Dining in Whistler Village: where to eat on a budget

A walk through Whistler Village's famed Village Stroll will take families past plenty of dining options, but a perusal of menus will show that most fall in the mid-to fine dining category. While families vacationing in Whistler should plan for at least one culinary night out, for the rest of the time, it is possible to dine in Whistler on a budget. Below, find our top tips for saving on dining at … [Read more...]

Top travel destinations for families of 2012

The East and West Coast crews of Pit Stops for Kids traveled throughout the U.S., Western Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean in 2012, bringing pit stops, resort lodging picks, attractions, outdoor activities, and travel tips to a record number of readers. We're so glad you were along for the ride! The collage above only represents a small percentage of the best travel locations we visited in 2012, … [Read more...]

Safe holiday travel tips and Master Lock Safe Space review

An average of 34% of Americans spend 1-3 nights away from home during the holidays. Will you and your family be away?  Master Lock, maker of luggage locks and the innovative Safe Space, offers five tips for safe holiday travel: 1. Keep that lived in look. In 2010, more than 1.8 million homes were burglarized with 400,000 of those burglaries taking place between November and December3. … [Read more...]

Skiing Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho with kids

While we lived in Spokane, WA, we spent a good deal of time at neighboring Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Idaho, and in the winter skiing Schweitzer Mountain. Schweitzer is located above the lake deep in the snowy peaks, and feels like it, too! Families will want to be ready for any weather this far north, but will be rewarded with prime skiing and snowboarding as well. Where to stay: … [Read more...]

Back-to-School lunches and fall travel with EasyLunchboxes

In the Pit Stops for Kids household (and probably yours) it's back-to-school time, but that doesn't mean the travel ends. We'll be enjoying many weekend trips and sports-related road trips, which means we're looking for school lunch box ideas that double for the car. Our solution: EasyLunchboxes. EasyLunchboxes is a great system for eco-friendly bento lunches designed by a mom. Based on the … [Read more...]

How to plan a multi-day backpacking trip with kids

Yes, kids can backpack! And yes, it's a bit more work than traditional tent or RV camping with kids, but twice as rewarding. We've backpacked annually with our kids since Nate (now age 13) was 13 months old, and while older kids make for the best backpackers, even backpacking with babies and toddlers is possible. To ensure a successful backpacking trip with kids, most of the work will take place … [Read more...]

5 things to do at Northstar California in summer with kids

Think ski resorts are only for winter? Families can get great ski resort lodging deals in the summer, and pair them with outdoor seasonal activities perfect for all ages. We spent a sunny three days at Tahoe, CA's Northstar this July, where we were faced with enough recreational and event options to last any family a month. How did we pick the best summer activities at Tahoe? We turned to … [Read more...]

How to spend a day in Golden Gate Park with kids

Families looking for things to do in San Francisco will want to devote at least one day to exploring and enjoying Golden Gate Park. In fair weather or foul (San Francisco gets a few of those, you know), Golden Gate Park offers indoor and outdoor fun for families in a unique San Francisco environment. How to spend a day in Golden Gate Park with kids? Read on for our itemized Golden Gate Park … [Read more...]

5 things to do on California Adventure’s new Buena Vista Street with kids

In much the same way that Disneyland's Main Street ushers visitors into the park with an ambiance of small town America, California Adventure's new Buena Vista Street welcomes visitors into the California to which Walt Disney arrived in the 1920s with nothing but a cardboard suitcase. Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Bob Weis says he's even more excited about Buena Vista Street … [Read more...]

California Adventure’s Cars Land in pictures: tips for dining, entertainment, and rides

Radiator Springs has come to life at Disneyland Resort's California Adventure! The official opening of Cars Land isn't until tomorrow, June 15th, but Disney fans and Pixar enthusiasts are already abuzz with excitement. (Ka-Chow!) We're here with the inside scoop on the rides, dining, and entertainment in store for Disneyland Resort visitors this summer and beyond. Read on for what to do in Cars … [Read more...]