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8 Amusement Parks in the Northwest and BC
We don’t have any mega-big-deal-amusement parks (read: Disney) here in Washington, Oregon or BC. No huge surprise, as we also lack the year-round pleasant weather. But we do have several options within easy driving distance of major cities, including water parks and kid-friendly amusement rides. The parks are all fairly inexpensive, at least when compared to airfare for four, lodging and ticket prices at mega-big-deal-amusement parks. It’s low-key fun, an easy getaway in pleasant weather. Note: Updated in December 2022. There used to be 9 amusement parks, but Dinotown has gone extinct, alas. Amusement Parks in Oregon 1. Oaks Amusement Park. Portland, Oregon. One of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest operating…
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The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Pacific Northwest
Still looking for that perfect last-minute gift? Last week, I picked up The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Pacific Northwest by travel writer Joan Tapper, with lush photos by Nik Wheeler. Tapper knows her stuff. She’s the founding editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine and she’s a great judge on what makes for a beautiful destination– she highlights those smaller, quaint towns that feel like they’ve gracefully aged for the past 100 years. Each village or town is accompanied by text and large photographs; this is as much a coffee-table display book as it is a dream-guide of where to go during your lifetime. The downside is obvious…
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Great Gifts for the Local Family Traveler
What to buy the traveler in your life? Check this list: Spot It is my favorite new game, hands down. It’s easy to learn (you’ll get it in about two seconds), scales well by age (I’d say 5 and up) and comes in a very portable tin. Gift certificates to a favorite hotel or restaurant. Many come with bonuses for you, too. I’ve seen a 10% bonus for purchases for the Victoria Clipper, an extra $25 gift card when you purchase one $25 gift card at the Cannon Beach’s Wayfarer restaurant and a few more I can’t really mention — they were only for e-mail subscribers to the hotel e-mail…
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Military Travel Deals in the Pacific Northwest and BC
Today is Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada; a good opportunity to highlight ways that active duty personnel and veterans can travel our region for a little less: Active-duty U.S. military personnel save 10% on Amtrak, while VIA Rail Canada offers 25% off fares for Canadian active personnel and veterans. Disabled veterans can benefit from free camping in Washington State Parks through the Washington State Parks Pass Program. Both disabled veterans and active military on leave can get a special access pass for camping in the Oregon State Parks. Great Wolf Lodge, in Grand Mound, Wash., offers discounts to Armed Forces members, with the word HEROES…
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Stormwatching at the Coast: Tips and Hints
Winds howl outside at 55 miles per hour – fast enough to tip over a toddler. Waves explode on the beach, each one more spectacular than the last. The lights flicker, but stay on. Your family is inside, dry and happy, playing “Apples to Apples†with a warm drink (Hot chocolate? Hot cider? Hot toddy  — just for grown-ups) in hand. During this season of storms and seas, some upscale resorts even offer a “stormwatcher’s package,†like this one at the Wickannish Inn in Tofino. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the wild weather at the coast. Here are tips for enjoying stormwatching in the Pacific…