beach resorts - Pitstops for Kids

Baja vacation: Cerritos Beach review

April 2, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

During the current Covid environment, face masking and social distancing is necessary everywhere in the world. When traveling to Mexico in spring 2021, testing is required within 72 hours of returning to the U.S. Read on for testing options in Baja.

Located approximately one hour north of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja peninsula of Mexico, Cerritos Beach is a laidback surf town perfect for a relaxed, socially-distant Baja vacation. Our Cerritos Beach review includes where to stay, where to eat, and what to do.

Cerritos Beach review:

Cerritos Beach is right of Highway 19 north of busy Cabo, down a dirt road. Yep, you’ll go from the highway immediately to dirt. No worries…this is Baja. Within this small surf community, you’ll find amazing food, great bars with low prices, and plenty of vacation rentals, Airbnbs, and studio rooms to rent. The beach is casual and fun, with amenities such as surf lessons, surfboard and boogie board rentals, and beachfront food. While sitting at the beach, you can order guacamole made-to-order, fresh cerviche, cold beers, and even a massage…all for roughly half what you’d spend on a beach in the States.

Where to stay:

We found this ideal AirBnb at Puesta del Sol, in the Sunrise complex on Cerritos Beach. I highly recommend it; it was only a five-minute walk to the beach, came with two surfboards, three beach umbrellas, three beach chairs, several coolers, plenty of beach towels, and a wagon to pull them all in. Directly downstairs from our two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with rooftop lounging space and BBQ was a pool and bar (with lunch and dinner), and within a two minute walk were two other restaurants. We had everything we needed (once we’d made a stop at a grocery store between the Cabo airport and Cerritos).

There are plenty of other vacation rentals in the immediate area. We also recommend Barefoot Luxury Seaside Cerritos and the smaller huts right on the beach (check Airbnb).

Where to eat:

Where NOT to eat?? You can’t go wrong, honestly. The number one recommendation that we wholeheartedly endorse: definitely try Barracuda’s, located right next door to Puesta del Sol, directly up the dirt road from the beach. They have the best $2 tacos ever, plus wonderful margaritas and ‘surfers burritos’ big enough for two meals. The ambiance is wonderful too: all open-air in a garden-like setting.

Freesouls Cerritos Beach is also within a two-minute walk, featuring pizzas with ocean views and a pool to dip into while waiting for your food. Ditto for Riptide Bar and Grill, up the hill by the historic Hacienda (which you can usually tour, but was closed to the public at the time of our visit). And directly below our rooms at Sunrise, the Casa Maya had the hands-down best sushi and sushimi we’ve had in a very long time.

Cerritos Beach review: where to eat in Cerritos Beach Mexico

You can get cold beer and fresh cocktails at all of these locations, plus virgin drinks for the kids, and ice cream on the beach.

What to do in Cerritos Beach:

You’ll probably want to simply chill by the beach, pool, or on your personal rooftop in a hammock, but when you’re ready, there’s plenty to do. Surf lessons are about $50 for 1.5 hours, or you can get a massage on the beach for $40/hour. You can swim, surf, or boogie board (but remember that this is a surf beach, so waves can be sizable at times).

The town of Todos Santos is about 15 minutes north, offering fun shopping and more dining, and you can take just about any public dirt road toward the coastline and find more pristine beaches. From December to March, turtles are released on the beach in Todos Santos nightly; after mid-March, the releases are only every few days.

While Covid testing is required to re-enter the United States, Mexico offeres several testing options. The most affordable we found was to drive the short distance to Todos Santos where we received rapid tests at St. Jude’s for $50 U.S. each.

Cerritos Beach review: What to do in Cerritos Beach Mexico

You can drive the hour across the peninsula to La Paz to see the other coastline, but we were content to stay in Cerritos and Todos Santos, enjoying the sun, surf, and sand.

Have you been to Cerritos Beach? What are your recommendations?

Rustic Elegance on the Coast at the Iron Springs Resort

February 28, 2019 By Sharlene Earnshaw

Located on the rugged Olympic Peninsula in Washington about 3 hours southwest of Seattle, the Iron Springs Resort is a luxurious but rustic resort that is a perfect way for families to experience true Pacific Northwest elements in total comfort. Many families who stay here find themselves repeat visitors and it is easy to see how vacationing here could become a family tradition.

