• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cascadia Kids

Family travel in the Pacific Northwest and BC

  • Home
  • Oregon
    • Mt. Hood
    • Portland
    • Eastern Oregon
      • Bend
      • John Day Fossil Beds
    • Oregon Coast
      • Astoria
      • Cannon Beach
      • Florence
      • Newport
      • Rockaway Beach
    • Southern Oregon
      • Crater Lake
    • The Willamette
      • Eugene
  • Washington State
    • Central Washington & Mountains
      • Leavenworth
      • Roslyn-Cle Elum
      • Suncadia
    • E. Washington
      • Spokane
    • Great Wolf Lodge
    • N. Washington & Islands
      • Bellingham
      • Mt. Vernon and Tulip Festival
      • San Juan Islands
      • Whidbey Island
    • Olympic Peninsula
      • Port Angeles
      • Port Townsend
      • Poulsbo
    • Seattle-Tacoma
      • Mount Rainier
      • Olympia
      • Seattle
      • Tacoma
      • Vashon Island
    • Washington Coast
      • Westport
  • British Columbia
    • BC Family Ski Trips
    • BC Islands
    • Mountains & Coast
      • Whistler
    • Okanagan & Thompson
      • Harrison Hot Springs
    • Vancouver Island
      • Tofino
      • Victoria
    • Vancouver Metro
      • Richmond
      • Vancouver
  • Travel Themes
    • Water Parks, Pools & Amusement Parks
    • Beach Trips
    • Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips
    • Kid-friendly Trip Ideas
    • Road Trips
    • Pacific Northwest Spring Break with Kids
    • Travel Tips
  • About Cascadia Kids
  • Nav Widget

Olympic Peninsula

July 12, 2020

Tips for a Safer Family Vacation During Coronavirus Pandemic

A beach on the Kitsap Peninsula with rocks, saltwater and firs.
Eglon Beach, Washington State

Is it possible (or responsible) to take a family vacation during a pandemic? How about getting a vacation rental?

I say yes—maybe. While it is an individual risk decision, I’m also making a judgment call and taking a risk for those in my family, my community where I usually live, and the community I’m visiting. So I wouldn’t undertake it lightly, and wouldn’t go if under stay-at-home restrictions were in place.

I’ve done enough reporting on the topic to hear doctors describe the death process for those with COVID-19: they die alone, without loved ones around. Their last human interaction is with a doctor or nurse who is fully suited up in protective gear, holding an iPad while you say goodbye to your kids or grandkids over Zoom. I don’t want to be responsible for that person’s exit—whether burdening family, physicians, coroners or even strangers.  

We went on a “pandemic vacation” this year, and these were the boundaries that felt right for me and our family of six (kids ages 7, 9, 14, 20), which I hope made it safer. There are no guarantees with this coronavirus, and we’re finding out more every day.

1. Choose a Hyperlocal Travel Destination

I would never travel out of state, for public health and safety reasons. We chose to be within 90 minutes to two hours of our own community/town. We wanted to reduce the need to stop en route. So we went to a rural area outside of Poulsbo, reachable by a ferry ride and a short drive.

We chose to be close, because if we needed medical assistance or anyone became ill, we would return to Seattle. Most rural communities have far fewer healthcare resources than we do in the city. Those rural resources should be reserved for the people who live there—not tourists. I also wouldn’t visit a destination with uncontrolled pandemic numbers, low mask usage and overwhelmed healthcare facilities, such as the Tri-Cities. They have enough problems, they don’t need more humans on their roads or streets.

For Seattle residents, the 90-minute to two-hour zone is a fairly large area, and includes the Cascades’ western slopes, north to Bellingham, south to Olympia, and areas of the Olympic Peninsula.

As well, if someone were to get injured or end up in the ER for an emergency condition, or got suddenly sick while 12 hours away, we’d be stuck there. I didn’t want to be stuck in rural Oregon for an extended period with a COVID-19 infected loved one, taking up a hospital spot while also paying for a long-term rental.

2. Pandemic Road Trip Tips

We didn’t have far to go, but we still packed for any emergencies. We had lots of water, snacks, hand sanitizer, wipes, disposable gloves and masks. So many masks. We didn’t want to stop en route, so fueled up and encouraged bathroom breaks before we left.

We limited any interactions with the local community; any interactions that happened indoors happen with masks. We may be infected and not yet showing symptoms—we don’t need to infect others. Others may be asymptomatic but contagious—we don’t need them to infect us.

On the ferry, we didn’t get out of the car. We didn’t use the public bathrooms on the ferry, or anywhere else. We wore masks when interacting with toll workers. In line, I did see an SUV with Arizona license plates, and I can only hope it was someone who’s moved here and hasn’t changed their plates yet.

