Family Travel Ideas
- 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…
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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.…
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13 Washington Spring Break Ideas for Families
Whether you plan to take the train for car-free daytrip, or want a multi-day road trip, there’s a Washington State destination just right for your family spring break getaway. Spring Break Trips for Families: Where to Go in Washington As the snows melt, more opportunities for excursions open up—but do bring the chains for those surprise snowstorms. Here are some great destinations throughout Washington. Northwest Washington Family Spring Break Ideas 1. Bellingham. A sweet little city often overlooked by families motoring up I-5; the college town of Bellingham deserves it own multi-day stay. See my post on 20 Things to Do in Bellingham with Kids, go on a scenic drive (stop…
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Your Guide to the Amtrak Family Room
Like a ship’s cabin or a pod-studio, the Amtrak Family Room is a tight squeeze. Let’s be really clear here, the Amtrak sleeper cabins are not luxurious. Think somewhere between European budget hotel and a bus. An overnight trip aboard a long-haul train is incredibly fun, and something your children will remember for a lifetime. It’s not particularly comfortable, efficient or a good value — it’s probably far cheaper for you to fly or drive. But an Amtrak overnight is perfect if you’re seeking an unusual family-travel experience. What’s in the Family Bedroom? The Family Rooms on Amtrak trains has two picture windows on each side of the room, small…
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Washington Water Parks & Water Slides
Need a way to cool off the kids this summer? Try one of Washington’s waterparks, where children (and parents) can ride down giant water slides, splash in water sprayparks, dump buckets of water on friends, play in a wet-sand playground or just chill in the pool. If you’re within an hour or two of the Washington-BC border, you may want to read this piece on BC Water Parks. Ready? Let’s splash. Water Parks in Western Washington Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, Washington Washington State’s mega-water park that draws visitors from BC and Oregon, this indoor water park offers year-round fun, thanks to day passes and overnight stays. You’ll get admission to…
