, capable, and very friendly, putting the kids (and us) instantly at ease and making the afternoon all the more fun. We felt very safe in their hands as they suited us up in harnesses and taught us the basics on a practice line. Even Toby (only 35 pounds) was able to join the fun (and had a blast!). After completing the Basics Course, guests have the option of more zip-lining fun on their more advanced lines.)

Toby soars through the air!

Zip-lining starts at $45 per person, and you don’t have to be a guest to give it a try. If you are driving along Hwy 199 and have a few hours to spare, it’s well worth the pit stop! (Call ahead to reserve a spot!)

Other Attractions in the Area: There’s a lot to do in Southern Oregon, from swimming in the Illinois River in the summer to picking blackberries in the fall. We combined our stay at Out ‘N About with a day trip to Oregon Caves National Monument, located approximately 20 miles away on OR-46. Check out our review of Oregon Caves and consider making it a stop!

Website: http://www.treehouses.com/

Phone: 541-592-2208

Directions: Out ‘N About is located at 300 Page Creek Road, Cave Junction OR. From I-5, take Grants Pass exit 55. Take Hwy 199 28 mi. to Cave Junction. South of Cave Junction about 1/2 of a mile, take a left on Rockydale Road. Go 7.5 miles to the stop sign at Waldo Road and make a left. About a mile to next stop sign, make a right on Takilma Road. In 2.5 miles you will see Page Creek Road on the left; turn left and go about 1/4 mile. You will see mail boxes and 300 Page Creek Rd. Turn left on gravel road and take it to the end.

From the south on HWY 199, turn right just past the flashing light and old cop car at the O’Brien store onto O’Brien st. O’Brien street dead ends on Waldo Rd. Take a right onto Waldo Rd. Stay on Waldo for about 4 miles until you hit the stop sign at Takilma Rd. Make a right on Takilma Road, and in 2.5 miles you will see Page Creek Road on the left. Turn left and go about 1/4 mile; you will see mail boxes and 300 Page Creek Rd. Turn left on gravel road and take it to the end.

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Out ‘N About generously compensated us for the price of our rooms and my zip lining adventure. While we greatly appreciate their hospitality, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Dreams Punta Cana Resort and Spa

August 31, 2010 By

Beach-side luxury at Punta Cana.

Playas Uvero Alto
Provincia La Altagracia
Dominican Republic

This review was submitted by Lindsay Aycan of Toronto, Ontario, who traveled to Punta Cana with her husband and two kids in July 2010.

Punta Cana Resort and Spa, an all-inclusive property owned by Dreams, is located in the Dominican Republic, situated next to both the tropical jungle and the ocean. Recently named the Best Family Friendly Resort and Best Pool in the Caribbean at the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards, Punta Cana Resort offers luxury to adults and fun to kids, and just lots of sunshine to traveling families who want a mixture of relaxation and adventure on their vacation.

Punta Cana is extremely kid-oriented, from their friendly Explorer’s Club staff to their accommodations for infants and toddlers to their family-friendly spa (girls love to get their hair braided!). In the evenings, they literally give kids the stage for performances while adults eat. All-inclusives have their pros and cons, but in the pro list is definitely the lack of stress that comes from not worrying over meals and menus (and their prices). All meals, almost all resort activities, pools, and amenities are included. Excursions off-site are offered, but Aycan and her family never left the property; with young kids and so much to do on-site, they felt no pressing need to leave.

Rooms offer families a lot of space.

Rooms are standard-sized or suite-style, and room service is offered 24 hours a day, a big plus for families who like to eat dinner early, as the restaurants don’t open for seating until 6:30 pm. Each room has a porch or patio and free internet access (although the Aycans had difficulty with the code that was supposed to connect it).

Their favorite resort feature was the free-form, resort-length pool (with lots of zero-depth entry sections), perfect for young kids. Rafts and floaties are provided at the pool areas, and kids love the help-yourself ice cream cone and popcorn stations.

There are seven restaurants within the resort, two of which are adult-only (more details here), but the Aycan family spent most of their mealtimes at the World Cafe, where the kids especially loved the “make-your-own crepes” and pizza. There’s also a drop-off kids’ club (one for little ones, one for teens) called the Explorer’s Club, and an infant space for those under three located right next to the beach with indoor and outdoor place areas, a wading pool, and diaper changing stations (not supervised; parents stay with child).

The free-form pool is perfect for families.

