Cantrall Buckley County Park

Wading in the river at Cantrall Buckley.

Cantrall Road
Ruch, Oregon

If you’re exploring the pioneer town of Jacksonville (10 minutes off I-5) and have more time to spend, drive out into the Applegate Valley and visit Cantrall Buckley County Park. Set on the shores of the Applegate River, Cantrall Buckley has a long, sloping lawn and picnic areas. The river is slow-moving in this area and great for wading, minnow-fishing (bring nets!) and inner tubing or rafting. Wear water shoes (the pebbles on the river bottom are slippery!) and bring cash for the $4 parking fee.

Toby finding crawdads and minnows!

There’s a little playground right across the road from the river as well. It’s an older one, so be careful of hot metal in the summertime. Dogs welcome on a leash.

Date last visited: September 2009

Distance off the interstate: 30 minutes

Hours and Admission Prices: $4 admission to the county park, open sunrise to sunset.

Bathrooms: Located by the playground.

Dogs welcome!

Food Services: None. There’s a fun drive-through ice cream and coffee stand in nearby Ruch, or better yet, hold off and eat hamburgers and onion rings at Jasper’s, located on California Street in Jacksonville (on the way back out to I-5).

Directions: From I-5: Take the Phoenix/Jacksonville exit (south of Medford). Turn right on US Hwy 99 to South Stage Road. Left on South Stage to Jacksonville. Turn right at E California St/OR-238 W and continue 9 miles. Turn left at Hamilton Rd, then take the 2nd right onto Cantrall Rd. Follow signs.

This post part of Photo Friday at www.deliciousbaby.com!

Del Mar Motel on the Beach

View of the motel from our spot on the beach (2005)

1702 Coast Bvld.
Del Mar, CA

The San Diego area is a family vacation wonderland (Legoland and SeaWorld, anyone?) and Del Mar Motel on the Beach is a wonderful option for your accommotions, often overlooked in travel magazines and guidebooks. There are countless luxury hotels scattered throughout Del Mar, and in comparision, Del Mar Motel on the Beach is a no-frills operation (although it’s hardly in the typical ‘motel’ category), but it’s perfect for families who want a low-key place where kids are welcome and sand on the carpet is no big deal. With only 44 rooms, Del Mar on the Beach has a cozy, old-time beach resort feel, and with its communal walkways and patios, it felt homey to us. Our boys loved the beach right outside our door, and even though our youngest was a baby at the time, our room was large enough to easily accommodate a port-a-crib.

Date last visited: June 2005 (recently researched to fact check all info).

Distance off the interstate: 5 minutes.

Amenities: Location, location, location. Did I mention it’s right on the beach? It’s also within easy walking distance of local restaurants and a nice playground (about a quarter of mile away) overlooking the ocean. On site is a nice sundeck with chairs, BBQ area, outdoor shower to get all that sand off little (and big) feet, and boogie boards and sand toys available. In room, you have refrigerators and coffee makers as well as air conditioning and cable TV.

Rates: Rates get steeper during the summer months, but remain quite reasonable in the off-season. Consider a late September/early October visit! Winter rates for a room with two double beds: $159/night. Summer rate: $279/night (at time of this review) They do offer mid-week deals and special packages that are worth checking out!

Food Services: None at the motel, but all of the cuisine of Del Mar is at your fingertips. For families, there are seveal great cafes right up the street (especially for a late breakfast before hitting the beach), and if you get away for a night for grown-ups only, our pick is Jake’s, fun, fine dining right on the sand.

Website: www.delmarmotelonthebeach.com

Directions: From I-5 South, take the Via de la Valle Exit toward Del Mar. Turn right on Via de la Valle, then left on Camino Del Mar. Turn right on Coast Blvd. From I-5 North, take the Del Mar Heights Road Exit. Turn left on Del Mar Heights Rd, then right on Camino del Mar. Turn left on 15th Street, then right on Coast Blvd.

