Cascadia Kids

Leavenworth with Kids

Lora — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:58:41 +0000

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, picnic supplies and movie theaters. Not a bad way to spend a weekend. Things to do in Leavenworth with kids: Ride the train with kids. If you’d like to have the complete European experience, take the Amtrak into Leavenworth from Seattle. The train leaves you a distance from the village core (it’s not walkable, don’t even think about it), so you’ll taxi in. Downsides: The travel time from Seattle to Leavenworth is about four hours, the time schedule is wonky and you’ll miss Peshastin’s fun. But train rides are always fun and you won’t mess with traffic. Fete and feast. Leavenworth hosts fantastic events year-round, most occurring in the downtown, pedestrian-friendly Front Street Park, in front of the gazebo and maypole. From Maifest through the Christmas season, the festivals offer convivial atmosphere, adorable dancers and kid-friendly bounce houses. Spot the salmon. At the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, kids can meet coho, Chinook, steelhead and Pacific lamprey eels (ew!) before hiking along the Icicle River Nature Trail, a one-mile loop. But this is three miles from downtown Leavenworth, so bring the car or plan for a long walk. Rove along the river. The Waterfront Park Trail wanders through a pine-and-fir forest, past the Wenatchee River, over Blackbird Island and through animal habitats. It’s a few blocks off of the downtown streets, and a sweet, easy ramble suitable for kids of all ages. But the trail’s suitable for a jogging stroller, too. Check out the scene. A good option with tweens and teens, the Icicle Junction Cinema runs first-run films in a 88-person theater. Skip the video arcade. Not your average nutcracker. A nutcracker museum? Yawn. Oh wait, there’s a Yoda nutcracker? A Darth Vader nutcracker? A Superman Nutcracker? An ancient Roman nutcracker and over 4,000 more nutcrackers? Well, that’s cool. My kids loved this museum. Cap yourself. The Hat Shop offers a head-spinning selection of hats, berets, fedoras and crazy caps, including animal, character and food hats. Next door, The Wood Shop’s shelves are filled with toys and locally made wooden puzzles (including pirate, cat family and intricate paint-your-own options). Dining with Kids in Leavenworth Babies, meet beers and brats. On nice days, children, grandparents and international students share long wooden benches in the Munchen Haus beer garden. Select your (beef, veggie or curry) sausage, then choose your golden sauce from over a dozen mustard options. I even like the apple-smoked sauerkraut and I hate sauerkraut. Head South. You’re tired of German food and want something different? Try visiting South, where kids get a pack of Wikki Stix to play with while you order your not-so-spicy Mexican-fusion fare. Go for the guacamole! German food. Various German restaurants will vie for your dollar. There’s not a huge variation, but I liked Andreas Keller’s basement-level restaurant. You feel squirreled away in here, inside the dark-wood interior laced with heavy beams. An accordion player accompanies your Bavarian-costumed servers. King Ludwig’s Restaurant rolls out an entire polka band for your enjoyment; the informal dining setting (vinyl tablecloths) works better for parents of very young or rambunctious kids. Pack a picnic. Stop by the Cheesemonger’s Shop for an incredible selection of international cheeses and sausages I even spotted wasabi-flecked cheese behind the case. Pick up a baguette (also sold here) and