A song called “Just Fishin”, by Trace Adkins, completely sums up the reason why fishing with kids is much more than “just fishin”.  The lyrics to the song begin,

Photo by: Flickr/Mish Mish

Like the song says, kids may think you’re just fishing, but parents will discover that fishing with kids is about quality time together.   Sometimes household distractions can deter families from discussing these important issues:  ballet shoes, kittens, or that cute new boy at school that is always “annoying” your tween.   So get out and enjoy some quality time with kids, make some memories and you might even catch a fish or two – and that’s just icing on the cake.

Tips for a successful fishing outing with kids

• Safety comes first.  Teach kids how to act safely around water.  Establish safety rules, such as no running, wearing float vests, looking before casting, and sticking together.
• Keep it Simple. There is no need to invest in the latest fishing gear for kids.  Kids just need the basic equipment; a rod, reel, line, bobber, hooks and bait.  I recall my kids catching fish that weighed more than their Sponge Bog and Barbie poles.
• Quantity not Quality.  Take kids fishing where they will have the most success catching fish.  Look for spots that are regularly stocked with open shorelines to practice casting. These spots won’t necessarily yield a trophy fish. However, kids will be more engaged when the fish are regularly biting.
• Fish by something else that’s fun.  If the fish aren’t biting, it’s always a good idea to be near playground equipment, sport fields and hiking trails.
• Enjoy Nature. There is more to a pond than the fish you are trying to catch.  Roll up your pants, wade in the grassy shoreline and discover a miniature aquatic world.  Check out the shorebirds, or watch water bugs hopping on the water’s surface.
• Teach kids angler ethics and conservation. Understand, obey and teach kids about fishing regulations, including size, type and bag limits.  Teach kids how to carefully handle fish they have caught.  If you do choose to keep the fish you catch, be prepared to properly store the fish and eat it – don’t let it go to waste.  If you choose to catch and release, allow kids to release their own fish.  Also, consider smashing the barbs on hooks with a pair of flat pliers.  This makes it much easier to unhook a caught fish.
• Have fun. Keep the atmosphere fun and relaxing.  Offer plenty of praise as kids master this new sport.   Pack a picnic and make it a day. Most importantly: don’t forget to brush up on your ballet shoes and kitten expertise.

Best Places to Take Kids Fishing

There is no need to head out in to the wilderness with a week’s supply of survival gear in order to expose kids to fishing.  Communities are making it easier than ever to go fishing, offering stocked ponds along parks and trails as well as hosting youth fishing programs, fishing tournaments and free fishing days.   Here are a few Trekaroo lists suggesting some good places to expose kids to fishing:

Utah’s Wasatch Front | Denver | Phoenix | Nevada

Also, be sure to check out these suggestions for even more great community fishing spots as recommended by Trekaroo parents.  Leave your own suggestion for a favorite place to fish with kids as well.

Big Fish

It would only be fitting to include a typical “big fish story” in a post about fishing with kids, so check out this trophy Rainbow Trout that my 10-year-old caught.  The fish was too heavy for my son to lift, so his Dad had to hold it for the picture!

 If you want to catch a trophy like this one, be sure to read my review of the Alta Ranch in Darby, Montana.

*Be sure to watch the music video of the Trace Adkins’ “Just Fishin’” song;  it serves as a great tutorial for a successful fishing trip with kids. 

Ann Anderson is the Utah Destination Guroo for Trekaroo

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT |VA | WA

The newest lodge to be built in the grandeur of the Giant Sequoias is the Wuksachi Lodge.  Families will find great accommodations, delicious food in the restaurant, and a playground of outdoor adventures in the majesty of Sequoia National Park.

Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge

The location of this lodge is ideal with majestic views of High Sierra peaks and surrounded by a conifer forest just waiting to be explored on many trails.  Large groves of giant sequoia trees, including the “world’s largest tree”: The General Sherman, are within a 10 minute drive.  It is located in the heart of Sequoia National Park at 6-7,000 feet elevation, just east of the Central Valley of California.  The Wuksachi Lodge is the optimum year-round lodging choice amid campgrounds and a few cabins nearby.

Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge

Don’t assume that visiting a mountainous national park requires camping out in the sticks, when you could enjoy the luxury of a full-service hotel at the Wuksachi Lodge.  The main lobby is crafted with cedar and local stone, and offers the only spot in Sequoia National Park with free Wi-Fi, or pretty much any cell service.  A full-service restaurant serves delicious meals with special “to go orders” for your family hike.  A gift shop, cross-country ski shop and a special event facility are housed in the main lobby.  Rooms are stocked with everything you would expect from a great hotel such as a private bath, TVs, telephones, refrigerators, hair dryers, central heat and daily maid service.

Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge

Whether you visit in the winter when the trails are covered with snow and the sledding is the best at Wolverton, or the beautiful summer when you can hike to Tokopah Falls amid the wildflowers, you can enjoy a family-friendly stay at the Wuksachi Lodge

Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge

Resources:

Read my full review of Wuksachi Lodge | Top Picks for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Best Family Activities in Sequoia National Park | Best Kid Friendly Hikes in Sequoia National Park

Best Family Activities in the Grant Grove Area of Kings Canyon National Park

The Steal: Win a 2-night vacation package at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park, California

 Details:

One very lucky winner will receive:

• 2 night stay for a family of 4 (valid Sun.-Thurs. only; expiration May 7, 2013)

• One breakfast buffet

 HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

In an effort to make it easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on the link below and follow the directions. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!

Read the rest of this entry »

Stepping onto Olympic National Park’s Beach 4 is like walking into tide pool heaven. During low tide, sea anemones hang from massive boulders like dripping blobs of flubber and sea stars gather on towering rocks in massive clumps, using their steel grips to hang on and wait for the tide to return.  Mussels carpet the lower portions of most boulders giving them the appearance of having massive shellfish beards. Low tide returns too quick to explore all the pools, scale all the boulders, and discover every last crab in every last crevice. Here the coast still feels wild, remote, and undiscovered.

On the seemingly never-ending stretches of sand, massive spruce and fir logs are scattered about, smooth and silvery from being tossed in the surf like matchsticks.  On the day my family visited, the sun and clouds were in an epic battle for coastline dominance and on that day, as with most days in this part of the country, the clouds won. It may have been sunny and warm just a quarter mile up the trail where we had parked our minivan but at the beach, overcast skies dominated the scene. No bother- we were kept warm by the invigoration of discovering yet another perfect skipping stone to sail into the sea and the bones of trees which could easily be imagined into all sorts of wild creatures.

La Push

North of Beach 4, west of the town of Forks, lies the tiny village of La Push.  Evidence  of Twilight fans dominating the tourism scene were not hard to find. Plywood signs indicating we had entered “werewolf territory” stood on the side of the highway and a life size cutout of a brooding Jacob hung out next to fish mounted on walls inside the tiny 3 Rivers Restaurant. Luckily, this Quileute Indian community has its own identity beyond the Twilight fandom and the only trace of the popular series that could be found inside our cozy beachfront cabin at the Quileute Oceanside Resort was a fleece wolf throw draped over the couch.

Read my full review of the Quileute Oceanside Resort.

I regretted not booking more time at the cabin after spending about ten seconds on its deck, rocking in my chair and listening to the waves crash onto the beach just beyond us. As dusk settled in, the clouds had grown too thick for us to actually see the ocean but its constant chatter reminded us that it was there. In the morning the simple gray skyline was replaced by one that included expansive ocean views and James Island, a tiny island dominated by a colossal tree covered rock that serves as the final resting place for Quileute chiefs of the past. We spent that morning collecting perfect pebbles smoothed by the surf, walking up the trunk of a massive spruce tree that had washed ashore years ago, and dining on the best (and cheapest) salmon hash we will probably ever have before heading even further up the coast in search of the northwestern corner of the lower 48, Cape Flattery.

Cape Flattery

The ¾ mile trail to the edge of Cape Flattery is a true walk through the rain forest. Massive trees dripping with ferns and condensation line the trail which starts out wide but quickly narrows into a cedar boardwalk through a boggy forest. Suddenly trees give way to a safety-railed cliff’s edge and the scenery feels a bit like Big Sur meets the Pacific Northwest. When we climbed up the short ladder to the viewing platform, we were disappointed to hear we had just missed a gray whale sighting but a bald eagle soaring in the currents and puffins diving for their next meals provided our Wild Kingdom moments  Before we bid farewell to the sapphire blue water of the Cape and headed back into dark and lush forest,the kids and I stopped at an overlook to catch one last glimpse of the wild Olympic Coast.  In that moment I felt incredibly blessed to  discover the beauty of a coastline most American families will never see, but should.

Ready to discover Olympic National Park with your family? Check out these reviews from families that have been there.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at the Quileute Oceanside Resort in coordination with the Olympic Peninsula Visitor’s Bureau. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

Sharlene Earnshaw is Trekaroo’s Blog Editor.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT | VA | WA

-The winter vacation your family’s been dreaming about.

