Best ski towns: Ashland, Oregon

A friendly community with a small-town yet academic atmosphere, Ashland, Oregon makes our list of Best Ski Towns despite the fact that it's a full 20-minute commute from the slopes. What it lacks in proximity to powder it more than makes up for in charm, family-friendly shops and restaurants, and seasonal events, making it impossible to exclude. Located directly off I-5 in Southern Oregon and … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: Keystone Resort, Colorado

Vail, Colorado has long been synonymous with top-notch skiing, but vacationing families may overlook one of the most family-friendly gems in its crown: Keystone Resort. Less well-known than nearby Vail, Beaver Creek, or Breckenridge, Keystone is located an easy two-hour drive from the airport hub of Denver on I-70, right in the heart of the Rockies. Operated by Vail Resorts, Keystone is a ski town … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: Leavenworth, WA

Who can resist the charm of a Bavarian village nestled in the heart of Washington's Cascades in Wenatchee National Forest? Not us! Leavenworth, WA makes our list of Best Ski Towns for its year-round recreation, sunny weather, and all-round adorableness (that's an important criteria, right?!). Parents will appreciate the area's many wineries and distilleries, and kids will love the town's many … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: Kellogg, ID

Located forty minutes past Coeur d'Alene on I-90 in the Idaho panhandle, the town of Kellogg, Idaho offers year-round outdoor and indoor recreation for a family vacation paradise. Hardly your typical 'resort town', Kellogg is not all slick boutiques and over-priced restaurants: it still thinks of itself as a mountain mining town with some really, really beautiful scenery and world-class skiing. It … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: South Lake Tahoe, CA

Spring is a wonderful time of year to spend in South Lake Tahoe! Skiing and other snowsports are still on offer, and sunny skies and warmer temps make hiking and lake days possible, too. Note: As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and within regulation as any … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: Bend, Oregon

Up next in Pit Stops for Kids' series on best ski towns for families is Bend, Oregon. Not only is this central Oregon high desert town ideally situated at the base of Mt. Bachelor and the Sisters peaks, it offers much more than downhill skiing: families will find plenty to do biking, river rafting, and fishing in the summer months and skating, sledding, and spotting wildlife in the … [Read more...]

Best Ski Towns: Park City, Utah

It's the ideal ski town: beautiful scenery, dozens of kid-friendly resorts, and a downtown bursting with great restaurants and shops surrounded by not one, not two, but three major ski resorts, with half a dozen more nearby. It's Park City, Utah, and I challenge you to go once and not want to come back for many more family ski vacations. Where to ski: You really can't go wrong whichever resort … [Read more...]

Best Beach Towns: What to do with kids in Nantucket, MA

It's no secret that Nantucket, Massachusetts is a destination beach town for families. It's been listed in the same breath as Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod as a premiere summer playground for decades. We were lucky enough to see this idyllic island getaway from a local's perspective, and suggest the following activities, beaches, and shops for families visiting with kids (some may surprise … [Read more...]

Best Beach Towns: What to do with Kids in Bandon, Oregon

Summer may be drawing to a close, but fall is the very best time to visit Pacific Northwest coastline! The Oregon Coast spoils families with miles upon miles of great beaches and beach towns, but one of our favorites remains Bandon. Located about midway up the coast, Bandon offers a little of everything: small town charm without being too touristy (but just touristy enough), gorgeous coastline, … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 20): Stops for Kids in Laguna Beach, CA

On Day 20, we drove from Zion National Park to Laguna Beach, CA, a route pretty devoid of pit stops! We were very glad to arrive in such a kid-friendly mecca of attractions, restaurants, and beaches! Having grown up in the area (and returning to visit relatives every year since), we are quite familiar with Laguna Beach and its surrounding areas, and we're convinced it's one of the best beach … [Read more...]