3. BYOG (Bring Your Own Groceries & Gear)

Most evidence has shown that COVID-19 is efficiently transferred indoors. So we brought most of the groceries we needed, then one adult picked up perishable groceries once.

At the same time, I wanted to support small business owners struggling to make ends meet during pandemic times. We ordered doughnuts once from Sluy’s, and to-go Indian food from Punjab.

4. Find the Right Vacation Rental

We found a vacation rental through AirBnB, not a hotel—and made sure it had plenty to do on-site. We rented a large house with a full kitchen, grassy area and woods for exploring—and cabinets full of board and card games. It also has an outdoor firepit for s’mores.

The house we rented leaves it empty for four days between guests to decrease surface transmission chances. We didn’t interact with the owner other than briefly, outdoors, more than 6 feet away. Everything else was done over AirBnB text.

Camping also seems like another great and affordable option, if you can swing it (or find a site). Sharing a campsite bathroom could be problematic, but hopefully, it’s a safe choice with enough masks and hand sanitizer.

5. Shelter-In-Place Vacation, On-Site

We set expectations early—while I would love to take everyone to the local museums, go shopping, dine out or browse bookstores, we can’t bring our family into that situation.

Surrounded by fir and maple trees and greenery on the Kitsap Peninsula, there are plentiful outdoor beach and forest hikes nearby (and not many people). It’s different and beautiful than our normal city life.

6. Don’t Travel with Others

We have a blended family, meaning that the children transition between houses. Even though it sounded fun to bring along a friend, there’s just no way to safely travel in one car with someone outside the family, unless planning to quarantine before or after or get swabbed.

Many outbreaks along the Oregon Coast have been traced to multi-family or extended-family gatherings in beach houses.

Before leaving, we ensured exes were okay with where we were going, how long we were going for, and the family group’s makeup.

7. Keep Costs Down

We’re lucky to have had some savings that we put aside for a trip this summer (and a sweet AirBnB coupon to make up for a host cancellation last year). So many people have no work, and even I’ve been hustling to make up for lost clientele. This is probably the only trip we’ll be on in the next year, and it’s the first time we left Seattle since February.

But I feel lucky to be alive and healthy, and I take my luck seriously. I’d love it if we could return to jobs and travel and some semblance of normalcy—as our neighbors in Canada are enjoying, currently.

But that will require us all to wear masks and take our neighbor’s health as seriously as we take our own.

If you went on a trip recently or want to share some pandemic-travel tips, please share them below.

Filed Under: Poulsbo, Road Trips, Seattle-Tacoma

June 22, 2015

Western Washington State Campgrounds with Playgrounds

Campgrounds offer many natural playthings to entertain kids: sticks, stones, spiders (OK, maybe not spiders). But one of my favorite childhood memories featured a Washington campground decked out with swings, slides and other fun play equipment. Here’s a quick list of Western Washington kid-friendly campgrounds that roll out the green carpet.

 

Kid-Friendly Washington State Campgrounds:  Scenic Beach State Park. Photo courtesy Washington State Parks.
Kid-Friendly Washington State Campgrounds:
Scenic Beach State Park. Photo courtesy Washington State Parks.

Northwest Washington Kid-Friendly Campgrounds

Belfair State Park. Belfair, Washington. Sleep in one of 120 campsites and let the kids play at the nearby beach or on the simple playground, which has swings, toddler-ready slides and a small climbing structure.

Blake Island Marine State Park. Blake Island, Washington. Only reachable by boat (no roads!), this kid-friendly campground features 44 campsites and petite, older wooden playground with slides and a tire swing.

Cama Beach State Park. Camano Island, Washington. The draw at this location? The family-ready cabins. As for the playground, only a small kid-sized boat and a solitary swing.

Rasar State Park. Concrete, Washington. Kids will enjoy the wood-and-plastic climbing structure with slides and monkey bars over woodchips, and parents enjoy the variety of sleeping options, including walk-in tent sites, lean-to shelters and reservable bunk-bed equipped cabins ready for families of five.

Deception Pass. Oak Harbor, Washington. Reserve one of 167 campsites or the one cabin (requires a boat for access), and let the kids climb on the small playground.

Fort Flagler Historical State Park. Nordland, Washington. Not one but two playgrounds are available at Fort Flagler: at one playground, swing on one of four swings, including infant swings and two tire swings; at the lower campground, kids slide and scramble on the climbing walls and monkey bars. Tired yet? Tuck into one of the 100 sites, including tent-only, full hookup/RV and primitive campsites.

