• Deception Pass State Park with Kids
    Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips

    Long Family Camping Trips in Washington State

    Seattle-based parenting consultant Jenni Pertuset and her 8-year old daughter Meg like camping. No, scratch that – they love camping. The duo have camped for thousands of miles around Washington State for the past three years. Each year, they wrap a different theme around their two-week camping trips. The first year, mother and daughter toured Olympic Peninsula destinations Jenni visited with her parents, when Jenni was a child. She revisited these places, in part, to remember her father, who had recently passed away. The second year followed Lewis and Clark’s westward water route in Washington by road, starting from Canoe Camp in Idaho, following the land along Washington’s Clearwater, Snake,…

  • Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips

    Camping Reservations with Kids in Washington, Oregon and BC

    How long in advance should you make camping reservations? Now is the time to reserve your camping spot for many Pacific Northwest locations. Don’t wait until late spring or summer, if you want a prime, secluded tent site or one of the much-desired yurts, cabins or fire lookouts. Here’s a quick guide and how-to. Camping Reservations in Oregon Half of Oregon´s state park campgrounds accept campsite reservations; the other half are first-come, first-served. Whether you call or go online, you may make reservations 2 days to 9 months in advance of your first night´s stay. “Nine months in advance” counts back to the nearest business day. You can make Oregon campsite, yurt, cabin and…

  • Kid-friendly Trip Ideas

    Winter Break Vacation Deals & Ideas for Washington, Oregon & BC

    Where will you go for the kids’ two-week break? If you haven’t yet made plans, don’t despair. There are plenty of wonderful ways to celebrate (and rooms to book) in our area. Whether you’ve got the budget of a pauper or a prince, or whether you’d rather stay in a small town or big city, there’s a getaway just right for your family’s travel lifestyle. British Columbia winter break vacation ideas: You know I love Victoria, BC: all those great kid-friendly Victoria activities and restaurants. Now’s the time to go, too — Tourism Victoria is promoting special Christmastime rates, starting at just $69/night. Go and enjoy Butchart Gardens’ Christmas lights,…

  • Camping with kids in Washington, Oregon and BC
    Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips,  Washington State

    Camping with Kids in Washington State

      Recently, a reader requested an article on family-friendly Washington campgrounds. You ask and I deliver! I pestered the Washington State Parks Department for insider hints and tips on finding great Washington State kid-friendly campgrounds. Of course, all Washington campgrounds welcome families. But we want the best campgrounds for kids in Washington. Campsites that the kids will remember, and beg you to reserve next summer — even if the mosquitoes ate you alive and the water was too cold to swim in. (Photo at right, our family’s annual campground destination, Penrose Point State Park) Here’s our Q & A with Linda Burnett of the Washington State Parks. Please note, these…

  • Washington State

    Washington State Deals and Savings

    Washington State deals for family trips in Seattle, Bellingham, the Olympic National Forest, the San Juan Islands and more! Bellingham and North Cascades Visitors Bureau: Travel packages Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau: Getaway coupons to use at the beach Port Angeles and Sequim Visitors Bureau: Coupons and discounts San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau: Specials and deals Seattle Southside: Promotions and deals Travel Tacoma: Coupons and savings Visit Leavenworth: Spring specials Washington State Tourism: Deals and packages Wenatchee Valley: Pick your own adventure packages and deals Whidbey Island: Deals and promotions Did I miss one? E-mail me at lora AT cascadiakids.com