About the Resort:

There are 25 different cabins options, with some that can be combined to sleep up to 20 people and each cabin boasts wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, chairs made from vintage Pendleton blankets and spectacular ocean views. We stayed in Cabin 12 and had ample room for a family of four and we probably could have fit another family comfortably with us for our stay. The kitchen was well-stocked with utensils and it was easy to make all of our meals. A guidebook in the room told us about the area, listed the movies and games available at the General Store and gave us a history of the resort; this thoughtful handbook was a great resource and helped us feel connected to the area. We also checked out Cabin 15 and it had spectacular views. The woodbin outside the cabin is stocked daily with a fresh supply to burn so we could have a fire burning all day long if we wanted to. It was so relaxing to read while the kids played games on a table in front of a roaring fire.

The Best Time to Visit:

Although the summer offers warm weather and more chance of sun, October begins clamming season. The timing depends on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife but there are usually guided clam digs available throughout the fall season for families who want to learn how to clam. Storms also sound pretty spectacular to watch from the resort-apparently the waves crash quite close to the cabins. We experienced some heavy rain when we visited but still felt warm and comfortable by the crackling fire indoors.

What to Bring:

We packed all our food for a two-nights’ stay. Easy meals for a trip like this are tacos or burritos, pasta and sauce, hot dogs and salad, and breakfast items like eggs and toast and oatmeal. I forgot cheese for our burritos but was able to get some from the General Store which was stocked with many food and beverage items. You can also buy the resort’s famous cinnamon buns to make in your cabin-we tried them and they were delicious and the aroma from them baking in our oven made the whole place smell heavenly! There was a charcoal grill on our deck if we wanted to barbecue but we ended up roasting our hot dogs and s’mores over the fire. We were thankful we packed waterproof pants, rain jackets, rubber boots and sand toys. There is a big creek near the resort that feeds into the ocean and the kids loved splashing in the water in their boots, building sand castles and making dams for hours. The waterproof clothing helped keep us all dry and the sand toys kept the kids entertained. Having a 4×4 vehicle is also fun here because you can drive on the beach here too! Ask at the General Store where the access is, but it’s about a mile up the road. If you have a dog they are incredibly welcome at this resort too!

About the area:

We thought we might drive to nearby Ocean Shores or Seabrook where there are cafes, stores and restaurants but we were totally content just hanging out at the resort-maybe if we were there for a longer stay. The only place we ventured to was the Resort’s hike that starts just across the street from the entrance and brought us on a 30-minute jaunt through the woods where we marveled at all the giant trees.

Iron Springs is an amazing relaxing family getaway and we are already talking about coming back with my sister and her family next year. There is a “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” Special on through October 2016 and cabins average around $219 a night for a family of 4.

About the author: Terumi Pong lives in Seattle with her husband and twin boys. She writes about her daily life which consists of bakeries, coffee, shopping and trying to keep up with her family on crazy adventures at An Emerald City Life www.anemeraldcitylife.com.

Our contributor was a guest of Iron Springs Resort, for the purpose of review.

Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico with kids

April 21, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

There’s a reason I keep writing about vacationing in Puerto Rico with kids: this destination is affordable and convenient to reach from many points in the US and Canada. Within just a few hours, families can be on tropical beaches and exploring a different culture, without even needing a passport (for US citizens).

If you’re planning a Puerto Rico vacation, we have another great resort pick for you: Bahia Beach Resort, located on the northeast coast along two miles of pristine beach. Bahia Beach lodging ranges from home rentals to the luxury of the St. Regis, with activities to keep your schedule packed your entire stay (though definitely reserve some time to explore further afield as well…see below).

Our top activity picks at Bahia Beach:

Bahia Beach activities range from relaxing to adventurous. Right on property, families can access golf, tennis, and miles of beach, as well as swimming pools and a kids’ club.

Hit the beach (and the pools): The two miles of white sandy beaches at Bahia can be accessed all year long, but for the poolside fans, there’s also a beach club with pool (and access to the sand), cabanas, a bar, and full poolside food services. When in Puerto Rico with kids, I recommend at least one or two full days dedicated to water and waves…find chairs or a cabana and camp out here from breakfast until dinner!

Go jump in a lake: Or rather, kayak on one! Yes, there’s a lake at Bahia Beach. At the Boathouse, get a kayak or canoe to explore 70 acres of canals and lakes on the resort’s grounds. Also accessible is the Espiritu Santo River, with mangroves and a wide variety of bird species. Families can also fish, paddle board, sail, or windsurf on the lake.

Take a day trip: Day trips to other points on Puerto Rico can be arranged at Bahia Beach, in some cases even eliminating the need to rent a car. Families can visit Old San Juan, which is located nearby and explore El Yunque, the sub-tropical rainforest at the eastern end of Puerto Rico. If you visit, start at the El Portal Visitors Center to get an introduction to the rainforest with exhibits and a film. From there, check out the Cloud Forest on the La Roca Trail, or discover waterfalls while hiking (I suggest a private tour to see the best sites).