head down to the next stop. Go for gingerbread. The Gingerbread Factory presents trays of just-baked gingerbread, including dino-style cookies for the kids and chocolate-gingerbread with espresso frosting for the adults. You’ll also find outdoor dining in spring, summer and fall, along with hearty sandwiches. Things to do with Kids in Peshastin, a 10-minute drive: Find fun on the farm. At Smallwood’s Harvest, there’s a challenging walk-through maze, farm equipment, a small playground, a trike-riding pen, a cattle-roping-practice station and a (cash-only) petting zoo keep kids occupied in summer. In fall, you’ll find hayrides and a corn maze. It’s a perfect little farm, well-manicured and adorable; overnight lodging is also available. Meet plucky pioneers. At the Historic Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village, we thought we’d stop for about 10 minutes. We ended up staying for over an hour, as there was more to explore than the humble building suggests. Kids enjoy museum’s downstairs, stuffed with taxidermied animals found on nearby mountains and plains. Outdoors, original buildings found throughout the region were moved to the museum’s back lawn, then populated with vintage tools, toys and furniture. Look into a blacksmith’s or a barbershop, a boarding house or the Buckhorn saloon. Visit a Dessert Island. Smack-dab in the middle of a dry, desert-like stretch of road, Anjou Bakery crafts upscale, delectable French pastries and hand-makes each espresso shot with love. The cool interior is rustic and homey; the exterior had a small water feature for kids to dip toes into. Try the baguette sandwiches, or grab one for the trip home via Blewett Pass. Kid-friendly Leavenworth Hotels Bavarian Lodge. We stayed here and felt right at home — there’s an enormous buffet breakfast (with a hot egg dish, yogurt, breads and make-your-own waffles), a free DVD checkout library and year-round outdoor heated pool. Centrally located, right across the street from the city’s gazebo, this hotel has even scored a place on Tripadvisor’s “Top 10 Family-Friendly Hotels in the U.S.” Enzian Inn. There’s an intense Christian theme at this hotel, which may or may not appeal to you. The indoor pool is certainly a spectacle (in a good way) with a maroon rug on the ceiling, a mural with a Biblical scene and a vivid-blue swim pool and hot tubs. On the top floor, the buffet breakfast is served with a glorious panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Innsbrucker Inn. It’s a bookworm’s ideal stay — just pick a book-themed room! Upstairs from the adorable A Book for All Seasons bookstore (great kids’ area), you’ll find among others a Secret-Garden-inspired room, a Shakespeare room and even a “Chocolate Suite” with practically lickable walls. Kitchens, too! Cute multi-paned windows look down on the town. Pension Anna. If you want to enjoy a Euro-style indie hotel right in the middle of town, try this lodge. The basement-level rooms suit families just fine (the rooms are huge). But the real appeal is staying in the chapel suites in a decommissioned Catholic church — also run by Pension Anna. How often do you get to do that? How to get to Leavenworth: In winter, I recommend taking the train. But at other, no-snow times of year, I suggest taking Highway 2 out so you can approach the gorgeous Stevens Pass from the west. Return via the ear-popping Blewett Pass along 97, then down to the junction with I-90 ll pass near kid-friendly Roslyn and Cle Elum stop if you get a chance). The latter route is the best way to go if coming from Southern Washington State or Oregon.

