I-91 - Pitstops for Kids

Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich Vermont

October 2, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

The Montshire Museum of Science is considered one of the best children’s museums in the US, and for good reason. The museum has some wonderful exhibits inside, but perhaps the best (and most unique) part of the museum is the outdoor water park and nature trails. The Montshire is so full of exhibits and activities that we couldn’t hope to get to all of them in a single morning, so we settled for some highlights.

The museum is organized by subject, with exhibits on air and weather, creatures, astronomy, sound, and more. My kids were most fascinated by the creatures exhibit, especially the turtle hatchlings and leafcutter ants. We also spent a long time at the air and weather exhibit, specifically at the air cannon that can shoot a puff of air across the room into a wall of reflective discs.

We could have spent all day inside the museum, but the best part of the Montshire is outside. The museum is surrounded by 100 acres of trails, nature exhibits, and (according to their website) “the most intelligent water park in New England”. I couldn’t agree more. The Science Park, where the water exhibits are located, is an entire playground with man-made springs, creeks and waterfalls. Here kids can design fountains with plastic tubing, build dams, float balls down the stream, and best of all—learn about water in our environment and how it moves above and below the ground.

Tip: Bring towels and even swimsuits for the kids!

The museum offers a variety of programs for children and families, some of which are free with museum admission. If you live locally, the Montshire offers summer camps for kids in preschool all the way through middle school.

Date last visited:

July 15, 2012

Distance from the interstate:

The Montshire is less than a mile off of I-91 in Norwich, VT.

Hours of operation:

10am–5pm, 7 days a week, open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas

Admission:

$16 for adults, $13 for children 2–17. You can also buy a two day pass (valid for two visits during a 10 day period) for $18 for adults and $15 for children. Children under 2 are free.

Food services:

Picnickers are welcome, and there is a sandwich stand in the Hughes Pavilion (by the water park) during the summer.

Directions:

Montshire is located at 1 Montshire Road, Norwich, VT. Find full driving directions to Montshire.

WilloughVale Inn and Cottages, Vermont

August 18, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Few places are as beautiful and family-friendly as Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Think brisk fall days, clear lakes, and great hiking. If you’re looking for a great place to stay while visiting, I highly recommend the WilloughVale Inn and Cottages at Lake Willoughby. Lake Willoughby is cool, clear, and beautifully situated between two steep mountains, making it an idea spot to swim and play in summer and hike and boat in autumn, all while enjoying the view. The WilloughVale Inn sits right on the shore, and even has a lakeside playground with a play structure, a shed full of lawn toys, and a water trampoline moored about 30 feet off the shore. There are also canoes, kayaks, and a paddleboat available to guests of the inn free of charge.

We stayed in one of the lakeview cottages, and enjoyed a full kitchen, living room (with a fireplace!), two bedrooms (one with a Jacuzzi tub!) and a beautiful porch with stunning lake views. The cabin made it easy to serve the kids an early breakfast, accommodate naptimes, and put the kids to bed early without hiding out in a hotel hallway waiting for them to fall asleep! Dinner at the inn was a breeze too: Gil’s Bar and Grill has a nice selection for adults and kids, and even serves a popular local delicacy: Ben and Jerry’s!

What to do at Lake Willoughby:

The lake will keep you busy, especially if you have water babies in your group, but just in case you encounter a rainy day, there are plenty of day trips in the Willoughby area. The WillougVale Inn has a list of activities including the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, VT and (in season) the Vermont Corn Maze in Danville, VT. We lucked out during our visit and caught the Sunday afternoon show at Bread and Puppets, a local theater company specializing in…you guessed it…puppets! The Bread and Puppets campus has a puppet museum and produces shows during the summer (check the website for times and dates). Bread and Puppets is a unique experience, and I’ll only recommend it if no one in your group finds giant papier mache puppets, um…creepy.

For a tamer option, the Cabot factory is about 30 minutes away in Cabot, VT and the Ben and Jerry’s factory is always a hit (about an hour away in Waterville, VT).

Date last visited:

7/15/2012¬–7/17/2012

Distance from the interstate:

About 20 miles off I-91 at exit 23 in Lyndon, VT.

When to visit:

Summer and fall are the peak seasons at Lake Willoughby, but the WilloughVale is open during the winter, and I’m willing to bet it’s a beautiful place to spend a few snowy nights as well!

Lodging rates:

Summer prices are from $99/night in the main inn; up to $319/night in the lakefront cottages.

Food services:

Gil’s Bar and Grill at the WilloughVale is open Tuesday–Sunday during the summer (Wednesday–Sunday during the shoulder season, and weekends only after October 15th) and offers casual food such as burgers and ribs, as well as a kids’ menu. There is also a tasty roadside stand (think frosty-freeze) about 2 miles north on route 5A. (This roadside stand even serves poutine, for those of you who have spent time in northern New England/Cananda and aren’t worried about your cholesterol!)

