hiking with kids - Pitstops for Kids

What to do in Park City in the summer with kids

June 20, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Park City, Utah is truly a year-round resort town. It’s one of our Best Ski Town picks, but that doesn’t mean families shouldn’t visit during summer months: on our visit in June 2013, Main Street was bustling, and parking was challenging to find. Restaurants and bars were hopping, and some shops were open late. Summer in Park City offers much more than just town life, however. Read on to learn what to do in Park City in the summer with kids:

1. Mountain biking:

Mountain bike single track trails can be found throughout the Park City area and surrounding mountainsides, but Canyons Resort sports the only gravity-based, lift-accessed bike park. Novices through experts will be challenged here with rollers, jumps, and switchbacks on downhill trails of every level. Bike rentals (and costs) can be found at Canyon Mountain Rentals. Read our full review of mountain biking at Canyons.

2. Hiking and fishing:

At Canyons Resort, well-marked, designated hiking trails take ambitious hikers as high as Ninety-Nine 90 Peak; on the Fantasy Ridge trail (access from Tombstone trail) or beginners can easily trek to Alpine Lake on the Alpine Lake trail. (Paddleboats can also be rented on Alpine Lake, but don’t let the name deceive you: this body of water is more like a large pond. Kids will enjoy seeing the large trout in the waters, however.)

3. Utah Olympic Park activities:

The site of the bobsled, ski jump, and additional winter Olympic sports during the Salt Lake City games, the Utah Olympic Park has lots for non-Olympic hopefuls to do as well. Families can tour the free museum, take a tour of the facilities (which includes the chance to stare down the distance of the ski jump), and watch Olympic training in progress. There’s also three zip lines, a three-level high ropes course, and an alpine slide. Parents can buy experiences a la carte, or give kids access to all three activities for $40…a great deal! In the busiest summer months, expect some wait times, but staff and instructional support staff are very friendly here.

4. Exploring Park City’s Main Street:

Shopping is fun even for the kids in Park City, with ample touristy t-shirt shops to check out, bookstores, and candy stores. Adults will find gallery-quality art and collectables as well. Have dinner at our favorite, Main Street Pizza and Noodle Company, then stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for ice cream or a caramel apple for dessert.

5. Mini Golf or Disc Golf:

Do both in one day at The Canyons: mini golf is located at the base and open from 10 am to 5 pm in summer, and disc golf is located at mid-mountain, starting at the Red Pine Lodge. Get tickets to either in the base area, and plan to wear sunscreen for either high mountain outdoor activity!

Wondering where to stay in Park City? Check out our reviews of Hyatt Escala, Westgate Park City, and The Grand Summit, all of which offer great outdoor pools and on-site recreation.

What to do in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with kids

August 27, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island’s scenic west coast is a must-do for families visiting Vancouver Island. The park is divided in to three sections: Long Beach, Broken Island Group, and West Coast Trail. The Broken Island Group is off-shore, and accessible only by guided kayak tour if you’re inexperienced (and best for older children of at least 12 years old), and the West Coast Trail is a multi-day backpacking experience, but Long Beach provides less ambitious families with lots to do.

1. Pacific Rim National Park’s K’isitis Visitor Centre: This interpretive center is exceptionally well done, and is located just a few miles into the park at Wickaninnish Beach. With displays on the area’s First Nations history, including whaling traditions, and nature information on the park’s local intertidal and ocean inhabitants, this is a great first stop before exploring the rest of the park on your own. Information about the park’s nature and hiking trails are also found here, as well as a nice First Nations gift shop and cafe (open seasonally). Wickaninnish Beach is steps away, where families can picnic and kids can watch the surfers and build forts out of driftwood.

2. Willowbrae Trail: Willowbrae is a good hike for young children that leads through old growth forest to (another) spectacular beach. Located south of the visitor center on Highway 4 toward the town of Ucluelet, you’ll find the Willowbrae trailhead up a dirt drive off the right-hand side of the road. Park adjacent to campground parking, and head down the 2.8 km round trip trail. It’s only slightly steep (both up and down) but there are steep steps at the end, when you’re descending to the beach. The beach itself has moderate surf, but the draw here is the abundance of driftwood to play on, climb, and create with.

