A park or playground.

Hear me out. True, you can play on a playground in your hometown, and a city park might not give you a one-of-a-kind experience you can get only in your destination. But you’ll never regret the time you and your kids spend at the playground on vacation—and in fact, adding it to your vacation itinerary can work wonders on your kids’ attitude (and your stress level!). Here’s why.

5 reasons to add a playground to your family trip itinerary

1. Playing at a park lets your kids burn off energy

If your littles are anything like mine, they finish road trips and plane rides with, ahem, an abundance of energy. Letting them loose on a playground allows them to stretch their legs, get the activity their growing bodies need and just be silly. Trust me: You’d rather have your kids burn off energy at the playground and not the local art museum.

2. Parks are familiar

Especially if your kids are very young or nervous about new places and situations, building something familiar into your family trip itinerary will be comforting. Your kids are less likely to melt down later if they’ve already done something they love—and that they’re used to from their routine at home.

3. Locals’ tips and advice

Here’s my favorite part about adding parks to every family trip itinerary I plan: Hitting up a park gives me the perfect opportunity to meet local parents. These are the people who will give you insider tips on where to eat, play, explore—and what to avoid.

4. Playgrounds make kids happy

Family vacations are all about, well, family time. Planning a trip itinerary only on what you want to do—museums, walking hip neighborhoods, shopping, exploring antique stores—is a sure bet to make your kids cranky. Build in a playground stop and they’ll be in a good mood the rest of the day (like when you stop in at an art gallery, or whatever else you have on your family trip itinerary).

5. Playgrounds let kids be kids

When families go on vacation, kids are often asked to be on their best behavior: They have to eat unfamiliar food at restaurants, stick close to a parent on busy sidewalks, be quiet in museums and otherwise restrain themselves at every turn. But at a playground—the destination they’ll be so glad you included in your trip itinerary—they’re free to be their usual, rambunctious selves.

Have you and your kids ever stopped at a playground on vacation? How did it work out? Do you have other tips to plan a family vacation?

The post Planning the perfect family vacation: The destination you need on every family trip itinerary appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Just last weekend we headed down to Eugene for the day, and I don’t even mind the 2-hour drive from Portland because my girls always have so much fun!

But it’s not good enough to keep these amazing activities in Eugene to myself; I just had to share my favorites with you all! From splash pads to science museums, wetlands, bike paths to cherry orchards, when it comes to kids’ activities in Eugene, Oregon, you’ll be treated to magical outdoor fun.

Don’t take my word for it, though—try them out next time you travel to Eugene, or pin this post and save for later!

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The best things to do in Eugene with kids this summer

Make this summer the best yet with these kid-friendly activities in Eugene. Oregon outdoor fun is never in short supply here—and these ideas are guaranteed to please the whole family!

Cool down in the river

When you visit Eugene with kids, do like the locals, and float the Willamette River. Depending on how young your kids are, you might prefer the super-calm, rapid-less Mill Race. You can rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard to explore this side channel of the Willamette. (There are rentals at Amazon Park, among other places.)

This is one of the best things to do in Eugene, Oregon so make sure you head to the river for some fun in the sun!

Level 10 travel tip: You’re in a city, but keep your eye out for wildlife here. You might spot a great blue heron, turtles, fish or even a fox!

Splash at the EWEB Fountain

On a hot day, the EWEB Fountain—just a few minutes away from shopping and dining hub 5th Street Market—is a bustling center of joyful activity for families in Eugene. Wear a swimsuit (or the wicking performance fabric dresses from Columbia that are basically my summer uniform) so you can play—and cool off—too!

Level 10 travel tip: What’s even better than splashing in a fountain? Riding through a fountain on your bike! Reach the EWEB Fountain via the bike path that runs along both sides of the Willamette River.

Pick your favorite flavor at Prince Puckler’s

This is always a highlight for my kids when we visit Eugene! Prince Puckler’s is a Eugene landmark (and one where even President Obama visited—and ordered mint chocolate chip!).

Regardless of whether you’re the leader of the USA or not, you can find your own favorite flavor at this ice cream parlor next to the edge of the University of Oregon campus and Hayward Field.

Level 10 travel tip: Take your ice cream to Washburne Park, one block south of Prince Puckler’s. You might see college kids walking slack lines or playing hacky sack while you eat your ice cream.

Hike Mt. Pisgah in Eugene, Oregon

Looking for fun family activities in Eugene? Why not hit the mountains! If you visit Eugene with kids in the summer, you’re better off hiking Mt. Pisgah in the morning. There are plenty of trails to choose from (look up options here), but many of them are exposed to the sun—not great for kids at midday.

Level 10 travel tip: If you do go later in the day, bring swimming suits. Mt. Pisgah has many calm stretches of river where you can splash!

Visit 5th Street Market

This historic, upscale market in downtown Eugene is fun for kids as well as grown-ups. My girls love the fountain on the ground floor, and there’s a toy store upstairs.

Level 10 travel tip: There used to be a rooster that lived at the market. It’s long gone, but there are plenty of references to 5th Street Market’s former mascot. Encourage your kids to look for roosters in the market’s decor and art—it’s like a scavenger hunt!

Hit up the Saturday Market

Every Saturday, just about the entire city of Eugene heads downtown. The Saturday Market is filled with handicrafts, food, musicians, a farmer’s market, and lots of opportunities for unbeatable people watching.

My kids get insanely excited about the balloon animals and the homemade artisan popsicles for sale at the west end of the farmer’s market.

Level 10 travel tip: Let your kids loose at the drum circle, which goes nonstop at the Saturday Market’s northeast corner. Little ones love moving to the rhythm of drums and the occasional digeridoo!

Pick fruit at Eugene’s orchards and farms

Depending on when you visit Eugene in the summer, you can choose from picking strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, apples, and pears. Detering Orchard and Lone Pine Farms (where, actually, I worked for a summer!) are a few of our favorites.

Some farms have animals, pie tastings and other produce for sale, too. This is yet another one my (and my kids’) favorite Eugene attractions! 

Explore Alton Baker Park

This giant park near Autzen Stadium is a wide-open space for kids to run, play, and imagine all sorts of adventures. The best part is the island at the center of the duck pond, which you can reach by the big stepping stones. There is also a native pollinator garden and big concrete sculptures perfect for hide and seek.

Climb into a whale at Skinner’s Butte Park

I have fond memories of playing in this park when I was younger, especially the concrete whale. My kids love it just as much and exploring the playground is one of our best things to do in Eugene. 

Since I was little, though, it’s been totally updated. Skinner’s Butte Park now also has a three-story play structure with multiple slides, a mini-log cabin and a “spray and play” water feature, plus much more.  There’s no questioning why Skinner’s Butte Park is one of their favorite playgrounds when we visit Eugene in the summer.

Stop and smell the flowers at the Rose Garden

June is the best time for the blooms at this Eugene Rose Garden, but it’s pretty any time of year, especially in the Eugene summer. 

See birds up-close at the Raptor Center

In Eugene’s South Hills, a bird sanctuary helps injured avians recover and houses ones that can’t be returned to the wild. You and your kids will see eagles, crows, vultures, owls and other raptors at this wildlife center.

You’ll also learn a lot. For example, did you know that turkey vultures can spit caustic stomach acid when they’re threatened? Well, now you do!

Level 10 travel tip: Check out the Eugene Cascades Raptor Center’s web site for listings of presentations with the center’s birds, where kids can get an even closer look at these amazing avians.

Swim at the Amazon Pool

At the Amazon Pool, there is splashy fun water activities for kids in Eugene of all ages. When you visit with your family, the older ones can do cannonballs off the diving board while the littles play in the shallow pool.

The fountains that sprinkle water from above are great for everyone and after a day splashing in the pools, you’ll agree that this is one of the best places to visit in Eugene!

Disc golf at Dexter Park

About 25 minutes south of Eugene, you’ll find a high-quality disc golf park at Dexter State Park, which is an awesome way to spend the summer in Eugene with kids. Disc golf is a low-pressure game where you throw a small frisbee toward a basket. Young children can hike while the grown-ups play, and older kids may give you a run for your money. 

If you don’t feel up to driving out to Dexter, try the disc golf parks at Alton Baker Park near Autzen Stadium and Westmoreland Park in West Eugene.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring your BBQ supplies and make a day’s outing at Dexter. There are plenty of grills at this state park, as well as boat docks and a swimming area.