Directions:

Directions and driving times to WilloughVale Inn from nearby cities are listed on the website.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we were hosted at WilloughVale for the purpose of review. While we appreciated the chance to experience Lake Willoughby, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Vermont skiing with kids: Okemo Mountain Resort

November 11, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

For families itching to spend a weekend skiing in Vermont, but dreading a long car ride, Okemo Mountain Resort is the answer! It’s located only about an hour into Vermont, making it one of the state’s most accessible resorts.

But don’t let its southern location fool you—it’s a big mountain with a lot of varied terrain. There’s plenty to keep the kids busy, while letting the more experienced skiers in your group try out some moguls and glade runs. Read Okemo Mountain reviews, however, and you’ll find one of the highlights of the mountain: the Sunburst Six chairlift with a bubble cover and heated seats. We could have ridden that chair all day!

Jackson-Gore Inn

The facilities at Okemo are spit into two main areas—the Clock Tower Base Area, and the Jackson Gore Base Area. Both areas offer lodging, food, lift tickets, and lessons. We stayed at the Jackson Gore Inn, and found all we needed right at our doorstep. From our one-bedroom suite in Adams House, we could ski in/ski out, or walk a few steps to the Jackson Gore center that offers a variety of restaurants, ski rentals, children’s programs, and an indoor/outdoor pool. Once we parked in the indoor, heated garage (a HUGE perk on a cold weekend!) we didn’t pile back in our car until it was time to leave on Sunday afternoon.

Our suite at Jackson Gore was a one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, two bathrooms, a pull-out couch in the living room, and a cozy fireplace. All facilities are updated and in great condition. Skis can be left in lockers downstairs, checked at the main building of the Jackson Gore Inn, or left slopeside, making it that much easier to get two kids dressed and out the door in time for a full day on the slopes. The location of the Jackson Gore Inn (and the affiliated houses—Adams House and Bixby House) is unbeatable. It’s located directly on the mountain, and right next to the snow tubing and Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster. In addition to the indoor/outdoor pool located at the Jackson Gore base area, each house also has it own slopeside hot tubs, just for guests. Definitely worth a visit after a long day skiing!

The Mountain:

So, the lodging and amenities are great, but how is the skiing? When my family visited, we found great coverage, most trails open (even glade runs), and very reasonable lift lines. While most of the mountain is accessible to beginners and intermediate skiers, my kids (4 and 6) found their favorite beginner runs on the Sunburst Six chair (or maybe they just loved warming up on the heated seats!). The one problem with taking beginners so far up the mountain (as opposed to staying on the beginner chairs at either base area) is that eventually you ended up on the Mountain Road trail, which could get crowded and crossed a lot of busy trails. This trail is the main route to traverse from the Jackson Gore area over to Okemo Mountain, and it can get a little hectic, especially for beginners who can’t always stop on a dime. When we were skiing without the kids, though, we found some great expert terrain on the South Face Express, and the Jackson Gore Express. Because Okemo is so spread out horizontally (as opposed to vertically), it’s fun to explore across the mountain where you’ll inevitably find an uncrowded pocket of mountain with great trails.

Snow Stars Ski Program:

Our kids, aged 6 and 4, were delighted to discover that they would be in the same group for their all-day lesson at Okemo. They were both in the Snow Stars program, and because they have similar abilities (but mostly for the benefit of our four year old!) they were able to be in the same group. At Okemo, you have 6 different ability levels to choose from, depending on your child’s experience and skill level. They range from red—first time on the mountain, to black—skiing confidently on steep terrain, glades, etc. While the more experienced kids have the run of the mountain, the beginners have a large area at the Jackson Gore base with multiple magic carpets and a great beginner hill.

Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster:

The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster is a great ride for all the members of your family. We’ve been to a few mountain coasters, and always have a great time. It’s one of the few “roller coaster” type rides that little ones can do (you only need to be 36” to be a passenger), but it’s still exciting enough to be fun for the big kids (or grownups) in your group. Because each ride is charged individually ($13 for the driver, $9 for an extra passenger), it’s probably worthwhile to get an Adventure Zone wrist band (available in the summer, $55) and try out all of the activities—including a climbing wall, bungee trampoline, and more!

Snow Tubing:

We thought that the snow tubing was one of the most fun activities off the slopes—it’s a bargain, too, at only $13 for an hour of tubing. Sledders ride up the magic carpet with their tubes, and go for unlimited rides. Trust me, you can get a LOT of rides in within an hour! The sleds are great too—comfy enough for kids, super safe, and FAST! We definitely recommend tubing any time; it’s a great break for the kids after a long day on the slopes.

Directions:

Okemo is located in Ludlow, Vermont, at 77 Okemo Ridge Road. Take I-91 to access from MA.

Disclosure: Our family experienced Okemo as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.

Vermont farm experience for kids: Retreat Farm

December 9, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

The Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, VT is a great stop for families of all ages. Its 450 acres include hiking trails, a petting farm, and even an artisanal cheese shop (cheddar, of course!). The farm was originally part of the Brattleboro Retreat, a private mental hospital built in the 1840’s. The Retreat Farm provided milk, meat, and vegetables for the hospital and even served as a mental health program for patients who worked on the farm. Today, the farm is managed by the Windham Foundation, a Vermont-based organization whose mission is to promote the vitality of rural communities and institutions in Vermont.

