Recreation - Pitstops for Kids

Where to stay in Ucluelet, BC: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

August 13, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

What everyone needs after an active day hiking, kayaking, or touring Vancouver Island’s west coast: a plunge pool and hot tub, rain shower, and cheery fire waiting at their resort. Families vacationing in Ucluelet BC get all that and more in Black Rock Oceanfront Resort. What, precisely? Try heated bathroom tiles, dramatic views, and fine dining, but more importantly to parenting traveling with kids: full kitchens, free bike rentals, and oversized tubs.

Located on the far western coast of Vancouver Island, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is an outdoor-loving family’s dream. Not only do you get plenty of space (this resort is suites-only), but Black Rock was designed with nature at the forefront: the contemporary architecture only accentuates what’s already there, allowing for breathtaking and dramatic views. These views don’t come cheaply, but what families get in return cannot be measured in a room rate. During our visit, we felt as though we were outside near the crashing surf and rugged coastline the whole time, even when we were indoors.

Our family of five had adjoining suites (one studio and one one-bedroom), which included two huge bathrooms (both with rain shower and tub), a full kitchen and living area, plus an extra kitchenette, two bedrooms, sleeping for eight, and even a washer-dryer. We also enjoyed complimentary wifi (standard) and two spacious decks past our floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the Pacific.

The resort boasts a full fitness center and spa, with kid-friendly access to the outside plunge pool and two hot tubs. When I think of the term ‘plunge pool’, I think deep and cold; this one is neither: it’s only 3 meters deep and heated, but still significantly colder than than hot tubs, making it fun to jump from one to another in chilly weather. Families can cook full meals in the kitchens, but we opted to only prepare breakfast, the adults eating dinner out at Black Rock’s Fetch Restaurant. They do have a kids’ menu that looked pretty tempting (and only $10 per plate Canadian), but we ordered a pizza for our kids. The ambiance of Fetch is half the draw (it’s located right next to the coastline view), and we wanted to enjoy it in peace.

While staying on-site families have free use of cruiser bikes to use around Ucluelet, as well as the option to join in for various family-friendly area activities, such as hiking in Pacific Rim National Park, kayaking with nearby Majestic tours, or clamming, whale watching, or surfing (lessons available!).

Date last visited:

July 2012

Distance from the Intestate: a few minutes from the Pacific Rim Highway (4).

Room Rates:

Rates vary widely by season; check the Black Rock website for the latest information. Approximate pricing for the week we were on-site (in the height of the summer season) was $300 Canadian.

Dining options:

In addition to Fetch, Black Rock is adjacent to the town of Ucluelet, which offers dining in every price rage.

Directions:

Black Rock Resort is located at 596 Marine Drive, Ucluelet. It’s a 2.5 hour drive from the ferry terminal in Departure Bay (for travel from Vancouver) or a 20 minute drive from Tofino.

Six reasons to love Great Wolf Lodge (plus Great Wolf Lodge tips!)

January 17, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

Our family thinks the Great Wolf Lodge offers the perfect antidote to dreary winter and spring days, making it an ideal location for an easy family getaway! If you’re on the fence, we have six reasons to love this family-friendly resort chain, plus Great Wolf Lodge tips you need right now!

Read our full review of our experiences at the Grand Mound, WA Great Wolf Lodge location.

1. Great Wolf is the comfort food of family travel. At Pit Stops for Kids, we’re all about adventurous and educational travel. We advocate for getting kids out of their comfort zone, provide tips on how to make travel days run smoother, and offer reviews on off-the-beaten-path destinations like national parks and even yurt camping. That’s all well and good, but sometimes, you just want an easy getaway that’s all about the FUN. That’s what Great Wolf is: kid-friendly, parent-approved, no-brainer (or planner) FUN.

2. Kids get their exercise! Until you’ve climbed four flights of stairs and back down again eight times in ten minutes while waving a wand at various wall fixtures, you haven’t had a true cardio workout. We loved Great Wolf’s MagiQuest game so much, our kids spent half their stay completing quests. The other half was spent swimming in the wave pool and climbing the stairs to the water slides!

