• 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…

  • Leavenworth

    Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth in 2024

    First, the bad news: There’s only one Amtrak train per day from Seattle to Leaveneworth (and vice versa). But the good news outweighs the bad. A no-hassle, no-driving trip to European-style Leavenworth in winter is more than worth it. The Empire Builder train leaves downtown Seattle (SEA) at 4:55 and arrives at 8:17. On the return, the Amtrak leaves Leavenworth Icicle Station (LWA) at 7:23 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 11:29 a.m.,and takes about 4 hours. The train’s schedule makes it impossible to go on a day trip. Visiting Leavenworth really requires two full overnights, particularly if you stay at a place like Sleeping Lady Resort or even if…

  • 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…

  • Washington State

    Where to Ski with Kids in Washington State

    All those rainy days have an upside, too. In winter, Washington State families typically enjoy a long, snowy season of skiing with kids—not to mention snowboarding and tubing. Even if you don’t (yet) enjoy any of the above sports, there’s always the option of making a snowman or two with your toddler. All the better if a lovely lodge is nearby, so you can run inside for a cup of hot chocolate or bowl of chili after a day on skis. Here are Washington State’s winter destinations and their kid-friendly aspects – from cheap and inexpensive cross-country ski trails to upscale snowboarding and skiing resorts, along with ski camps, lessons,…

  • Union Station in Portland, Oregon
    Day Trips,  Kid-friendly Trip Ideas,  Pacific Northwest Spring Break with Kids,  Travel Tips

    18 Tips for Riding Amtrak Trains with Kids

    Amtrak rails between Seattle and Portland But as with so many other escapades, much of your family’s Amtrak success will come down to preparation. Here are tips on taking the train with kids. I’ll soon offer some information on the family sleeper cars, and best train trips through Washington, Oregon and BC. Train Price Tips for Amtrak with Kids 1. Save money. Can kids ride free on Amtrak? Well, you can save by taking advantage of Amtrak’s 50% off discount for children’s coach fares. But no, children don’t ride free. Instead, one child ages 2-12 receives a 50% discount on the lowest available adult Amtrak rail fair. But they must…