The Retreat Trails are 9 miles of trails with public entry points at the Retreat Farm and other locations in Brattleboro. This is a great place for hiking or biking in the summer, and cross country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter!

For our kids (ages 3 and 5), the petting farm was the main attraction. The Retreat Farm has more than 50 animals that kids can pet, hold, and feed, all while learning about animal care and New England farming. The biggest hits were the chick room—an entire room filled with newly hatched chicks that the kids could pet and pick up (it’s actually helpful for farmers if chicks are handled a lot when they’re young, so your kids are having fun AND providing a service to the farm!), and the goats. Kids can go into the goat corral and see these friendly and social animals up close. Be careful, though—we loved those goats so much, we thought about trying to take one home! Most importantly, the animals at the farm are very well cared for and loved. The stalls are clean, the food is fresh, and the animals are all healthy and happy. Overall, this is our favorite farm experience, and a great place to spend a day.

Travel tip:The Retreat Farm is open in the colder months, so don’t stay away! Bundle the kids up and tackle the hiking trails year round!

Travel Gear We Use: Stonz Wear hatz
Stonz is a children’s outerwear and boot company homegrown in Vancouver, BC. Pit Stops’ kids is partnering with Stonz this fall to help families get outfitted for winter travel. Yes, our kids wear Stonz on our own adventures! Why Stonz hatz? These soft, fleece hats are fun for kids, and are sized to actually fit babies through school-aged kids. Plus, they’re reversible, which makes our hard-to-please preschooler feel in control of her wardrobe choices. Buy Stonz Reversible Hatz
at Amazon, or find more Travel Gear We Use.

Date last visited:

September 2013

Distance from the interstate:

The Retreat Farm is located just outside of downtown Brattleboro, off I-91 in southern VT.

Hours of operation:

The petting farm is open from Memorial Day weekend through October. Fall operating hours are Friday and Saturday 10–4, Sunday 12¬–4. Retreat trails are open year round for hiking, biking, horse-back riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. No motorized vehicles!

Admission or ticket prices:

Kids ages 2–11: $5, 12 and over: $6. Season passes are also available.

Food services:

Bring a picnic! There are tables near the barn and the setting is beautiful!

Directions:

The Retreat Farm is located at 350 Linden Street, Route 30, Brattleboro, VT.

Outdoors with kids in MA: Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

November 20, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Looking to get outdoors with kids in MA no matter the season? Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is an accessible, kid-friendly sanctuary in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Arcadia has all sorts of things to keep the family busy, including a network of easy trails, a wetland boardwalk, and an observation tower. Near the parking lot and visitor center, there is a nature play area, complete with a tepee and “stump jump”. For the bird enthusiast, Arcadia is host to a variety of wildlife including bald eagles, red-tail hawks, and blue herons.

We got to know Arcadia through their wonderful kids’ education programs: both of our children have attended (or currently attend) the Arcadia Nature Preschool. In addition to its preschool and summer camps, Arcadia hosts a variety of programs with local schools, scout groups, and home-school programs. It’s a wonderful organization with the objective of fostering a love of nature and conservation in young kids. Check out their website before you visit for maps, information packets, and a nature bingo card!

Travel Tip: One word of caution: the vernal pool directly behind the visitor center and the proximity to the Mill River and the oxbow of the Connecticut River means that Arcadia can be a haven for mosquitoes in the summer. Bring your bug spray!

Travel Gear We Use: Stonz Wear Booties and Mittz
Stonz is a children’s outerwear and boot company homegrown in Vancouver, BC. Pit Stops’ kids is partnering with Stonz this fall to help families get outfitted for winter travel. Yes, our kids wear Stonz on our own adventures! See our own Greta in Stonz booties and mitts at Arcadia in the photo above. Why Stonz booties? These easy-to-slip-on-and-off boots for toddlers and preschoolers feature water-resistant nylon uppers and sherpa fleece liners. They tighten and loosen with a toggle, and yes, they have soles that can actually go outside! Stonz Mittz are just as little-kid friendly: these rugged mittens are also adjusted by toggle, and reach all the way to the elbow for full coverage. Buy Stonz booties
and Stonz Mittz at Amazon, or find more Travel Gear We Use.

Date last visited:

Every week!

Distance from the interstate:

About 3–4 miles from exit 18 off I-91.

Hours of operation:

Trails (and bathrooms!) are open daily, from dawn to dusk. The visitor center is open Monday–Thursday and Saturday, 9–12; Friday 9–3:30.

Admission or ticket prices:

Free to members of Mass Audubon, non-member adults $4, children 2–12 and seniors 65+ $3.

Food services:

Bring a picnic! There are tables near the visitor center and nature play area.

Directions:

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA. Directions can be found on www.googlemaps.com When you get close, blue and white Mass Audubon signs point the way!