Win a gold medal at Hayward Field

Ok, your kids might not actually win any medals at this internationally renowned track (except in their imagination), but it’s fun to pretend! Some of the greatest runners of the last several generations have raced here, and it’s hard not to feel inspired to sprint just a little faster when you run on the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Get pedal power

There’s a reason Eugene was certified as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community: The entire city embraces 2-wheeled locomotion. Click here to get a map of Eugene’s hundreds of miles of bike paths or pick up a guide at the city’s many bike shops.

Some of my favorite stretches: both the North and South Bank of the Willamette, and the path that winds around the wetlands in West Eugene near West 11th Avenue.

Level 10 travel tip: Cycle along the West Eugene wetlands path in the morning or evening. It won’t be as sunny and hot, and you’ll hear the red winged blackbirds and other avians that call this area home. Keep an eye out for nutria, too, the large water-loving rodents!

Beat the heat at the Wave Pool in Eugene

Still not convinced that Eugene is the best place to visit with kids? Well, if you’re done with UV rays, head inside at this gigantic swimming pool complex. Splash! at Lively Park has different sections, including a wading pool with fountains, a wave pool that simulates the ocean and a big water slide. 

Cheer on the Em’s

Eugene’s minor league baseball team, the Emeralds, now play at PK Park next to Autzen stadium. Root for the home team while eating peanuts, heckling batters and eating ice cream out of tiny plastic baseball caps.

See the night sky in the middle of the day

Summer days are long, but you can catch a sight of the stars anytime at the Eugene Science Museum’s planetarium. This family-friendly museum also has interactive exhibits on meteorites, wind turbines and much more. 

Explore the University of Oregon campus

Summer in Eugene with kids is the perfect time to wander the University of Oregon campus. Since school is out, campus is much less crowded than it is during the school year. Who knows—the university visit may inspire your kids to get excited about college!

Level 10 travel tip: Let your kids climb the many-branched trees throughout the U of O campus—and don’t forget to snap a picture of their monkey moves!

Discover street art

Eugene has some lovely murals across town—make it an adventure to find as many as you can! Or just keep your eyes open for them and stop to take a picture in front of the ones you see.

The best kids’ activities in Eugene, Oregon: I’ve got you covered

I love spending time with my family in Eugene and it’s one of my favorite places to visit in Oregon. There are so many more things to do this summer in Eugene with kids—and with adults! Do you have any tips?

Pin this post for later so you’ll remember these ideas for Oregon summer fun!

And if you’re visiting Eugene, OR, don’t forget to book your hotel. The city hosts a lot of events in the summer (from track meets to the annual Bach Festival) so reserve your accommodations early!

The post 21 FUN things to do in Eugene with kids this summer appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

PDX is consistently voted the country’s best airport, and it’s not just because of the carpet. The Portland airport is great for adults (breweries! whiskey flights! wine bars! mimosas at the Country Cat!), but it’s also wonderful for kids. Between the kid-friendly restaurants, family entertainment and smart design, PDX is my favorite kid-friendly airport. If you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, take advantage of the airport’s kid-friendly features.

Getting to your destination can make anyone cranky—and little kids have even less patience than us wise, calm, serene adults. (HA!) So a kid-friendly airport like PDX makes life a little easier on us parents. In fact, my kids now actually like hanging out at the airport!

Next time you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, then, seek out these family-friendly perks.

Why flying through the Portland airport with kids WON’T make you swear off family travel

1. Log on to free wifi

If your kids are approaching a post-TSA meltdown (and I can’t say I blame them), save your data and log on to the PDX free wifi. The wifi in the Portland airport is famously fast—and good enough to stream Puffin Rock, Paw Patrol or whatever uber annoying show your kid is obsessed with this week. 

2. See part of a movie at the Hollywood Theater

A free movie theater is just one more reason why flying through the Portland airport with kids is the best. Not all films there are family-friendly, but check the current showing schedule for kid-friendly flicks. On a recent day, short films included overhead drone footage of Oregon, a stop-motion animation about a frog and a documentary about crows.

3. Wear your Timbers jersey

If you fly Alaska, wear your Portland Timbers jersey and you get to pre-board with all the fancy first class folks!

4. Buy kid-friendly (and healthy!) snacks

Skip the sugar crash and pick healthy, kid-friendly snacks for your pre-boarding wait—and the flight ahead. Fruit bars, squeezie pouches, popcorn, cheese and protein plates and more are great options. Stock up because flying through the Portland airport with kids who are hangry is never fun!

5. Look out the window

There’s something magical about seeing gigantic planes close up. Kids also love to watch aircraft taking off and landing.

Level 10 travel tip: An enormous window at the end of terminal C gives an unobstructed view of the runways. If you are flying out of terminal C or have extra time, walk down this way for primo views. Bonus: The window is right next to a playground!

6. Take a foot selfie

PDX tore up a bunch of its legendary carpet, which oddly enough developed a cult following, but you can still take a foot selfie along with thousands of other travelers! #pdxcarpet

7. Pick a kid-friendly restaurant at PDX

If you’re looking for something fast, Cafe Yumm is my go-to. It serves kid-friendly (and customizable) bowls with a base of beans and rice. If you have more time, Portland favorite Country Cat is a fairly recent addition to PDX, and their homemade biscuits with jam are a huge hit with little ones.

Level 10 travel tip: Country Cat also serves cocktails. The 5 o’clock rule guidelines totally don’t apply when you’re flying with kids. Mimosas away!

8. Stop by an airport play place

My kids find airport moving walkways more fun than just about anything else, but when I get tired of apologizing to passengers for my girls, I steer them to an airport play place at PDX.

PDX has several play places, including one on each side of the airport. TK SPECIFICS

Level 10 travel tip: Make sure your kids wash their hands right after using the airport play places. You don’t want to start a family vacation by catching a bug!

9. Listen (or dance!) to live music

Unless you’re flying super-early or super-late, musicians perform across the airport throughout the day. I’ve seen not only people playing the piano and saxophone but also the marimba and even the African kora. A little live music is a great inspiration for your kids to dance out their energy when flying through PDX.

10. Look up at the Clock Tower

The beautiful, weathervane-like art at the Clock Tower in terminal C is a great place for kiddos to explore for a few minutes. Invite them to find the different animals and scenes atop the towers.

This light-filled atrium is also the best place to eat a meal in the Portland airport, IMHO. Kid-friendly restaurants here include Cafe Yumm, MOD Pizza (which also serves a gluten-free crust) and Mo’s Chowder (get the kid-friendly fish and chips, yum!). There are plenty of tables in this atrium to sit and have a pre-flight meal.

11. Run sprints on an out-of-the-way moving walkway

If your kids are anything like mine, they love getting on and off the moving walkway. Unfortunately, other travelers are trying to use it for its actual purpose: getting to where they’re going faster. Great news for your kiddos: The long hallway that connects the two ends of the airport has several extra-long stretches of moving walkways, perfect for letting kids sprint to their heart’s content.

12. Take a break at a nursing room

There are roughly a dozen nursing rooms throughout the Portland airport, great for breastfeeding moms or moms who exclusively pump. They’re first-come, first-served, so if the one you go to is locked, ask a PDX staff for help. They should be able to help you find someplace private and close to breastfeed or pump, like the conference center.

If you’re pumping at the airport, take a look at my post on my other blog, Ten Thousand Hour Mama, for tons of tips on pumping at the airport.

13. Watch the dogs

Also in the connector highway between the two ends of PDX, an animal relief center offers an unexpected way to entertain kids. Your littles can watch through the room’s window as dogs dart around the room. The combination of finally getting to run off-leash and all the intense smells makes dogs particularly hilarious!

Flying through the Portland airport with kids definitely isn’t at the top of my favorite family activities, but it’s not on the worst-ever list, either. So when you’re flying in or out of Portland, take advantage of PDX’s family-friendly airport perks. You, your kids, and the rest of the travelers on your plane will be glad you did!

If you’re planning a family trip, you’ll definitely want to check out my $3 hack to make packing all your kids’ stuff totally simple. After all, I swear by this trick and it has helped so much by eliminating the hassle of packing suitcases.

Do you have any tips for flying with kids through the Portland airport or anywhere else? Please share in the comments!

The post 13 must-know tips for flying through the Portland airport with kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

You see, camping with kids isn’t always easy—you have to pack for every contingency, try to get kids who are hopped up on s’mores to sleep, and deal with the whole latrine toilet situation. But camping with kids is so worth it, and picking a family-friendly spot like Milo Mciver campground makes it easier.

Just think: Camping with kids means you have dedicated family time away from electronics with nothing to distract you except the call of an owl or a campfire running low on fuel.

Milo McIver Park, Oregon: Camping with the whole family

Camping with kids allows the whole family to unplug and play in the great outdoors, and camping at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, Oregon is a great place for just that. It’s also a fantastic campsite to visit if you’re not the rugged backpacker-type.