3. Rainforest Trail: Families actually get two for the price of one on this interpretive trail of two loops, each with different signage teaching kids about the temperate rain forest. Loop A explains forest life cycles and Loop B emphasizes forest inhabitants such as the salmon who spawn here.

4. Meares Island: This First Nations maintained island right off the coast of Tofino sports a cedar-plank boardwalk winding its way through the tangled forest, leading families to some of the oldest cedar trees in the area (800-1600 years old). To access the island, it’s necessary to hire a boat ride to Meares with Remote Passages or other Tofino water taxi operations.

What to skip: While all of Pacific Rim is beautiful, the trail to 3rd Beach is slightly less scenic than others, and locals let me know that visitors frequently get lost on Radar Hill. (More information on Pacific Rim National Park hiking trails.)

Tip: Be sure to purchase a park pass when entering the park. It will be good for 24 hours (3 day passes are also available), but less advertised is the option of a 4-hour pass. If you think you’ll only be passing through the park with one or two stops, this might be for you!

Hiking in Tofino BC: Visiting Meares Island with Remote Passages

August 22, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

For families looking for a budget-friendly Tofino excursion or are simply low on time, Remote Passages offers a 1.5 hour round-trip Vancouver Island hiking adventure of Big Tree Trail on nearby Meares Island.

Hiking in Tofino:

Located just a few fun Zodiac boat turns from the Remote Passages boat dock, Meares Island is uninhabited and protected by a local First Nations land conservation agency. Remote Passages (and several other local outfits, including Tofino Water Taxi) will drop passengers off at the start of a 400 meter (approximately 1/4 mile) boardwalk, which families follow self-guided as it winds deep into the temperate rain forest.

The boardwalk is old in some places (originally built in the ’80s and quite weather-beaten), new in others (you can smell the fresh cedar), so kids shouldn’t run. We saw one visitor put his foot straight through a rotted plank. We met several of the First Nations Meares Island protectors while we hiked; they were working on upgrades to the boardwalk, and were very eager to tell us about their work preserving this island. The way can be slippery at times, unstable in others, and always majestically beautiful. For young kids, it truly feels like an adventure, and older kids will enjoy the constant challenge of the walk.

As you go, you’re looking for several points of interest. Near the start of the boardwalk stands a 900-year-old red cedar, and farther along, a small creek crossing leads to a set of stairs and a small lookout over a narrow bay. Look for kayakers coming in to hike the island here. A little farther on, you arrive at the end of the trail, which features the oldest cedar: 1600 years old. It’s called the Hanging Garden, and it’s easy to see why: trees are shooting out of this tree, and dropping from nearly all branches are ferns and other beautiful hanging plants. The sunlight filters through, and it’s truly a awe-inspiring sight.

Remote Passages gives visitors 1.5 hours to tour the island, which may be a bit long, since the boardwalk really only takes 45 minutes to tour, and visitors are asked not to explore off the walk (in order to preserve vegetation). Our kids enjoyed navigating part of the boardwalk a second time while we waited, or you could find a spot in the sun (or under the canopy of trees out of the rain, as they case may be) by the docking area.

Tip: Be sure to pack all trash out, and don’t allow children to climb on the trunks of the trees; they’re working hard to protect them. Bring rain gear or light jackets, but this is a great activity for when the weather is rainy; the canopy will shield you! The boat ride to and from is only 5 minutes, but will be a thrill for young kids if they haven’t experienced the small and fast Zodiac boat yet.

Date last visited:

July 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 4 in Tofino.

Rates:

The Meares Island transfer is a quite affordable way to have a fun boat ride and great hike you can’t access otherwise. At the time of my visit, rates were $20 per person for the drop-off/pick-up for kids and adults. If you’re more ambitious, Remote Passages offers a half-day kayaking tour that includes a guided walk through Meares Island. Kids don’t have to be strong paddlers, but should be old enough to spend the whole morning or afternoon on the water.

Directions:

Find Remote Passages at the bottom of Wharf Street at Meares Landing, right in the heart of Tofino.

As I disclose whenever applicable, my family and I experienced Meares Island at no charge, for the purpose of review. While I appreciate this opportunity to pass on information to my readers, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

Tofino on Dwellable

Top 10 family hiking trails in Utah

August 2, 2012 By Sharlene Earnshaw

It’s difficult to select only ten great family hiking trails in Utah, but the trails in Utah’s national parks are especially good places for families to explore the natural wonders of the world together. These are my family’s favorite trails from each of Utah’s national parks.

