Olympic Game Farm

September 18, 2009 By
Up close and personal with a zebra, courtesy of Olympic Game Farm

Courtesy of Olympic Game Farm

1423 Ward Road
Sequim, WA

The Olympic Game Farm is a great place to get face-to-face with a wide range of exotic animals…while never leaving the greater Seattle area! From the official website: “A family run business, Olympic Game Farm is home to many animal species, both endangered and non-endangered. Many of our animals are veterans of the silver screen. For more than 28 years, the Olympic Game Farm worked exclusively with Walt Disney Studios and many others on features for theatre and television including: “The Grizzly Adams Series”, “The Incredible Journey”, “Charlie The Lonesome Cougar”, “Beachcombers” and many more. Today, the farm is home to over 20 different exotic and non exotic species, with hundreds of animals on site for families to “Get Face to Face with Wildlife” from the comfort of their vehicles on our famous Driving Tour.

Hillarie Weeks of Spokane WA visited recently with her kids, ages 4-12. For all of you that love wildlife you need to check out the Olympic Game Farm where the animals walk up to your car! My kids say it was way better then Yellowstone and it’s right outside of Seattle!

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Several miles off Hwy 101

Hours and Admission Prices: Open Daily. Monday thru Friday: 9 A.M. until 4 P.M, Saturday: 9 A.M. until 5 P.M, Sunday: 9 A.M. until 4 P.M.

Adults 15+: $10.00
Kids 6-14: $9.00
Seniors 55+: $ 9.00
5 and under FREE

Active Military and AAA are each $1.00 off per person in vehicle.

Food Services: None. Check out the nearby town of Sequim!

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

Directions: From Seattle, take Seattle/Bainbridge or Edmonds/ Kingston Ferry. Once across follow signs to Hood Canal Bridge. (HWY3) Cross Hood Canal (HWY104) Continue on 104 following signs to Sequim. HWY 104/HWY 101. Take Sequim Ave exit (2nd exit) Turn right on Sequim Ave. Follow North. Turn left on Woodcock Rd. Turn Right onto Ward Rd. Follow Ward Rd., Olympic Game Farm is at the end of the road on the Left.

From Tacoma, take HWY 16 North. Follow signs to Bremerton (turns into HWY 3) Continue to follow signs to Hood Canal Bridge (HWY 104/101) REST SAME AS SEATTLE.

From Olympia, take HWY 101 North. Continue following toward Sequim. REST SAME AS SEATTLE.
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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tips

September 13, 2009 By
Thrill rides remain the biggest draw to Discovery Kingdom

Thrill rides remain the biggest draw to Discovery Kingdom

1001 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, CA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom may seem more like a destination than a pitstop, but given its location off I-80 and near the I-5 corridor between LA and Sacramento, it serves as a great overnight break from long-distance driving. We stopped on our way home to Oregon from Laguna Beach this past summer, staying one night at the Courtyard by Marriott Napa Valley (which was very comfortable although predictably packed with families) directly across the street and playing for one day at Six Flags before continuing home.

In the interest of full disclosure, my family enjoyed the park using complimentary admission vouchers. We did, however, pay full price for all food and extras. This compensation came with no expectations or agreements for a positive review (as you will see).

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tips:

We had not visited Six Flags for a number of years (I believe it was Marine World Africa USA last time we were there) and this trip, we found our enjoyment of this park varied greatly depending on our age and propensity toward high speed thrill rides. Perhaps it’s not fair to compare Six Flags to the likes of Sea World, Disney World, and Legoland, but we did¦and they must too, since their admission prices are compatible. The staff we came in contact with at Six Flags was generally apathetic and at times downright rude. We found the areas geared toward young children to be lacking; in short (no pun intended) there wasn’t enough for someone under 48 to ride. This was especially hard for our thrill seeking 36er and our almost tall enough 47-and-a-halfer. The family attractions, such as the animal shows, were nice to have on hand, but compared to the degree of professionalism at Sea World (from both the trainers and the animals), Six Flags fell flat.

That said, our ten-year-old loved the park. As in, absolutely LOVED everything about it. He couldn’t get enough of the roller coasters and thrill rides (and so those of us tall enough to accompany him did so over and over and over again).