In fact, the Milo McIver campground is one of the better campgrounds to visit with kids. After all, there are so many kid-friendly activities, features, and destinations within the park, your whole family won’t even notice that Baby hardly slept.

(Kidding! Maybe your baby will sleep in a tent like a champ. If so, tell me your secret.)

So if you’re family camping in Oregon, check out Milo McIver park. Here’s everything you need to know, from the campgrounds to disc golf, swimming and more!

Milo McIver State Park Camping

When you camp at Milo McIver State Park near Portland, don’t expect ultra-rustic sites. Instead, you’ll find flat, clean and large campsite—that near everyone else who’s car camping that day. I thought that the sites actually had a good amount of room between them, but you’ll be able to hear and see most of your neighbors.

Milo McIver Park Amenities

The Milo McIver campgrounds are also accessible to RVs (my in-laws joined us with their rig). The campground has an RV dump station and RV hookups.

We were able to easily walk to the flush toilets and shower facilities. And as you can see, fire rings help you keep fires safe.

Milo McIver park has several group tent camping areas, including one near the disc golf course (more on that in a second!). We’ve often wanted to rent a group camping site but haven’t yet.

You can also rent a shelter at Milo McIver’s day-use area. We did this for Hubs’ 40th birthday party. We had plenty of space for our guests to spread out (and nom on his birthday cake, yum yum!). What’s more, the shelter had running water so everyone could wash hands after making fairy wands.

The day-use area is open to everyone, not just campers; you’ll just need to pay the $5 parking fee or get a yearlong Oregon state park pass for just $30.

Level 10 travel tip: Next to the Cedar group picnic area and shelter, you’ll find a tall tree (a cedar I think??) that kids can play in. The branches create an awesome hidey area to play inside. Our littles spent an entire day making it into a fairy castle!

The Best Things to do at Milo Mciver Park: Disc Golf and More 

The great thing about spending a weekend at Milo Mciver Park in Oregon is that there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained! You’ll leave feeling refreshed and your kids will have such fun stories to tell their friends at school.

Milo Mciver Disc Golf

We first discovered Milo McIver State Park when Hubs hit up the park’s 27-hole disc golf course. Since then, he goes disc golfing at Milo Mciver just about every week.

Disc golfing is a wonderful family activity because just about any aged kid can throw a disc (even if not very far), you can go at your own pace (or your kids’ pace), and there is a ton of room for kids to run and explore.

When you’re camping here, you can drive to access the Milo Mciver disc golf park at the north end (by turning left if you’re coming from the park’s entrance). If it’s your first-time disc golfing, let faster groups behind you pass you, and don’t hesitate to ask other disc golfers where you’ll find the next hole. If you’re not already a disc golfer, you can buy or rent discs at the park office.

Level 10 travel tip: Keep a close eye on your kids and other groups when you disc golf. After all, you don’t want your kids to accidentally get in the way of an oncoming disc!

Milo Mciver State Park Swimming Areas for Kids

Milo McIver State Park is nestled along the Clackamas River, and you can access the water throughout the park.

Playing in the Clackamas River

Whenever we go to Milo McIver, my girls want to swim—even if it’s raining out! The park has swimming holes, and there are even more spots great for wading.

Make sure you never take your eyes off your kids—the Clackamas River does have a current.

Also know that the water stays quite cold until mid-summer, so bring cozy towels to wrap up your kids after their swim.

Level 10 travel tip: Our favorite river access spot at Milo Mciver Park is between holes 6 and 7 on the east disc golf park. Even if you’re not disc golfing, you can walk along the riverbend trail to find this sandy, calm spot.

Floating the Clackamas River

The stretch of the Clackamas River at Milo McIver is fairly mellow but has a few baby rapids. For families with older kids, it can be a fun adventure to float (aka “tube”) the river.

There are boat ramps throughout the park. You’ll want to leave a car at the takeout so you can drive back to your campsite—or back to the river to float the Clackamas again!

Please be safe, though: Wear lifejackets at all times.

Visit The Fish Hatchery at Milo Mciver State Park

The park is home to one of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fish hatcheries. In fact, it’s just a few minutes’ drive (or a hike) from many of the Milo Mciver Park camping areas, making it a fun family-friendly activity if your kids need a break from throwing sticks in the campfire.

My kids couldn’t believe how many fish were in the holding tanks—the surface of the water practically rolled with fish growing bigger and bigger.

I learned a lot about fish in Oregon at the hatchery, too. The fish hatchery raises Chinook salmon and Steelhead, helping populations of these threatened species survive threats like habitat loss.

Camping at Milo McIver: Bat house

When you’re camping at Milo McIver, look up: At night, you’ll see flitting shadows. Yep, those are bats!

Before you get creeped out, remember that these nocturnal animals are eating mosquitoes and other bugs. (Thank you, bats!)

It just so happens that Milo McIver State Park is home to Townsend’s big-eared bat, a protected species in Oregon. You and your family can learn even more about these crucial critters by hiking to the Bat House and going along the self-guided tour.

Level 10 travel tip: The hike to the Bat House at Milo McIver is through an open area so it’s not shaded. Make sure to put sunscreen and hats on your kids, especially in the summer, so they don’t get sunburned.

Milo McIver Park Camping: Even more family-friendly features!

• There are miles and miles of hiking trails all around Milo McIver State Park. Pick up a map at the park office.

• Bikes are welcome on all paved roads but not on any trails.

Level 10 travel tip: There’s a big hill that separates the Riverbend section of the park (with the disc golf course) and the Riverside part of the park (with the campsites). Unless your kids are up for a big uphill climb—or you’re willing to pull them in a trailer—stick to one side or the other.

• During the summer, there are park ranger-led kids activities. Check at the park office for a schedule.
• There’s a beautiful viewpoint near the Milo Mciver park office. Stop by to see the Clackamas River from above.

Looking forward to planning our next Milo Mciver Camping Trip

I’m beyond excited for summer camping this year, and we’ll definitely be camping at Milo McIver State Park again. If you’re looking to head out for the weekend and go camping near Portland, make sure to add Milo Mciver Park to your bucket list!

Looking for more family-friendly camping in Oregon? Check out my post on yurt camping at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast because I’m pretty sure you and your kids will love it as much as my littles did!

Do you have any family camping plans?

The post Milo McIver State Park Camping with Kids: A Family Mecca appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

What you’ll get visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest

This 1.3 million-acre national forest surrounding Mt. St. Helens is an absolute treasure. Visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a slam-dunk sure-bet for stunning views, gorgeous hikes, nature play and family-friendly camping.

From views of snow-capped mountains to second-growth forest (since some of this area was decimated during the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens), from pristine creeks to kid-friendly hikes, I can’t wait to revisit Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids.

Explore, play, discover in Gifford Pinchot

With 1.3 million acres, it’s tough to write an exhaustive list on visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids, so I won’t even try. What I will do is share a few highlights.

Camping at Gifford Pinchot

We stayed at the Iron Creek Campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is about a 20-minute drive from Randle, Washington. The campground is large—it has just under 100 sites—but sites felt roomy. The campsites are divided between four loops, and we couldn’t even see our neighbors from our spot.

Campsites are shaded and are tucked in the forest, which means you don’t get hot, direct sunlight as soon as dawn comes. In fact, one morning the girls slept until 8 am!

The family-friendly campground in Washington includes flat, paved roads for bike riding and a 1.5-mile loop trail that winds along the Cispus River and around the entire campground. It was easy terrain for our kids to hike, and there were plenty of downed logs to climb on along the way. We also stopped at a river bank to throw rocks in the river, of course!

Note that the only restroom facilities are vault toilets. (The kids mostly peed outside anyway, abiding by my dear Uncle Dick’s rule to never miss an opportunity to pee outside!!)

Level 10 travel tip: You can get ice (or ice cream!) in Randle if you run out.

Hikes and waterfalls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

At the recommendation of one of the campground hosts, we hiked to Covel Creek Falls, about a 10-mile drive from Iron Creek Campground. Park in front of the Cispus Learning Center (46.4399° N, 121.8486° W) then cross the road to catch the trail.

You’ll hike through old-growth fir and spruce forest and along Covel Creek. The intensity and variety of green hues had us stopping to marvel throughout the 3-mile kid-friendly hike. The girls loved crossing logs and climbing onto tree stumps—they’re like little forest fairies!

Note that signage isn’t great along the trail, and two bridges are out. That just means there are two places you have to scramble a bit, but we were far from the only family who managed. I helped Kiwi (aged almost 3) up and down some of the embankments, and Peeper (aged almost 5) managed on her own. “Obstacle conquered!” Peeper shouted each time, and she was so proud!

