state - Pitstops for Kids

Ultimate family vacation in Pittsburgh for the younger set

May 16, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

If you have toddlers and preschoolers who love Daniel Tiger and visiting kid-friendly attractions like children’s museums, consider an easy-to-plan summer getaway to Pittsburgh.

How to plan a vacation in Pittsburgh:

If you’re not sure where to start in the planning process, or aren’t familiar with this kid-friendly city, Visitpittsburgh.com/Kidsburgh is your one-stop destination to book your perfect family vacation. You’ll find savings up to 50% on tickets to Pittsburgh’s top family attractions when you book a hotel through the website. Plus, you can create a personalized itinerary so you won’t miss a single attraction on your Pittsburgh adventure.

What to do in Pittsburgh with young kids:

From scientific learning to stepping inside Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, there’s fun for family members of every age. The highly rated Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is perfect for younger explorers and Daniel Tiger fans won’t want to miss the visiting exhibition: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit. Meanwhile, teens and young children alike will adore Kennywood Amusement Park’s historic and exhilarating rides. From indoor fun at the educational Carnegie Science Center to outdoor excursions at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, summer in Kidsburgh offers non-stop family fun. Be sure to explore Pittsburgh’s famous three rivers on the Gateway Clipper or on a Just Ducky Tour. Climb to new heights and see award-winning views on 140-year-old cable cars of the Duquesne Incline. Meet more than 500 birds at the National Aviary and step into your favorite fairy tale with Idlewild & Soakzone. Adults and children alike find the interactive Senator John Heinz History Center amazing and visitors of all ages love the original set pieces from Pittsburgh’s own Mister Rogers Neighborhood! Explore visual botanical art, meet friendly butterflies, and get interactive at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. No matter what your interests or age, Kidsburgh has a full summer of family fun!

Book the perfect adventure for your family through VisitPITTSBURGH.com and keep your family vacation affordable and fun with discounted attraction tickets, hotels and more.

Photo credit

Whaleshead Beach Resort

May 3, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Summer isn’t the only time to visit the Oregon Coast. In fact, our favorite time of year for a coastal getaway is late fall, when the beaches are empty, the rental prices drop, and the weather remains near-perfect.

If you’re lucky enough to getaway this November to the Southern Oregon Coast, Pit Stops for Kids recommends Whaleshead Beach Resort, nestled along a hillside just outside of Brookings. A casual resort which embraces kids, Whaleshead is comprised of dozens of rental units dotting the coastline directly across Hwy 101 from the beach. You can rent them weekly or nightly, and no matter the size or needs of your group, there will be the perfect accommodations for you, from multi-bathroom, multi-bedroom cottages to cozy two-person cabins. We have found the reservation staff to be very helpful, especially when booking a single cabin for two families to share: we’ve needed everything from adjoining rooms to single stories to cribs, and it’s all been accommodated.

At Whaleshead, you have your pick between Ocean View and Creek View, and you really can’t go wrong with either. Ocean View affords the most breathtaking views of the, well, ocean, obviously, but if you’re bringing kids who will want to ride their bikes, opt for Creek View, as Ocean View cabins are situated on a steep slope. (Creek View cabins are also within walking distance of the beach trail, making it possible to skip driving back and forth for sand castle building and kite flying…beloved past-times on Oregon beaches). No matter what cabin you choose, you’ll have a full kitchen at your disposal, a living area, and in almost all cases, a TV with DVD player and hot tub (and sometimes game systems).

After enjoying your cabin and the resort, walk through the 700 foot tunnel from Whaleshead to the beach, or drive over. Not only is Whaleshead Beach beautiful, but it’s more protected than other nearby beaches, making it possible to set out a picnic or spread out a blanket in the cherished Oregon Coast sunshine.

Extra Tip: There’s also a camping area: if you’re traveling with an RV, their camping/hook-up sites are the nicest I’ve seen, with full built-in wooden decks and lush greenery.

Date Last Visited: September 2013

Distance from the Interstate: Directly off Hwy 101 (about 15 miles from the Oregon/California border).