Note: There were a few bumps along the way during the Aycan’s stay. One aspect of the resort that bothered them was the intrusiveness of the lawn maintence which continued throughout the day, sometimes with very noisy equipment, and very close to the pool (some grass in the pool as a result). They were also without hot water in their room for the first day, which was resolved (though not as quickly as they’d like).

Date Last Visited: July 2010

Room Rates: Resort stays vary by length and number in your party. Check their site for booking information.

Website: http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drepc/index.html

Phone Reservations: (809) 682-0404

Courtyard by Marriott Portland/Beaverton

August 30, 2010 By

Courtyard by Marriott Beaverton

8500 S W Nimbus Drive
Beaverton, Oregon

The Courtyard by Marriott in Beaverton makes for a nice, centralized home base while exploring the Portland area. While we’d normally stay downtown and take advantage of the MAX system, if you plan to visit the suburbs as well as the city center, Beaverton is a good option.

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We had a mixed bag of service at this location. Prior to arrival, I was given incorrect information about the type of room we had reserved (I was told a roll-away bed could fit, when in fact it couldn’t). Had I been given the correct information, I would have known to bring extra bedding for one child, or upgraded to a larger room (none were available at check-in). Note: Unless you upgrade to a large suite, families of five cannot be  accommodated.

The rooms are on the small side, but clean, and we liked that one of the beds converted into a couch for extra floor space during the day. The indoor pool/hot tub area was large and a great place to spend the morning hours as we waited for the Portland fog to clear. There’s also a nice exercise facility and free wifi both in-room and in their large business center off the lobby.

Date Last Visited: August 2010

Distance from the Interstate: 15 minutes from I-5.

Room Rates: Rates range from $89 to $135, with many online and seasonal deals. Be sure to check what’s available!

Dining Options: The hotel offers a buffet breakfast in their on-site cafe, which regularly charges $10 per person, but is included at no extra cost for most room rates. This is not advertised, however, so be sure to ask at check-in whether your room qualifies. If so, it’s a great deal, with a very good variety of hot and cold breakfast items. If not, I’d walk across the street to the collection of fast food restaurants (including a good bagel place and a Starbucks) instead of paying $10 a person.

Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pdxcy-courtyard-portland-beaverton/

Directions: From I-5, take the 217 Beaverton/Tigard Hwy. At Exit 4, take ramp and follow signs for SR-210/Scholls Fy. Road. From Scholls Fy, turn left onto SW Hall. Turn left onto Nimbus.

Inn at Otter Crest

July 23, 2010 By

Inn at Otter Crest

301 Otter Crest Loop Road
Otter Rock, OR

This pit stop submitted by Pit Stops for Kids reader Renea. Thank you for your support of Pit Stops for Kids, Renea!

Touted as ‘a place to play on the Oregon coast’, the Inn at Otter Crest is comprised of condominium-style accommodations right on the Pacific in a perfect location for family fun.

A 35-acre forested complex located between Lincoln City to the north and Newport to the south, visitors to The Inn at Otter Crest have miles of beaches, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, hiking trails, and dining and shopping at their fingertips.

When booking, families can choose between traditional hotel rooms and suites and mini-suites. There’s a heated pool and hot tub (seasonal), basketball and tennis courts, fitness center, and children’s playground.

Typical unit in forested setting.

Distance off the interstate: Right on Hwy 101. 1.5 hours from I-5.

Food Services: The Flying Dutchman is located on-site. Additional dining is minutes away in nearby Newport and Lincoln City.

Rates: To check rates and make reservations, call: 1.888.505.5735

Website: http://www.innatottercrest.com/index.html

Directions: Take I-5 to the Highway 34/Corvallis exit. Turn right and head West on Highway 34 to Corvallis. Take the Highway 20 exit and head west to Newport. At Newport turn right onto Highway 101 and head north. Travel approximately eight miles north to Otter Rock. Take the Otter Crest Loop exit and proceed to the resort entrance.

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A Pit Stop a Day (Day 23): Embassy Suites Sacramento

July 19, 2010 By

View of Tower Bridge outside our Embassy Suites room.

We spent our last night on the road at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade (100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento CA).

Embassy Suites is a favorite hotel chain of mine due to their high quality amenities, top-notch service, and the extras they provide, such as made-to-order complementary breakfasts and manager’s reception’ hours with snacks and cool drinks on-hand in the late afternoon. The Riverfront Promenade did not disappoint.

