outdoor pit stops - Pitstops for Kids

Tahoe with kids: Granlibakken Ski and Sledding Hill

January 31, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Looking to explore off the beaten tourist path in Tahoe with kids? Granlibakken is traditional Tahoe at its most authentic: this old-school resort boosts lodge rooms, condos, sledding, a day spa, and ski learning on poma bar and rope tow-accessed terrain. In the summer, there’s a large treetop rope course and easy access to hiking trails and the lake shore.

Keep this lesser known resort top-of-mind if you are planning a multi-generational vacation to Tahoe or a family reunion because they have multiple lodging options that work for larger families or even wedding parties. All lodging guests enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast each day, too.

We headed to Granlibakken for a morning of sledding. With four kids in our party, we weren’t keen to pay the hefty tubing prices at larger ski resorts, and didn’t have the option of finding our own sledding hills on Tahoe’s many sno parks (due to snow conditions). Granlibakken proved to be a perfect choice, with a large hill (with multiple routes down) and an organized hike-t0-sled path, plus plastic sledding disks to use. We started in the quaint warming hut, where we bought tickets for $12 per child, and headed outside to the hill. You can also rent snowshoes here or cross-country skis, and access either their own maintained nordic trail or more trails just over the hill.

Tip: Adults can watch for free of course, but should you want to go into the sledding area to help or just to take photos, you will need your own tickets.

It’s fine to bring your own sleds (just make sure they’re not metal), and prepare to spend about an hour or two here. If the snow conditions are good, kids may want to stay to play in the snow longer. In the lodge, you’ll find a counter-service dining option, where the hot chocolate flows and coffee is quite good. There’s a learning hill for kids on skis, with a rope tow, and one lift (poma bar accessed) for intermediate skiers and riders. Check for current lift ticket prices, as we only used the sledding area on our visit.

Date last visited:

December 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Located just outside Tahoe City, about 20 minutes from I-80 and just steps from CA-89.

Directions:

Turn left at the stop light in Tahoe City onto CA-89 S. Drive one-half mile to Granlibakken Road and turn right.

Using the Lake Placid Olympic Region Passport with kids

November 6, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

On a recent trip to Lake Placid, NY, we got to check out a piece of Olympic history with the Olympic Sites Passport. Our group included some pretty little kids (2 and 4), but there was still plenty for them to do and see using the Lake Placid Olympic Region Passport. I’m a huge fan of the Olympics (any season, any sport!), so it was fun to pass some of that excitement on to my kids. Even off-season, and well after hosting the games, the Olympic facilities at Lake Placid are impressive.

Whiteface:

We started out at Whiteface, the ski resort just outside of Lake Placid. We drove up the Veterans Memorial Highway, which goes to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. It’s a beautiful drive, and at the top you walk through a tunnel to get to an elevator to the summit. At the top, there are lots of places to explore, take in the view, and even rock scramble (obviously, this was a big hit with the kids!).

After driving back down to the base of the Whiteface ski area, we rode the Cloudsplitter Gondola to the top of the ski hill. There are some beautiful views at the top, but unfortunately for us, a thundershower chased us back into the gondola just after arriving!

Olympic Jumping Complex:

Our next stop was the Olympic Jumping Complex. If you only make one Olympic stop during your Lake Placid trip, this should be it. I had only seen the jumping towers on TV, and to see it on site was truly impressive. To tour the jumps, you take a chairlift to the base of the tower (our two-year-old’s favorite part by far!), then a 26-story elevator to the top. Once you’re up there, you can go outside to the top of the jump to get the ski jumper’s perspective. The kids were amazed that someone could really do that (especially our 4 year old, who has some skiing experience). Our two year old volunteered on the spot to strap on some skis and go…maybe next year!

After touring the jumps, you’ll want to check out the freestyle pool. We lucked out on our visit, and got to watch some jumpers practicing all sorts of flips and twists. Check their calendar for the Summer Jumping Series when planning your visit, and you’ll get to see some of the best jumpers in the world, and maybe even meet the athletes.

The Olympic Sites Passport also gets you into the Olympic Sports Complex, where the sliding (bobsled, skeleton, etc.) facilities are located, and the Olympic Center, where you can tour the Olympic museum and the skating rink (site of the 1980 Miracle on Ice). Ours were a little young for these activities, but if you have any winter sports fanatics in your group, it’s a can’t-miss!

The Olympic Sites Passport is also a great deal. It’s only $32 per person (kids 6 and under are free), and gets you in to all the sites listed above (Whiteface, Olympic Jumping Complex, Olympic Sports Complex, and Olympic Center). There are all sorts of additional activities (at additional cost, but at a discount with the Olympic Sites Passport), including nature treks, mountain biking at Whiteface, and bobsled rides. The ORDA (Olympic Regional Development Authority, the organization that manages the Olympic facilities) website isn’t terribly helpful, but all information can be found on the Whiteface site.

Date last visited: August 29-30, 2013

Distance from the interstate:

Lake Placid is pretty remote, and is not really on the way to anything, but it’s still worth a visit! It’s about a 2 or 2 ¼ hour drive from Albany, about 30 miles off Interstate 87. Wondering where to stay? Our pick is Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort.

Directions / Contact:

Site locations can be found on the Whiteface website. Tickets can be bought at the ORDA store at 2426 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY 12946; tel. (518) 523-1420.

As I disclose whenever applicable, our family experienced the Olympic Region as guests of ORDA for the purpose of review.