I use two criteria for determining whether a hike is family-friendly. First, the hike must be easy enough for a preschooler to walk on his own. My five-year-old has walked nearly all of these trails in the past two years. Second, the hike must be worthwhile for everyone in the family. If I’m going to spend the time and money to travel to a national park, I want to see what makes it special.

Zion National Park

1. Weeping Rock

I have visited Zion National Park dozens of times and there were few visits when I didn’t hike to Weeping Rock. This short, paved trail leads visitors to an alcove in the canyon wall where water drips continuously through the sandstone in front, creating a hanging garden in the desert. The alcove also provides a spectacular view of Zion Canyon.

2. Emerald Pools

This is my eight-year-old daughter’s favorite hike. Families will discover three waterfall-fed pools along this trail. The one-mile stroller-friendly walk to the Lower Pool is worthwhile on its own. The last third-mile between the Middle Pool and the Upper Pool is rugged and strenuous, but the Upper Pool is the best of the three.

Bryce Canyon National Park

3. Rim Trail from Sunrise to Sunset Point

The entire Rim Trail is about 5.5 miles one way, but it has several entry and exit points, so it’s easy for families to customize their experience. The half-mile between Sunrise and Sunset Points is flat and paved and gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs while appreciating some of the best scenery in Bryce Canyon.

4. Navajo Loop

This 1.3-mile loop starts and ends at Sunset Point. The trail descends dramatically through the hoodoos to the floor of Bryce Canyon. The walk back uphill is strenuous, but there is no reason to rush through scenery this beautiful. Even an amateur photographer like me can’t take a bad picture here

Capitol Reef National Park

5. Capitol Gorge

This two-mile flat, unpaved trail was the main highway through Capitol Reef until 1964. Petroglyphs and the signatures of Mormon pioneers in the rock walls indicate that it had been used this way for a long time. At the end of the trail, take the short, steep trail to see natural water tanks in the rocks where rainwater collects in the desert.

6. Hickman Bridge

Two natural bridges, an ancient Fremont dwelling, and magnificent scenery are a pretty good return on your investment in this 2.5-mile hike. Pick up a printed trail guide before you start to fully appreciate all this hike has to offer.

Canyonlands National Park

7. Mesa Arch

The payoff for this hilly half-mile hike is an arch that frames endless canyons behind it. There are unfenced cliffs at the end, but there is plenty of room to enjoy the view without going near the drop-off.

8. White Rim Overlook

We often have this trail’s spectacular panoramas to ourselves because it isn’t well-marked from the road. Look for a marked picnic area just down the road from the Island in the Sky visitor center. Signs for the trailhead are inside the picnic area. There are unfenced cliffs at the end of this trail, but there is a shady place to sit and plenty of space to enjoy the view without getting too close to the edge.

Arches National Park

9. Sand Dune Arch

The first time my husband and I hiked this short, flat and sandy trail, we found a family relaxing in the shade near the trailhead with their camp chairs, picnic, and sand toys. We haven’t hiked this trail with our kids yet, but we’re coming prepared with the same equipment when we do.

10. Delicate Arch

None of the many photos of this iconic arch compare with the experience of seeing it in person. The three-mile hike across exposed sandstone can be challenging, but the perfect photo ops and the opportunity to walk right up to Delicate Arch is worth it. Plan to hang on to young children at the end because there are some scary drop-offs once you get to the arch, but not before.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to hike in all of these parks, though Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands are a little cooler and Zion has a river in which to cool off. Winter is a great time to hike to Delicate Arch.

I grew up visiting Utah’s national parks and now I enjoy sharing them with my family. Make them a part of your family memories too.

Allison Laypath is a family travel writer at tipsforfamilytrips.com, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She and her husband took their first child on a two-week road trip at four-weeks-old and they have been traveling as a family ever since. Allison loves all types of travel, but especially road trips, national parks and travel within her home state of Utah.

Seeking ohana in Kauai’s quiet spaces

January 26, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

This post is sponsored by The Hawaiian Islands, where you could be Living in the Moment on the Island of Kauai.