Located ideally next to historic Old Town and bordering the lovely river walk along the Sacramento River, we had impressive views from our room of the Tower Bridge and Old Town. Our suite was convenient with two full rooms (one with a comfortable pull-out bed/couch, desk, and TV unit, one with a king-sized bed and TV unit) and one spacious bathroom (with tub).

The Embassy Suites had a nice indoor pool and hot tub which we were all too glad to use after a hot summer day exploring Old Town. Other amenities include an exercise room, valet parking ($25 a day), and a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and microwave in-room. There’s also a Guest Activities desk on-site to help you with any vacation plans.

Embassy Suites indoor pool.

In addition to the complementary breakfast, there are two restaurants on-site (with many more in walking distance). The Tower Bridge Bistro offers fine dining in their dining room or via room service, and the MarketPlace Cafe offers quicker service with sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Note: The Embassy Suites Sacramento does not allow for (or have) roll-away beds, so if you’re a family of five like us, plan accordingly. We made one child a bed on the floor utilizing the unused couch cushions, and it worked fine!

Date last visited: July 15, 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off I-5.

Room Rates: Best rate started at $229 at time of publishing. All rooms are suites, with two rooms and full bathroom. Railroad Museum packages are available.

Directions: From I-5, take the J St exit toward Downtown, then turn right at 3rd St. Take the 1st right onto Capitol Mall, then make a U-turn into property.

As I mention during any review opportunity, the Embassy Suites Sacramento hosted our stay at no cost. While we greatly appreciate their hospitality, this compensation came with no guarantee of a positive review.

I want to thank everyone who followed along with our 22 Day Road Trip! We had a wonderful time, and I sincerely hope that our reviews will be of assistance as you, my readers, plan your next adventures!
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A Pit Stop a Day (Day 17): Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens

July 13, 2010 By

Suites facing river views at Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens

After driving from Park City to Zion National Park, day 17 found us at Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens in Springdale, Utah, gateway to the park.

Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens is located in the heart of Springdale, mere yards from the national park entrance. While all of Springdale enjoys an unexpected lushness of greenery and flowering plants (due to water from the Virgin River which flows through town), the Cliffrose in particular boasts beautiful gardens and even fruit trees which contrast dramatically with its backdrop of sandstone cliffs and barren land.

I didn’t expect to love this resort as much as I did. On paper, it looked certainly comfortable (and clearly more than your average resort-area motel), but in ‘person’, it was so much more. It is beautifully laid out to mesh with its surroundings, the units steps away from the river and shaded by the well-kept gardens and grassy areas. The desert air felt ten degrees cooler on the property, and even at near full-capacity, it felt very peaceful and welcoming.

Nate and Cal walk through the gardens to the pool.

Swimming pool with beautiful cliffside backdrop!

The amenities for kids are extensive. The Cliffrose has a full-sized pool and hot tub, grass to play on (with chairs and umbrellas set out under shade trees for parents), a small playground for the toddler set, and best of all, river access with a sandy beach, fire pits, and picnic tables and chairs. The river is perfect for wading and floating, and inner tubes are available to use. My kids spent more time in the river than the pool, walking up the path to the lodge boundary, putting their tubes in, floating down to the other end of the grounds, and getting out to to it all over and over again. (Meanwhile, I was more than happy to sit in a deck chair with my feet in the river and read.)

Second bedroom in the Riverside two-bedroom suite.

There are several available room configurations at the Cliffrose, from regular one-room units to family, one-room, or two-room suites. We stayed in a Riverside two-bedroom suite, which was perfect. With a full kitchen and living area, we could store leftovers and picnic lunch supplies, spread out, and start a long game of Monopoly. Each bedroom had two double beds (or one King…rollaways are available) and a large bathroom (with tub).

Note: We bought our own inner tubes for river use at the Sol Market in Springdale (before realizing there were tubes for use on-site). They were larger and sturdier, and cost $20 each. Be sure to buy a pump as well ($6)!

Extra Tip: You’re in walking distance of the park entrance and most dining and shopping at the Cliffrose, but free town and park shuttles are available as well. We used these extensively, and found them to be very convenient.

Date last visited: July 6-8, 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Hwy 9, about half an hour from I-15.

Room Rates: Rates range from $149 for a standard unit to $279 for a two-bedroom suite.