Outdoor exploration with kids: Eastern Mountain Sports Schools

October 23, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

EMS is one of my favorite outdoor gear stores, and I look to them whenever we need something new for backpacking, hiking, or climbing. But did you know that they have special “schools” for climbing (rock and ice), skiing (avalanche training, back country, telemark), kayaking, and biking? These EMS schools are located throughout New England and New York and are available to everyone from experts to newcomers. When you join a class, all equipment is provided (except personal clothing, jackets, raingear, etc.) so it’s a great way to get started in a sport without making a big investment. Half day, full day, and even overnight classes are offered. So whether you live in the area, or are spending some time here on vacation, check out the EMS website to see what’s available near you!

We recently took a half-day beginner rock climbing class in Lake Placid, NY after introducing our five-year-old to the sport at the local climbing gym. (Tip: we paired our EMS schools class with a stay at Lake Placid’s Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort.) Our instructor was friendly and great with kids, and was able to give instructions without skimping on fun. He knew of a great beginner site that was just a short hike off the road, and Homer got to try out a number of different ascents, ranging in difficulty. He must have climbed that cliff 15 times before he asked for a break!

An EMS climbing class may seem expensive ($350 for a family of 4 or 5 people, full day), but when you consider the cost of equipment, and the importance of an instructor who is going to do a lot of the grunt work for you (think of all the ropes that need to be fixed at the top before you even start!), the price sounds pretty reasonable. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’ll definitely check out what is offered by EMS schools before my next New England/New York getaway!

Check out their website to see what’s on offer near you. Classes are located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New York.

Date last visited: August 29, 2013

Distance from the interstate: Lake Placid is pretty remote, and is not really on the way to anything, but it’s still worth a visit! It’s about a 2 or 2 ¼ hour drive from Albany, about 30 miles off Interstate 87.

Where to stay: Read our review of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort!

Directions / Contact:

See the EMS website for information on an activity near you. The Lake Placid store is located at 2453 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY 12946; tel: (518) 523-2505

As we disclose whenever applicable, we experienced EMS Schools as guests of EMS, for the purpose of review.

Where to find tide pools in Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC

August 31, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Every tide pool we saw in Tofino, BC on Vancouver Island’s west coast was more amazing than the last. After a while, we stopped exclaiming about it and learned to expect to be stunned by the intertidal beauty of this area. Where to find the best tide pools in Tofino? Below are our top picks:

1. MacKenzie Beach: Just a few miles south of Tofino, MacKenzie Beach stretches widely in low tide, allowing visitors to explore not only the rocky coastline at the south end, but several small islands that are not accessible in high tide. Start down near Ocean Village turn left for the rocky outcroppings. While we visited this beach, Calvin decided to try to count 100 sea stars: he stopped at over 300! In addition, you’ll find sea anemomes and lots of crabs and small fish. Most amazing (to us) were the abundance of ghost shrimp just under the sand in low tide. You can identify their burrows by the tiny ‘volcano’ shaped holes in the wet sand. If you dig, you’ll uncover one, but be warned: they’re squirmy, big, and a bit scary!

2. Chesterman Beach: Even more impressive than MacKenzie Beach, Chesterman Beach is larger, wilder, and features an amazing fissure in the rock where families can walk through in low tide. In the center of the Chesterman Beach is a private island; it’s permissible to walk to it and on it, but respect the private property signs on each end. We found it fun to reach this island, but the best tide pools are on the south side of the main beach, where the rocks reveal massive sea anemones and other intertidal wildlife. (At this beach, Calvin’s sea star count rose to over 600!) Go through the rock fissure and climb over the larger rocks with muscles and barnacles, and check in the large pools for crabs and hermit crabs. We even found a rare sunflower sea star, known as the biggest predator of the intertidal pool area. The colors and size of the tidal pool inhabitants on Chesterman are truly jaw-dropping. If you only visit one tidal pool area in Tofino, make it this one!

3. Lismer Beach: Lismer Beach is located next to more well-known Wickaninnish Beach (famous for its surfing and sand dunes), and is accessible by South Beach Trail (1.5 km round trip). Kids will love the chorus of ‘music’ the many pebbles on the beach make in the rolling surf, but caution should be exerted: only attempt the tide pools along the bluffs at extreme low tide. The trailhead is located near Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s visitor’s center (a must-do): at the center, turn south.

Note: be sure to plan your visits to tide pools during low tide. Tidal information is available in the local paper, at every visitor center in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and from any local.

Tofino on Dwellable

Starved Rock State Park

August 18, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop was submitted by Pit Stops for Kids reader Erica Smith.

Starved Rock State Park is one of Illinois’ most beautiful natural landmarks. Located in Utica, Illinois and filled with canyons and waterfalls, Starved Rock offers breathtaking hiking, biking, exploration, and lodging. Families can stop by for the day, or consider it a destination!

Distance from the interstate: Five minutes from I-39, also near I-80.

What to do: Kids can meet and learn about animals at Fox Ridge, the new outdoor venue near the lodge, and entire families will enjoy hiking the many trails (open in all seasons). Land and water cruises are offered June through September, and events and festivals continue throughout the year.

Admission cost: Free day use.

Hours of operation: 7 am to 9 pm.

Dining options: Picnic areas are available, as well as casual and fine dining at the lodge.

Accommodations: Camping is available, and a full lodge is located in the state park. If you want to cater specifically to the kids, located right next to Starved Rock is Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort. Housing a full indoor-outdoor water park, plenty of in-house dining, and kids’ activities, this ‘Great Wolf Lodge’ type resort offers the best of both worlds: kid heaven adjacent to natural splendor. Rates can be found on the Grizzly Jack resort page. Since lodge accommodations are needed for water park admission, we recommend booking one night here, and subsequent nights at the lodge or campground.

Directions: The lodge and park are located east of the intersection of Routes 178 & 71 in Utica, IL. From I-39 southbound: Go south to I-80 east (exit #59). Go two miles to exit #81 (Rt. 178, Utica). Go south (right) 3 miles on Rt. 178 and follow the signs into the park.