yurt camping - Pitstops for Kids

Five outdoor travel experiences any family can try

August 23, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Good news parents: Most kids’ favorite vacations involve sleeping bags and campfires instead of five-star luxury and turn-down service. Traditional camping trips are a crowd favorite, but if you’re looking for something a bit further off the beaten path of family travel, check out one of the following outdoor travel experiences any family can enjoy, no prior wilderness knowledge necessary.

1. Spend a night in a fire tower lookout.

Un-used or seasonally manned fire tower lookouts dot US Forest Service lands, especially in the Western states. Many of these lookouts are available for seasonal rental. Our fire lookout stay at Pickett Butte, Oregon included two nights in an isolated three-story high tower, with plenty of room to play, hike, and let our dog roam. We enjoyed downtime, plenty of paperbacks, roaring campfires, and the excitement of sleeping above the treetops while the wind blew. Fire lookouts are available to reserve via Recreation.gov, just like state campground sites.

2. Book an overnight river rafting trip.

Untried on the river? Don’t try to plan an overnight float trip by yourself. We’ve seen the results first-hand (and they usually involve stuck rafts and miserable families). When we wanted to explore Oregon’s backcountry via the Rogue River, we entrusted our vacation to OARS, who took care of everything from experienced rafting guides to three-course meals. Rafting tours are available in most states, with the most popular overnight trips for families in California, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho.

3. Go dog sledding.

A day trip that involves speed, snow, and happy, barking canines? Sign us up! The best dog-sledding tours will include educational opportunities for kids to learn about the history and practice of dog sledding, as well as time to greet the dogs, learn about their care, and see where they eat and sleep. We loved our dog sledding tour in Big White, British Columbia, as well as our summer tour of a dog sledding training facility in Juneau, Alaska.

4. Rent a state park yurt.

Want to camp in the Pacific Northwest in the off-season, but don’t have an RV or camper to keep warm? No problem: rent a state park yurt. Reservable via Recreation.gov, state park yurts in Washington and Oregon (as well as other states across the US) provide families with just enough comfort to still be considered a camping trip. Yurts along the Pacific coast provide heat, electricity, and beds… perfect for a weekend of whale watching or winter storm viewing. Reserve early: yurts are very popular!

5. Take a hut-to-hut ski or hike tour.

Perhaps you grew up taking overnight backpacking trips, but your children aren’t quite old enough to carry full packs of gear (yet). Or maybe you’d like to get into the sport, but are first-timers. Enter hut-to-hut hiking or skiing, where families can enjoy the backpacking experience combined with the comfort and security of a winterized (and sometimes stocked) hut at the end of each day’s journey. Our favorite hut-to-hut trips are located in the heart of the White Mountains, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Families can opt to trek on their own, or base in one of AMC’s family-friendly lodges such as the Highland Center Lodge for a guided day trip. Just in time for summer, AMC has extended their guided family vacations.

Photo credit: Amy Whitley, Flickr Creative Commons

Sunset Bay State Park

April 25, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Sunset Bay State Park on Oregon’s beautiful scenic coast is one of our family’s favorite destinations. Situated between the tourist hot spots of Bandon to the south and Cannon Beach to the north, it works as a wonderful pit stop along Hwy 101, whether for a picnic, a whole afternoon, or an overnight (or two).

If you plan to stay only a short while, park at the picnic/group camping area and enjoy one of the most scenic beaches on the pacific coast. Explore the tide pools if you’ve timed your arrival right, or let your kids play on the huge pieces of driftwood or run along the sand. If they (or you!) are daring (or just crazy like my kids), take a dip in the cold Pacific. If time permits, take the Oregon Coast Trail right from the beach to Cape Arago State Park to see their stunning gardens over the ocean (4 miles). If you want a shorter hike, follow the signs from the mouth of big creek to the viewpoint overlooking Sunset Bay (1/2 mile).

If you’re staying overnight, consider booking a yurt. Oregon state parks are well-known for these unique accommodations. One part tent and one part hut, state park yurts are heated, wired with electricity, and come furnished with comfortable bunkbeds (sleeps 5 easily), a table and chairs, coat pegs, and covered porches.

We’re not usually campground campers (preferring to backpack far from the crowds) but given coastal Oregon’s lush landscape, the sites felt very private (and the yurts are located on their own loop). Hint: come in the off-season when prices drop and the campground is nearly a ghost town! You’ll have the run of the place! Read more about our yurt adventures!

Distance off the interstate: 15 minutes from Hwy 101.

Date Last Visited: November 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Day visitors pay only $4 per car. Open sunrise to sunset. Nightly camping fees range from $12 for a tent camp site to $27 for a yurt in the off-season to $19 for a tent site to $36 for a yurt in the peak season (starting May 1st). Full RV hookup sites are available as well. To book, start at Oregon State Parks.

Bathrooms: All very clean, well-lit, and heated. While we visited in the off-season, there were no lines for showers and plenty of hot water.

Dogs: Select yurts are dog-friendly (as is the case in most Oregon coast state parks). Check for the dog-friendly ‘paw print’ when reserving your yurt online.

Food Services: None at the state park. You’ll want to stock up on supplies in nearby Coos Bay (10 miles), where you can find a Fred Meyer or Charleston (no major grocery stores, but a few decent mini-marts). Coos Bay also has fast food and casual dining.

Directions: From Oregon Coast Hwy/US-101, take the 1st left onto W Beaver Hill Rd, then a slight right at 7 Devils Rd. After six miles, turn left at Walker Ave, then take a slight left at Cape Arago Hwy. Stay on Cape Arago Hwy for 2.5 miles, and the state park will be on the left.

Sunset Bay State Park

High Falls State Park with kids

November 2, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

High Falls (photo courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

76 High Falls Park Dr
Jackson, GA

Mondays are for dreaming, and today, I’m dreaming of being out-of-doors, enjoying autumn sunshine! Late fall can provide some of the best hiking and nature walking, and if you’re living in or driving through Georgia on I-75, High Falls State Park is a beautiful place to stop and explore for an afternoon or an entire weekend!

High Falls State Park with kids:

Hike the 4.5 miles of trails, visit the waterfall on the Towaliga River, and explore the site of a grist mill (in the remains of a ghost town). High Falls also boosts a lake, picnic shelters, boating, and fishing. Canoe rentals are also available.

Throughout the month of November, check Georgia State Parks’ Leaf Watch guide (and for your summer visits, remember that there’s a seasonal swimming pool as well)!

There’s also plenty of tent, trailer, and RV camping, but if you think it’s too cold to camp this last in the season, think again! With beautiful rustic yurts, traditional camping can be extended all year long! (As you may know, I’m a big fan of yurts!)

Distance off the interstate: One mile off I-75

Hours and Admission Prices: Daytime parking fee is $5 per car. If you’re interested in visiting one of Georgia’s other state parks, such as Red Top Mountain, lodge rates have been reduced significantly for the off-season! Find a room here: http://gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=171331.0.1.5&mode=h

Food Services: Says Georgia State Parks Public Affairs Coordinator Kim Hatcher, There’s a great Southern restaurant one exit north (Buckner’s) with some of the best fried chicken in Georgia!

Website: http://www.gastateparks.org/info/highfall/

Directions: From I-75, take Exit 198 at High Falls and go 1.8 miles east on High Falls Road.

This pit stop submitted by Kim Hatcher. Thank you, Kim! I’m always happy to promote the beauty of state parks!