Iguana Kids Club: Set the kids up at the Iguana Kids’ Club at Bahia Beach, and have a little adult time on the sand, in the pools, or dining out. Kids’ clubs vary greatly from property to property, so we always recommend visiting in person with your child before making definitive plans. What I like about Iguana Kids’ Club: it’s located primarily outdoors, under a pavilion, which just makes sense to me in a destination such as Puerto Rico. Ages 4-12 are accepted, and staff takes kids outside of the club regularly, whether on nature walks, for bird or turtle feeding, or for scavenger hunts. When kids’ clubs never take kids out of doors, I run from them fast! Of course, there will be some indoor moments, during which the club is equipped with fun inside gear such as board games, a Wii station, movies, a reading area, kitchenette, and arts and crafts materials.

Have you been to Puerto Rico? What are your go-to activities?

Where to stay in Parksville, BC: Tigh-Na-Mara Resort and Spa

September 4, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

The first thing my kids noticed upon entering the grounds of Parksville BC‘s Tigh-Na-Mara Beach Resort was the pool house. Then the kids’ club space. Then the playground and the basketball and tennis court. Finally, they spotted the beach access leading to one of Parksville’s famous warm sand beaches. The first thing I noticed was the Cedars restaurant and Grotto Spa. To say Tigh-Na-Mara has it all is a true understatement, however, because what they don’t have on-site, they bring to their guests in the form of off-site activities and family excursions.

Our accommodations at Tigh-Na-Mara consisted of a two-bedroom log cabin adjacent to the tennis courts and playground (and just steps from beach access). The cabin was bigger than I expected, with a nice living room area with fireplace and flat screen TV, full kitchen with a dining table for four, and a futon-bed in addition to the queen bed in the first bedroom and two twins in the second. We also had a nice porch and picnic table. Other cabin loops are more secluded, but farther from the beach and playground, so families will need to assess priorities.

Parksville beaches are a phenomenon, or at least seemed so to us, used to beaches in the states: the tide varies by full kilometers here, so at low tide, the. Tigh-Na-Mara beach is over a kilometer in length from the resort to the water (bring something to haul your stuff, and chairs…the sand is constantly damp), but at high tide, the water laps the shore steps from the path, and is incredibly warm for the Northwest. Both high and low tide make for fun beach-going.

When not at the beach, Tigh-Na-Mara offers a drop-in kids’ club for no additional charge (a huge value) and an entire schedule of family off and on-site activities families can sign up for (additional charge). We participated in Twilight Golf, which was held at Morningstar Golf Course nearby. This activity, fully set up by the resort, included a private golf lesson for the family members with a Canadian PGA pro and plenty of time on the driving range. A Tigh-Na-Mara recreation staff member drove us to and from, and had the adults wished to spend the time in the spa (more on that to come) or the Cedars Restaurant, a rec staff member would have stayed with the kids (we opted to stay and watch). Adults are welcome to join the lesson, too! At $39 per person, Twilight Golf is a good value, and would be a perfect evening before setting up a full nine or 18 holes the next day.

The following morning, we consulted our resort schedule again and my mom (along with us for the trip) joined the kids for Tigh-Na-Mara’s Underwater Exploration of nearby tide pools with a marine expert while I enjoyed a day pass at the Grotto Spa. While they learned about intertidal wildlife in the sunshine, I treated myself to BC’s only mineral spa pool and hot tub (heavenly, if you’re wondering) and an hour in their relaxation room with complimentary tea, coffee, and fruit.

Tip: Check the resort’s activity schedule online when you book to sign up for popular activities beforehand. The kids’ club can be more spontaneous, but advanced notice is useful. Kids have to be potty trained to attend the club and activities without a parent, but can attend at any age with an adult. One on one babysitting is also available.

Date last visited:

July 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Only minutes from Canada’s BC-19.

Rates:

At the time of our visit, rates for a two-bedroom log cabin started at $380. Packages and deals abound, however, especially in the non-peak season of summer.

Dining options:

The Cedars offers fine dining, but kids eat free with adults from 5-6 pm, and they offer pizza delivery as well. In the morning,a pancake breakfast is $7.95 per person. We ordered a few pizzas during our stay and made use of our kitchen. Additional Parksville dining is only minutes away by car.

Directions:

Tigh-Na-Mara is located at 1155 Resort Drive in Parksville. From BC-19, take Island Highway to Resort Drive.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced Tigh-Na-Mara and the Grotto spa at no charge, for the purpose of review. While I appreciate this opportunity (and the opportunity to share it with my readers), it came with no expectation of a positive review.

Parksville on Dwellable