• Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips

    Camping Grub That Kids Will Love: Kid-Friendly Camping Food

    Recently, I had the good fortune to interview Emily Trudeau, a veteran camper and one of the three cofounders of the camping-food blog Dirty Gourmet, along with Aimee Trudeau and Katherine Kwan. She encourages first-time campers to get out there — even if you’re not typically comfortable with sticks, dirt and bugs. “Being outdoors is a healing experience,” she says, whether you’re sitting around a campfire, counting stars in the night sky or watching your kids play (with sticks, dirt and bugs). Camping doesn’t mean you have to leave the comfort foods of home at home — particularly with kids. Yet, if you’re sick of hotdogs by the summer’s end, I’m…

  • Washington State

    Family Travel: A rustic retreat at Holden Village

    I had honestly never heard of Holden Village until reader Liz Sheffield let me in on Washington’s amazing North Cascades secret. Tucked along the north banks of Lake Chelan, Holden Village is a unique and in-the-know option for a family vacation. Today we chat with writer Liz Sheffield about her experiences at Holden Village (all photos are also courtesy of Liz Sheffield). 1. Who went on your trip? How did you hear about Holden Village, near Lake Chelan? My husband, Brad, and I took our two sons, Henry (5) and Eli (1) to Holden Village. In search of a remote and reasonable get-away, Holden was the perfect place for us.…

  • Walla Walla Balloon Stampede
    Other

    30 Things to Do with Kids in Walla Walla

    Walla Walla, a cute little Washington State college town, offers wonderful family activities and an escape from big-city stress. This week, we talk with Walla Walla resident Ben to discover more about this Eastern Washington burg. Why do you like Walla Walla? Ben: We love Walla Walla because it really is a beautiful town with lush parks and a vibrant downtown.  We enjoy a full four seasons here, from a hot summer to clear, crisp fall days, often snowy winters and our gorgeous spring (when the dogwood trees bloom in April it’s particularly nice!). We have a strongly diversified local economy; while many national retailers have come and gone, our locally-owned…

  • Uncategorized

    Families Travel! Breitenbush Hot Springs with Kids

    Over the 2010 Labor Day Weekend, Portland mom Jennifer and her husband Tony (owners of Portland’s Milagros Boutique) took their two children to Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Oregon. This resort, founded in 1977, is old-school crunchy Oregon, through and through. It’s a worker-owned cooperative featuring geothermal heating, eco-conscious structures and an off-the-grid lifestyle (no phone, no TV, no wi-fi). The laid-back attitude extends toward clothing, which is optional in the tub areas. “A family uncomfortable with nudity would not feel comfortable in the bathing areas of Breitenbush,” Jennifer says. “The majority of folks in the bathing areas are naked.” So this may not be a resort for everyone – it depends on whether you’re OK…

  • Spokane

    The Best of Spokane with Kids

    Our family first passed through Spokane back in 2001, on our I-90 Washington-to-New York driving adventure (with a toddler – yeah, we’ve always been crazy!). Spokane was cute — historic, turn-of-the-century buildings, a riverfront park and bustling college scene. I threw Spokane into my “bucket list” of destinations to visit in the future. Fast-forward 9 years, and life finally afforded the opportunity to return. Here’s my guide to the best of this Inland Northwest city with kids: Best place to spend the day in Spokane: Riverfront Park is one of the most adorable urban parks ever. The park’s 100 acres are packed with preschooler-friendly amusement park rides, an IMAX theater,…