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Victoria with Kids: 5 Things to Do with Toddlers in Victoria, BC

cascadiakids — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 04:11:46 +0000

A reader writes in: We are planning a family vacation to Victoria in June with our 2 year old. Do you have any recommendations for kid-friendly hotels and activities? Thank you so much for your help! — Jessica I’m so excited for you. Victoria is one of my favorite destinations, particularly with toddlers. Here’s how I would plan a trip. Kid-friendly Victoria BC Hotels: I like staying at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, because I like the kitchen-equipped rooms, particularly when staying anywhere with kids, and I like how big the suites run (one bedroom separate from living area with a pull-out couch). There’s also an indoor pool and jacuzzi, always a hit with kids. If you’re not particularly concerned about room size, The Fairmont Empress offers luxe rooms (some with views of the Inner Harbour) and a fun little kid’s activity pack at check-in. Of course, there are also Airbnb stays to choose from, too. Things to do in Victoria with kids: Beacon Hill Petting Zoo I know, you’ve probably visited a bazillion petting zoos already in your son’s short life. But this one is super cute. It’s only a few loonies to get in, and once inside, your toddler will be wowed by the Running of the Goats and the chance to groom the goats. I write more about Beacon Hill Children’s Zoo in this post, “Victoria Pick: Beacon Hill Petting Zoo.” Butchart Gardens Your child will mostly love running up and down the paths, poking the flowers (the Gardens is where my son learned the phrase “one-finger touch!”) and riding the carousel. You’ll love the spectacular diversity —sunken gardens, Japanese gardens, rose gardens. Don’t forget your camera! How to get to Butchart Gardens? You can always go with Gray Line Tours. But on a weekday, go for less on the city’s Route #75 bus. If you’re lucky, it’ll be a double-decker. Board at the first pick-up point to ensure a front-row seat on top. Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE the double-decker buses. If you bring a stroller, make sure it’s small and collapses easily to get it up the stairwell. Royal BC Museum The whole museum is fabulous, but your toddler will love the Natural History Gallery, which has life-size, sound-rich exhibits showcasing of forest, seashore and ancient life. So a Woolly Mammoth towers overhead and a you’ll go toe-to-toe with a moose, right before you walk into the birdcalls in a seashore exhibit. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I really swear that seashore exhibit smells like the sea. Fisherman’s Wharf You can feed a seal! For real. Watch your toddler’s hands (some seals are grabby) and make sure the child doesn’t go over the wharf’s edge. I write more about the Fisherman’s Wharf on my “Island Time: 9 Fine Kid-Friendly Picks in Victoria, BC.” Victoria’s Community Centers If you brought your car (by traveling on either the Washington State Ferries or the M.V. Coho), you can drive to one of the fantastic Community Centre swimming pools. In Saanich, for example, check out these options at Gordon Head Recreation Center. Pirate ships, wave pools, swim toys, Tarzan ropes and toddler pools. They’re quite amazing, honestly. With a 2-year-old child, you can take advantage of naptime in the stroller and shop downtown or shop along Fort Street (antiques). Oh, I miss those days… What Not to Do in Victoria BC with Toddlers Victoria Bug Zoo You’ll want to listen to the funny tour guides, and your child won’t, and you may feel frustrated at how quickly you have to leave. It’s a fantastic Victoria attraction — and I love it — but with a child that age, you might expect it to be more of a 20-minute stop, unless your child has a much longer attention span than the average toddler, and your toddler far gentler (to hold the bugs without squishing them). The Victoria Bug Zoo can be a better choice for preschool-aged children and up. Tea Time at the Empress It’s a beautiful tradition, but taking a toddler here isn’t likely to end up in a good time for anyone. Too expensive ($95/pp, as of summer 2023), too many breakable items, and too many diners sitting nearby. Even the Fairmont Empress notes that its “Prince and Princess Tea for Children” starts at age 5 ($52 per child). Save the once-in-a-lifetime experience for a future vacation, when your child will also remember it. A toddler is too young for tea at the Fairmont Empress. Kid-friendly Victoria BC Dining: See my post on family-friendly Victoria restaurants. With a toddler, I would go with the Rebar, Hernande’z, Crumsby’s, Paradiso di Stelle and Noodle Box (all profiled in the piece). That’s it! Remember, I love answering reader questions. E-mail me at lora AT cascadiakids.com with your questions and I’ll do my best.

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30 Things to Do with Kids in Bend, Oregon

cascadiakids — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 04:00:45 +0000

Bend, Oregon is one of my favorite family destinations, due to sunny skies, warm summer weather, and sheer number of outdoor options, from hot-air balloon excursions to biking trails. Families can go cheap (finding free or low-cost options, such as lake days or skate parks, free family concerts or skywatching experiences). Or pay extra for Bend-area tours and camps, such as horse-riding or rock-climbing camps, giving parents time together. Fun Stuff to Do with Kids in Bend: Outdoors Indoor Things to Do with Kids in Bend Updated January 6, 2019 for accuracy.

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Washington Water Parks & Water Slides