Food Services: There are no restaurants on-site, but Springdale is filled with great places to eat (and the Sol Market for snack and picnic supplies). We bought groceries for breakfasts and lunches, and ate dinners in town. Our favorite picks were the Bit and Spur (great outdoor seating and lawn for kids to play on) and The Spotted Dog (extensive children’s menu with large portions).

Website: Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens

Directions: From I-15, take Hwy 17 south to La Verkin, then take Hwy 9 west to Springdale.

Up Next: We hike (and swim!) in Zion National Park’s ‘Narrows’!

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 15): Westgate Park City Resort and Spa

July 11, 2010 By

View of resort from our seventh floor balcony.

On Day 15, we traveled down Hwy 89 from Grand Teton National Park to Park City, Utah to stay overnight at the Westgate Park City.

The Westgate Park City is a beautiful resort nestled against the base of The Canyons ski resort about five minutes from downtown Park City. Winter is their peak season (no pun intended!), which makes it a great choice in the summer months to beat both high prices and crowds. And lest you think they only offer ski-oriented activities, rest assured: there’s plenty to do! In fact, had our itinerary allowed for it, we’d have gladly stayed two nights so the kids could spend more time at their Kids Club, pools, basketball court, playground, and nearby hiking trails, bike rentals, and alpine slide.

For our party of six (three adults and three kids), we were reserved the Presidential suite, which comprised of a similar layout to a two-bedroom suite plus adjoining one-bedroom suite, and had more than enough room. With a full kitchen (with granite counter-tops and quality appliances), we could have prepared Thanksgiving dinner had we wanted to (but who would, with all of Park City’s great restaurants?) and with three bathrooms, no one had to wait for showers. There was also a full dining room and living area, which made for a cozy place to share a dinner ordered in after a long day of traveling.

Full kitchen in suite.

Westgate master bedroom.

Full dining area.

The beds were ‘super comfortable with tons of pillows’ (in Nate’s words) and the living room also offered a pull-out bed/couch. With working fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and a large balcony, the Westgate suite was the perfect place to spread out and relax for prices lower than you might think (as I said, I wished we had more time).

As guests of the ‘Moose Lodge’ section of the resort (buildings are distinguished by various animal names), two pools were at our disposal: the main indoor-outdoor pool (protected by a glass ceiling and walls for winter months) and hot tubs, and a smaller outdoor pool and hot tub closer to our lodge. The kids had fun at both, and Toby especially loved that each were only 3-4 feet deep max…making it easy for him to keep up with his older brothers without too much swimming. Another perk of the main pool was its proximity to the basketball and tennis courts; you could keep an eye on other kids playing while in the pool area.

Indoor-outdoor pool with atrium.

The Westgate also offers a fitness center (which I used) and exercise studio (offering yoga and other exercise classes at designated times), an adult-only relaxation pool and sauna, and a Kids Club, which had an extensive itinerary of programs and supervised care for kids 2-12 ($15/hour for non-Westgate Resort members).

Date Last Visited: July 5, 2010

Room Rates: At the time of this posting, rates ranged from studio rooms started at $107 per night to two-bedroom units from $215 per night during summer (off-season) months. Since Westgate Park City is a timeshare resort, you can also rent the units directly from resort owners, sometimes at cheaper rates than when you book through the resort.

Restaurants and Dining: Westgate has a quick service pizza counter and marketplace on-site for sundries and convenience foods (limited hours in summer) and a fine dining restaurant (closed Mondays) which offers room service. Otherwise, guests need to drive into Park City (five minutes) for their choice of an array of dining options. We ordered pizza from http://www.davanzas.com/, one of the only places with delivery to the Westgate, and it was delicious and fast.

Distance off the interstate: Minutes off I-80 on Hwy 224.

Directions: From I-80, take Exit 145/Highway 224 South toward Kimball Junction/Park City. Travel 2.7 miles and turn right onto The Canyons Resort Drive. Continue 0.5 mile to Westgate Park City Resort & Spa.

Note: Our only criticism of Westgate was its confusing layout. To their credit, they did try to warn us: right after I checked in, I was sent to guest services, where they explained how to find my rooms. Helpful, but not a good sign for me after a tiring travel day! The way the resort is divided into ‘lodges’ causes a complicated system of various elevators (especially when trying to approach from the underground parking garage). After another day on-site, I’m sure we would have had the route down, but for the first day, we were certainly lost more than once in the vast resort, and we weren’t the only ones. My advice: accept the resort’s offer of a valet to help show you to your room; the escort will be worth the price of a tip!