The Earnshaws were born to ski. We are Nordic naturals who cut through the powder like Olympic slalomists. Okay, that may not be entirely true but considering three out of four of us hadn’t strapped on skis until recently, I think we are doing pretty darn good! Of course, like any proud mama bird watching her fledglings fly for the first time, I can’t help but be proud. The thing is, this mama bird didn’t lend a bit of instruction to her offspring, the enthusiastic instructors at Keystone’s Children’s Ski and Ride School deserve all the credit for my kids’ perfect pizza wedges and impeccable turns.

My ski instructor, Mark, is definitely responsible for all my rad (yes I said rad) ski moves.  Up until our visit to Keystone this winter, I was a complete ski virgin due to my fear of a frigid, tumbling death.  You see, I stumble through life on my own two feet.  Literally. In my eyes, stairs are essentially death traps and tripping over flat surfaces is an everyday occurrence. I’m sure you can imagine how terrifying strapping two long sticks on these clodhoppers must have seemed.  Luckily, after some coaxing by a lovely PR agent for Keystone Resort, I was convinced to put some trust and faith into the hands of dear Mark and learned I am actually a bit graceful on the slopes (albeit bunny slopes).

Watching newbie skiers try to learn without professional instruction was like watching Bambi collapse on a frozen pond while Thumper glided casually by.  Without the building blocks professional instructors offer, the poor skiers were flailing down the hill, falling constantly, and not looking like they were having a very good time. Meanwhile, this self-professed klutz was able to stop, turn, and cruise down the bunny slope without falling once! I even managed to conquer the dreaded ski lift (dreaded if you have a fear of falling like me) without error.  Best of all, I had the confidence and skills to build upon the next time my family made a trip to the mountains.

Winter fun, no skis required

The greatest thing about a winter vacation in Keystone is that there is so much to do beyond skiing and snowboarding. At the top of the River Run Gondola, a giant snow fort waits for adventurous kids to explore. This snow fort features tunnels, slides, and even a throne, all made completely of snow and ice. My family quickly discovered it was great place to play hide and go seek while waiting for a time on the tubing hill.

Speaking of tubing, Adventure Point Tubing at Keystone Resort is most definitely not the sledding you grew up with.  Four perfectly groomed tracks lead tubers down a massive hill at speeds that rival a roller coaster. Children as short as 42 inches are able to participate but as we learned, this activity is best reserved for thrill seeking kids. My son, a roller coaster lover, squealed with delight as he whizzed down the hill with his dad, eager for another ride once he reached the bottom. My daughter, whose favorite ride at Disneyland is still Small World, screamed bloody murder and then let everyone she who came without earshot just how much she disliked the speed of the hill. My husband and I loved it and were especially happy to ride the magic carpet back up the hill instead of having to lug two large inner tubes up the slippery slopes.

Families that love to ice skate will be happy to hear that the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor skating venue in North American is none other than Keystone Lake.  Whether you are interested in a pick-up game of ice hockey or a quiet spot to perfect your triple salchows, you are sure to find it at this premier ice skating spot. Those staying at the River Run Condos at Keystone will find a small outdoor rink near the condos, ideal for helping your little ones take their first glides on the ice.

Looking for a place to stay in Keystone? Check out these River Run Condominium reviews.

Dining experiences offering much more than just great food

Is there anything that says winter more than dashing through the snow on a horse-pulled sleigh?  I don’t think so! If your family can only afford one special experience while at Keystone, make it be the Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride dinner. Guests are taken on a moonlit ride through the Soda Creek Valley where elk tracks are fresh in the snow and stories of past homesteaders are shared by a cowboy on your way to the toasty warm cabin where dinner is served. Steaming cast iron kettles full of the best barley beef stew you will ever eat are accompanied by the songs of a cowgirl and her guitar. A complimentary shot of peppermint schnapps (adults only!) kicks up a cup of hot chocolate quite nicely and entrée choices of grilled chicken, steak, and salmon are served with heaping portions of potatoes and veggies. Warm apple pie and vanilla ice cream fill the last spare inches of belly room before everyone bundles up and heads back across the valley with two magnificent draft horses leading the way.