Plus, Great Wolf Lodge locations include ‘dry’ areas, such as the ropes course at the New England location, perfect for kids less sure about the water play activities or those who just need to dry out (but don’t want to play the MagiQuest game…more on that in a minute). There’s also a fun laser course, which, instead of tag, is more of an obstacle course, where kids avoid brightly colored lasers. Channel your inner spy and try it out! Also on offer: mini golf, though be advised: you’ll need to pay extra for this activity.

We wish GWL (across the brand) would charge one room rate and make all activities all inclusive, but until that time, come prepared for some activity costs on-site.

3. Outside food and drinks are not only allowed, but encouraged. Hallelujah! Suites have both fridges and microwaves, making it easy to put together simple meals for your family. We always save money eating breakfast and snacks in our room. And outside food is permitted in the water park, too: go ahead and bring an entire cooler! To save money on lunch and stay hydrated all day, we bring in our own drinks.

4. The staff is friendly and helpful! And I mean very helpful. Disney helpful. From check-in to check-out, ‘Pack Members’ are on-hand to answer questions, point guests in various directions, and promote safety both in the water park and out. The MagiQuest staff is especially courteous, especially, in our opinion, at the Grand Mound Washington location, always walking the four bottom floors ready to assist any kids who need a hint on the game. The water park’s life guards (at every location) seem to be everywhere; when my son fell and skinned his knee at the New England location, two were on-hand with a band-aid and a smile before I could even get out of the water.

5. Families are accommodated. Well, of course they’re accommodated, Great Wolf is a hotel, after all, but I of course mean this in the greater sense! I love the extra room (literally) Great Wolf suites provide, the options for families of five (and larger), and the fact that throughout the resort, there’s something for everyone. Young kids love the Clock Tower sing-along every evening and can get some much needed quiet time in the Cub Club, where there’s always crafts, toys, and games just for them. Older kids can have the run of Gr8Space (12 and up) and the Northern Lights Arcade. For moms (and girls, too), you can’t beat the full spa. (See a full list of activities by age.)

Arriving early? Don’t worry about your room not being ready; just check in, get your wrist bands (these serve as room key and water park pass), change into swim suits in the locker rooms, and hit the slides. Same goes for the day you leave: guests have full use of the resort (water park, MagiQuest, Gr8Space and more) until 9 pm the day of check out, allowing for nearly a full additional day of fun! Go ahead and stay all day, then put the kids in pajamas for the drive home!

6. Water safety is Priority #1! As a family travel expert, I’ve experienced many family resorts with my kids, and can sum up Great Wolf Lodge’s water park safety measures in one word: impressive. During our recent stay at the Grand Mound location, we enjoyed the water park under the supervision of literally hundreds of lifeguards during our three days at the resort, and observed only professional, polite, and friendly interactions with guests. Guards manned (and womaned) their stations with diligence, rotated responsibilities on a frequent and regular schedule, and enforced rules with confidence.

I could list stats all day long, but offer a visual instead: count how many times a lifeguard passes in front of my camera as I take a 30 second video of my son.

Now, as promised: Great Wolf Lodge Tips!

Book midweek or on non-holiday weekends to get those coveted ‘under $199/night’ deals. Yes, they still exist!
Skip the packages that include wands or meals…they’re usually ‘padded’ with fairly useless stuff like plush animals and water shoes (aka, things you weren’t intending to buy). Yeah, you won’t get away with not buying wands, but a la carte is the way to go here.
Don’t try to do it all at GWL: some kids will want to spend more time in the ‘dry’ play area than in the waterpark, and there’s rarely time for the laser game, dance party, creation station, themed rooms, bowling, mini golf, the ropes course, and MagiQuest.
Remember that no ‘lap sitting’ is allowed on the slides (so kids will have to muster their own courage and ride without a parent). Also, height restrictions are enforced, so prep your younger kids ahead of time, letting them know what they can and can’t ride.
U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are permitted (and can be borrowed free of charge on-site), but no other floatation device or toy may be used in any part of the water park. Same goes for snorkels and flippers; leave them at home…it’s less to pack!
Consider eating off-site if the weather cooperates. Great Wolf Lodge dining is pretty cookie-cutter, and expensive to boot. We bring our own breakfast (easy to do thanks to fridges and microwaves) and eat outside the resort at least once during our stay. It’s a good way to see the light of day!