cascadiakids — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:30:51 +0000

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 the indoor water tree fort, a crazy funnel water slide, rafting slides and four story flumes, among other wet ‘n’ wild stuff. For younger kids, there are kiddie slides, water guns, a wave pool and water basketball. Overstimulating, expensive, and well, kids love it. Wild Waves, Federal Way, Washington State Washington State’s other water park, in an infamously temperature-variable area. You could end up riding water slides in mid-summer rain, under overcast skies or in glorious sun — perhaps all in the same day. That said, this water park’s prices are a good value for bigger kids who are tall enough to ride the park’s multiple giant water slides (42″ or taller) like Zooma Falls or Konga River and Slides. For younger children there’s the pirate-themed “Pirate’s Cove” spray playground. Look for coupons and passes to cut costs, particularly if you’re a BECU credit union member. Birch Bay Waterslides, Birch Bay, Washington Near the Washington-British Columbia border, this low-key outdoor waterpark is an alternative to the Big Boys (see above), and has been around for about 35 years. The half-dozen slides include curlicue, straight-shot and drop chute rides, along with a children’s slide and tube slide. Nothing too fancy, just a nice way to cool down in summer. Henry Moses Aquatic Center, Renton, Washington. A great outdoor aquatic center with zero-depth entry (like a beach) suitable for toddlers, along with a toddler area; for bigger kids, a lazy river with tubes and a wave-machine enhanced pool, a spray area, an island lagoon, two big water slides, a water play structure. At just $14 per person over age 5 ( non-resident), not bad. Sells out fast though, so line up early. Sprayparks and Wading Pools, Seattle, Washington Seattle’s communities are watered in summer by the City of Seattle’s wading pools and spray playgrounds (sprayparks). None of these are quite as wonderful as the ones in Vancouver BC, but they’re not bad, if you’re in town. The lakes and shorelines of Seattle are also popular, and many have shallow depths suitable for toddlers/preschoolers, along with lifeguards. Hazel Miller Spray Park, Seattle, Washington Several spray parks north of Seattle are notable, and this is one—albeit a little hard to find. It’s inside the Edmonds City Park. Others include Willis Tucker Splash Pad in Snohomish and Spray Park in Marysville. Water Parks in Eastern and Central Washington Splash Down Family Water Park, Spokane, Washington. CLOSED IN 2022 Six-story slides, body slides, tube slides, dark slides, four-story-tall bowl slides for big kids, teens and adults. For younger fry, there’s a toddler/preschool-aged area with toddler slides, splashketball, a space where you can refill your water guns, and another area where you can launch water cannonballs at other people (who will hopefully remain your friends and family). For a less-expensive water experience, head upstream to the water jets and splashpads at Discovery Playground in Spokane Valley, Washington. Surf ‘n’ Slide Water Park, Moses Lake, Washington. Some municipal pools just do it right. This outdoor waterpark is like a mini-amusement park, with big (200 feet) and small slides, a lazy river, zero-depth entry points and a wet-sand playground for the littles and a surf simulator. Located just off of I-90 between Spokane and Seattle, this is a nice place to stop and cool off for a few hours. Admission is cheap, so a pretty good deal. Slidewaters, Lake Chelan, Washington. The best sunburn of my life came from this place, in eighth grade. I earned that burn. Slidewaters continues to thrill big kids and teens with the Downhill Racer and Purple Haze slides, and dependably sunny weather. In the past year, this small park recently added a long lazy river for summer tubin’. Wear your sunscreen. Asotin County Family Aquatic Center, Clarkston, Washington. On the border of Washington and Idaho, this is the place to go in Southeast Washington to slip down body slides, ride tubes down a slide or around a lazy river, a wave pool with kid-friendly zero-depth entry, and an adventure spraypark. There’s a giant indoor pool as well, with fountains, zero-depth entry and sprinklers, if you just need a break from the Eastern Washington sun.

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35 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Vancouver BC with Kids

cascadiakids — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:09:56 +0000

Vancouver’s expensive, I’ve heard families complain. I beg to disagree. With the right attitude and approach, you’ll find tons of affordable, family-friendly fun in and around Vancouver. Vancouver Free and Cheap Things to Do with Kids Frequently Asked Questions About Vancouver with Kids Is Vancouver worth visiting with kids? Yes! Vancouver has plenty to do year-round, but particularly in summer, when the city’s parks and pools offer free fun for kids and parents. Vancouver’s most summer unique attractions may be its scenery, weather, and parks—once again, all free for families. What’s fun and free to do with young adults in Vancouver? I would take a teen to Chinatown for browsing foods and goods, to Vancouver Art Gallery on first Friday, or to the Regional Assembly of Text for a cheap project. Many teens also enjoy exploring Vancouver’s “high street” of Robson, where all the big stores are gathered, along with great people-watching, or Granville Island. Teens who enjoy the outdoors will like exploring the North Shore’s hiking trails and suspension bridges. How many days do you need to explore Vancouver with kids? I would spend at least 4 days in Vancouver if you’re traveling with kids. This gives you some breathing room for any unexpected delays or tantrums (your own tantrums, of course). I would divide days between free, unstructured activities (Vancouver parks, pools, local water parks) and more expensive outlays (Vancouver museums, attractions, and the amusement park). Don’t overload the days to preserve everyone’s sanity, and plan in advance for mealtimes.

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