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Westgate Resorts hosted us free of charge. While we greatly appreciate their hospitality, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Up Next: We drive south to Zion National Park and check in to the Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens.

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 12): Colter Bay Village, Grand Teton

July 8, 2010 By

Toby carts luggage into our double room cabin.

Day 12 found us crossing the national park border from Yellowstone to Grand Teton to check in at Colter Bay Village Resort.

Located within the park boundary and managed by Grand Teton Lodge Company (go through them when booking), Colter Bay Village Resort comprises of a campground, tent village, and cabin village clustered around the shore of Jackson Lake. The resort also includes a marina, visitor’s center, store, horseback riding stables, and two restaurants. There is lake access along the marina.

Kayaks for rent along the marina.

The moment we arrived and found our double cabin (one bedroom on each side of a shared bathroom (fits 6), we knew the kids were going to love this place. The winding paved roads joining the various cabins were similar to those of any standard campground, which made meeting other campers, riding bikes, etc easy and fun. Plus, it probably goes without saying, since we never saw a bad view in all of Grand Teton, but the location of Colter Bay is stunning. We had a perfect view of the Tetons and Jackson Lake from the marina (just yards from our cabin).

Jackson lake with view of the Tetons (from marina).

The cabins had an air of authenticity, which we soon learned was earned: each one was salvaged from area Teton ranches and brought to their current location when the village was constructed. In the restaurants, you can find framed photos of some cabins in their original locations.

The interiors are rustic, but comfortable. There is no air conditioning (you rarely need it this high in the mountains), but each cabin does have a heater unit. Our bathroom had it’s own hot water heater, but no bath tub (shower stall only). There are no TV units, microwaves, or fridges. Free wifi is available in the cabin check-in office and in the guest lounge located adjacent to cabin 451.

Cabin interior.

Depending on your cabin location, you may be in easy walking distance to the two restaurants, the marina, the visitor’s center, and the store. If you opt to stay in the campground or tent village instead (canvas tents with wooden porches, bunks, and communal bathrooms), you may have to drive to these amenities.

During our stay, we utilized the many hiking trails, rented a canoe at the marina to explore the lake, and took the kids horseback riding (review to come).

Note: There are two other accommodations within this side of the national park. Jenny Lake Lodge is located on Jenny Lake, and is what I’d describe as a ‘make sure your kids are on their best behavior’ type of place. Jackson Lake Lodge is more family friendly, but does not sit directly on the lake. You do have great lake views, however, and our waiters at Colter Bay told us that more wildlife can be spotted there.

Extra Tip: Nights get cold in Grand Teton! We visited in July, but still needed jackets and long pants several times. You also want to make sure to pack warm pajamas for all: the heaters work, but you are in a rustic cabin with little insulation!

Date last visited: July 3-5, 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Hwy 89.

Room Rates: Rates vary from $60 a night for semi-private cabins (share a communal bathroom) to $209 a night for a two-room private cabin (what we had).

Food Services: We were very pleased with the food at the resort. The Ranch House offered two ‘tiers’ of a breakfast buffet (you could opt for pastries, fruit, and cereals for $7 or a full buffet for $12…kids’ prices $5 and $7, respectively) and was very good. Dinner entrees were more expensive ($12-18 range) but the soup and salad bar option was very reasonable (and very filling). Kids’ menu prices were low. We bought food from the store for lunches, and ate at the cafeteria-style Colter Cafe Court only once: they have sandwiches, Mexican fare, and burgers in addition to a lunch take-out option.

Website: Colter Bay Village

Up Next: We hike to Inspiration Point on Jenny Lake!

Need to catch up? Read all ‘A Pit Stop a Day’ posts along our 22-day road trip by entering ‘a pit stop a day’ into our search box!

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 8): Big Sky Resort’s Summit Hotel

July 4, 2010 By

After driving from Glacier National Park to Boulder Hot Springs, we were more than happy to end Day 7 and enjoy Day 8-9 at the Summit Hotel at The Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana, our home base for family fun and a little R&R before continuing on to Yellowstone.

I cannot say enough good things about Big Sky Resort in general and the Summit in particular. If you have kids in tow (or even if you don’t) and are looking for a base camp for your Yellowstone and Big Sky adventures, look no further. A ski resort in winter, Big Sky Resort doubles as a summer mecca of outdoor activities in a breathtakingly beautiful setting, and for families with kids weary of riding in the car, it’s a godsend: restaurants, pools, activities, stores, and luxury accommodations (with kitchens!) are all at your disposal without getting back in your car for a few days.

