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Photo Friday: Vancouver 2010
These brilliant Chinese lanterns competed against Olympic mascots, trinket booths, singers, food vendors, ticket seekers and ticket scalpers, wandering performers and everything else going on at Vancouver 2010’s Plaza of Nations. But the crimson beacons held their own, as they swayed in front of the twilight-touched mountains surrounding the city. The photo demonstrates why I love this city so much:Â Vancouver’s rich cultural diversity and all-seasons natural playground. I’m thankful I’m only a three-hour drive away. This is my first Photo Friday. Thanks for all that you do, Debbie at DeliciousBaby.
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The Best Kids’ Bookstores in Cascadia
Cascadia is one of the most-literate regions in North America. Don’t just take my word for it – check out where Seattle and Portland rank on “America’s Most Literate Cities†— number one and number six, respectively. Arts groups in Vancouver are working on getting the city designated as one of UNESCO’s “Cities of Literature.†Readers tend to raise kids who love to read. We also support our independent children’s bookstores, which offer a great combination of wise advice and the best of kids’ books. Kids bookstores sell unique souvenirs; you won’t find these region-specific titles at home. Better than just another t-shirt! Here’s the list of my favorite children’s…
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10 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Portland
Lucky you, going to Portland, Ore., with the kids. So many amazing dining spots, and so little time. I’m giving you a quick rundown of my favorite Portland kids-welcome restaurants, from cheap to chic, granola to gut-busting. Kid-friendly restaurants in Portland, Oregon 1. Vita Café. Even meat eaters will devour the vegan vittles at this café. Take a seat at one of the booths, order off of the extensive vegetarian and meaty menu. Then head back to the waiting area, where you’ll find two small containers stuffed with table-ready toys (cars, plastic figurines, you know, all the stuff you mean to bring to the restaurant but forget at home). Kids’ menu…
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Victoria Pick: Beacon Hill Children’s Farm
Yesterday, one of Victoria, B.C.’s most wonderful (and affordable) little attractions reopened after a winter hiatus. Beacon Hill Children’s Farm’s menagerie of farm animals, peacocks and flamboyantly-crowned chickens offers an off-the-beaten path experience to visiting families. There are bunnies and donkeys to fawn over, plus a bird-filled building, where tiny finches flit from branch to branch. Many of these animals have restrictions on touch, so don’t feel disappointed if you can’t hug a pot-bellied pig. But then you arrive at the African Pygmy goat pen, a glorious exception to the rules. In this family favorite, baby and adult goats meander and mill about in a large enclosure. Children mingle with…
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Beachy Keen! 5 NW Spring Break Spots
Sure, some families are heading to Mexico, Hawaii and Florida for spring break. But you don’t have to fly thousands of miles to get your sand fix. Save time and money by checking out one of the five sweet Northwest beaches. Okay, you won’t find 80-degree temps or swim-ready water — not in the spring, at least — but the following destinations offer cool prices to match the chilly days. 1. Family-friendly Cannon Beach, Oregon. Why go? Cannon Beach in the off-season offers mellow charm, mild weather and no summer-crowd insanity. But the infrastructure is ready year-round, whether you want to buy a kite, nosh on Haystack cookies or browse…