We purchased the Flash Pass for three people in our group, which allowed us to squeeze more quality time out of our experience in the park. Simply put, the Flash Pass is a programmable beeper you can rent which will essentially hold your place’ in line, much like the buzzers handed out at casual restaurants to let you know when your table is ready. Basically, it calculates how long you would wait in any given line at any given time of day, then sets a timer for you. You don’t have to be physically present in the line until it beeps, and then you walk through a separate entrance (the exit) to get on the ride. It worked well (though not as well as Disney’s Fast Pass, which, of course, is free). My theme park philosophy is always to do what is necessary to make the most of your investment–in other words, saving time equals saving money. Therefore, even though we had to pay extra for this service, I’d recommend renting a beeper (for those members of your group tall enough to take advantage of most of the rides) if you visit on a busy day in summer.

In summary, we found Six Flags to be overpriced for what it offers. In the future, we’ll stay a night in San Francisco and explore the city for the better part of the day instead.

(I do, as always, welcome additional parent reviews of this pitstop. If you stopped at Six Flags recently and loved it, tell us why!)

Date last visited: early August 2009

Distance off the interstate: two minutes from I-80

Hours and Admission Prices: General Admission: $44.99
Child Under 48″: $29.99
2 & Under FREE
Everyone is admitted for the child’s price if tickets are paid for online.

Food Services: There are many counter service restaurants, all of course, priced in the theme park’ range. The souvenir drink bottles sold throughout the park (with free refills) is a good deal, even if you’re only drinking water. The lines for refills can get long, however.

Website: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx

Directions: From San Francisco/Oakland: take Highway 80 eastbound. Take the Highway 37 exit, just five miles east of the Carquinez Bridge.

From San Jose/South Bay: take Highway 680 over the Benicia Bridge. Then Highway 780 through Benicia to Highway 80 and then east to the Highway 37 exit.

From Sacramento: take Highway 80 westbound. From Highway 80, take the Discovery Kingdom exit.
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Native Americans of the Southeast

September 7, 2009 By
Etowah Historic site Effigies (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

Etowah Historic site Effigies (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

Guest Review by Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.

Multiple sites along I-75 through GA

Driving I-75 between Atlanta and Chattanooga can become a fun-filled history lesson on Native Americans of the Southeast. At Etowah Indian Mounds (813 Indian Mounds Rd., S.W. Cartersville), kids can burn off energy climbing the 63-foot earthen mound where they can look over the valley and imagine life 1,000 years ago. Look for a fish trap in the Etowah River — this is a V-shaped rock pile that channeled fish into baskets. Look for songbirds, flowers and big trees on the riverside nature trail. The museum has real artifacts found at the site.
(effigies that were discovered at Etowah, now in the museum).

At New Echota Cherokee Capitol (1211 Chatsworth Hwy NE
Calhoun), kids can see a real printing press that was used to create a bi-lingual newspaper. This is a good place to teach about language and how Sequoyah invented the first written Cherokee alphabet. The museum has life-size “people” in traditional dress. This is also where the infamous Trail of Tears had its beginnings when the U.S. government wanted to take over Cherokee land in order to search for gold. A nature trail leads to a beaver pond.

Also nearby is Chief Vann House Historic Site (82 Ga. Highway 225 N
Chatsworth). Kids will enjoy seeing the children’s bedroom with toys.

New Echota Print Shop (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

New Echota Print Shop (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

Distance off the interstate: each site 1-5 miles off I-75

Hours and Admission Prices: $3.50-$5 each. Georgia State Parks are currently open only Thursday-Saturday, due to budget cuts.

Website: Find these sites are more at http://gastateparks.org/

Directions: From I-75, the Etowah Indian Mounds are located 5 miles southwest of I-75 exit #288. The New Echota Cherokee Capitol is located one mile east of I-75 exit #317 on Ga. Hwy. 225, and the Chief Vann House Historic Site is located 3 miles west of Chatsworth at the intersection of Ga. Hwys. 225 and 52-A.

Look for more segments on Georgia State Parks in the coming months.

Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks visit

September 2, 2009 By
Toby, posing behind a fossilized dino print.

Toby, posing behind a fossilized dino print.