The Summit in summer.

Located directly slope-side at the Big Sky Resort, the Summit Hotel is situated well within the hub of the Big Sky Mountain Village. In fact, the central outdoor plaza of the village is right out the back door (as are the ski lifts in winter), lending to a feeling of connectedness and community with the adjacent restaurants, play areas, pools, and accommodations (there’s even a putting green the kids can play on while adults try their hand at relaxing for more than five minutes straight!).

We arrived at the Summit on a Wednesday evening and, despite a summer rain shower, bell services was instantly on-hand to help us with our bags (why does it always feel as though we travel with the entire contents of our house?!). We had a group of six (two grandparents, myself, and three kids) and opted for a two-bedroom unit with plenty of room to spread out. The arrangement was three rooms total adjoining: the center room had a fully stocked (cutlery, dishes, cookware) kitchen, a table for four, a living area with couch and arm chair, a flat screen TV, fireplace, double Murphy (hideaway) bed, and full bathroom. The other two rooms had two double beds and a bathroom and one king bed and whirlpool tub plus bathroom (and additional fireplace), respectively. Needless to say, we had plenty of room.

Our full-service kitchen in main room.

Master bedroom (view overlooking the ski slopes and alpines.

The Summit houses an extensive exercise facility complete with cardio and strength machines, sauna, changing rooms, and a 100-person indoor-outdoor hot tub. Yes…100-person. And when you have it practically to yourself (a perk of ski resorts in summer), it’s basically a swimming pool at hot tub temperatures. In other words, awesome (as is the view…the hot tub looks out over the ski lifts and slopes).

The kids devoted much time to the hot tub!

The Terrace Entrance path takes you straight to the hot tub/exercise facilities from the plaza.

I have to admit, there was so much to do at Big Sky Resort (more on that to come!) that we didn‘t spend much time in our rooms, but the time we did spend there was very comfortable. It was quiet in the evenings, and the rooms were well-constructed; we never felt like our (sometimes) noisy kids were disturbing any other guests (and we never heard anyone else, either). We were able to stock the full-sized fridge with our water bottles and leftovers, and between the fireplaces and the spectacular views of the mountains, the ambiance was lovely.

Extra Perk: Because the Big Sky Resort consists of a community of accommodations under one umbrella, your Summit key card gives you access to more amenities than what is housed at the single hotel. For instance, you also gain entry to the three outdoor pools at the Huntley Lodge (two minute walk across the connected plaza), entry at the Kids Club (free to guests 3:30-5:30 every day but Wed. and Sat.) and movies shown at selected times on the big screen in the amphitheater (inside the Yellowstone Conference Center). A message of daily offered activities will be sent to your room phone!

Date last visited: June 30-July 2, 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Ten minutes from Hwy 191.

Room Rates: Check the Summit’s rate page for current room rates.

Food Services: We had the opportunity to try breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Mountain Village during our stay.

Chet’s Bar and Grill, located in the Huntley Lodge is a very family friendly place specializing in gourmet burgers, steak, and pasta (with a good children’s menu with large portions). We ate breakfast there as well, and loved the breakfast quesadillas and pancakes.

Whiskey Jack’s (in the Mountain Mall adjacent to the Summit) serves excellent southwestern fare. Calvin loved his chicken soft tacos (on the kids’ menu) and I thought the fajita salad was great (and huge)! The best part of Whiskey Jack’s is that you can watch the kids play on the plaza (on the play structure or putting green) without leaving your table.

Yeti Dogs (located on the plaza) is a great stop for ice cream after dinner (open until 9 pm in summer). We sampled the huckleberry, graham slam, mint cookie, and vanilla flavors. They all got a thumbs up!

Playground adjacent to Whiskey Jack’s and BaseCamp (acitivity center).

The kids loved the teepee (with Native American exhibit) across the plaza.

Website: Big Sky Resort

Directions: From Hwy 191 (near Bozeman), drive 39 miles to Hwy 64. Turn right (west) and drive nine miles to the Mountain Village.

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Big Sky Resort took care of all of our expenses, from our two-bedroom suite to my kids’ chicken strips and nearly everything in-between. While we greatly appreciate Big Sky’s hospitality, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Up Next: We gear up for a zip-line ride through the forest, during which the kids show absolutely no fear…and I show only a little!