1001 W. Main Centralia, WA All the other reviews out there are right: La Tarasca has excellent Mexican food¦perhaps the best, and certainly the most authentic, I've ever tasted. Due to its close proximity to The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, this restaurant has been heavily reviewed (just do a Google search), but all those words really do bear repeating. From the street, the place is nothing … [Read more...]
Extensive Great Wolf Lodge review: Grand Mound Washington
July 1, 2009 By
This past week, my family and I spent two nights and two days at The Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA. We arrived at the resort at approximately 9 pm on a Sunday night. The lobby was still filled with children watching the evening animatronics show by the Grand Hall's main focal point, the clock tower (more on that later), but there was no wait to check in. Get our top Great Wolf Lodge tips … [Read more...]
Oregon Coast Aquarium
June 27, 2009 By
2820 SE Ferry Slip Road Newport, Oregon The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a local gem of northwestern Oregon. Due to it's manageable size (you can get through it in 1-2 hours), it serves well as a pitstop along US Highway 101. Admission is a little steep at $14.95 per adult and $9.45 for kids 3-12, but the aquarium is on par with the best, despite its size. The aquarium houses six main exhibits, … [Read more...]
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
June 23, 2009 By
Taylor, PA The Sideling Hill Service Plaza is one of 18 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but only one of two hosting a farmer's market of locally grown fruits and vegetables (the other one is located in Allentown). Says Mara of The Mother of all Trips, We pulled off at the Sideling Hill Service Area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in between Harrisburg and Altoona to discover that it is a lovely … [Read more...]
Lithia Park
June 18, 2009 By
Lithia Park Ashland, Oregon is a stunningly beautiful 93-acre park in a garden setting situated within easy distance of 1-5 for either a quick pitstop or an afternoon detour. Located on the north end of Ashland, Oregon in their pedestrian-friendly downtown, there are several entrances to this sprawling park, but the easiest to access from the city center is on Winburn Way. Park either in the city … [Read more...]
Gunter Air Force Base
May 25, 2009 By
Gunter Air Force Base Montgomery, Alabama As today is Memorial Day, it seemed fitting to post a pitstop for military families. If that applies to you, and you are driving I-65 in Montgomery, Gunter Air Force Base may be a good (and affordable) overnight option. Lucia at Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish stopped over with her family recently: $46 for two bedrooms separated by a bathroom and fairly … [Read more...]
Multnomah Falls
May 18, 2009 By
Multnomah Falls Oregon It's hard to miss Multnomah Falls when traveling I-84, but you really need to stop and see it up close to appreciate its 620 foot height. And this pitstop doesn't have to take a lot of time. From the parking lot, walk under the road through the pedestrian tunnel to the lodge and base of the falls (amazingly, even with a spectacular waterfall yards away, my kids were … [Read more...]
Silver Mountain Resort and Morning Star Lodge
May 8, 2009 By
Any self-respecting ski lodging will include a hot tub or two. Maybe even a heated swimming pool. But only at Silver Mountain's Morning Star Lodge do you get a full indoor water park to top off your ski day. Intrigued? Let's back up, and start with Silver Mountain itself, which offers 77 runs and 1,600 skiable acres along Idaho's panhandle, right off I-90 in the historic mining town of Kellogg. … [Read more...]
Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center
May 3, 2009 By
2211 Dug Gap Battle Road Dalton, Georgia If you miss the Georgia Welcome Center a few miles north, or it's too cold or wet to let the kids run around outside it, consider a pit stop at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, locally called the Dalton Trade Center. There is room to stretch, but small enough to not get lost. The bathrooms are spectacularly clean. And of course, … [Read more...]
Bear Creek Park
May 1, 2009 By
1520 Siskiyou Blvd Medford, OR Bear Creek Park is an excellent pitstop that quite frankly, I forgot to review earlier because it's right in my hometown. It's also, however, right off of I-5 but tucked out of sight, making it a perfect candidate for Pitstops for Kids. Bear Creek Park is huge, and has something for everybody. On the east end of the park are a dirt BMX track (try it out if you … [Read more...]