Miles past the smattering of resorts, tourist destinations, and restaurants dotting Kauai’s scenic coastline, a rusted pick-up truck sits at the end of a dirt drive, waiting to be loaded with the week’s mango crop. My three-year-old nephew, barefooted and shirtless, hefts one in, grinning as it rolls loudly across the dented truck bed. His mother snaps a photo, catching the blur of his hibiscus-patterned swim trucks against the backdrop of the truck’s rainbow-tinted plates.

It’s their second day of vacation on Kauai’s North Shore, during which they’re staying at North Country Farms in Kilauea, just one of many tucked-away places in which families can slow down and find peace in the Garden Isle. A family-owned and operated organic farm, North Country Farms offers more than just a place to lay one’s head: it’s a quiet respite for adults that simultaneously provides endless entertainment for children. Their two guest cottages include dining areas and kitchenettes, and throughout their stay, kids and adults alike are encouraged to pick all the fruit desired from the surrounding orchards.

Down nearby (and ridiculously scenic) Kuhio Highway, additional genuinely Hawaiian experiences await (though I’ve heard there’s a killer shaved ice stand en route). Kids will appreciate the short commute to the sanctuary of the Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge, where the slopes of an extinct volcano provide able space to run and play and spot green turtles, monk seals, and even humpback whales.

Up the shore, the Na Aina Kai botanical gardens include playgrounds for little ones amid 240 acres of gardens, forests, and beaches. Bring a picnic meal to enjoy at a North Shore beach afterward; Anini and Ke’e are rarely crowded. (Ke’e is perhaps the calmest we’ve seen, making it perfect for babies and toddlers.)

Of course, the most hidden-away spots on Kauai can’t be reached by car. For a moderate hike even the youngest island visitors can manage (while still yielding big rewards), leave Ke’e beach to join the adjacent Kalalau Trail. Two miles in, families will be treated with Hanakapi’ai Beach, where shallow creeks and caves demand exploration.

Evening meals can be had back in the town of Kilauea, where the local fish market promises the freshest catch. Afterward, the sunset over the volcanic rock of the coastline beckons. Kids go to bed tired and get up with the sun on the Garden Isle, but that’s ok: back at North Shore Farms, the roosters will be crowing, anyway, and the organic coffee’s perking.

Searching for Bigfoot on Collings Mountain

January 9, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

On a dreary but warm day in January, we skipped the ski slopes to brave a wintery hike skirting Applegate Lake near Ruch, Oregon. Our destination? A bona fide Bigfoot trap. Located along the Collings Mountain trail in the Rogue River National Forest, the trap is located on a low rise one-half mile into the hike, off a short spur trail (next to a long-destroyed caretakers’s cabin). The only one of its kind in the world, it resembles a huge wooden box with trap door, now securely bolted open.

The trap was built by ‘researchers’ in 1973 to aid in the capture a Sasquatch, reportedly seen in this area since the 1890s, and was definitely a bit of a thrill to see! The brush is heavy here with madrone, sagebrush, and scrub pine, and with the low-hanging fog tendrils persistent in winter, it was also a bit eerie! Either way, it was by far the coolest thing my kids have hiked into the forest to see.

The fun doesn’t have to end at the trap, however. Another .3 miles further along the main trail, you’ll find the remains of a spectator’s tunnel dug out of the side of the mountain slope. The tunnel is constructed in a short ‘U’ shape (though as my seven-year-old noted, ‘probably too small for Bigfoot to fit into’). If you want to keep your round trip hike under two miles, reverse your course here, returning the way you came. If you’re still game, however, continuing on takes you up a ridge to a summit with a nice overlook of the lake and valley below. We went this far (about 1.5 miles total), and turned around, making our total hike approximately 3 miles. Should you want to make a day of it, however, you can complete a loop instead; the trail continues another 2.9 miles past the summit to Watkins Campground, where you’ll need to hike another 3.5 miles along the paved road back to your car.

Date last visited: January 2, 2012

Distance from the interstate: Approximately 40 minutes from I-5 in Central Point, Oregon, and 10 minutes from Highway 238 in Jacksonville.

Hours of operation: The hike is accessible year round.

Admission cost: None.

