We’re always on the prowl for places to stay that just aren’t about 2 double beds and functional bathroom. If you’re looking for something that’s unique and a hit with the kids, check out Trekaroo’s favorite unusual places to stay with kids. It’s the type of place, your kids will love to explore and enjoy.
Wigwam Village
Make sure your kids pack their bow and arrows for a complete Native American experience. (Cave City, Kentucky)
Out ‘n’ About Treesort
Do not forget to pack your Magic Tree House books! (Cave Junction, Oregon)
Copyright Alan Rider/XTRORD.com
Safari West
Want to take your kids to Africa? Skip the 18 hour flight and experience life on the African plains at Safari West in California. Your kids can wake up and wave at the giraffes from your cabin’s patio. (Santa Rosa, California)
The Inn at Christmas Place
Every day is Christmas at the Inn at Christmas Place. (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
The Queen Mary
Spend a night on a historic 1940s warship. Your tweens and teens will love learning about the spine-tingling legends and ghosts that haunt the halls of this boat. (Long Beach, California)
For more Unusual Places to Stay with Kids from Trekaroo.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Lydie Thomas (aka lydie) is a contributing author for Trekaroo as well as keeping up her TravelisMoreFunWithKids blog.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
For as long as I can remember, I have been enamored with wildlife. My love affair with all things animal related has been passed down to my three year old daughter who recently told me she would rather go to the zoo than Disneyland! I couldn’t agree with her more. A visit to the zoo is a great way to spend the day outside as a family while educating children on the wonders of the wild kingdom.
Since I love zoos so much, I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our country’s finest. Our first stop is my home turf, the West Coast. Here are five zoos that you don’t want to miss:
NYCmama loves this zoo “for its manageable size, wonderful collection of animal life and proximity to the ocean!” I do too. It isn’t the largest zoo but it is certainly big enough to spend a few leisurely hours admiring the leaping lemurs and gasping at the grace of the long and lovely giraffes. With Ocean Beach literally across the street, you can always rely on this zoo to be a nice escape from the heat during those scorching Northern California summers. Be sure to catch a penguin feeding and don’t forget to take the little ones on the Little Puffer Miniature Steam Train.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the San Francisco Zoo here.
We recently paid this zoo a visit for the very first time and had an absolute blast. The Arizona Trail section provided a fantastic introduction to the animals of the desert southwest and the camel rides were an absolute hit with my kids. Explore this large zoo on one of their four person bike rentals or cruise on a paddle boat around the main lake. Definitely be sure to visit the Monkey Village where there are no cages separating you from the squirrel monkeys swinging from the trees above. Looking for a break from the animal action? Check out one of the many unique and fun playgrounds dispersed throughout the park. Where else can you slide through a Saguaro Cactus?
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the Phoenix Zoo here.
Photo courtesy of Trekaroo member LivingBeaverton
Started in 1887 by a pharmacist who collected animals, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi. It is also one of the best. With exhibits such as the Great Northwest, a wonderful collection of animals indigenous to Oregon, and the newly opened Predators of the Serengeti, its no wonder that families return to this zoo again and again. Pitstopsforkids offers this great tip: “You can picnic with a lunch on the wide lawn by the Africa section (where the main food venues are located).” Like trains? Be sure to check out the Washington Park and Zoo Railway during your visit.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the Oregon Zoo here.
Photo courtesy of SeattlePI.com
I remember visiting this zoo as a kid and loving every minute of it. Here you can explore Alaskan tundra on the Northern Trail, dream of cuddling with a red panda in the Temperate Forest Zone, and wander amongst the wallaroos in the Australia Zone. If you have children aged 8 and younger, be sure to check out the Zoomazium. Perfect for those drizzly Seattle days, this indoor nature-themed play area has everything from a mountain cave to explore to a rope bridge in a tree canopy to cross to a 20 foot tree to climb. Feeling hungry after all that exploring? Mary C. Brady reassures us that the Woodland Park Zoo “ has a food court that features a wide variety of lunch choices beyond just pizza and soda.” Personally, the next time I am in town I will try the clam chowder at the Pacific Blue Chowder House on site. Sounds like the perfect compliment to a day exploring in the Pacific Northwest.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo famlies of the Woodland Park Zoo here.