IMG_6576 from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

The real payoff is Covel Creek Falls, a gorgeous waterfall you can hike behind. The final ascent just before the waterfall is steep, but Peeper managed it. (By this time I was wearing Kiwi. Hey, she made it most of the way up!) We very carefully walked down behind the waterfall, and it was an unforgettable experience for the girls.

Level 10 travel tip: When it gets steep, you’ll be tempted to turn around if your kids start to complain. About halfway up the steep section there’s a level spot with fallen logs that’s perfect for a snack break. Power up here then tackle the rest of the ascent—you won’t be disappointed in Covel Creek Falls!

Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center

If you’re driving to Gifford Pinchot from Portland, make sure to stop at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center at the base of the volcano. For us on our road trip from Portland, it was exactly halfway to our destination in Gifford Pinchot and so was a perfect opportunity to use the bathroom (I have the world’s smallest bladder!) and stretch our legs. The Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center is almost exactly one hour from Portland.

Inside the visitor center, you’ll find an information desk that was more like a hotel concierge. The park staff were incredibly helpful in recommending kid-friendly trails around Mt. St. Helens and telling us about road closures. (Even in late May, several passes on Mt. St. Helens were still closed due to snow.)

We also walked through the interpretive displays ($5 admission for adults). My kiddos were much to antsy to wait while I read the (sometimes long) explanations so I didn’t get to learn as much as I’d like about the eruption, but they did enjoy some of the interactive parts of the exhibit—mostly pushing buttons and walking underneath a model of the volcano. There is also a short video that plays twice an hour at :05 and :35, but we didn’t watch it: The last thing I wanted for my kids after a road trip was to sit down!

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re pressed for time, feel free to skip the interpretive displays. We only spent about 10 minutes walking through, but I don’t mind spending the admission fee for such a short time: I figure it’s my way of supporting the park, since parking here is free.

Hiking Silver Lake at Mt. St. Helens

From the Mt. St. Helens interpretive center, you can access a 0.6-mile hike around Silver Lake—an ultimately kid-friendly and accessible trail. This short hike is entirely flat, goes through forest as well as wetlands, and has bridges—which are pretty much my kids’ favorite things on the planet.

(Our conversations about kid-friendly hikes go something like this: Me: “We’re going on a new hike today!” Kids: “Yeah but are there bridges?” Me: “…”)

We listened to the distinctive call of red-winged blackbirds, which nest in the cattails growing in the wetlands here. The girls also chased butterflies and loved looking for other wildlife. Thousands of migratory birds pause at Silver Lake, making it an excellent spot for bird-watching. Also, a fascinating bit of trivia: Silver Lake is also home to the Bladderwort aquatic plant, which is carnivorous! When insects brush against it, a piece of the plant closes around the unsuspecting bug and is slowly digested. Feed me, Seymour!

Stopping at Silver Lake is the perfect hike and way to stretch your legs when you’re traveling to Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Exploring Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids

There’s so much to see in Gifford Pinchot National Forest—it’s like nature’s playground.

So much of kids’ lives today are scripted, scheduled and constrained, so I cherish time my girls spend outside. As we kept repeating all weekend, “We have no agenda.” So if the girls wanted to hold a centipede for five minutes, cross the same stretch of creek 10 times or get “lost” in the woods behind our campsite, it was all good. We had no place to be except present.

Covel Creek, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

That’s the true treasure of going to a place like Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids: It’s off the grid. It’s beautiful. It’s quiet. It’s the perfect environment to reconnect with each other and with nature.

We’ll be heading back to Gifford Pinchot, Washington again soon. There’s still so much to explore! See you out there!

PS – Don’t miss my post all about the Best Camping Hacks!

The post Stunning Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Camping, Waterfall Trails + More appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

The beach is inherently fun, and we visit the Oregon Coast as often as we possibly can. The last time we went, I was inspired by our trip to Seattle’s Burke Museum of Natural History, and I introduced the girls to a new sandy activity: digging for dinosaurs at the beach!

As you can tell, it was a huge hit. Next time, I’m bringing even more plastic dinosaurs to discover.

Dig for dinosaurs at the beach

Moms who prepare to the nines to get the family to the beach, I feel you. You download family beach trip packing lists. You pack extra changes of clothes, baby wipes, backup shovels. You bring snacks. (Oh, the snacks.)

But if you bring just a few plastic dinosaurs, I can practically guarantee you’ll be the coolest mom at the beach.

Simply dig a little pit, stick in the dinos, cover them up—and let your kids at ‘em! They’ll love unburying the dinosaurs and feeling like real-live paleontologists.

My girls got so into digging for dinosaurs at the beach that they roamed around, picking up rocks and driftwood that they called fossils.

“What’s this one, Mom?” they’d ask me. “Dinosaur knee bone. Dinosaur skull. Dinosaur toe bone.” Then they’d bury them, dig them up and start all over again!

Our new favorite beach activity

My kids love building sand castles, chasing seagulls and ignoring my repeated requests to not run into the ocean fully clothed. But we’ve definitely found a new favorite beach activity.

For your next family beach trip, then, join my little family of wannabe paleontologists. You may even inspire a new passion for dinos!

What about you—do you have a favorite family beach activity?

The post Dig for dinosaurs—and become the coolest mom at the beach! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

If you’re anything like me (and probably 99% of other moms), you’ve been there: You’re on Facebook or Instagram, scrolling through your friends’ posts, when you see photos from a family-friendly event, a festival, an annual celebration or some other outing that happens once a year. But you didn’t get the memo, and you didn’t plan for the event, and you missed out.

Ouch.

This used to happen to me all the time. We went to the Tulip Festival on the last possible day, after most of the flowers had lost their petals, because I’d completely spaced when it started. I found out about Dozer Day, when kids get to drive bulldozers and big rigs themselves, after the fact. I was busy and neglected to plan a family volunteering opportunity for Earth Day. In short: Everyday life got in the way of planning fun family activities.

Then last year I got wise. I started setting up reminders in my Google calendar for a year in advance.

Before you write me off as a neurotic overplanner, hear me out! Read on to see how this google calendar hack can help you hit up all the events you’ve always wanted to attend—without missing out.

Never miss another family-friendly event

Here’s how my Google calendar hack works:

1. Make your calendar proactive.

When I find out about a cool family-friendly activity—even one that already happened—I add an event in my Google calendar for two weeks before the event will happen. So if I read a blog post about the Waterfront Blues Fest, which starts 4th of July weekend, I’ll make an event for June 15.

The two-week timeframe works for me, but you may want to adjust based on your family’s schedules. I find that setting the event for earlier makes it too far away, and later means I’ve probably already made plans.

2. Include event details.

The whole purpose of this Google calendar hack is to save you time, so in the calendar event, add details in the event description. What to include:
-url of the event’s web site
-blog post summarizing the event
-details such as costs, parking information, etc.

3. Plan your outing in real time.

You’ll get an alert on the day you set your calendar event. You probably forgot about entering the event way back when, but now you have roughly two weeks to work it into your family’s schedule!

4. Push the event to next year.

I know, I know, between gymnastics meets and birthday parties, you may not have the flexibility to go to the super-cool event you flagged for your family. That’s ok, life happens. This Google calendar hack makes it super-easy to push the reminder to next year. Simply go into the event and change the date to next year. Then you’ll get another reminder—with hopefully the opportunity to actually go!

Busy moms: You don’t have to remember everything!

Here’s the thing: We moms (and dads, too!) want to take advantage of all sorts of fun family activities, especially the ones that only come once a year: After all, they’re often tied to the seasons or holidays or things you can only get during a given month. But because festivals and other events aren’t on your radar year-round, you’re likely to forget about them—until your social media feeds are blowing up with that thing you totally missed.

But you have enough on your plate. You’re busy raising kind, strong, compassionate, curious kids—not to mention packing somewhat nutritious snacks and picking up the dry-cleaning and paying the credit card bill.

So anything that helps busy moms (and dads) make life easier gets a big ol’ thumbs-up in my book.

So give my Google calendar hack a try. I bet it’ll help you and your family enjoy more outings this year—and say goodbye to #fomo for good.

The post My pro-mom google calendar hack to banish #fomo—for good. (For real!) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Yes, it includes family favorites like plenty of dinosaur bones (including a baby T. rex!!!) and dioramas displaying preserved animals. Beyond the slam-dunks, though, is a museum curated and crafted with every age in mind. Families will find hands-on activities to bring natural history to life, interactive displays, friendly museum staff and outdoor spaces that incorporate nature into the learning experience.