Room Rates: At the time of our visit, cabins ranged from approximately $110 per night to $195 per night, depending on size and season. Beware of extra fees for additional people to your reservation. We found that base price was misleading on the website, since we were traveling with several kids, who cost extra in some cabins.

Dining Options: Whaleshead does have a restaurant on-site, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can find your typical burgers and sandwiches here, as well as good seafood at dinner. Brookings offers more (just five miles south) in the way of fast food, seafood, and the like.

Directions: From Brookings, follow Hwy 101 to Whaleshead Road (on right). Full address: 19921 Whaleshead Rd, Brookings, OR.

Fernbank Museum, Atlanta GA

April 18, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Whether your travel destinations for summer take you to Atlanta or simply through Atlanta, The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a wonderful place to stop with kids. With six extensive permanent exhibits and several visiting exhibits (including one on geckos through the summer!), an IMAX theater, a museum store and cafe, you could easily spend a day here. (At very least, you’ll want to plan on an entire afternoon or morning to get your money’s worth!)

The Fernbank has an entire section geared to young kids: there’s a great hands-on section for kids called NatureQuest. NatureQuest lets kids interactively connect with nature as if they were outside and is great for those younger kids who aren’t too comfortable being outside just yet. For all kids, a permanent exhibit worth noting is called A Walk Through Time in Georgia, which lets visitors explore the natural history of Georgia and the story of our planet as they journey through lifelike geographic regions and historic re-creations. Highlights include a dinosaur gallery, a giant sloth, a cave, and the sights and sounds of the Okefenokee Swamp.

Seasonal Tip! Fernbank’s holiday-inspired exhibition features trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that recognize celebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights, as well as traditions and practices like origami, indigenous art and national symbols.

Coming in 2016! Plan your visit around the opening of Fernbank’s new outdoor space, coming soon. Check on its status at the exhibits page. This is one element the Fernbank has been missing, so we’re excited to see this expansion take place. Included will be interactive outdoor elements, space for children to play and climb, and gardens to enhance the overall experience for those spending a full day at the museum…after all, fresh air is a must!

Distance off the interstate: Just a few minutes!

Hours: Open 7 days a week, but hours vary between the museum, IMAX, cafe, and museum store. See this comprehensive chart for current hours.

Admission Prices:

Adults: $18
Students and seniors (62+) with ID: $17
Children 3-12: $16
Children 2 and under (ticket required): FREE

IMAX admission is separate, but ‘Value Passes’, which include admission to both for a discounted price, are available.

Food Services: The Fernbank Cafe, located inside the museum, offers sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Fernbank Museum

Directions: From I-75/I-85/GA400 head toward downtown Atlanta. Take exit 248C Freedom Parkway (GA 10 East). Go 1.7 miles to Ponce de Leon Avenue and turn right. Go 1.7 miles to Clifton Road and turn left. Go 1/10 mile to the Museum entrance and turn right.
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Photo credit: Peter C

South Lake Tahoe lodging for families: Aston Lakeland Village

April 13, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

I might as well admit it: I’m a North Lake Tahoe girl. I grew up near North Tahoe, and because of this, I simply know the area better. While I do love skiing at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood on the South side, my heart–usually–belongs to the North. Why ‘usually’? Because until a spring skiing visit last year, I didn’t know Aston Lakeland Village existed.

Aston Lakeland Village is exactly what you want in winter ski or summer lake fun accommodations with the family: its townhouse give you room to spread out, you can cook in, you have pools and hot tubs at your disposal, and it’s affordable. Plus, in winter, you get a complimentary breakfast daily. Comped breakfast…in a townhouse? What?!

My beef with South Tahoe is the constant energy of the downtown ‘strip’. Because of its location in Nevada, South Tahoe has gambling, and a lot of it. Now, I know some people enjoy this energetic ambiance, but when I’m on a mountain getaway, I want tranquility. Even though Lakeland Village is only about half a mile from the casinos, it’s completely quiet, in a wooded setting right on the lake shore.

Did I forget to say Lakeland Village is, indeed, lakeside? This was the view from our room.