Illahee State Park. Bremerton, Washington. A small saltwater campground with 23 tent sites and a smaller toddler- and preschooler-friendly playground.

Kitsap Memorial State Park. Poulsbo, Washington. When you’re done spotting marine life in the tidepools, head back to your five-person bunk-bed cabin or one of 21 campsites. A wooden play structure keeps kids busy, although better suited for older children.

Lake Sylvia State Park. Montesano, Washington. This campground’s semi-shaded, newer, and fenced-off playground sits below towering firs, and features multi-level climbing facilities and a small tunnel-slide, and benches for parents to rest with babies or toddlers. Just 31 tent spaces here, perfect for families.

Larabee State Park. Bellingham, Washington. Count sea-stars on the beach, then head to the newer playground with balance-boosting equipment, a wide slide, rock-climbing walls (plastic, but OK), ladders and a standing swing. Sleep well in one of the 51 standard tent sites, 26 utility sites or eight primitive sites.

Moran State Park. Olga, Washington. Take the ferry to Orcas Island for 151 campsites and a small playground for the kids.

Saltwater State Park. Des Moines,Washington. Camp out with the kids in one of 47 campsites near the beach, and an older wooden playground with a chain-ladder, slides, monkey bars and platforms.

Kid-Friendly Washington Campgrounds: Scenic Beach Playground
Kid-Friendly Washington Campgrounds: Scenic Beach Playground

Scenic Beach. Seabeck, Washington. A larger Western Washington campground with 52 reservable sites, tidepools and two well-shaded playgrounds featuring a tire swing, climbing and slide equipment, ladders and slides.

Sequim Bay. Sequim, Washington. Lay down stakes at this 49-site campground in the Olympic Peninsula. The playground has a few swings, including one toddler swing.

Spencer Spit. Lopez Island, Washington. A more rustic family campground with 37 spaces but no showers or hookups, so maybe not great for long-term camping stays. Small playground.

kid-friendly campgrounds in washington state
Blake Island State Park Playground. Photo courtesy Washington State Parks.

Southwest Washington Kid-Friendly Campgrounds

Battle Ground State Park. Battle Ground, Washington. Slip down the tunnel slide or corkscrew slide, scramble across the monkey bars and jump from platform to platform at this kid-friendly campground, which also provides 25 campsites and four cabins that accommodate five people (perfect for families with three kids).

Ike Kinswa State Park. Silver Lake, Washington. A giant 101-site and nine-cabin campground situated near a large freshwater lake, offering year-round camping and an older wooden playset with corkscrew slide, tall platforms and tire features.

Rainbow Falls. Chehalis, Washington. The petite playground will entertain kids for a few minutes — just a toddler-approved slide, a few small wooden platforms and hang bar. All sites here are first-come, first-served: 53 campsites, including a few hiker/biker only (walk-in) sites.

Seaquest State Park. Castle Rock, Washington. Yurts! This Mt. St. Helens campground offers five yurts (suitable for families of six), 55 tent spots and 33 utility spaces, along with a small vintage playground featuring metal ladders and wooden platforms.

 ***

Did I miss something? Get something wrong? Can you recommend another playground? Do you have photos of any of these playgrounds? Please e-mail me at lora AT cascadiakids.com. I will also add photos as I receive them from state parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Beach Trips, Central Washington & Mountains, Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips, Olympic Peninsula, Washington State

June 14, 2013

Whale Watching in Washington State with Kids: Seattle, San Juan Islands & Beyond

Whale watching tours near Seattle
Orca Whales. Photo via NOAA.

Three resident orca whale pods (family groups of whales) circle our waters  June through September — along with visiting orcas in April, May, and late September and early October. Minkes, humpbacks and gray whales also pop up here and there, along with smaller whales such as white-sided dolphins. Whale-watching trips are fun for creature-crazy kids — the tours’ naturalists also point out the wild variety of birds, deer and other island or sea residents. Here’s a quick rundown of whale-watching trips in Puget Sound (Washington only), including prices and ages welcome aboard.

With young children, look into the short trips; older kids and teens can (probably) handle the longer cruises. Most of the excursions listed here are on bigger sightseeing boats (not the zodiac-style inflatables that are not typically recommended for young children).

Questions to ask about taking children on whale-watching trips:

  • Do children often ride the boat? (More to get an idea of the kid-friendliness of the tour company)
  • How many people do you take on outings?
  • Do you have kids’ activities on board, such as coloring books, toys, etc.
  • Is there a naturalist or marine biologist on board?
  • Is there a heated indoor space?
  • Is there an on-board restaurant?
  • Are there changing tables or a place to change my baby or child?
  • What do you suggest we bring with us? (Binoculars, route maps, snacks, bird ID guides — or are they supplied?)
  • What’s your cancellation policy?
  • What if we don’t see any whales? Do you offer a free trip or money back (or just tissues for the kids, boo hoo).