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LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

My kids weren’t with me on this trip, but now I want to plan a trip to California  just so we can visit LA’s Natural History Museum with my kids. You guys, I just can’t stop raving about this kid-friendly museum, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Here are the highlights for when you visit LA’s Natural History Museum with kids.

Dinosaurs: The star attractions

Dinos are the A-list celebrities of the Natural History Museum, and for good reason: It is absolutely awe-inspiring to stand beneath the fossilized skeletons of these behemoths.

You’ll see two right off the bat in the central foyer of LA’s Natural History Museum. Here, curators recreated a fight between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops. (Who do you think would have won? Definitely not me—that T. rex is about to nom my head!)

Continue on to the Dinosaur Hall and you’ll see two rooms on two floors—after all, these dinosaurs are so big they need the room.

Level 10 travel tip: Look for the wall of fossilized bones—it has a touch screen display in front of it where kids can “filter” the pictures (e.g. by meat-eaters or species). You can play I Spy or a scavenger hunt: Let your kids challenge you to find a predator’s tooth or vertebrae!

Make sure to scope out the area where you can watch scientists working on actual fossils. When I visited, one was using a tiny drill to clean a 24.8 million year old bone from an Ichthyosaur. Watching these experts at work is even better than career day at your kids’ school!

Animals here and animals gone: Halls of diversity

LA’s Natural History Museum has several enormous rooms filled with scenes depicting animal life in the wild. Your family will see preserved animals that live among us today (for example the hawks in the Bird Room) and those that are, sadly, extinct.

Your kids may recognize some of the animals from the zoo, but chances are they’ve never seen them this close. Of course the animals at this kid-friendly museum aren’t alive, but your kids will notice details—how feathers lay flat on top of one another, the unique patterns on an antelope’s stripes—they’d never spot from afar.

Level 10 travel tip: Read the informational displays at every animal to yourself: Many of them have remarkable trivia about the animals depicted. (Did you know, for example, that the ostrich has the largest eyes of any land animal, and that a group of hippos is called a bloat? Neither did I, until I visited the Natural History Museum!)

Even more exhibits!

If I’m honest, to me, everything besides dinosaur bones is secondary in a natural history museum. But LA’s Natural History Museum made me rethink my dino-focused zeal.

The reason for my epiphany? The Gem and Mineral Hall.

I never thought this section of LA’s Natural History Museum would be so fascinating, but I marveled at the colors, textures and shapes of minerals found deep underground and inside rocks. And the bling contained inside the gems room made my eyes pop (and the security guard keep his eyes on everyone inside).

In addition, you’ll find permanent exhibits on shells, ancient Latin American art and fetish carvings.

Make sure to look for rotating exhibits, too. When I visited the Natural History Museum, they hosted an exhibit on tattoos throughout time (though entry costs an additional $8, unless you’re a member).

Exploring actual nature at LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

LA’s Natural History Museum is the only one of its kind that does a remarkable job incorporating, well, the outside natural world (at least that I’ve ever seen).

Step outside the museum and you’ll find a half-dozen different habitats and many more opportunities to learn. Keep an eye out for LA’s wildlife that visits the museum not to stare goggle-eyed at dinosaur bones but to take a bath in the pond, sip nectar from blooms or nest in a tree.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring a change of clothes for your kids. On a hot day, your kids will want to splash and play in the water feature. They’ll be amazed that they can splash around at a museum!

Visiting LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

LA’s Natural History Museum has kid-friendly activities and features throughout the museum. They do an exceptional job getting kids interested—and excited!—about science and the natural world. If you’re visiting the Natural History Museum with kids, don’t miss these highlights.

Nature walks

Every day at 3:30, Natural History Museum staff lead a group of kids throughout the outdoor section of the museum. Kids might have a chance to spot finches or mourning doves on the bird viewing platform, harvest snap peas from the edible garden or look for wildlife in the pond. The museum’s nature walks are free with admission.

Critter Club

This monthly meet-up introduces kids 3 to 5 years old to different kinds of animals through art, song, stories and other hands-on activities throughout the museum. The sessions are on a break now but will begin again in Summer 2018.

The Discovery Center: Hands-on central

In the Natural History Museum’s Insect Zoo and Discovery Center, kids can play and explore to their hearts’ content. They can dig for casts of dinosaur bones, pretend to camp out and peek across the museum grounds in a spyglass.

Then get close and personal with creepy crawlies. You’ll find cockroaches, pill bugs, gigantic spiders, millipedes and more in the habitats at the center of the room.

“Ask me” buttons

If your kids are anything like mine, they don’t have the patience to read (or listen to) many of the plaques that explain the displays. But when given the chance to learn from a real-live expert, they’ll surprise you at how much information they soak in. The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles offers plenty of opportunities for kids to express their curiosity and get details from experts. 

Level 10 travel tip: Challenge your kids to find a staff member with a yellow “Ask me” button—it’ll be like a scavenger hunt. Then listen to your kids’ questions. They’re so open-minded that they ask about things you’d never consider. (“Do baby Triceratops have teeth?”)

Find the rats

Rats—in a museum?! You bet, if it’s the LA Natural History Museum! Downstairs on the ground level families will find an interactive Nature Lab, where kids are invited to ask questions about how humans interact with the natural world. Part of our coexistence with animals and plants is living alongside rats.

There is a structure with see-through walls where kids can try to spot rats scurrying here and there—and even overhead!

The nitty gritty: Visiting LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

Here are the details you need when planning a visit to LA’s Natural History Museum.

• Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for youth 13-17, $7 for children 3-12 and free for kids under 3. If you go more than twice a the year, it’s actually more economical to buy a membership.

Level 10 travel tip: If you do buy a membership, make sure to use it to get free admission at the La Brea Tar Pits and The William S Hart Museum (which has a herd of bison on the property!). They have reciprocal memberships, which means even more natural history fun!

• Family restrooms and nursing rooms are located throughout the museum.
• A cafe offers kid-friendly food downstairs. There’s plentiful seating outdoors and, if it’s raining (or too blazing hot), in a solarium. You can also bring your own food for a picnic.
• This kid-friendly museum is right next to the Exposition Park Rose Garden and is a short walk from several aircraft on display outdoors. If your kids are antsy after being relatively quiet and contained in the museum, let them run their yayas out in the Rose Garden or challenge them to find the planes.

I can’t wait to return to LA’s Natural History museum with my kids. If you’re looking for kid-friendly activities in LA, make sure to put this museum on your itinerary!

And if you’re looking for even more ideas, check out my friend Melissa’s guide to fun things to do with kids in LA over on her Thrifty Family Travels blog.

What is your favorite part of visiting a natural history museum?

The post LA’s Natural History Museum with kids: Learn, explore + play (seriously!)  appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

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The ultimate book for Oregon family hikes

Hiking is hands-down one of my favorite things to do, and that didn’t change when I had kids. What did change was the kind of hikes we tackled. Gone were the days of summiting mountains and pushing all-out up switchbacks—we had to adjust to more kid-friendly Oregon family hikes.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find new Oregon family hikes, so we ended up going to the same places weekend after weekend. There’s nothing wrong with that (especially when the closest hike to home is the breathtaking Camassia Natural Area!), but my whole family appreciates a little variety here and there.

Then I cracked open Oregon & Washington 50 Hikes with Kids, written by Portland’s own adventure educator Wendy Gorton. Not only did the hiking book give me a ton of ideas for new kid-friendly outdoor adventures, it also provided scavenger hunts for each and every hike.

I’m so confident you’ll love this hiking book as much as we do that I’m giving away a copy to an Oregon or Portland family. Read on to see how you can enter this giveaway!

Why you need a family hiking book

When Eric and I had our first child, we’d just carry Peeper in a carrier or hiking backpack and head to our usual favorite trails. But when she started to walk, we quickly realized that our hiking-as-usual MO wasn’t safe for our little one.

Many of the Oregon hikes nearby have steep dropoffs on the trails, poison oak or steep climbs. These minor hazards are easy for adults to deal with, but small children can lose their footing. (Nearly every outdoorsy parent in the Pacific Northwest took a close look at which hikes they attempted after a mom died trying to rescue her son, who had fallen off a trail and down a cliff on a popular Oregon hike.)

Besides safety, choosing a family-friendly hike is just more fun—for everyone. When you pick Oregon family hikes that are short enough, flat enough and safe, kids feel like they can enjoy hiking on their own. Parents don’t have to carry overtired kids down the trail. And everyone is satisfied because they actually hiked what they set out to hike.