I get excited when I talk about family ski lodging with true value, because it’s hard to come by. Enjoying a ski vacation, or a summer lakeside vacation in Tahoe, is an expensive endeavor. That fact is not lost on me, trust me. At Lakeland Village, you get a swimming beach right on the lake, big townhouses with full kitchens, free breakfast (in winter), two pool complexes, free parking and wifi, and…wait for it…comped ski lift tickets with certain packages.

We tried this out at the end of March 2016, receiving lift tickets to Sierra-at-Tahoe (Lakeland Village also offers tickets to Heavenly). It was so convenient to get our tickets at check-in, put them on our jackets, and go straight to the lifts upon arrival at Sierra. Check Lakeland’s package deals before you book; it may be well worth it to opt for a lift ticket package. Discounted lift tickets are also available.

Our townhouse at Lakeland Village had a living space with TV and fireplace, a large outdoor deck overlooking the lake (with table and chairs), two full bathrooms, and three bedrooms (plus an additional bedroom considered a ‘sleeping loft’). Um, we had more room than we knew what to do with. You could easily sleep 10 in this type of townhouse, which means Lakeland Village qualifies in my favorite type of ski lodging category: perfect for multigenerational groups.

We literally stepped off our deck to reach the beachside swimming complex, where we could dip into the hot tub. (Pools are closed in winter, but an additional pool and hot tub, both open year-round, are located near the reception area and lodge.) In summer, I can imagine BBQing from the deck while the kids swim in the lake (there’s a roped-off swimming area).

Townhouse pricing:

Lakeland Village offers standard lodge rooms all the way up to five-bedroom lakeside townhouses. We had a ‘lake view’ townhouse (which meant it was 50 steps from the beach instead of 30), and during the spring season, it was listed at $359/night. Split between a couple families, that’s downright budget-friendly, right on the water in South Tahoe. Prices will vary by season, of course, but with multiple deals offered every day, this is an option families should look into when searching for South Lake Tahoe lodging.

Included in the price was the free breakfast and full maid service daily (rare in town homes). The lift ticket deal is a separate package; just call when booking if you don’t see the option online. The only thing missing was a washer and dryer, which is so helpful for skiing families. There are coin-operated laundry facilities in the main lodge, but boy did I wish we had them in the townhouse.

When we go to South Tahoe, we ski at Sierra-at-Tahoe, because of its low-key vibe, great ski school, and expert terrain. Read our full review of Sierra-at-Tahoe here.

Disclosure: We stayed at Lakeland Village as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. Without these stays, we would be unable to provide our readers with honest reviews.

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.

Shasta Cascades: Mt. Shasta Ski Park review

February 22, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

In summer months, majestic Mt. Shasta is a climber’s paradise, but during the winter months, this volcanic peak in Northern California becomes decidedly more family friendly. Mt. Shasta Ski Park offers up 425 acres of downhill skiing and snowboarding, plus tubing and cross-country trails.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park review:

The ski park is located about a ten minute drive from the quirky town of Mount Shasta, off I-5. In town, families will find good eateries and lodging options, including our favorite: Mt. Shasta Treehouse Inn. The ski park itself is ideal for families with beginners and intermediate skiers, with runs for the experts, too. Here’s how to navigate the mountain:

Everyone will start in the same parking lot and buy tickets and other essentials at the one and only base lodge. From the lodge, skiers and riders have the option of heading uphill on the Marmot (best for solid beginners and intermediates) or Douglas (best for advanced and experts). There’s also the small learning carpet directly from the lodge. In total, there are three triple chairs and two carpets.

Note: If you need to rent gear, this option is available at the lodge. However, the line gets long on holiday weekends! Get there early to avoid the rental shop running out of your size. You can also rent in Redding.

We have expert skiers and riders, but our kids still really enjoy going up Marmot to try their skills at the terrain park off Silvertip. While there are some fairly large elements, most are at the beginner and intermediate level, which suits us just fine. From either lift, you can connect with Coyote Butte lift, which has primarily black diamond runs, a larger terrain park (when there’s enough snow), and one blue square (intermediate) that leads into one green circle (beginner).