Hwy 160
Moenkopi, AZ

At the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks, located remotely in the Arizona desert, it’s possible to view fossilized dinosaur tracks. Before stopping there recently on a long road trip, I had read mixed reviews (both concerning the validity of the tracks and the expertise of the local hosts of the site). After visiting, I’d have to guess that both good and bad are well-founded, because one’s experience can vary greatly.

Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks visit:

Located near the Four Corners area within the Navajo Nation, the attraction is not flashy. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it an attraction. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, the single handmade sign directing you off Highway 160 isn’t likely to catch your attention. Out in the middle of the acrid desert, you drive down about 100 yards to a dusty parking lot, where a representative of the Navajo lands (remember, we’re on their property) will greet you and tour you through a series of fossilized prints from the Jurassic period.

Studying a track. The July heat kept our visit short!

Studying a track. The July heat kept our visit short!

Notice I said Navajo representative’, not guide’. The protectors of this resource are not experts, nor do they claim to be. Our representative, who told us he was a full blood Navajo who had lived his whole life just half a mile from the site, was enthusiastic, friendly toward the kids, but couldn’t answer even my ten-year-old’s questions regarding the dinosaur prints with any certainly. Of course, such unreliable information makes you wonder about the legitimacy of the attraction, but according to my research in garnering additional reviews, paleontologists stress that it’s the real deal: the tracks easily visible all over the immediate area date back 200 million years.

After that, however, all bets are off: one representative claimed tracks from dinosaurs in completely different periods, and ours boasted a T-Rex print (which my prior research had refuted). But apparently, that’s not always the case. Other people have reported far more positive experiences, having enjoyed tours from Navajo representatives who were very well-versed in their subject matter, and had taken the time to round out their knowledge with inquiries to the University of Arizona. It seems to be the luck of the draw.

Either way, it was worth the stop. Dinosaur prints are pretty cool, no matter how you slice it.

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Just a few yards!

Hours and Admission Prices: Payment is by tip only. When we went, we decided (before arriving) to tip $5 per person, and considered this to be compensation not for expert opinion, but for the privilege of enjoying the Navajo lands. Open every day except most holidays. On slow days, they may close up shop early. Weekends are busiest.

Bathrooms: No.

Food Services: None. Navajo jewelry vendors are usually present, however.

Website: None. You can find more reviews on Google, however.

Directions: From Flagstaff: Take Highway 89 North, then turn right on 160 toward Tuba City. The location of the village of Moenkopi, and the Dinosaur Tracks site are about a mile on the left. This is 5 miles West of Tuba City, not East, on 160.

Reed Bingham State Park

August 25, 2009 By

542 Reed Bingham Road
Adel , GA

Not quite ready to let go of summer? Reed Bingham State Park “is about three and a half hours from Atlanta…if camping isn’t your thing, it’s also a good place to just get off the road for a bit to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic or even squeeze in a game of mini-golf. In addition to mini-golf, Reed Bingham has a nice playground, beach and boat docks. They also rent bicycles and canoes and offer pontoon boat tours. It’s an excellent place for bird watching or learning more about the resident gopher tortoises. The park staff rehabilitates various animals that are orphaned or left on the property. We were lucky enough to see a hummingbird, bluebird, red-headed woodpecker and even a bobcat kitten!”

Review courtesy of Sue from Field Trips with Sue.

Date last visited: August 2009

Distance off the interstate: Less than 6 miles off I-75.

Hours and Admission Prices: $5 park entrance fee per car (camping fees start at $23)

Website: Reed Bingham State Park

Directions: 6 miles west of Adel on Ga. Hwy. 37 via I-75 exit #39, and 14 miles east of Moultrie from U.S. Hwy. 319.

The Grand Canyon’s Maswik Lodge

August 19, 2009 By
Wooded quad unit at The Maswik Lodge

Wooded quad unit at The Maswik Lodge

 

 

 

The Grand Canyon offers a host of accommodations, but we found the cabins at The Maswik Lodge to offer that perfect balance of convenience, location, and affordability. Located in the heart of the Grand Canyon Village, we were only one-fourth of a mile from the South Rim and shuttle stop. Just to the right was The Bright Angel Lodge (and the start of the Bright Angel Trail), numerous gift shops and lookouts over the rim, and the impressive El Tovar hotel.