Do you have Great Wolf Lodge tips? Share them in the comments!

Mt. Hood Railroad Polar Express

November 26, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

A very special guest on the Polar Express!

110 Railroad Avenue
Hood River, OR

It’s that time of year…when everyday roadside attractions become magical! The Mt. Hood Railroad offers scenic tours through the Hood River Valley and the Columbia Gorge, and during the holiday season, they take a detour to the North Pole! Let your kids read along with the Polar Express story as the train makes its journey to the North Pole, meet Santa, and then enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, a treat and a special gift (for each child). Kids can wear their pajamas; be ready for some very cute photo ops! Everyone is dressed up to capture the feel of the story, and the train is beautifully decorated.

Distance from the nearest interstate: Right off I-84 in Hood River, Oregon. (Approximately 1 hour from Portland, OR down the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.)

Hours: Departures at 2 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7 pm nearly daily until December 23rd.

Ticket Prices: $26 per adult, $18 per child (age 2 and up).

Dining options: Cocoa and cookies are included in your ticket price, but no other food or drink are sold on the train. Passengers are welcome to bring their own bottled water and snacks. If you’re looking for a place to eat before or after your ride, I suggest either Hood River’s Andrew’s Pizza (107 Oak St), or, if time permits, a meal at the Multnomah Falls Lodge dining room in Cascade Locks on the way to or from the train ride.

Website: http://www.mthoodrr.com/Polar_Express/polar_mt_hood.html

Directions: From I-84, take the US-30 exit toward W Hood River/Westchill Dr. Turn right at US-30 E, then arrive at 110 Railroad St.

Travel Tip: Legoland’s Premium Play Pass

September 17, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Toby enjoys a Legoland horse ride minus the wait!

If you plan to visit the increasingly popular Legoland California in Carlsbad, CA during their peak summer and holiday periods, you might consider upgrading your admission tickets to Premium Play Passes.

Not widely advertised, this upgrade allows every passholder front of the line access for every ride, all day long and preferred seating for every show. The cavat: you pay dearly for this convenience, and with a limited number of passes available per day, they go fast.

The nitty-gritty: PPPs are $150 per adult and $130 per child (almost double regular admission). They include 1 day admission to Legoland and the CA Sea Life Aquarium and front-of-line privileges. (I do not believe they include water park admission.) Each day, only 100 PPPs are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. To snag a set on a crowded day, plan to arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before opening. (When we experienced Legoland with PPPs, 55 of the 100 had been sold by the time we arrived 1 hour before park opening.)

Where you get them: Pay for regular admission at the main booth to enter the park, then head to Guest Services, where you can upgrade your tickets to PPPs. (You can access Guest Services even before park opening.) PPPs aren’t sold at the admission booths. In fact, when we visited, they weren’t advertised on their pricing board in any way. Even at Guest Services, you need to ask for Premium Play Passes specifically.

The way it works: At Guest Services, each member of your party who upgraded to a PPP will be issued a wristband (when we went, it was yellow). These must be worn all day! At each ride or attraction, go to the exit (similar to how you’d access rides with a disability pass). Show the attendant your wrist bands (they’ll probably spot them immediately) and follow instructions for boarding the ride (in our experience, within 30 seconds to 2 minutes). All day long, you’ll never enter a regular line.