Kids will find fun trails and jumps along Panther Creek, in the ‘lowlands’ before reaching the lodge, and nice tree skiing off the top of Coyote Butte. What we like best about Mt. Shasta: the entire mountain is very accessible once you have at least intermediate skiers and riders, and all trails and runs funnel down to the same base area. This makes it easier for older kids to feel some independence exploring the terrain without adults hovering.

Dining at Mt. Shasta:

For a small ski resort, Mt. Shasta has quite a few dining options, including three venues in the main lodge, a BBQ place at the top of Douglas Butte, and a full bar. And like any small ski resort worth its salt, Mt. Shasta welcomes families packing in their own lunches, as well. Lockers are available to rent, or you can do what we do: store lunch on available shelves. We’ve never had a problem.

Lift ticket pricing:

All day lift tickets on weekends are $54 for adults, $30 for kids 8-12, and $12 for kids seven and under (or adults over 70). This pricing is very welcome to parents used to paying big resort prices! Monday-Thursday pricing is even lower. Rentals are available at the lodge.

Directions:

Traveling north or south on Interstate 5 take Exit 736 unto Hwy 89. On Hwy 89 drive 4 miles east, on summit turn left into Ski Park Hwy and drive 4.5 miles to the resort. Mt. Shasta Ski Park is about one hour’s drive from Redding, CA.

Visiting Atlanta with kids: Children’s Museum of Atlanta

February 19, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Downtown Atlanta is a quintessential “pit stop,” boasting an array of attractions to break up a long road trip, from the Coca Cola museum to Centennial Olympic Park to CNN’s headquarters. In the center of this thriving metro sits the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Newly renovated with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math education) programming, the CMA offers families, especially those with children up to age 9, a chance to stretch their legs and have fun while sneaking in some stealth learning.

Our family visited CMA during their grand re-opening event. It was busy, but the open layout prevented it from feeling crowded. On the main floor you will find a large area sectioned off for the “farm to table” exhibit, which includes a tractor, milking a cow, a delivery truck, a forklift with a platform that raises and lowers, a grocery store and a diner with the most fabulous kid-sized commercial kitchen any child could imagine. This was the favorite area for my four- and six-year-olds.

CMA has also taken the ubiquitous ball run and re-envisioned it as a series of interlocking mechanisms. Kids can force the balls up into the matrix by air, water, auger, and pulley, and the balls move between areas.

The centerpiece of the main level is the globe, which kids can climb up inside and set in motion. At the base of the globe are a collection of train tables, one for each continent, and moon sand tables. There is also a building area and a section for little ones with fishing (raincoats provided) and a fabulous chicken coop play structure. Here you’ll also find a nursing room.

The “mezzanine” level is aimed at older children. At the “science bar,” a scientist walks kids through experiments. Nearby, interactive stations let kids build a robot, use a touch-screen app to see how food goes through the body, or use their brain waves to move a ball. The museum also offers daily take-home activities (a sailboat, the day we visited) and a presentation at 4p.m. A rotating feature exhibit opens soon.

One of the most striking and wonderful things about this place was the diversity of its visitors. We heard half a dozen languages and saw at least that many skin colors during our short visit. Signage is bilingual, and the staff is courteous and helpful, keeping an eye on each section and making sure items find their way back where they belong for the next child to enjoy. (I spent half an hour watching one young lady in the “farm to table” section patiently picking up all the pieces of toy food and putting them away on the grocery store shelves, only to do it all again five minutes later.) Although the museum caters to age 9 and under, my 10-year-old enjoyed the visit as well.

Shopping/Food:

CMA has a gift shop and vending machines, but no in-house dining. However, there are many dining options within walking distance, and same-day museum re-entry is permitted, providing maximum crowd capacity has not been reached. The best option, though, is to bring lunch along or order from one of a number of nearby establishments that deliver. The museum has set aside a sizable section of the mezzanine level for lunchroom-style tables.

Accessibility

The vast majority of the attractions are stroller/wheelchair accessible–even part of the chicken coop play structure in the little ones’ area. A large open section at the rear of the first floor is set aside for stroller parking.

Hours/Admission:

Plan to spend at least an hour and a half at CMA, and if you have longer, the kids will thank you. Admission is $14.95 for everyone over age one. Discounts are outlined at “ways to save.” If you live within a couple hours of Atlanta, a family membership may be a good option. Tickets are issued for specific time slots in order to help alleviate crowding at peak times. CMA is open from 10-5 seven days a week except on certain holidays.

