• Peak 2 Peak Gondola with Kids
    Whistler

    Whistler Winter: 21+ Fun Things To Do with Kids

    I love Whistler resort’s Euro-village streets, where you can walk with kids from hotel door to bookstore in just a few snowy steps. Whistler’s joyful, community-minded atmosphere means it seems like there’s always a film festival, children’s art fest or apres-ski happening. Nowhere else is it easy to ski, snowshoe, skate, and swim within just a few miles without retrieving your car. Whistler-Blackcomb is a British Columbia ski resort that’s an accessible, playful, family-friendly town. After you’ve scored a hotel room or AirBnB stay, what can you do with kids in Whistler in winter? What To Do with Kids in Whistler: Outdoor Sports in Winter 1. Go tubing. Coast on…

  • Mt Hood at Night
    Oregon Ski Vacations

    Where to Ski with Kids in Oregon: Camps, Lessons, Lodges & Daycares

    No way to slalom around it — Oregon offers some fantastic, kid-friendly ski resorts, from Mt. Hood to Mt. Ashland. Here’s your guide to the best in skiing, snowboarding and other family snowplay. Where to Ski with Kids on Mt. Hood This 11,245-foot-tall beauty is the tallest mountain in Oregon, and you can ski 3,690 vertical feet of it.  I took my first skittering ski steps in Oregon, sliding-falling down Mt. Hood’s white face. I (eventually) improved here, too — going out for night-ski runs as an older teen. Mt. Hood offers the best of all worlds a diverse terrain, plenty of kid-friendly ski, snowboard and snow play options, along…

  • Vancouver

    Vancouver Airport with Kids: Play Areas and More

    Whether you’re flying in or out of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia, you’ll find plenty to do with kids. I love the diversity of offerings. Where else can you find an outdoor park, a play area, a hands-on observation deck and an on-site airport aquarium? There’s so many fun activities, you almost want to book a trip just to play. Here’s a full map of the Vancouver Airport. Things to Do with Kids at the Vancouver Airport What should you do while visiting the Vancouver Airport as a family? Well, you won’t be bored (probably), with options that include art exhibits, observation areas, an aquarium, shopping for candy…

  • Portland Airport Play Area a fun thing for kids to do
    Portland

    Portland International Airport with Kids

    Whether you’re arriving Portland to enjoy a wonderful family vacation, or you’re headed out of town, the Portland International Airport (PDX) offers plenty of kid-friendly diversions. Who’d think that going to the airport could be so enjoyable? Who knows, you might even want to arrive a few minutes early. What to Do with Kids at Portland International Airport (PDX) Families visiting en route through PDX have a few options. You can take them to the kids’ playground, visit the shops and restaurants, ooh over the art, or take a quiet break. Kids’ play areas at Portland International Airport Two play areas keep little ones busy at PDX. Tired parents and…

  • Day Trips,  Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips,  Pacific Northwest Spring Break with Kids,  Road Trips,  Washington State

    2023 Washington State Parks Free Days

    Yes, it’s true—Washington State Parks offer more than a dozen days when admission is free, no Discover Pass required. On these days, you can park at any of the 100 Washington State Parks for free, and enjoy the park’s hiking trails, playground, beach, picnic benches, and interpretive trails for day use. While you might think the free days fall on common national holidays, they don’t always do so. In Washington State, we always do things a little differently. That’s why it pays to put these dates on the calendar in advance, so you won’t forget and can plan to visit parks in advance. Washington State Park Free Days: Winter Washington State…

  • Poulsbo,  Washington State

    5 Fun European-Style Washington Towns

    It’s fair for the kids to get a little confused about geography, if you’re visiting certain Washington towns. You drive a few miles, then tour a burg with a Norwegian flag flying overhead. A clue that you’re NOT in Norway? Everything’s in English, you pay in dollars and you won’t find nude sunbathing on Poulsbo’s cold, rocky beach. Welcome to a European-style Washington town. Next time you’re feeling Europe-sick (and don’t have the funds for a flight), check out these five Washington towns. Okay, some or most may not be “authentic” but more designed to draw the eye and dollar of tourists—but that doesn’t really detract from their charms. Poulsbo:…

  • Parksville Rath Beach at Low Tide
    British Columbia,  Kid-friendly Trip Ideas,  Parksville,  Tofino

    Kid-friendly Resorts of Vancouver Island

    Smart families have already made their family resort reservations for Vancouver Island—perhaps for 2024! Want to play catch-up? Here’s a selection of ultra-deluxe Vancouver Island resorts and affordable family accommodations, as I’m doing my own research for a trip through Vancouver Island. I found plenty of resorts where children are definitely NOT welcome; one said that kids were welcome to use the pool — for exactly three hours per day! But there are also resorts that seem to encourage family visitors. And while the pandemic seems to have ended some family programming (childcare, mainly), other resorts are still offering kid camps and childcare. I’ve mostly listed upcoming high season prices.…