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Leavenworth with Kids
You might think taking the kids Leavenworth, Washington is for unsavvy tourists. But after spending three days in Leavenworth, I have a different take. I looked a little harder, asked a few more questions and found it’s one of the best spots for a family-friendly vacation. Yes, the Washington State town’s Bavarian-style building fronts were manufactured during the 1960s and 70s. But the finished craftsmanship is old-world impeccable. On a sunny summer day, when you’re on the flanks of the Cascadess and you can park your car and walk everywhere you need to go—you realize that this dense, populated village has everything you need within a quarter-mile: shops, hotels, restaurants,…
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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…
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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,…
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18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington is undoubtedly one of the most well-known Washington Water Parks. Whether you’re going for a birthday party, with one of the new day passes, or for a warm, light-filled spring break from always-rainy skies, Great Wolf Lodge is definitely a family favorite. But before heading to any big-ticket, big-adventure resort with kids, it’s always best to ask an expert for tips. So I asked three British Columbia and Washington State moms who are repeat guests of Great Wolf Lodge for their best tips, and added a few more tips from my own research. Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. You may…
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Whale Watching in Washington State with Kids: Seattle, San Juan Islands & Beyond
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.…
