Summer is an excellent time to visit Block Island Rhode Island! This small, flat island off the coast of the state is often overlooked (mainland Newport is also a great destination), but families looking for a slower-pased vacation or weekend getaway will love Block Island's laid back feel, casual dining, and quaint lodging. Block Island has long been known as a romantic 'B&B' type of weekend … [Read more...]
Best Beach Towns: Newport, Rhode Island
May 6, 2013 By
It's time to start planning beach vacations! Our series of best beach towns for families is constantly building. Our latest addition: Newport, Rhode Island. For a New England beach feel, plenty of shopping and seafood, and quaint lodging, Newport can't be beat. Its location along Narragansett Bay is ideal during the summer months, but Newport has much to offer families in the 'shoulder seasons of … [Read more...]
Atlanta with kids: Stone Mountain Park and Atlanta Botanical Garden
March 28, 2013 By
After touring the city of Atlanta with kids, get into nature and spend a day out of doors! Visitors don't have to venture far to experience the Atlanta Botanical Garden (it's minutes from the city center), and Stone Mountain Park is only a short drive outside of Atlanta. Stone Mountain Park: What is Stone Mountain? It's not quite a theme park, and not quite a state park, but a hybrid of … [Read more...]
Big White Ice Tower Climb: a family activity (yes, really!)
January 23, 2013 By
Among the many unique outdoor activities offered at Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna BC is their 60 foot Ice Tower. The only such tower in North America, this structure is looms as a huge, contoured block of ice in the center of Big White's Adventure area, and yes, it's intimidating! But here's the best part: anyone can try to climb it…no experience necessary! Ice climbing is normally an … [Read more...]
Seattle’s Pike Place Market with kids
January 7, 2013 By
Any itinerary for Seattle Washington should include a family visit to Pike Place Market. Particularly bustling on weekends, the market is great to visit almost any day of the year, and is open all day, making it perfect to fit into anyone's travel plans. The market is best experienced during the morning, when produce stands (and vendors) are at their freshest. Right after 10 am is great, … [Read more...]
Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC
September 13, 2012 By
At first glance in a guidebook or two, I didn't think the Butchart Gardens had much to offer a family with three active kids. I was wrong: the two hours we spent there waiting for a recent ferry crossing from Sidney BC to Washington's San Juan Islands was both relaxing for us and interesting to our school-aged boys. Located in Brentwood Bay, just minutes from the busy ferry terminal in … [Read more...]
Where to find tide pools in Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC
August 31, 2012 By
Every tide pool we saw in Tofino, BC on Vancouver Island's west coast was more amazing than the last. After a while, we stopped exclaiming about it and learned to expect to be stunned by the intertidal beauty of this area. Where to find the best tide pools in Tofino? Below are our top picks: 1. MacKenzie Beach: Just a few miles south of Tofino, MacKenzie Beach stretches widely in low tide, … [Read more...]
Kayaking the Vancouver Island west coast with Majestic Ocean Kayaking
August 17, 2012 By
Families don't have to venture far into the Pacific or spend a whole day (and a whole lotta cash) seeing nature up close on a Vancouver Island west coast kayaking tour. When we joined Majestic Ocean Kayaking on their half-day harbor tour, we hadn't even pushed off from the boat dock before Calvin spotted a massive sea star glowing purple and pink under the shallow water. "What, that little thing?" … [Read more...]
Top 10 family hiking trails in Utah
August 2, 2012 By
It's difficult to select only ten great family hiking trails in Utah, but the trails in Utah's national parks are especially good places for families to explore the natural wonders of the world together. These are my family's favorite trails from each of Utah's national parks. I use two criteria for determining whether a hike is family-friendly. First, the hike must be easy enough for a … [Read more...]
Downhill mountain biking with Northstar Bike Academy
July 25, 2012 By
In the process of soaking up all the summer ski resort activities on offer at Northstar California this July, the whole family took part in the Northstar Bike Academy Bike 101 package. Bike 101 includes a full day lift ticket, half-day bike and protective equipment rental, and Bike 101 lesson, and is perfect for families new to the sport of downhill mountain biking. Families sign up for Bike … [Read more...]
