Oregon - Pitstops for Kids

Bear Creek Recreation Site

November 13, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Highway 42
Oregon

You won’t find a better place to stop along windy Highway 42 on your way to the Oregon coast than the Bear Creek Recreation Site. Located between Roseburg and Coquille off Highway 42, look for the sign on the right-hand side directly after the Bear Creek bridge. There’s parking for several cars, a picnic area, bathrooms, and a beautiful foot bridge over Bear Creek ending in a short trail through the dense forest.

Looking down at Bear Creek from the foot bridge.

If the site is crowded, drive a few more miles to Sandy Creek Bridge, one of Oregon’s last standing covered bridges. It will be on the north side of the highway (right), 1/4 mile west of the Remote exit.

Date last visited: November 2009

Distance off the interstate: Directly off Hwy 42. Approximately 30 miles from I-5.

Hours and Admission Prices: None. Camping is permitted at the single site, but for a 24-hour maximum.

Hiking the trail along with the dog.

Bathrooms: Flush toilets and sinks, all quite clean. Open year round.

Food Services: None.

Website: More information can be found at recreation.gov.

Directions: From I-5, travel west (from Roseburg or Winston) on Hwy 42.

Lithia Park

June 18, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

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!

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.

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.

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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»

Bear Creek Park

May 1, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

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.

Sweet Tomatoes

April 25, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Buffet at Sweet Tomatoes

6600 SW Cardinal Lane
Tigard, OR

I once forced my children to sit tight in the car an extra 70 miles past our pre-determined dinner-stopping-point in order to push on to Sweet Tomatoes. And even considering the whining, loud singing, and general disgruntlement, it was worth it. For those who aren’t familiar with this restaurant chain (which is brought to us by the same fine folks as Soup Plantation), imagine food that’s fast, but nothing like fast food. Or, if you will, a Hometown Buffet that’s actually good (sorry, I’m not a fan of the latter). Sweet Tomatoes is a buffet filled with fresh, whole foods: every type of salad you can imagine, six to eight homemade soups, pasta, bread to die for, drinks, and dessert. If you’re a newbie, don’t make the same mistake we made our first time: be sure to grab the compartmentalized child trays for your kids (they’re molded to keep foods from running into each other¦ewww), and if your kids want to skip all the specialty salads offered at the beginning of the buffet, don’t panic¦there’s tons more kid-friendly options (including a Kids Only station) further in the back.

Try to avoid this Tigard location on weekend nights (but that’s probably true for all of them).
…read more»

Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery

April 8, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

bonneville_ladder1

Exit 40 of I-84
Cascade Locks, Oregon

The first time my husband convinced me to stop at the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, I was skeptical at best. To me, a fish hatchery sounds about as exciting as a coma, but kids love it. You also can’t beat the price (free!) or the stunning Oregon scenery. The dam is about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and perfect for a quick stop after or before entering the city. (Another great–but widely known and easy to spot–option is Multnomah Falls, a bit further west, toward Portland.) The hatchery is set in a nice wooded area featuring lots of, well…hatcheries…and ponds, some featuring sturgeons up to six feet long! At the adjacent dam, learn about the Columbia River’s history and then go downstairs to the large glass viewing window to watch wild salmon ‘jumping’ up the fish ladder as they migrate to the other side of the dam (or go outside and see it up close in nice weather).

KidZone in Club Northwest

April 7, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

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.