Whale Watching Options in Puget Sound (Seattle, Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Bellingham) :

San Juan Excursions
Departs from: Friday Harbor, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids ages 3 –12: $59
Tours last: 3-4 hour trips
Kid extras:  A children’s library, coloring crayons and books, a $1 snack bar, complimentary binocular use and a visit to the wheelhouse where they can “drive” the boat with the Captain.

San Juan Safaris
Departs from: Friday Harbor, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids ages 2-12: $55
Tours last: 3 hours

Western Prince Whale & Wildlife Tours
Departs from: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington State.
Ages: All ages on Western Prince II; Kids 6+ only on Western Explorer
Kids on WP II 2-12: $56; Kids on Explorer 6-12 $76
Tours last: 2.5-5 hours
Kid extras: On-board snack bar, coloring sheets, toys, two naturalists on boards who are kid-friendly.

Clipper Vacations
Departs from: Seattle, Washington State.
Ages: Age 6 and up. Clipper Folk Say: “The day is long, nearly 12 hours with all but 2.5 hours onboard the vessel.  It is a lot of sitting time to keep young kids entertained.  Although we often see whales along the way, the whale watch excursion itself is 2.5 hours including to/from the dock.”
Kids under age 12: $20
Tours last: All day (12 hours).
Kid extras: An experienced, family-friendly naturalist is on board; three decks seating up to 200 people; rent binoculars for $5/pair; changing table in washroom.

Puget Sound Express
Departs from: Port Townsend, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids 2-10: $65
Killer Whale Tour lasts: 4 hours
Kid extras: Coloring offered to children; kids can accompany parents to the bridge to meet the Captain  (weather and conditions permitting).

Island Adventures
Departs from: Anacortes, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids 3-12: $49+ (lots of deals though)
Tours last: 3-6 hours
Kid extras: Guests receive a 64-page color-photo wildlife viewing guide, free binocular use while on board.

Mystic Sea Charters
Departs from: Anacortes, Washington State
Ages: All ages
Kids 3-17: Start at $49
Tours last: 5-6 hours

Island Mariner
Departs from: Bellingham, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids 4-17: $49
Tours last: 6.5 hours

Deer Harbor Charters
Departs from: Orcas Island (Rosario & Deer Harbor), Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids under 17: $42 & up
Tours last: 3.5 hours

Orcas Island Whales
Departs from: Orcas Island Ferry Landing, Washington State.
Ages: All ages
Kids 12 & under: $59
Tours last: 3.5 hours

Filed Under: Port Townsend, Seattle Tagged With: Friday Harbor, kids, orcas island, Seattle, Washington State, whales

September 19, 2011

A Weekend Trip with Kids to the Olympic Peninsula

This summer, Mariah Voutilainen went on a whirlwind weekend trip through the Olympic Peninsula with her husband and two children (ages 3 and 5). In just three days and two nights, the intrepid Seattle-based family visited Sequim, Dungeness Spit, Port Angeles, Joyce, Makah Indian Reservation, Cape Flattery, Elwah Dam and Hurricane Ridge. That’s a total of 339 miles — but who’s counting?

Let’s find out more about Mariah’s trip through the Olympic Peninsula.

Q: What was your favorite town or destination in the Olympic Peninsula? What did you like about it?

My favorite part of the trip was the drive from Sequim all the way to Cape Flattery.  I really liked the small town of Joyce, Washington, with its historic general store museum. The museum was open on Sunday morning, and the woman who worked there knew a lot of history, including facts about the train that used to come through the town, and the people who settled there.  Kids were welcome to touch and try out the artifacts in the museum, including the old-fashioned fire truck and the horse carriage.

The Makah Cultural and Research Center at the Makah Reservation was also very interesting, although not completely finished in some places.  There were also kid-friendly exhibits there, and a very nice gift shop where you could buy a permit to be on the reservation as well as Makah/Native books and paraphernalia, including locally made jewelry.

Cape Flattery was absolutely gorgeous!  The hike through the woods was very easy–it was mostly paneled with wood planks so that you could easily stay on the trail.  There were several look-out points that had amazing views of the water.  It was really amazing to be at the western-most point of the United States.