Friends know us as the family with lots of suggestions for Oregon family hikes, but I’d never considered many of the destinations in this wonderful hiking book. My copy is now full of Post-It flags, reminding me of all the outdoor adventures yet to come.

Extra features in this family hiking book

When I go hiking with the kids, I tend to use a book to suggest trails and how to get there, then leave the book in the car. I’ve been bringing this hiking book along with me, though, because of all the extra features in it.

My absolute favorite extra is the scavenger hunt customized to every hike, complete with full-color photos.

I have always loved scavenger hunts—my mom used to make one for my birthday parties, sending me and a bunch of friends knocking on neighbors’ doors to collect pennies from 1983 (my birth year) and other random bits and bobs. My kids love the adventure of a scavenger hunt, too—I think it makes them feel like they’re pirates searching for treasure.

So when we start a kid-friendly hike in Oregon or Washington, we crack open 50 Hikes with Kids to see what we should be on the lookout for.

For example, we recently took this hiking book’s advice and headed to Lacamas Creek Falls in Washington. We met up with a blogger friend of mine, Lindsay from Running with Tongs, and her kids. The kids were thrilled when they spotted one item on the scavenger hunt—a robin. Peeper later found another item, thimbleberry bushes. That scavenger hunt item was actually an education opportunity for me: I didn’t know what the white flowers were, but now I do!

Oregon & Washington 50 Hikes with Kids is full of those details. I learned so much with this hiking book, and my whole family is excited to see where it brings us next.

Win a copy for your own family adventures!

We love this hiking book so much that I want to give every outdoorsy parent in the Pacific Northwest a copy. Unfortunately that’s not in the cards, but I can do a giveaway for one lucky family!

If you want ideas for new family-friendly hikes in Oregon and Washington, please enter the giveaway here.

I’ll see you on the trail!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post My new favorite book for Oregon family hikes (& win a copy!) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

But don’t wait to have fun until you arrive at these day trip destinations. Enjoy every mile along the way, too, with my book Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids! (You don’t have to be a kid to love these 33 games, I promise!!!) Click the image below to get your copy in e-book or paperback.

Day trips from Portland you’ll absolutely love

These Portland, Oregon, day trips require almost no planning, and they definitely don’t require overnight stays. But last-minute day trips don’t have to feel like a consolation prize. They’re a fun (and budget-friendly) way to explore Oregon.

I selected a few of our favorite day trips from Portland that are all easy to access from the metro area and are perfect for a quick family getaway or a romantic escape. If you leave in the morning, you’ll have time to enjoy your destination and make it back home by bedtime.

So what are you waiting for? Pack a cooler with snacks, make sure your camera is charged and hit the road. These day trips from Portland will make memories you and your family will enjoy all year long.

1. Oregon Coast Day Trip

Weather on the Oregon Coast is hit or miss this time of year, but Oregon-born kids won’t mind a little rain when they’re building sandcastles, chasing seagulls, and tempting the tide. (“Can’t catch me!!!”)

We love Cannon Beach for family day trips from Portland, and the girls love Seaside for its on-the-sand swing sets and carousel, but you pretty much can’t lose wherever you stop.

For help deciding where to go, check out my epic guide to the Oregon Coast.

2. Sisters, Oregon Day Trip

This tiny Central Oregon town is often overlooked en route to Bend, Oregon, but Sisters is quaint and fun to explore, too. You can spot the region’s many mountains in what locals jokingly call the “skyline,” ride horses on a guided trail ride, play disc golf, hike, bike along the Metolius River at Camp Sherman, and of course, pick out some candy at the old-timey shops along Main Street.

If you go to Sisters, Oregon, you’re only a short drive from Skylight Cave, an off-the-beaten-path adventure where you can see sunlight streaming in from holes in the cave ceiling.

3. Hood River Day Trip from Portland

Hood River might be better known for grown-up activities (like wine tastings and brewery hopping), but there’s plenty to entertain the whole family on this fun day trip from Portland, too.

We love the local ice cream joints, hikes in the area, and of course the Fruit Loop when apples, pears, cherries and peaches are in season.

You can also just hang out in Hood River. Watch kitesurfers skim across the water in the Columbia River Gorge, browse cute shops downtown and enjoy al fresco music on a weekend.

4. Columbia River Gorge Day Trip

The lower viewpoint at Multnomah Falls just reopened after recovery from last year’s Eagle Creek Fire, so this is a great resting place to stop on your drive farther out the gorge.

If you need some time indoors, check out the Maryhill Museum on the Washington side of the Gorge. You’ll be able to marvel at Native American weavings, Rodin sculptures, and the museum’s resident peacocks.

Level 10 travel tip: Some of the hikes on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge are still closed from the wildfire’s damage. Most hikes on the Washington side escaped severe damage so they’re still open—but they’re significantly busier than they used to be, especially on weekends.

5. Astoria Day Trip

I absolutely adore Astoria. It’s close to the coast but has its own personality, and kids have so much to do in Astoria.

On a Spring Break day trip, you can ride the trolley down the edge of town along the Columbia River, visit any of the many museums (the Maritime Museum is a good place to start), and definitely climb the Astoria Column, which gives 360-degree views. (Kids can also purchase little airplanes at the Column’s gift shop to fly from the tippy top!)

Level 10 travel tip: Stop at Buoy Beer, where you can see sea lions off the pier—and through a glass section of the floor inside! Kids love to watch the behemoths beneath their feet as you wait for a table.

For more on this quaint town, read my post on a romantic weekend getaway in Astoria.

6. Olympia Day Trip

Yes, I know this one’s in Washington, so it’s not technically an Oregon day trip—but you can get there from Portland in two hours.

We love visiting Olympia. Washington’s capital has a bit of the crunchy, progressive personality of Portland, but it’s right on the Sound and so it has its own attractions, too.

Our favorite kid-friendly activity in Olympia is the indoor and outdoor Hands-On Children’s Museum of Olympia. The girls love exploring the many rooms and themes (including a section outside where you can build waterfalls with sand, rocks, and dump trucks), and I appreciate that it incorporates so much science discovery.

For more details about this kid-friendly museum, read my full post on the Hands-On Children’s Museum.

Olympia also has a ton of parks for outdoor fun. Our favorite is Priest Point Park, where you hike through old-growth forest to get to a rocky beach.

7. Tacoma Day Trip

Another Washington day trip—but this one is fun, too, I promise! Seattle’s lesser-known sibling city was named in Sunset Magazine’s 20 Game-Changing Places to Live list, and there are lots of family-friendly attractions.

The Tacoma Children’s Museum has plenty to entertain kids. They have a really cool spot where kids can build with life-sized Lincoln Logs. (Finally, a place where Peeper can satisfy her quest to build a life-size castle!)

Then throw stones into the water at Owens Beach, ride the (free!) light rail, Link, from downtown to the Tacoma Dome, or make engineering, science, and art projects at Tinkertopia.

8. Catalana Cellars Day Trip

A kid-friendly, visually stunning place where parents can taste wine, and kids can explore the grounds? Sign me up! Villa Catalana Cellars, outside Canby and just a half-hour from Portland, is modeled after 12th-century Spanish architecture, so you’ll get a European vacation feel without ever leaving Oregon.

This estate is open on Saturdays and is the perfect choice for your next Portland day trip. The whole family can explore the grounds (including a rare plant nursery, olive groves, and even a bocce court), and the 21+ set can taste their wines ($10 tasting fee).

Want more? Read my whole post on visiting Villa Catalana Cellars.

9. Aurora Day Trip

Ranked as one of the nation’s best antiquing communities, Aurora, Oregon is a quaint town fully in touch with its history. Although the idea of taking kids into an antique store might make you sweat, it can actually be a super-fun way to spend some time with kids—and allow them to be responsible and safe.

They’ll really get into it if you give them each $5 and challenge them to find the weirdest thing in the antique store, and have a tiny prize for the winner—or surprise the whole gang with cupcakes at The White Rabbit Bakery. (Their seasonal cupcake this week is Oatmeal Cream. Yum!)

You could also combine a trip to Aurora with Catalana, as they’re close by. Two for the price of one! This makes for an awesome weekend getaway from Portland if you’re looking for a longer trip.

10. Silver Falls Day Trip

Oregon’s largest state park includes a wealth of hiking trails, including some that go behind waterfalls. (That’ll get kids excited!)

Just know that some of the trails can get steep and slippery and so aren’t ideal for little children. (I wore Max and Edie when they were little.) The state park also has a top-notch playground!

When you get chilly, warm up in the lodge with some hot chocolate. They also have snacks and some food.