View Larger Map

ScienceWorks Hands On Museum

Dream Cycles kinetic sculpture outside of ScienceWorks

Dream Cycles kinetic sculpture outside of ScienceWorks

1500 East Main Street
Ashland, OR

Sometimes, I’m guilty of forgetting to feature all the excellent pit stops in my own backyard! ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum sits just west of I-5 in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. With both permanent and limited-time (featured) exhibits, there’s always something new (and something for every age, from preschool to adult). Explore the Bubble-ology Room, the Pedal-Powered Railroad, the Shadow Wall, and the Water Rocket, or sit down and relax while your little ones play in Discovery Island, filled with water tables, a playhouse full of pulleys and levers, and Coconut Hollow, a forest of trees that launch air-powered balls through vacuum tubes to different spots.

My kids, ages 5-10, can easily spend several contented hours at the museum. Be sure to check the daily schedule when you arrive; there’s often a demonstration or experiment performed in the laboratory!

Date last visited: January 2010

Distance off the interstate: Three minutes

Hours:
Wednesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m.
Summer Hours (June-August): Wednesday through Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: Noon – 5pm

Admission Prices: $5.00 for kids ages 2-12 ; $7.50 for teens and adults ; $5.00 for seniors 65+ If you think you’ll visit more than three times a year, a membership might be the better option for your family!

Bathrooms: Located inside the museum.

Food Services: Limited snacks are available. For a kid-friendly meal in Ashland, my family’s top recommendation is Munchies, located downtown on the plaza.

Website: http://www.scienceworksmuseum.org

Directions: From I-5: take exit 14 toward Ashland/Klamath Falls. Turn right at Ashland St. Turn right at Walker Ave. Turn left at E Main St.
View Larger Map

 

Splash! Lively Park Swim Center

Splash Lively Park Swim Center in Springfield, OR

Splash Lively Park Swim Center in Springfield, OR

6100 Thurston Road
Springfield, OR

We’ve driven up and down I-5 through the state of Oregon dozens of times, but until a neighborhood family told us about it, we had no idea Splash! Lively Park Swim Center existed!

A wonderful pitstop when you have two or more hours to spend, Splash is much more than a community pool; it’s an indoor waterpark complete with a 144 foot slide, wave pool, water activity pool (complete with water basketball) kiddie/splash pool, and hot tub! The best part? It boasts community pool prices!

Date last visited: June 2009

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

Hours: Complete hours and prices are listed here. At the time of this posting, the center is open in the evenings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Admission prices: Toddlers (under 3 yrs.): $4.25, Single (3+): $6.25, Family of 4: $19 ($3.25 for each additional family member). Group prices are available and discounted prices are offered during certain hours (see website).

Bathrooms: Yes, with locker rooms and showers.

Food Services: A snack counter is open year round, during pool hours.

Website: http://www.willamalane.org/pages/swimcenters/lpsc.shtml

Phone: (541) 747-9283

Directions: Take I-5 to exit 194A and take I-105 east to Main Street. Turn left onto Main Street, left on 58th Street and right on Thurston Road. Lively Park is on the left two blocks ahead.
View Larger Map

 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tips

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.
View Larger Map

 

La Tarasca Restaurant

La Tarasca in Centralia, WA

1001 W. Main
Centralia, WA

All the other reviews out there are right: La Tarasca has excellent Mexican food¦perhaps the best, and certainly the most authentic, I’ve ever tasted. Due to its close proximity to The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, this restaurant has been heavily reviewed (just do a Google search), but all those words really do bear repeating. From the street, the place is nothing to look at, but don’t let that dissuade you. Inside, it’s colorful and cheery. We were served by the restaurant’s owner herself, who was happy to help us decide which of her native southern Mexican specialties we’d most enjoy. When our four-year-old couldn’t decide on his drink order, she told him she’d whip him up something special’ and came back with a delicious rice milk and cinnamon concoction. The restaurant does has a children’s menu, but she allowed mine to customize it to their tastes (my ten-year-old substituted beans for meat in his taco, for instance, and my seven-year-old opted for a tamale hot out of the oven instead of any of the kid offerings). My husband ordered carnitas (the house specialty), and ended up sharing his plate with all the kids, who all loved it (which is rare, as they’re primarily vegetarians). I ordered the chile relleno, and can say it’s the best I’ve ever had.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: About two minutes.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Website: None. There is a phone number however: 360-736-7756. It’s advisable to call to check hours, which can vary. At the time of this posting, it’s open until 9 pm, and is closed every Tuesday.