Atop the mountain, Der Fondue Chessel serves up fondue family-style in a Swiss alpine chalet that sets the mood for a fun dining experience. Servers dressed in Bavarian costume dish up cheese fondue with all the fixings, salads, a variety of meat to cook on tabletop grills, and incredible dessert fondue options to cap off the experience. Meanwhile, a roaming polka band plays traditional music but when family favorites such as the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance start to play, everyone in the restaurants drops their fondue forks, stands ups, and joins in on the fun.

Sharlene Earnshaw is Trekaroo’s Blog Editor.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA  | UT | WA

   -America the Beautiful, Katharine Lee Bates

The majestic beauty of the state of Colorado served as the inspiration to this classic American hymn.  The Centennial State is so rich in natural beauty and diversity that it just begs for you to get outdoors and explore all it has to offer.  No matter what season of the year you visit Colorado, you are sure to find an amazing adventure.

10. Jump off a Cliff

Photo by: Soaring Treetop Adventures

Parents, take a deep breath: thrill seeking families will love all the extreme sports and activities available in Colorado.  Hike or climb your way up one of Colorado’s 54 “fourteeners”, mountains peaking out at over 14,000 feet!  Take to the heights in a hot air balloon, or paraglide out over the landscape below.  Rent a jeep and take on the rugged terrain with all four wheels driving.  Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s giant canyon swing launches daring riders 1300 feet out and over the Colorado River trailing below!  The park’s “wild” cavern tour, alpine coaster slide and zip line are a must!  The largest zip line course in the world, Soaring Treetop Adventures in Durango, is accessible to kids and adults from age 5 and up!

Hit the sky with Colorado’s Zip Lines | Hang-gliding | Hot Air Balloons

9.  Follow Ancient Footprints Back in Time

Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado is home to the remains of Colorado’s oldest inhabitants, the Pueblos.  The park offers easy, short hikes to ancient ruins and longer guided tours to some amazing must-see cliff dwellings from 1500 years ago!  Active families can climb ladders, crawl through tunnels and really get into the dwellings. Nearby, visit Hovenweep National Monument to explore six ruins during a 1 ½ hour, peaceful and easy walking tour for all ages and stages.  The Canyons of the Ancients, which boast the largest density of known archeological finds in the nation, is easily accessed from the Anasazi Heritage Center, a federal museum and ruins site (and a good spot to use restrooms and enjoy the picnic grounds!)

Centrally located, Durango is the perfect place to stay & play while enjoying the ancient ruins.

8.  Hit the Water

Photo by: Trekaroo/slofamilylife

In late spring and summer, snow melts away to a white water river-rafting paradise.  The Arkansas River is America’s most rafted on river and offers trips varying from family-friendly class II waters all the way to extreme class V rapids for experienced riders.  Numerous rivers and outfitters across the state offer safe, family expeditions to get you started, and on calmer waters you can enjoy a variety of types of boats for experiences from lazy to crazy.  Fishing picks up when the waters begin to tame, so be sure to take advantage of the plentiful rivers of Colorado.

Find family-friendly rafting trips in Colorado | across the US

7.  Tour Natural Beauty in Old-Fashioned Style

Photo by: Trekaroo/Kimmy

Enjoy Colorado’s scenic beauty without the stress and frustration of driving.  Start your enthusiasm for trains by visiting the Colorado Railroad Museum, designed as an 1880’s train depot with replica trains and an awesome array of hands on activities for the little ones.  When you are ready to journey for yourself, ride one of the state’s numerous railways boasting open air cars, incredible scenery, and impressive bridges.  The Royal Gorge travels first class along the Arkansas River and has numerous dining options available, even fine dining for a special occasion, while the Cog Railway in Colorado Springs travels to the top of Pike’s Peak (14,000 feet).  The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad operates year round through the San Juan National Forest and includes entrance into their freight museum with ticket. Many of Colorado’s trains host special events for year-round holidays, offer exceptional dining options, and even offer your teen the chance to solve murders on board a murder mystery train.

Check out eight Scenic Railways across Colorado to explore.

6. See the Wild Life

Colorado has your animal fix covered!  The Denver Zoo is lauded as the most popular cultural attraction in all of Colorado; despite the 1.6 million annual visitors, Trekaroo users say their visits are relaxed and calm.  Free summer programs are the highlight for many visitors.  More animal encounters can be found at the nearby Butterfly Pavilion and Downtown Aquarium (which also hosts mermaids!!). The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, in scenic Colorado Springs, sits at an altitude of 6,800 feet and boasts over 200 animal species.  For a change of pace, ride the historic carousel or take the Mountaineer Sky Ride to the top of the zoo to play on the kid-friendly playground.  If you’re looking for buffalo, head about 20 miles west of Denver to Genesee Park’s Buffalo Preserve where you can get up close & personal with a herd of about 40 wild buffalo, for free!