11. Mt. St. Helens Day Trip

Just an hour north of Portland is Mt. St. Helens—the volcano that erupted in 1980, covering the region in ash. You and your kids will be able to see just how this habitat has completely changed from that destructive day.

Start at the interpretive center, and explore to your heart’s content.

12. Neskowin Ghost Forest

Just two hours from Portland, the Ghost Forest in Neskowin appears at low tide—then disappears again as the tide moves in. Just beneath the beach lies a petrified forest of Sitka spruce trees, and you can only explore this Oregon hidden gem when the water pulls the sand away.

Plan on arriving in Neskowin an hour before low tide to make your way to the beach in time to give this fun day trip in Oregon its due justice.

For all the details, read my full post on the Neskowin Ghost Forest.

13. Eugene day trip from Portland

Eugene is the second-largest city in the state, but that’s not why it’s one of the best day trips in Oregon. Track Town USA, which also happens to be where I grew up, is home to the University of Oregon Ducks and mecca for Prefontaine-loving runners.

I always recommend a few things for visitors to do in Eugene:

• Walk along the Willamette River—or better yet, float or kayak it!
• Hike Spencer’s Butte—it has a gorgeous 360-degree view of the city and beyond
• Eat from one of the many mini-restaurants in 5th Street Market

If you want even more ideas, click to my post on fun things to do in Eugene and the best family-friendly Eugene restaurants. 

14. Wine country near Portland

The highest concentration of wonderful wineries near Portland is in the Dundee-Newberg-McMinville area. Just an hour from downtown Portland, vineyards sprawl over the rolling hills, and tasting rooms pop up all along Highway 99.

You’ll get to taste oodles of pinot noir, which this wine region is famous for, along with other varietals including pinot gris and Riesling.

My favorite winery near Portland, Stoller, is a great first stop for folks wanting a great day trip in Oregon. They have enormous grounds, including a tire swing and a mini disc golf course. The real stars, though, are the Adirondack chairs to relax in and the sparkling pinot noir rose to sip.

And if you’re taking your kiddos along, make sure to read my post on going wine tasting with kids.

15. Mt. Hood Day Trip

If you’re looking for day trips from Portland, Oregon, you have to consider heading up Mt. Hood. We go up this volcano every chance we get (and don’t worry, it’s not an active volcano!!).

In fact, we go up so often that the mountain frequently appears in my kids’ drawings, and when they pretend a cardboard box is a plane or car, they’re typically heading to Mt. Hood in their imagination.

If you’re wondering what to do on Mt. Hood, I recommend that everyone take at least a short hike. This area is simply full of amazing trails for every comfort level, skill, and age. My girls have been hiking various trails on Mt. Hood since they were babies!

A few of the kid-friendly trails on Mt. Hood I recommend: Old Salmon River Trail near Rhododendron, Oregon; Lost Lake; and Little Zigzag Falls.

16. Smith Rock State Park

One of the most impressive locations in Oregon, Smith Rock State Park, is a Portland day trip you should definitely make. At about 2 hours 45 minutes from Portland, it’s a bit of a drive for a day—and 100% worth it.

There’s a catch, though. If you’re going to Smith Rock on a weekend, get there as early as humanly possible. On a recent day trip from Portland, my kids and I arrived at 12:30—and there were literally zero places to park. We had to turn around and leave! 

Once you arrive at Smith Rock, take in the views. Then choose which hike you’ll do—from the difficult Misery Ridge trail to the fairly easy River Trail to the very short Homestead Trail. 

No matter how you spend your time at Smith Rock, it’s almost guaranteed to be unforgettable. 

17. Long Beach, Washington

Long Beach, WA is just across the river and border from Astoria but has a totally different feel. For one thing, this Washington beach town is actually on the ocean, while Astoria was built along the Columbia River. 

Photo courtesy Pacific County Tourism Bureau

Stroll down Long Beach’s boardwalk that overlooks the ocean, stop by the town’s kite museum or hike around Cape Disappointment. And if it’s safe, park your beach chair on the sand and watch hundreds of kites fill the sky during August’s International Kite Festival.

No matter what time of year, the two hours’ drive makes this day trip from Portland totally doable—and totally memorable. Check out my post on Seaview and Long Beach, Washington!

Photo courtesy Pacific County Tourism Bureau

Explore Oregon’s family-friendly destinations on your Portland day trip

I am bowled over by the wonderful family-friendly activities and sites the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

My kids, husband, and I live in a state with boundless beauty, appreciation for history, and a dedication to good old fashioned fun—and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Are there any spots on this list you haven’t visited yet—but are excited to see? What Portland day trips do you love that I missed? Please share in the comments!

The post 17 Unforgettable Day Trips from Portland, Oregon to explore the PNW appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

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The Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia is our go-to spot!

We’ve been to the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia many times, and we’re always planning our next visit before we even leave. The curious kid’s paradise is one of my favorite family-friendly activities in the Pacific Northwest in part because it’s fun for a wide range of ages.

For example, when we go, we meet up with my nephew, who will turn 7 this summer. My girls can’t get enough of the museum, either. We started going when my younger daughter hadn’t even turned 1 yet—so the Hands-On Museum in Olympia is great for babies through elementary aged kids.

Even though we’ve been many times, we continue to discover new activities, features and spots. Before you go, get excited! I’ll preview some of the best features of this Washington children’s museum that will build kids’ creativity, curiosity and joy of experiencing STEAM.

A Washington children’s museum that parents don’t hate

When you have kids, you end up checking out every kid-friendly destination within driving distance. That means I’ve been to a lot of duds, people. (Pretty sure you have been, too.) Scuzzy play structures, ball pits you’re sure are petri dishes, outdated displays—I’ve seen a lot of supposedly family-friendly museums and attractions that make me want to run away as quickly as I can.

The Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia puts those poor excuses of a family-friendly destination to shame, partly because parents love this Washington children’s museum just as much as their kids do. And that’s not only because their kids are having fun; parents get in on the action, too!

The best parts of the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia

One of the things about exploring a great children’s museum is discovering the place for yourself. Kids in particular love to find their own way around a new destination, but I won’t say anything if you guide them to the most fun parts of the children’s museum.

Ball lifter

At one point, I lost track of my older daughter, but I didn’t panic—I was about 99% sure I’d find her at this museum exhibit. (I was right.) I don’t blame her for wanting to come back to this part of the children’s museum time and time again—it is so fun to snag a ball from the water, pop it into the tube and watch it shoot into the air!

This exhibit also has a section that blows fog out of a tube. Kids can engineer complex systems diverting the fog here and there with short sections of pipe.

Without even knowing it, kids are learning engineering—and the joy of STEAM education.

Outdoor discovery center

Generally, I avoid going to children’s museums on nice days because I’d rather spend time outside. The Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia gets around this problem by including a huge outdoor space that has just as many fun opportunities for exploration as the indoor exhibits.

When we first step outside at the museum, the girls don’t even know what to do with themselves. They run from activity to activity because they’re all so amazing. Our favorites include the tricycle track, the gardening center (which has a cool space for water play), the dinosaur/bulldozer rock zone, and the waterfall.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring a spare change of clothes for your kids. They’ll likely get all wet in the water features in the outdoor discovery center or the gigantic water table inside near the Emergency! exhibit. And if they’re not wet, they’ll likely be dirty from the sand box or the mud pie kitchen!

Tides to trees climber

Why take the stairs when you can climb a massive tree-like play structure to get to the museum’s second floor? In the ultimate proof point that the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia was designed for kids, the tides to trees climber lets children scurry up, up and up—all the way to an eagle’s aerie!

The climber has platforms and bridges where kids can peek down below them—and wave at their parents. The height also gives them a different perspective on the other areas of the museum. For example, the girls got a totally different look at the ball lifter from inside the climber, so they had a new POV on what happened to the balls when they shot into the air.

Build it!

The Build it! section of the Hands-On Children’s Museum is tucked away on the second floor, and we didn’t even find it until our third visit. My younger daughter had so much fun trying on construction safety equipment and building kid-sized buildings that we’ll definitely make it back on our next trip.

Take a peek and you’ll agree: It’s a solid bet this section of the museum is inspiring future architects, contractors, DIYers and other builders.

Scarf wall

This is my second-favorite part of the entire museum (after the ball lifter). You (or your kids—ha!) can stick silk scarves and other light materials into the vast system of clear tubing and watch the items get whooshed away in a current of air.

If your kids are fascinated by making things move, a little ways away on the second floor they’ll find a spot where they can engineer parachutes and other flying contraptions, then test them out in an air blaster. My older daughter loved making tiny versions of hot air balloons and watching them fly into the air!