The lodge itself is comprised of several sections, including traditional motel-style units in two block buildings, a main lobby, registration, and dining area, unattached cabin units, and quad-style units. The latter two were located just adjacent to the registration building across from the parking. It was wooded and pleasant. Our quad unit had only two downfalls: noise heard through the shared walls, and a lack of air conditioning (a legitimate addition to the ‘con’ list, as we were visiting in July). The price, however, was right at a rate of $90 a night.

We had two double beds, a nice bathroom with shower stall, TV, phone, and ceiling fan. Wireless internet service was available in the lobby and dining building, as well as at an internet kiosk (pay as you go).

We had the chance to try out the Maswik’s cafeteria for both dinner and breakfast. With four separate food stations and many other ala carte items, it was a nice change from table service with kids in tow. Entrees ranged from about $4-8. Finer dining was within walking distance at either The Bright Angel’s Arizona Room or El Tovar. (The Bright Angel also houses a nice ice cream parlor accessible from the Rim Trail.)

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Whoa boy. The Grand Canyon Village within the national park (South Rim) is located only 60 miles North of I-40, but allow extra time for traffic through the park, especially during the summer months.

Hours and Admission Prices: Remember that there is a separate entry fee for the national park, regardless of where you’re staying. It’s currently $25 per car.

Website: www.grandcanyonlodges.com For reservations, call: 888-297-2757.

Directions: From Flagstaff:

Take Interstate 40 West to Williams.
At the Arizona Highway 64 junction turn North.
Proceed to the South entrance of Grand Canyon National Park.
Driving time is approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes; 89 miles.

Driving from Las Vegas, Nevada
Go south on US Highway 93 (over the Hoover Dam) to Kingman, Arizona.
Go East on Interstate 40 to Williams.
At the Arizona Highway 64 junction, turn left (north) and proceed to the south entrance of Grand Canyon National Park.
National Park Service entrance fees apply.
Driving time is approximately 5 hours 30 minutes; 273 miles.

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

August 14, 2009 By
Brick path leading to the Maclay house. Photo courtesy of Florida State Parks.

Brick path leading to the Maclay house. Photo courtesy of Florida State Parks.

3540 Thomasville Rd
Tallahassee, FL

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is a wonderful place to get out and stretch your legs during a long trip. During blooming season, flowers paint the walk with beautiful colors and during the off season you can see every shade of green, says Jennifer of Two Kids and a Map, who brings us this review. I was on a road trip from Pensacola to Jacksonville, Florida with my two children by myself and we desperately needed a pit stop! The kids were getting hungry and anxious and I was tired of listening to the whining. Unfortunately, the exit I chose is awful for quick interstate stops. There are several lanes of traffic and it is difficult to turn around to get back on the Interstate. I spotted the trademark Florida State Park sign and followed it to the entrance. It was a perfect stopping place for us. The children got to run along the path of the gardens and burn off some steam. There was so much to look at: a hidden garden, a lake and a pond, and the beautiful home. The kids enjoyed looking for bugs and eating a picnic lunch on the grounds before we got back on the road.

Date last visited: July, 2009

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 1 half mile off of Interstate 10.

Hours and Admission Prices: $6.00 per vehicle to enter the park. During the blooming months, it is an additional $6.00 an adult and $3.00 a child to enter the gardens. However, during the off season (May through December) touring the gardens is free.

Bathrooms and Food Services: Bathrooms are available and there are picnic areas if you bring your own meal

Other tips: Be sure to get your Real Florida Passport stamped while you are there. You can walk down to the house and back in about 30 minutes if you do not stop too many times!

Website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/MACLAYGARDENS/

Directions: Located one half mile north of I-10 on U.S. 319
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The Original KFC Restaurant

August 8, 2009 By
The original Sanders' Cafe, now a museum

The original Sanders\’ Cafe, now a museum

688 US Hwy 25 W
Corbin, KY

While driving I-75 en route to Disneyworld, Disboards user ‘Disney Janet’ (now of Seattle, WA) stumbled upon the original Kentucky Fried Chicken outside of Corbin KY. “There is a little museum there and it was neat and free. It is definitely one of my strongest memories of our drives down to Florida as a kid.” After touring the museum, grab lunch or dinner and continue on your way!