Q. What can you do with kids in the Olympic Peninsula? What did you enjoy most?

I think the boys enjoyed almost everything, but they really liked the Dream Playground at Erikson Field.  We went there and they had a ball.  Additionally, they thoroughly enjoyed getting amazing ice cream at Buzz, a local coffee shop and ice cream parlour in Sequim.  I’d have to say that the small scoop of ice cream was actually half a pint!

Q. Did you come across any child-friendly restaurants while visiting the Olympic Peninsula?

The two restaurants we ate at (a cafe on the Makah Reservation called Whalers Moon Delight, and a Mexican Restaurant called Fiesta Jalisco in Port Angeles) were both fine, although I wouldn’t say that they were particularly “kid-friendly.”   The food was nothing to write home about, really, at either one.

Q. That’s too bad. Did you like your hotel in the Olympic Peninsula?

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Sequim. It was a pleasant, affordable place to stay, with rooms that looked recently updated.  Most importantly, they included continental breakfast, which at these types of hotels nowadays include either make your own waffles or pancakes (this one had pancakes, which were really fun for the boys to make).  Also included was a pool and hot-tub, which were a good distraction for the boys, who went to swim twice.

Q. Anything else you’d like to say? Why would you recommend a trip to the Olympic Peninsula to families?

Definitely would recommend a trip to Sequim and all the other places we went.  The lavender farms in Sequim are lovely, as is the Dungeness Spit beach.  So much to do there, and it doesn’t take long to do if you plan it correctly!

Filed Under: Olympic Peninsula Tagged With: child-friendly, kids, olympic peninsula, port angeles, Port Townsend

August 27, 2010

Four Washington Towns That Think They’re in Europe

It’s fair for the kids to get a little confused about geography, if you’re visiting certain Washington burgs. You drive a few miles, then tour a town 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.

Next time you’re feeling Europe-sick (and don’t have the funds for a flight), check out these four Washington towns:

Poulsbo. Easily a daytrip from Seattle, this shop-rich, Kitsap Peninsula village offers a quaint harbor bobbing with boats (rent your own at Northwest Boat Rentals), quirky grocery shopping options (Marina Grocery Store has licorice-sampling area, so you can pick your pleasure — salty or sweet?), adorable bakeries (Sluys’ Bakery slings maple-doughnut gingerbread boys), a tiny bookstore with a generous children’s area (Liberty Bay Bookstore), decent toy shop and a sciencetastic experience in the form of the Poulsbo Marine Science Center. PMSC is a lovely little donations-welcome center that offers a touch tank and cool views of the Sound outside — plus arts and science projects for the kids.

Poulsbo's charming streets on the Kitsap Peninsula

Leavenworth. About a three-hour drive east of Seattle, Leavenworth pulls out all the stops in a recreation of Bavaria. The effect is helped along quite a bit due to location, location, location (at the foot of the Cascades, which loom like a Hollywood set behind the town). You can read all about kid-friendly Leavenworth shops, restaurants and hotels on my Leavenworth with kids page. Leavenworth probably offers the most well-developed tourism options, of all the towns listed here.

Lynden. Two hours northeast of Seattle and one hour southeast of Vancouver, BC, you’ll find the sleepy little town of Lynden. There’s not a whole lot to Lynden — in my experience — but the slightly cheesy windmill, faux canals and funky antique malls are worth a morning’s visit. Lynden is also convenient to trans-border traffic between at the  sleepy Aldergrove-Lynden crossing. In Lynden, you can sleep in the Dutch Village Inn windmill (know that they charge extra for kids, even if they’re not using extra bedding).

Lynden: Sometimes, we ride in boat-shoes.

If you go to Lynden, visit on a Saturday, when Dutch Mother’s Family Restaurant is open and slings crazy-big pannekoeken with blueberries and real whipped cream. The town is buttoned up tight on Sunday. This is small, small town Washington.

Odessa. Odessa is located  90 minutes west of Spokane, among Eastern Washington’s rolling wheat fields. Around 80% of the village’s population descended from German or Russian immigrants; the annual Deutschefest in September celebrates the town’s ancestry. One-story businesses (including the Hair Haus and Das Kraut Haus) line the traffic-free streets. Odessa is near the fascinating Soap Lake, where bubble waves wash up on shore.

Filed Under: Poulsbo, Washington State Tagged With: kids, Leavenworth, Seattle

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Tips for a Safer Family Vacation During Coronavirus Pandemic July 12, 2020
  • Seattle Cat Cafes and Vancouver Cat Cafes February 5, 2020
  • 18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge February 4, 2020
  • Are Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes a Good Deal? February 2, 2020
  • All Aboard! Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth February 2, 2020

Categories

© Copyright 2017 Pretty Darn Cute Design

Back to Top