Colorado Springs is a beautiful vacation spot.  Start your planning here.

5.  Make your Home on the Range

Photo by: Flicker/woodleywonderworks

Iconic scenery, big sky and beautiful weather make Colorado a rancher’s dream.  If you can splurge for an all-inclusive resort, try your hand as a cowboy at a dude ranch.  Family programs, camp-outs, cattle drives, entertainment and exceptional dining will draw your family together with a lifetime of cherished memories.  If a day trip is more likely to fit the bill, check out one of Colorado’s numerous ranches and farms open for tours, horseback riding, and chuck wagon dinners.

Explore Colorado’s Ranch Vacations | Day-Tripping Ranch Locations

4. Experience Education

Photo by: Trekaroo/Zoe Ocampo

At the Children’s Museum of Denver, hands on education takes place in such clever and creative ways that your kids might not even know they are learning.  Giant dinosaurs, a planetarium and a space odyssey highlight the best of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which consistently receives rave reviews on Trekaroo.  If you have a free afternoon, venture to The Wildlife Experience just south of Denver.  This museum focuses on learning about wildlife habitats through hands-on-displays and films best geared to school age kids and up.

Check out the top ten children’s museums across the US.

3. Explore the Mile High City

Photo by: Flickr/Larry Johnson

Sitting at an altitude of 5,280 feet, Denver was founded by miners less than 150 years ago, and is still full of youth and excitement.  Downtown, take the free US Mint tour where you can watch the amazing transformation of money and learn about minting history.  Denver Botanic Gardens is set in the beautiful tree-lined Cherry Creek area and has its very own 3-acre children’s garden just perfect for exploring and observation.  The Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater hosts year-round concerts set in front of stunning red rock mountains; come on an off day and tour the facilities and the beautiful red rocks and then stop at the nearby Dinosaur Ridge where you can touch dinosaur bones and walk in their footprints!  If your little ones need to get some energy out, head to Westlands Park in Greenwood Village for more than just the typical play structures, but also water fountains, tree houses, climbing walls, music makers, a skate park and plenty of picnic space.  This park has been voted the “Top Playground” of the Rockies and we are sure you will agree.

Find the best deals on lodging in Denver.  Hungry?  Enjoy  super-cool restaurants in Denver for kids.

2. Glide through Powder

The impressive hills and vast terrain of the Rocky Mountains, coupled with snow fall levels up to  465 inches a year, Colorado is a skiing and snowboarding winter wonderland.  The state has 26 ski resorts, many with kid’s clubs, ski schools, awesome packages for families, and even a resort boasting the world’s highest Starbucks (at 10,850 feet).  The winter season in the mountain towns like Keystone, Aspen and Vail can sometimes extend well into spring offering skiers the chance to enjoy an impressively long season.   If, like me, the idea of your kids (or self) flailing head-over-heals in a cartoonish avalanche of snow scares you away, never fear.  The soft mountains of snow are also just right for good, old-fashioned (and not so terrifying) cross-country skiing, sledding, making snowmen and snow ball fights.

Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Families | Ski Resorts offering schools and daycare | Colorado Sledding & Snow Play Spots

1. Discover diverse National and State Parks

Colorado’s land is incredibly diverse and the park systems reflect a unique display of beauty.  At Great Sand Dunes National Park, the highest sand dunes in North America, your climb is rewarded with a  year-round, non-dependent-on-weather “sand”board or sled down the hills.  Rocky Mountain National Park offers abundant animal life, gorgeous scenery and plenty of family hikes and campgrounds.  Just outside Denver, Roxborough State Park offers a unique juxtaposition of swaying prairies and jutting red rock formations.  In the northwest, experience the closest thing you can get to a jungle at Rifle Falls State Park.  Take the short 5 minute hike in the morning to the falls for a sweet, sunlit view of three majestic waterfalls surrounded by lush foliage.  From prairies, lakes and plains to stunning mountain tops and forests, Colorado’s parks cannot be beat.

Need more info?  Try our handy guide on exploring Colorado’s national parks.

______________________

Want more 50 states fun? See more posts in our series:

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Alaska

Top Ten Things for Families to do in California

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Massachusetts

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Nevada

Top Ten Things for Families to do in New Mexico

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Pennsylvania

Top Ten Things for Families to do in South Dakota

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Utah

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | VA | WA