We are proud annual pass holders to this incredible zoo. Its certainly one of the world’s finest with over 4,000 animals on 100 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. First timers will benefit from the 35 minute Guided Bus Tour which gives a nice overview of the zoo and allows you to plot your plan of attack. Some of my family’s favorite exhibits include the newly reopened Polar Bear Plunge, an incredible walk through time at Elephant Odyssey, and of course those cuddly looking endangered giant pandas. It takes a very full day (and alot of walking up and down hills) to see it all, so plan accordingly. Or better yet, schedule two days at this amazing zoo into your calendar and make a weekend out of it. Either way, its impossible to walk away disappointed.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the San Diego Zoo here.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids and the woman behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
When I was young my parents took us kids on a Swiss Alps ski adventure that was more akin to a vacation with the Griswalds. It was horrible, and I was so scarred from the experience I vowed never to try winter sports again.
Years later, much to my chagrin, I found myself married into a family of snowboarders! My husband practically grew up on the mountain, so it was inconceivable to him and his family that his wife and child not partake. And this is how I became a glorified “Snow Mummy.” I would over-insulate my then 3 year old tot, strap pieces of wood to his legs, and send him off with a ski instructor. That first time I prayed he’d hate it, and we’d never have to go back. 5 years later he’s a self-proclaimed “snowborder,” just like his dad. I’ve been hauled off to all parts of the Pacific NW to ski resorts large and small. Oregon has land protection right so you won’t find your sprawling resorts, but there will be nature everywhere you look. Many high-class resorts offer tons of amenities such as dining, play parks, and shopping, too! Believe me, retail therapy wards off even the most frigid temperatures!
Over the years I’ve come to enjoy these family adventures, and have even tried out the whole skiing thing again. Here are two of my favorite ski spots for families in Oregon:
Bachelor holds a ton of nostalgia for our family. My husband has been trekking to Bachelor since he was in primary school, and our son has been running courses since he was a toddler. Mt. Bachelor is one of the biggest ski-resorts in the whole Pacific NW. It’s coveted, high-quality powder and challenging terrain draws Olympic athletes and professionals from all over. The kid’s ski school is wonderful for novices all the way up to advanced. Our son has always enjoyed his instructors, and looks forward to riding yearly. The lodge is comfy and offers a great windowed view of the kid school are if you’re not hitting the slopes yourself. You can sit inside with a mug of hot cocoa and have a front row view of your little one.
- Rates starting at $119/night. Go here to check availability at the Mount Bachelor Resort.
- For more activities near Mount Bachelor for kids.
Hoodoo Mountain Resort, Central Oregon – Hoodoo is a small local mountain that’s great for families and kids. The passes are very affordable, and it’s easy to spend just a day here and introduce your little ones to winter sports. The child care options are also very affordable in comparison to many larger resorts, and the kid lessons are comprehensive and small sized. The night skiing is also a big hit with the kid crowd.
In the Mount Hood region, your family can choose from a variety of resorts including Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood SkiBowl, CooperSpur, Timberline, and Summit. All 5 resorts offer ski and snowboard instruction. Mt. Hood Meadows is one of the only resorts in the nation to offer state-certified child care for infants as young as six weeks old, so if you’re a new mom and hoping to shred some mountains to work off that extra baby weight, Mt. Hood Meadows is a great choice.
Here’s a full list of kid-friendly resorts in Oregon with kid programs, lessons and/or childcare.
What are your favorite family ski spots in Oregon? Share a review with other parents on Trekaroo.
Other Related Articles:
- Hitting the Slopes with Young Kids
- – - – - -
Written by Catherine Boley, a stay-at-home mom of two creative kids and an awesome cat. She carts her family all across the Bay Area and beyond in search of cool places to eat and play for the BayAreaBabyBlog and Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA and DC
This is a post that our very own Catherine Boley (the blogger behind bayareababyblog.com) wrote for SuiteTrip.com. Homewood Suites new blog on family travel.
As a little girl, nothing was more exciting to me than getting into the car to go look at holiday lights on a cold night! There’s something special about seeing the world lit up in the dark; something magical in the air.
Peacock Lane. Photo by Dolan HalbrookDuring the holidays, people remember to be kinder (most of the time), the world looks clean under a fresh blanket of snow, and we’re still living in the dreamy part of the year. The part that doesn’t involve a dead tree, a stack of dishes, and impending taxes!