Our experience: To be honest, when we decided to try the PPP, I was unsure about how I’d feel about boarding rides in front of people who had waited in line. Sure, it’d be awesome, but would I feel like a jerk? The answer: yes and no. At times during the day (at especially crowded rides with long waits), I did feel a bit uncomfortable (it was weird for our kids, too!). However, the way Legoland has designed the PPP, you never directly ‘cut’ in front of waiting people, for which I was grateful. Because you enter at the exit, most regular guests never know you’re there (or what you’re doing). And the park employees are very good at getting PPP holder on rides quickly (that’s what you paid for, after all) and smoothly. We never encountered an employee who didn’t understand the system, and there was never any ride where the PPP didn’t apply, no matter how long or short the wait time.

And for us, the value of the PPP was measured way beyond the lack of wait time. If you’re the type of theme park guest who gets anxious about getting to the ‘big’ rides early in the day, staying on a schedule so that you avoid major crowds, or try to plan your break and meal times around crowd levels (that’s me!), the PPP will give you a peace of mind that slows your whole day down. Instead of worrying about what ride lines were filling up, we could spend time meandering the Mini-Land exhibits and posing next to lego-fied Darth Vader (all my preschooler wanted to do!). I didn’t rush my kids, took lots of breaks in the middle of the day, and generally felt stress-free…which I’m pretty sure is how a day at Legoland is supposed to feel!

The moral of the story (at least from a travel perspective!): The PPP is a perfect example of a little research going a long way. At Pit Stops for Kids, we always advocate pre-planning, and since the PPP isn’t well advertised, it’s definitely something you can only take advantage of if you know what you’re looking for. Any time you opt for something the general public is not readily made aware of, you’re going to find a crowd-reducing measure. We ended up having a memorable day of fun with our kids because we knew what was available.

Worth the price?: Definitely, if you’re visiting during peak season. The PPP buys not only convenience, but time, a commodity in short supply while theme park touring. If you plan to visit while California schools are in session (and avoid Spring Break weeks, winter breaks, and three-day weekends), the PPP will not be worth the price. But if you go on a weekend in August (which is when we found ourselves there), I’d recommend it, especially considering how large Legoland is becoming.

For more Legoland tips, Pit Stops for Kids recommends the Unauthorized LegoLand Guidebook by Bridget Smith.

We upgraded our park admission to Premium Play Passes at our own expense. Legoland CA did not pay or compensate us for this review in any way.

Cruising Options for Families of 5 and More

August 22, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

: Image via Wikipedia

If your family doesn’t fit the standard travel industry mold of two adults and two children, you’ve probably experienced frustration at one time or another while booking vacations, hotels, and the like. I know I have, and I ‘only’ have three kids!

Cruise lines especially seem to make it difficult (and costly) to book for a family of more than four, but there are tips and tricks for clearing these hurdles and finding the best deal for your larger family.

Hurdle #1: Online reservation systems only offer you expensive suites. Maybe you don’t want the most expensive sleeping option on-board, but as soon as you punch in 3+ kids into a cruise lines’ online system, all economic options are instantly closed to you. I’ve been there. Often, more options are available, but it takes speaking to an actual human being. Pick up the phone and call the booking company or cruise line. In most cases, two adjoining rooms housing 2-3 people are cheaper than one large luxury cabin housing 5+ (plus you gain an extra bathroom). On some ships (rumor has it that Disney Cruise Lines is one), some standard cabins are larger than others (such as if they’re located on the end of a hall or on a corner), and sleep 5 or more at the bargain cabin price. To get these, however, you have to ask for them specifically (or use a travel agent…a good one will know to do so).

Hurdle #2: All cruise lines are not created equal. There’s more than one fish in the sea (pun intended), so keep your options open. Consider booking though a company like discountcruises.com, which works with multiple cruise lines and can therefore offerÂ discount cruises for your family from a larger pool. On their site, you can browse which cruise lines are currently running promotions in which kids cruise free (under age 12), and can read reviews on the best ships for kids.