Maker Space

Upstairs kids will find an enormous maker space. Different tables have an array of supplies, from clay to pens and paper to materials to make an LED light circuit.

Museum staff and volunteers are on hand to help kids—but they’re also welcome to tinker and craft, following their imagination and inspiration wherever it leads.

Something for every age (including babies!)

I don’t love that a lot of children’s museums are designed with only older kids in mind. Thankfully, the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia breaks that mold.

Upstairs, families with young children can safely and comfortably play in the Snug Harbor. This area is meant only for kids under 4 years. There’s even a padded section set into the ground where crawlers and new walkers can get their wiggles out safely (without escaping!).

I particularly liked this section of the museum when my littlest was a baby. I didn’t have to worry about her getting run over by larger kids, and the activities in there—from cuddly stuffed animals to a safe play structure shaped like a boat—are perfect for tinies.

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re breastfeeding, there are comfortable and low-distraction seating spots in the Snug Harbor. If you want more privacy, ask a museum employee or volunteer—they’ll take you somewhere more secluded.

Kids on the young end will also like the make-believe section at the entrance of the children’s museum. There, they can sell each other groceries in the play store, harvest apples and go for a ride in a pretend car. Little ones also find plenty to do outside, from climbing in the waterfall to digging in the sand. Imaginative play is welcome here!

Visiting the children’s museum for families with special needs

On a regular day, children’s museums are overwhelming for me—I’m sure that environment feels even more chaotic for children with an intellectual disability or processing disorder. Luckily, this Washington children’s museum offers sensory-friendly days and other accommodations.

Look on the museum’s web site for upcoming sensory-friendly events. These include mornings where the museum opens early, so kids who are sensitive to noise and crowds can explore the exhibits before the rush of visitors. These mornings offer discounted admission, and local organizations offer resources and ways to connect with other families living similar experiences.

What’s more, visiting the Hands-On Children’s Museum during sensory-friendly events allows kids and their families to enjoy the museum without feeling judged.

That said, children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory needs are always welcome at the museum. The front desk offers noise-canceling headphones anytime, for free.

7 ways to make the most of your visit to the Hands On Children’s Museum

1. Look for kid-friendly activities

On a recent day, my younger daughter and I worked with a museum employee to build a bird nest supplies catcher. We later hung it on a tree branch in front of our window, where we watch native birds take the yarn and alpaca wool to line their nests. Another day at the museum, costumed super heroes wandered the building and high-fived kids. There was also a workshop on making comic books that was included in the museum admission.

2. Pause for snacks

We travel to the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia from Portland two hours away, so to make the most of our visit, we stay for hours. The girls (and we adults!) pause partway through our stay to fuel up at the Play Day Cafe, which sells snacks and kid-friendly food. You can also bring food from home; just make sure to eat only in the cafe area, not in the exhibits.

Level 10 travel tip: When you and your kids have had enough to eat, challenge them to find a teeny-tiny animal family living somewhere in the Play Day Cafe. (Hint: Look for critters that live in the tree!)

3. Climb up the Lighthouse

The lighthouse, which is in the outdoor area of the museum, doesn’t look like much from the outside—but it provides an incredible view. Not only can you scope out the other outdoor activities you want to play in; you can also see the dome of the capital building off in the distance!

4. Get your music on

Throughout this Washington children’s museum, your kids will find ways to experiment with sound and music. Even before you get inside, there are enormous percussion instruments three or four kids can play at a time. Outside near the greenhouse kids can start a band with the instruments set out next to the giant hand chairs. And upstairs onstage, kids can create their own silly songs and perform a show while a friend hits buttons to make sound effects.

5. Tinker

Throughout this Washington children’s museum, kids will find opportunities to tinker. Stations are set up to spark an idea or project—such as an insect hotel or fairy house—and kids are encouraged to bring their own ideas to the table. Tinkering is a wonderful STEAM concept that encourages problem-solving, a growth mindset and grit as they try new things.

6. Look for special guests

Check out the museum’s web site to plan your visit around guests making a special appearance. On a given day, kids might be able to meet Bat Girl, learn how to weave from a natural fibers expert or read to a specially trained dog.

7. Join an early education class

Throughout the week, early education experts lead classes for parents and their young children at the museum. Classes are free with admission or membership and include an activity, story time and an art project.

Visiting the Hands-On Children’s Museum in

Olympia: The nitty-gritty details

• Admission to the museum runs from $13-15, though babies are free and there are discounts for seniors, military members and EBT cardholders.
• Membership pays for itself in three visits, so if you come often, this is definitely your best choice.
• A parking lot directly next to the museum is just $1 per hour but often fills up, so you might need to find street parking.

If you’re looking for kid-friendly activities in Olympia, Washington or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, make sure this children’s museum makes it onto your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed, and your kids will be talking about it for weeks!

PS – If you’re looking for another family-friendly museum in Washington, check out my post on the totally off-the-beaten-path Burke Museum in Seattle, which includes dinosaur bones!

Have you ever been to the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia, another Washington children’s museum, or another family-friendly museum in the Northwest? Tell me about it!

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We look at it every day, so when we planned to visit Seattle’s Burke Museum of Natural History with kids, my little dinosaur lovers were beyond excited.

Despite my own fascination with dinosaurs and fossils, I’d never been to the Burke Museum in Seattle. Heck, I’ve been to Seattle dozens of times, but I’d never even heard of the Burke Museum until I started researching kid-friendly things to do in Seattle.

Most people haven’t, either—but that makes this gem much less crowded than other family-friendly spots in Seattle.

So when I came across this natural history museum that had a dinosaur exhibit in Seattle, I put it on our list of activities. (I don’t plan an itinerary or set anything in stone when doing family vacations—I prefer to allow for lots of flexibility, which means less disappointment in the end.)

And we definitely weren’t disappointed. We were all excited to see dinosaur bones—and we ended up getting even more than we hoped for.

Exploring the Dinosaur Museum, Seattle

Complete skeletons of prehistoric animals populate the Seattle dinosaur exhibit that you’ll first see at the Burke Museum of Natural History’s entrance. I was especially partial to the fossils of the mammoth, with its enormous tusks.

Can you imagine meeting one of those in the wild?! Clearly, the girls were excited to see this big guy, too!

Why the Burke Museum is a great place for kids

There are plenty of fossils and dinosaur skeletons in Burke Museum of Natural History and it’s no wonder people often refer to it as the Seattle dinosaur museum! Kids have a great time looking at them and it makes for a fun outing in the city.

What’s more, hands-on activities—like feeling a cast of a dinosaur’s footprint—help little ones engage with natural history.

I love that the Burke Museum also addresses the science behind evolution in a kid-friendly way. One entire wall is covered in a tree of evolution that shows how different animals share a common ancestor. And right after that display, a dinosaur skeleton that looks remarkably like a bird hints at the connection to modern-day avians.

In addition to the main dinosaur exhibit, you can see scientists working on several projects—including uncovering a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull.

Admittedly, I was more interested in watching them work than my kids were (“Look, girls, a real-live paleontologist!!!” #fangirl), but it did give them a chance to see how the fossils get to look museum-perfect.

More than fossils at the Seattle Natural History Museum

The entire bottom floor of the Burke Museum of Natural History is dedicated to Native American artifacts and other cultures. The section featured textiles, masks, carvings, and other beautiful relics from Pacific Northwest Tribes.

I admired how the Burke Museum treated the sometimes dubious history of how collectors got some of the artifacts.

One carving, for example, had been stolen from the roof of a Native American building a century ago. The Burke Museum reached an agreement with the tribe to keep the carving for a short time longer before it will return it.

While we were at the Burke Museum, they also featured an exhibit of home shrines from around the world.

Visiting Seattle’s Burke Museum of Natural History for kids: What you need to know

• The Burke Museum of Natural History is housed on the northwest corner of the University of Washington campus.
• Entrance fee for kids under 5 is free; older children and adults have a $22 entry fee.
• Coat check is free. Wahoo!
• Parking can be tight around the University of Washington. Instead of driving around, you can pay for your parking at the UW kiosk at the university entrance; they’ll tell you where you can find an open space.
• In the main dinosaur exhibit, there’s a section in the back with a bunch of plastic dinosaurs for kids to play with. It’s a great opportunity for little ones to do what they do best: play!
• Kids will need 1-2 hours to explore the dinosaur museum. You can see all the exhibits in that time.

So if you’re looking for things to do in Seattle with kids—especially if your children love dinosaurs—the Burke Museum is an easy win, free of crowds and an inexpensive but memorable visit. Enjoy, and ROAR!

What do you do in Seattle with kids? What is your favorite family-friendly activity, destination or restaurant in Seattle?

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