Now, with children of my own, I still get that tingle of excitement as we clamber into our car to set out for a night of winter lights.
Here’s where to go from East to West with the kids:
Peacock Lane (Portland, OR)
This idyllic street has been a Portland holiday hotspot for decades. Every year, the residents of Peacock Lane be-speckle their abodes with beautiful lights, which give off the vintage charm of yesteryear. The lights run from December 15 through the 31.
Leavenworth Village of Lights (Leavenworth, WA)
Anticipated by visitors year after year, this stunning festival is one of the top 10 Christmas towns in the U.S. Following tradition, every Friday the town goes dark until the sun sets on Saturday. As the sun sets, the air is filled with the music of “Silent Night” and sets the entire village aglow with lights. Carols, Santa and festival foods are just some of the great additions to the twinkling sights at every turn. Village of Lights runs December through mid-January. The village lights are on display everyday except the first three Fridays of December when they are off until the lighting ceremony on Saturday evening.
Click here to see the other top places to see the winter lights across the US.
Where are the best places to see holiday lights near you?
photo credit: flickr/rjtrick
A few of the places we have been to go for a walk or hike with our little guy.
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, Oregon
A favorite hiking area for us (and lots of other locals!).
Tryon Creek State Park is a go-to for us, especially since we are so close to it. The park is a heavily wooded area, with trails that are really well maintained. There are both hiking trails and trails for horses (you will see riders on occasion, and I believe the bikers have to stick to those trails also to keep everyone safe). Hikers can also go on those trails, just be wary (and I would avoid taking the kids in case you have to make quick movements).
There is an interpretive center where they hold different lessons (you can find out what is happening on the website I have listed in ‘more information’). They will bring animals out for the kids to learn about and teach them about forests. There are all sorts of different trails throughout the park, and I would classify most as easy with a couple of moderate trails. We did a hike there with our playgroup and we had 3-year old twins with us, that thought our hike got a little long (we should have taken one of the shorter routes for them).
Great place to go over and over! One quick note: not really hugely stroller-friendly…some trails are, most are not. If you have a kid-pack, you will be better off.
4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Portland, Oregon
Another favorite and near the zoo. It is beautiful here.
The Hoyt Arboretum trail system is one of our family’s favorites when we don’t have time to drive to another hike outside of Portland (or between rain showers!). It is a beautiful little piece of Washington Park and the greater Forest Park. You feel like you are off an away, not in the city. There are all sorts of different trees and you walk through different types of gardens. Certain spots can be slightly hillier than other, but all in all I would call it an easy hike.
There is a great grassy area where people enjoy the sunshine or have pinics (no tables, so bring a blanket if you wish). They do have a structure across Fairview with a couple of tables, but during the summer you will see camps with lots of kids hanging out there. The area is really enjoyable.
There are bathrooms and trail maps at the Visitors Center and there is also a volunteer who can tell you all about things. Most of the trails are wheelchair/stroller ready (there are occasional steps that will be called out on the trail maps.
SW 18th Place
Portland, Oregon
We walk here a lot and you feel like you are in the woods despite being near the city.
This park is a real gem in Portland. Even though it is close to the city, you feel miles away. A gentle creek runs through the park, and we have seen smaller salmon making their way up and down the creek. There are great hiking trails that are well maintained (although if you have a really little one you will want to keep a close eye on them during parts of the trail that are up on the cliff…very long drop, but nice view). There is also a modest play area with swings and a slide. It is really quiet and beautiful!
Summit Avenue
Eugene, Oregon
We walked here last weekend. Our guy made the whole walk himself from grandmas house up through the park and home (about a mile and half…he is 19 months). He enjoyed the flowers that were starting to bloom and watching the squirels run around.
I grew up at the base of the park and this has always been a favorite. In the late spring the whole park bursts into color as the Rhododendrons bloom. It is a really beautiful ornamental park. You can also see deer and other ‘wild life’ while on your walk. There is a structure there with picnic tables to eat at (the original structure was built during the Depression as a public works project, but was crushed by falling trees in a wind storm about 10 years ago and has been rebuilt). There is an open play area with 2 swings and more tables to relax at and bathrooms. There are also bike/running trails on the other side of the park.
Related Links
List of other kid-friendly activities in Oregon
List of kid friendly hotels in Oregon
PDXBlossis a contributing author here at trekaroo