Parking/Directions:

Children’s Museum of Atlanta is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, at the corner of Baker Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive. It has no dedicated parking space of its own; however, parking options are plentiful within a block of the museum.

Our family received complimentary admission to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta in exchange for an impartial review.

Dog sledding and snowmobiling in Breckenridge

February 10, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

The town of Breckenridge Colorado is known for its epic skiing and snowboarding, but there are many other ways to enjoy the snowy mountains here. Whether you want to plan a day away from the slopes during a longer vacation or have non-skiers among you, head out to Good Times Adventures, about twenty minutes from town.

Good Times Adventures offers snowmobiling tours as well as dog sledding excursions. It’s worth noting that snowmobilers have the opportunity to see sled dogs in action, as their kennels and sledding trails are located in the same area.

Snowmobiling in Breckenridge:

We booked Good Times Adventures’ most popular snowmobile tour, which is two hours in length and takes visitors through wooded trails up to an open vista along the Continental Divide. Personally, I was most interested in seeing the scenery: on a snowmobile, we could cover a lot more ground than on nordic skis or snowshoes. Without a doubt, however, my teens and pre-teen’s primarily interest was in the snow machines themselves, and the possibility of driving them. Here’s the nitty gritty:

Kids 15 and older can drive their own snowmobile, provided you’ve decided to purchase that option. They must be 18 or older to drive with a passenger onboard.
Good Times has over 40 miles of groomed trails, and each guide decides on a route, so you don’t see much of other groups once out on the trails.
Our group consisted of only 7 guests (5 machines), which was a pleasant surprise…we expected a larger group.
The trip starts and ends at a large open practice area, where you can get used to the machines (and have some fun going pretty fast). Our guide explained how to use the machines in about 10 minutes…even for novice snowmobilers like us, it was easy!
Snow suits and boots are provided if you want them, or you can wear your own gear. You must, however, wear their helmets, so don’t bother bringing your own. If you do, they’ll be stored for you.
You do have to bring your own mittens or gloves, eye protection (goggles), and face mask/scarf. You’ll really want one of these.
The ride goes through the scenic Swan River Valley and up to the Georgia Pass to the Divide, at over 11,000 feet.

Those of us unfamiliar with snowmobiles really loved this tour. However, if you snowmobile regularly, going in a group with a guide may be too tame for you. I liken it to horseback tours: because I’m familiar with riding, nose-to-tail rides are a bit boring to me. But they’re thrilling to those with less experience. You know your family: if your primarily motivation is to see scenery and have fun on machines that you don’t get to ride or drive often, this is a great way to spend an afternoon at Breckenridge. If you ride snowmobiles often, maybe this is not for you.

Scheduling: tours depart hourly. See the Good Times Adventures website for exact hours. Be there 30 minutes before your departure time.

Cost: drivers are $110 and passengers are $55. Kids 8 and under are only $25.

Dog Sledding:

Dog sled tours are in the same location, and include a meet-and-greet opportunity with the dogs, information from your musher, and time out on the trails behind the dogs. Visitors on the tour take turn in the sled and on back, guiding the dogs…the others are pulled in a comfortable sled wagon behind a snowmobile. The good: everyone gets lots of opportunity to see the dogs run. The bad: if you don’t like the noise of snowmobiles (as I don’t), you’ll be subjected to it. This is too bad, because dog sledding along quiet snow-covered trails is quite magical, and some of that is lost here.

Cost: Adults are $75, and kids 8 and under are $40.

Note: For either the snowmobiling or dog sledding experience, it’s customary to tip your guide or musher.

Getting here:

Fom downtown, head North on Hwy 9 (Main Street) approximately 2.5 miles until you get to the stop-light at the Tiger Road intersection. At Tiger Road, turn right and enjoy the scenery for about 6.5 miles until the road dead-ends in our parking lot. Shuttle pick-up and drop-off is also available from various points in Breckenridge.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we experienced snowmobiling as guests of Good Times Adventures, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.