Search Results for: rv camping

Joovy Caboose VaryLight Graphite Stand-on Tandem Stroller review

It has a long name, but that's because it serves a lot of travel needs: the Joovy Caboose VaryLight Graphite Stand-on Tandem Stroller can expand from a single to a double like a Transformer, utilizes the lightest materials possible, has room for two kids to sit, stand, recline, or remain in a car seat, and still doesn't skimp on extras like canopies, cup holders, and oversized baskets. We put … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Death Valley: Furnace Creek Ranch California

In stunning and desolate Death Valley, CA, The Furnace Creek Ranch is THE place to stay with kids. This place has everything, from lawn games to a spring-fed outdoor pool and dining options, and is in the best location for exploring this vast park. Read on for a full review of Furnace Creek Ranch. Much more than just your average motel, The Furnace Creek Ranch is a desert oasis centrally located … [Read more...]

Where to backpack with kids in Northern California

Will you be backpacking with kids this coming summer? Most families who love backpacking with kids are familiar with backpacking options in popular regions such as Yosemite National Park, but the following lesser known areas offer backpacking just as scenic and often crowd-free. Tahoe and Northeastern Sierra Nevada: Our favorite section of the Northeastern Sierra Nevada mountain range is … [Read more...]

Stay the night in a fire lookout: a weekend on Pickett Butte, OR

We love camping in all seasons, but we also like to be (reasonably) comfortable. A number of years ago, we discovered Oregon state park yurts, and this year, we've added national forest fire lookouts to our off-season camping picks. If you might stay the night in a fire lookout, read on! Fire lookouts available for civilian stays are located across the US. To find one in your state, start with … [Read more...]

Educational Travel: Three Island Crossing State Park, Idaho

Back to school doesn't have to mean only back to the books! Explore educational travel with pit stops to historic sites! Case in point: when traveling through Idaho on I-84, families may think there's not much in the way of a pit stop past Boise. About one hour east of the Boise/Nampa area, it's well worth a stop at Three Island Crossing State Park. Located in the town of Glenns Ferry, Three … [Read more...]

Days Inn Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis Wyoming

Pulling up to the Days Inn Hot Springs State Park in the town of Thermopolis Wyoming, I was instantly reminded of family road trip motels of my childhood. This Days Inn certainly has a 'slice of Americana' feel with its traditional motel layout, aging exterior, and eclectic decor, and like all good American roadside motels, has a personality of its own. In the Days Inn Hot Springs State Park's … [Read more...]

The Coeur d’Alene Resort: a lakeside Idaho Preferred Family destination

With its white towers and castle-esque peaks, the Coeur d'Alene Resort is easy to spot along the lake shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. When we lived in neighboring Spokane, Washington, our family would retreat to the Coeur d'Alene Resort for family escapes, summer play, and its annual Holiday Light Show. Now that we live further afield, it's a destination resort worth the … [Read more...]

Uncrowded Yosemite: backpacking Yosemite National Park with kids

Would you believe that in July, in the center of Yosemite National Park, we enjoyed an entire day where we never saw another soul? It's possible, provided you depart from the usual tourist destinations in the valley and explore Yosemite backcountry. Backpacking Yosemite National Park with kids: We chose to hike a portion of The John Muir Trail, a 211 mile path between Happy Isles in Yosemite … [Read more...]

Appalachian Trail eco-lodge: AMC’s Highland Center Lodge with kids

Ready to get your family into the great outdoors? The Highland Center Lodge at Crawford Notch, New Hampshire is the perfect place to start—this family-friendly eco-lodge is a big step up from camping, but a welcome step away from hotels packed with amenities that you’ll never use (think day spas and formal dinners). The Appalachian Mountain Club is known for its network of hike or ski-in huts, but … [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...]