Directions: From I-5, take Exit 82 (Harrison Ave). After Yew Street, Harrison turns into Main. The restaurant is located on the left.
View Larger Map

Extensive Great Wolf Lodge review: Grand Mound Washington

This past week, my family and I spent two nights and two days at The Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA.

We arrived at the resort at approximately 9 pm on a Sunday night. The lobby was still filled with children watching the evening animatronics show by the Grand Hall’s main focal point, the clock tower (more on that later), but there was no wait to check in.

Great Wolf

Get our top Great Wolf Lodge tips here, good for all locations!

As a family of five, we had booked a Kid Cabin Suite, which consists of a room with a queen bed, a pull-out sofa, and a framed off cabin compartment with a kid-sized bunk bed and day bed. Based on photos from the website, my boys had wanted a Wolf Den Suite (similar but with a faux rock wall to simulate a cave), but as it’s designed for a family of four, booking one would have required purchasing an additional water park ‘Paw Pass’ for our youngest to the tune of $40 a day (a detail I only realized after booking¦luckily it was easy to change). For our family, the Kid Cabin Suite was a better deal.

And the kids were very happy with it.

The rest of the room was spacious and clean. We were pleased with the corner fireplace and flat screen TV, and it was also very nice to have a fridge and microwave (enabling us to eat breakfast in our room and store drinks and snacks). Within the kid cabin was a second flat screen TV with a Game Cube (games can be ordered for $6.95 an hour). We opted to skip that feature, and used the TV only for free channels in the mornings. I was slightly worried about noise level at night with so many kids afoot throughout the lodge, but at least in our section of the lodge, the ‘Hibernation’ hours of 10 pm to 7 am were well adhered to. We never heard a peep after putting the kids to bed at 9 pm each night.

great-wolf-lodge-kidcabin

On Monday morning, we ate our own breakfast in our room, and I checked out the fitness center. It was smaller than I had expected, but at 7:30 am, I was easily able to get an elliptical machine. There were also treadmills and weight machines.

Great Wolf Lodge activities:

MagiQuest:

By 9 am, the water park was open and MagiQuest was activated for the day. This bears explaining, because trust me, your kids will want to do it.

Tip: get all our MagiQuest tips here!

MagiQuest is an interactive activity installed throughout the lodge. The official website explains it better than I can: Armed with high-tech wands, your family must solve magical challenges throughout the resort to gain powers (and points) and move to higher levels of the game. Even if this doesn’t sound like your sort of thing, you won’t be able to avoid it. Everywhere you go (on the public areas of the first four floors), kids will be waving wands and bringing various fixtures in the hallways and ceilings to life. I know it sounds annoying, but it’s actually quite good fun. We encountered older children stopping to give hints on the game to younger ones and while kids occasionally bumped into us in their excitement to find their next clue, the general chaos wasn’t unmanageable.

MagiQuest

But onto the nitty gritty: wands start at $14.99 (you can pay substantially more for fancy toppers) and then an additional $9.99 is necessary to activate’ your game. I am not one to spend money on overpriced souvenirs or gimmicks, but let me say: it’s worth it. Every penny. It took my kids their entire stay to complete the quest (playing on and off as time allowed), and then several more games opened up…they continued playing right up until the moment we left, and could have played for another day at least. They took their wands home as keepsakes, and if we come back for a return visit, they can reuse the same wands (paying only the $9.99 activation fee). All in all, it was a great activity, and good exercise too!

ShadowQuest:

shadowquest

ShadowQuest is a brand-new interactive wand game, available at Great Wolf Lodge’s Grand Mound location, as well as at several other Great Wolf Lodge locations. In this live-action adventure game, your family takes on the task of helping to save the light of the sky before it vanishes. Players follow clues in a guidebook and explore the halls and stairways of Great Wolf Lodge to find hidden objects and complete quests.

The game is 12 stages long and can be completed over multiple visits to Great Wolf Lodge. My family played for about 3 hours and had a great time finishing the first four stages. My kids loved that their wands could be used not only for playing the game, but for opening treasure chests and activating statues and animals all over the lodge!

Howl at the Moon Miniature Golf:

Another new attraction at Great Wolf Lodge is the very cool Howl at the Moon miniature golf course. This golf course is a 9-hole course located near the arcade. It is decorated with lots of woodland creatures and has simple obstacles to work around on your way to the holes.  The whole course is lit with blacklights for a fun effect.