Hurdle #3: Package deals are not always one-size fits all. Read the fine print on any package deal in which kids cruise, stay, or eat free. (This is especially true for off-ship excursions.) They’re often designed for families of four, and will charge extra for additional children. (We’ve learned this the hard way when booking hotel/theme park combination tickets, for instance.) Ask ahead of time if this will be the case, and get the ‘a la carte’ price for the extra kid or kids. Sometimes it’s worth coughing up the extra dough, but often it’s not, and another package might be better for you. If the deal in question is limited to ‘kids free with participating adult’, consider the price difference if you invite extra adults along (maybe Grandma and Grandpa) to even out the grown-up to kid ratio.

Hurdle #4: Families of 5+ feel alone. Despite the travel industry’s insistence that families only come in packages of four, larger families are rapidly becoming the norm. To get other tips and vacation-planning strategies, check out sites that cater to larger families such as Six Suitcase Travel, where you’ll find lists of hotels, vacation homes, and restaurants that consider big families to be the standard (and charge you accordingly).

Mystic Seaport

August 8, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

19th Century Village at the Mystic Seaport

Mystic, Connecticut

This stop was submitted by Karin Burgess of Mystic Country. Thank you, Karin, for your support of Pit Stops for Kids!

Looking for a great maritime day or weekend trip to beat summer heat and learn as a family? Just off I-95 in Mystic, CT, the Mystic Seaport: Museum of America and the Sea is a great place to run around, get out on the water for a short boat ride, climb aboard a ship, learn history by seeing and doing! Along the waterfront, explore four National Historic Landmark vessels, then visit a recreated 19th-century village. There are lots of exhibits and galleries, and you can even watch experts restore antique vessels, then rent a boat yourself to get a sea-faring perspective. Make sure you allow for most of a day!

Charles W. Morgan at Chubb’s Wharf

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes off I-95.

Admission: Adults are $24, Youth (6-17): $15, 5 and under: Free.

Hours:
Spring/Summer/Early Fall 2010 (March 27 – October 31) open daily 9am-5pm
Late Fall 2010 (November 1 – November 28): open daily 10am – 4pm

Food Services: There’s plenty to choose from along the seaport from fine dining to a cafe with sandwiches and picnic fare.

Website: http://www.mysticseaport.org/

Directions:

From Hartford, Conn: Take Route 2 East to Route 11 South. Turn left onto Route 82, right onto Route 85, then Route 85 to Interstate 95 North. Take Exit 90, turning right at the exit. Mystic Seaport is one mile south on Route 27.

From Boston and Points Traveling South on I-95: Take Exit 90 off I-95. Turn left at end of ramp onto Route 27 South. Proceed approximately one mile.

North Point Lighthouse

June 10, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Image via Wikipedia

2650 N. Wahl Ave.
Milwaukee, WI

The North Point Lighthouse, standing since 1855, is a fixture in scenic Milwaukee, WI. Better yet for traveling families, it’s located adjacent to a great park for kids! Says Kara (AKA Vacation Gals’ ColoradoGal), “After snapping a photo of both families in front of the lighthouse, we explored a bit: (Double the Adventure’s)Sharlene’s husband actually pointed out this great trail with wooden steps leading down into the woods, and of course we had to explore it. After all, that’s how my family rolls…the kids led the way through all sorts of lush foliage down to the shore of Lake Michigan!”

Extra Tip!: Public tours are offered from 1-4 pm on Saturdays, year-round.

Date last visited: June 2010

Distance off the interstate: Six minutes off I-43.

Admission Prices:

Under 5: Free
Under 12: $3.00
Age 12 and up: $5.00 per person

Money-saving Tip! If you think you might be back, family memberships (starting at $35) might be a better deal for you, depending upon the size of your family!

Bathrooms: Need this information. If you know, please answer in the comments!

Website: North Point Lighthouse

Directions: From Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, drive east on Interstate 794. Take the Lakefront exit and go north on Lincoln Memorial Drive for 2.2 miles. Turn left opposite McKinley Park Beach and drive up the hill on E. Water Tower Road. Turn right on Terrace Avenue and make a quick right onto Wahl Avenue. The lighthouse will be on your right after about half a mile, in the southern end of Lake Park.
(From I-94, go north on I-43, then follow the above directions.)