Dining options: None, but the Bigfoot site makes for a perfect picnic location!

Directions: From I-5, take the Central Point (from the north) or Phoenix (from the south) exit and follow signage to Jacksonville. Once on Highway 238 in Jacksonville, continue to Ruch, then take Upper Applegate 15 miles to Applegate Lake. Go one mile past the dam. The trailhead is located across the road from Hart-Tish park and boat ramp.

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 19): Hiking in Zion Canyon

July 15, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Foot path bridge to national park entrance booth.

We devoted Day 19 to morning hikes in Zion National Park and the afternoon to floating along the Virgin River behind our room at the Cliffrose Lodge.

We began our day at the visitor’s center, where we consulted the shuttle route (also found in the park newsletter) and planned our hike to the Emerald Pools on the Zion Lodge shuttle stop.

The Emerald Pools is a great hike for kids because you can adjust it to your needs/abilities. There are three pools on the trail: the lower pool is only .6 mile from the trailhead (although it does climb quite a bit), or the second pool is only 1 mile. From either of these, ambitious families can continue to the third pool (another .5 mile) or return. When we visited in July, the pools weren’t much to look at, but the dripping water from the overhangs of rock were very impressive (and a great way to cool off!).

The kids catch spring water in their hats at the first of three Emerald Pools.

Weeping Rock is another easy hike for kids, which my boys explored with a ranger as part of their Junior Ranger curriculum. This trail is short (.4 mile) but steep, and very beautiful. Definitely worth a stop!

For more daring families (or more likely, adults), try the Angel’s Landing trail from the Grotto shuttle stop. A strenuous 2 mile hike up the canyon, this trail ends at the top and affords amazing views of Zion. From there, hikers can continue an additional .5 mile up the sandstone rock utilizing chain supports. This section of the trail follows a knife-edge of path with drop-offs on either side. If you’re at all fearful of heights, you can skip this last section (I did).

Final section of the climb to Angel\’s Landing.

Note: We did not take our kids on the Angel’s Landing trail. Our older two (11 and eight) could have climbed the first 2 miles, but the last .5 really is not appropriate for anyone under age 14-15, in our opinion. This final climb involves sharing a tight space of trail with many others, hanging onto a chain, and strenuous climbing (drops offs stretch to 1400 feet). Of course, use your own judgment with your children (we did see a few attempting it), but we felt safer saving this hike for when they are teens.

Extra Tip: Due to Zion’s high temperatures, we embarked on all hikes by 8 am and returned to our pool/air-conditioning/river by 1 pm. It appeared that most other families did this as well. In addition, water bottle filling stations are available at most shuttle stops. You’ll need to drink lots of water, and the stations are a fun way to get kids involved in filling bottles!

Date last visited: July 2010.

Distance off the interstate: About 30 minutes from I-15 off Hwy 9.

Bathrooms: Pit toilets are located at most shuttle stops.

Food Services: Zion Lodge (shuttle stop) serves all meals. There’s also a quick service ice cream and snack location on-site. The visitor’s center at the entrance to the park has a convenience store nearby. The Grotto (shuttle stop) has a nice picnic area.

Directions: Zion National Park is located on Hwy 9 in Springdale, Utah. From I-15, follow signs onto Hwy 9.

Up Next: We arrive in Laguna Beach, CA and explore the lesser-known kid-friendly locations in Orange County.

Multnomah Falls

May 18, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Multnomah Falls
Oregon

It’s hard to miss Multnomah Falls when traveling I-84, but you really need to stop and see it up close to appreciate its 620 foot height. And this pitstop doesn’t have to take a lot of time. From the parking lot, walk under the road through the pedestrian tunnel to the lodge and base of the falls (amazingly, even with a spectacular waterfall yards away, my kids were still more enticed by the tiny creek that runs the length of the parking lot¦go figure!). You can view the falls right from here, but to get the kids some much needed exercise, I’d suggest taking the fairly easy, short hiking trail up to Benson Bridge (midway up the falls). If you have even more time and energy, the trail to the top of the waterfall is worth the effort, but keep in mind that it’s steep (with switchbacks) and over a mile long. A historical center resides inside the lodge, by the gift shop (yes, of course there’s a gift shop! It’s a nice one, though!). …read more»