Waterpark:

The main attraction of The Great Wolf Lodge, however, is the water park. My first impression was that it actually smelled less chlorinated than most indoor water parks, which was a huge plus for me, since that heated, chemical-based smell really bothers me. I learned later that I wasn’t imaging it: The Great Wolf takes green’ measures to use less chlorine.

But of course my kids didn’t care about any of that. They were off and (not) running (that’s a big rule) from the moment we stepped through the doors. They were initially disappointed in the lack of a lazy river, but were quickly enamored by the wave pool. There was an excellent zero-depth entry splash and slide area for toddlers (the deepest section went up to my four-year-old’s waist) and a huge fort with dumping bucket and more slides. My husband and one of my kids spent most of their time in the pool with basketball hoops and moving floatation pads in the shape of animals, and my favorite feature was the indoor/outdoor hot tub. The thrill rides were fairly mild, but plenty thrilling for my family (oldest child at age 10). Two of the slides have a minimum height requirement of 48 inches, much to my preschooler’s disappointment, but there was plenty else to distract him. During our two day stay, we spend two whole mornings in the water park.

Northern Lights Arcade:

The kids were quite happy with the medium-sized arcade (and I was quite unhappy, because I hate arcades.) That said, this one was clean and the staff was very friendly. The kids were all able to redeem tickets for prizes, and came away with the usual assortment of arcade junk, which they greatly enjoyed.

Dining at Great Wolf Lodge Ground Mound:

On that first day, we ate an adequate lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers at the Spirit Island Snack Shop, which came to a total of approximately $30 for five people (this did not include drinks, as we brought in our own). Outside food is allowed in the water park, which was a great cost saver. I saw some families bringing in whole coolers. I wish I had been that organized!

For an afternoon break, the older boys continued their MagiQuest game, and I took the preschooler to the Cub Club, where he was able to color and play simple computer games for free. For additional fees, kids could decorate their own Great Wolf Lodge t-shirt or choose from a number of other art projects. We found it quite peaceful…and there was no pressure to purchase anything.

We opted to leave the lodge to eat dinner at La Tarasca in nearby Centralia, which I cannot recommend enough. We were back in time for the nightly clock tower show and story time, which was geared for ages perhaps 2-5. I took our four-year-old, and when we arrived right at 8 pm, we had trouble finding a place to sit. The show was a combination of song and animatronics, and ended in an appearance from Wiley the Wolf (GWL’s mascot) and a bedtime story read by a lodge employee (called a Pack Member). The message was very environmental in nature, and I’ve read other reviews criticizing the heavy emphasis placed by GWL on the outdoors when everything they offer is in fact indoors, but I was willing to let it pass. Perhaps that’s because our family spends enough hours out-of-doors backpacking and camping that I wasn’t concerned my children would mistake the woodsy d’cor of the lodge for the real thing.

Throughout our stay, I made mental comparisons between The Great Wolf and Silver Mountain Resort, where we had stayed the previous summer. They both have their pros and cons, and of course both are family friendly and have family suites. For a compatible room rate (based on the best available public rate at each), you get substantially more room for your money at Silver Mountain, with ‘true’ suites with separate rooms and a full kitchen and the ambiance of an established ski and mountain resort, but Great Wolf provides more for families to do on-site with their Cub Club, Gr8 Space (night club for kids 12 and older), and MagiQuest. The water parks are very compatible: Silver Mountain lacks a wave pool, but boasts a lazy river and surf simulator. My kids couldn’t decide which was better. Undoubtedly, Great Wolf is more centrally located for most people in the Pacific Northwest, and they are definitely geared solely toward families with young children.

We found the service staff to be excellent throughout our stay, with Pack Members’ never failing to say hello, smile, or ask if we needed anything. A Magi Master’ was always on-hand to answer quest-related questions, and I didn’t count the number of life guards in the water park, but it was teeming with them.

I’d definitely recommend The Great Wolf Lodge for a kid-centered getaway.

As I will disclose whenever applicable, we did receive significant compensation in the form of reduced rates and gift vouchers for review purposes, as is standard in the travel industry; however, these compensations came with no strings attached. As always, no less than my honest impressions will be present in this review.