Date last visited: 2003

Distance off the interstate: 5-10 minutes off of I-75.

Hours and Admission Prices: Free to tour museum. Hours are 10 am to 10 pm.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: That’s what it’s all about at this pitstop!

Website: http://www.corbinkentucky.us/sanderscafe.htm

Directions: Directions: From I-75 take exit 29, go south on 25E one mile, then right on 25w one-half mile. Located at the junction of 25E and 25W in Corbin.

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McArthur Burney Falls State Park

August 3, 2009 By
The inviting pool at the base of the falls.

The inviting pool at the base of the falls.

24898 Hwy 89
Burney, CA

McArthur Burney Falls State Park is one of the nicest state parks I’ve run across in a long time. In northern California’s volcanic country near Lassen National Park, it sits directly on Highway 89 near Burney. After you enter the park, you’ll find a large, shaded picnic area to your right, with parking to the left. Follow the signs to the Burney Falls overlook for an amazing view. 129-feet high, Burney Falls is stunning (and dumps 100 million gallons of water a day!). The 0.3 mile walk to the base of the falls is well worth it; at the bottom, enjoy the soft spray or dip your toes in the freezing water. The basin is a beautiful blue. There’s a loop trail to try if time is permitting (1.3 miles), or just retrace your steps back to the top (0.6 round trip). We picnicked at a nearby table, but wished we’d had enough time for a swim in nearby Lake Britton.

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Located directly on Highway 89, or six miles north of Highway 299.

Admission Prices: $6 per car for day use.

Bathrooms: Located across the street from the day use parking. They looked brand new.

Food Services: A nice general store with all the necessities, plus soft serve ice cream!

Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=455

Directions: Take Highway 89 near Burney. (From Redding, go north on Hwy 299 past Burney and follow signs.)

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Slide Rock State Park

July 29, 2009 By
Slide Rock State Park, July 2009

Slide Rock State Park, July 2009

6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, Arizona

Slide Rock State Park may be a bit further off the beaten path than most pitstops (18 miles from Flagstaff), but it’s a mere five miles from the popular vacation town of Sedona, and well worth any amount of effort.

Slide Rock State Park planning:

Located down Highway 89A along a particularly scenic stretch of Oak Canyon, Slide Rock State Park is exactly what it professes to be: a slippery, natural waterslide. Upon first sight, my kids were awestruck, and quite frankly, so was I. At least a quarter mile of the river is cut so perfectly out of the red rock canyon, it appears man-made. The water pools and eddies around smoothly rounded slabs of granite, creating both slick slides and deep diving holes.

Nate, sliding down a shute.

Nate, sliding down a shute.

There’s about a quarter mile walk from the parking lot to the swimming site. It’s easy to access, but bring good water shoes. I know this is simply common sense, but the rocks are very, very slippery. We fell many times, and saw worse. There’s very little shade, and not much room on the slabs of stone for chairs. We opted to bring only beach towels and a cooler with cold water, which worked out great. We didn’t spend much time out of the water, anyway!

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: 18 miles off I-17 on Hwy 89A from Flagstaff; five miles from Sedona.

Hours and Admission Prices: Slide Rock is a state park, and entry is $10 per car or $2 per person. Hours are sunrise to sunset, but be advised: the park becomes very crowded on hot summer days, and when the parking lot fills, the park is closed. We visited on a Tuesday in July, and were one of the last cars admitted at 11 am. Get there early!

Bathrooms: Near the parking lot.

Food Services: There is a small general store located near a historic homestead en route to the slide (after the parking lot). It was well-stocked with cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks, but don’t plan to get a full lunch here.

Website: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/SLRO/

Directions: From Sedona: Head north on AZ-179 toward Sombart Ln. Turn left to stay on AZ-179, then turn right at N Hwy-89A/AZ-89A.

From Flagstaff: Take AZ-89 toward Sedona. Turn left at S Hwy-89A/AZ-89A. Turn left at N Hwy-89A/AZ-89A.

 

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