Lithia Park

Lithia Park Ashland, Oregon is a stunningly beautiful 93-acre park in a garden setting situated within easy distance of 1-5 for either a quick pitstop or an afternoon detour. Located on the north end of Ashland, Oregon in their pedestrian-friendly downtown, there are several entrances to this sprawling park, but the easiest to access from the city center is on Winburn Way. Park either in the city square or follow Winburn around the side of the park, and cross one of the several arched bridges over Ashland Creek. At this north end of Lithia Park, you’ll find a duck pond and excellent play structure, complete with climbing wall/rock and rope tower. Near the play area is easy access to the creek, where kids can dip toes on hot days (unless signs dictate otherwise¦the creek is closed to waders during some summers).

Almost at the top!

Almost at the top!

If you have time, continue on the marked paths to the south end, where you’ll find tennis courts, a second (more inhabited) duck pond, and hiking trails.

On the way back to the car, let the kids peek into Small Change, an excellent toy and boutique-quality children’s clothing store at 5 N. Main. Little ones can climb up the ladder into an elevated loft (fully enclosed with a latching gate) where they are encouraged to play with a selection of toys while you peruse the offerings. The other shops along the square are fascinating to poke around in as well, if your kids have the patience!

Nate and Cal climbing the rope tower.

Nate and Cal climbing the rope tower.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: About five minutes’ drive.

Bathrooms: Clean bathrooms are located by the play structure. Many shops and restaurants are also within walking distance.

Food Services: Downtown Ashland has a plethora of excellent restaurants, but our personal favorite with kids is Munchies, located right in the heart of the square, on the corner of N. Main. They serve great vegetarian fare as well as burgers, pasta, and Mexican selections. There are also several ice cream and candy shops along the same block, as well as Big Town Hero and vegetarian and Thai cuisine.

Directions: From I-5, take exit 19 and turn right at S Valley View Rd. Turn left at Hwy-99 and continue 2 miles. Take a slight right at Guanajuato Way, then turn right at Winburn Way.

View Larger Map

 

Bear Creek Park

A section of the Bear Creek Greenway

A section of the Bear Creek Greenway

1520 Siskiyou Blvd
Medford, OR

Bear Creek Park is an excellent pitstop that quite frankly, I forgot to review earlier because it’s right in my hometown. It’s also, however, right off of I-5 but tucked out of sight, making it a perfect candidate for Pitstops for Kids. Bear Creek Park is huge, and has something for everybody. On the east end of the park are a dirt BMX track (try it out if you have bikes with you!) and a large skate park. Parking is available there, or on the opposite end, by the large fortress’ playground. This is the most shaded area, with a huge climbing structure, tire swings, slides, and more. Bike paths connect this playground with the skate park (and tennis courts in-between). Also connected to the park is the Bear Creek Greenway bike path, which runs miles in either direction (toward Ashland, Oregon and Central Point, Oregon). If you have time, the greenway is a shady place to be on a summer day.

…read more»

KidZone in Club Northwest

2160 N.W. Vine Street
Grants Pass, Oregon

You can’t miss KidZone from I-5 (see photo of the outside of the building), but you will be left wondering what it is you’re looking at, it’s so poorly marked from the outside. Put simply, it’s kid-heaven: 60,000 cubic feet of tubes, slides, and ball pits, housed within Club Northwest, a fitness and health club. It’s open to the public, and while it may lean toward the spendy side for a quick pit stop ($6.95 per child admission, parents free), it’s worth its weight in gold on a rainy Oregon day.

KidZone is divided into three sections: Bigs (5 and up), Gettin’ Bigs (2-5), and Lil’ Bitties (under 2). If you have a ‘Bitty’ who has no intention of spending his or her time in the designated 0-2 section, or a ‘Big’ who would rather play in the smaller, more manageable areas designed for younger kids, don’t fear: as long as a parent stays with the child, he or she can wander wherever. The age categories are put in place for local members of the adjacent gym, who have the option of dropping off kids to work out. (But if you see yourself spending quality time in the tubes with an excited toddler, ask for kneepads at the front desk…trust me on this one.)

KidZone also has a great security system in place: no child can leave the facility without his or her wristband matching a parent’s.

…read more»