Summer sandals for kids: shoes for summer travel

It's that time of year...time to go through the closets, size kids' feet, and buy shoes for spring and summer travel! We're parents too, and we know it can be frustrating to buy summer sandals for kids only to have them discarded: maybe they're too hot or too pinchy or too...something. Luckily, we review travel shoes all the time, taking the guess-work out of the process for you. When it comes to … [Read more...]

Golf vacations with kids: tips for a great resort golf experience

Our kids like to golf, but they're hardly miniature pros. They're kids, and they want to have fun on the links. We want them to have fun, too, but also appreciate that other guests may want to enjoy the course without distractions or delays. It's easy to get stressed when on golf vacations with kids, which is why we've compiled the following tips for a great golf resort experience: 1. Pick … [Read more...]

Family Apres Ski at Whistler Village

After a full day of skiing or boarding, nothing is so satisfying as unbuckling your boots and shedding your coat to warm up amid the lively ambiance of fellow skiers and perhaps a live band. Add a cold brew or warm beverage, and you just might be in heaven. We've already told you where to eat on a budget at Whistler, but you don't have to pass up the fun of apres ski drinks and appetizers, even if … [Read more...]

10 tips for using ferries for Northwest travel with kids

If you travel extensively throughout the coastal northwest, your route will eventually necessitate using Washington State (WSDOT) ferries or BC Ferries. Both are well-run ferry transportation options, but can seem intimidating to the occasional Northwest traveler. My family and I learned the ropes (at least, most of them) the fun way on a 10 day trip throughout coastal BC and Washington islands. … [Read more...]

Central Oregon activities: kayaking the Cascade Lakes with Wanderlust Tours

If you're enjoying a Central Oregon vacation and wondering what to do with kids in Bend or the surrounding areas, Wanderlust Tours offers outdoor excursions that will introduce you to Oregon's Cascade Lakes and other wilderness areas while everyone has fun. Located in Bend, Wanderlust offers a full range of outdoor excursions, including cave tours, kayaking Cascade Lakes, canoeing, volcano … [Read more...]

Tips for kids flying solo as unaccompanied minors (STEP BY STEP GUIDE)

Once upon a time, the whole family was enjoying a Laguna Beach vacation. The only thing missing: my son Calvin, age 11. We booked him a one-way flight on Alaska Airlines (escorted to the plane by his grandfather). And it was easy! If you've never booked an unaccompanied minor's flight, we'll walk you through the steps for kids flying solo. Step 1: book your minor's flight On Alaska Airlines, … [Read more...]

The Montage Laguna Beach: beach luxury for families

Laguna Beach is one of Pit Stops for Kids' Best Beach Town picks, and one of our family's favorite places to visit in California. Any family vacation to this sunny ocean-front artist colony will be well-spent, but if you want to take your Laguna Beach family trip over the top, stay at the Montage Laguna Beach. A Preferred Hotel with the Preferred Family seal of approval, the Montage Laguna … [Read more...]

Travel Gear We Use: best carry on luggage for kids

Welcome back to our Travel Gear We Use series. Today, we're recommending best carry-on size luggage for kids. When packing for a family trip, we are big fans of using carry-on luggage (here's an article on flying carry-on only). Why? Flying carry-on only saves money, helps kids become more responsible for their belongings, and keeps 'baggage' at a minimum...literally. Our favorite carry-on luggage … [Read more...]

Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort: what not to miss with kids

Twenty minutes before lifts stopped turning on a perfect Whistler ski trip, we were still finding fresh powder. Whistler Blackcomb is just that big. Everywhere we skied at Whistler Blackcomb, the kids discovered new routes, new glades, and new jumps. After spending two full ski days exploring the duel mountains, we could only say we'd had a 'sampler' of what this resort offers to … [Read more...]

Travel Gear We Use: best overnight backpack brands for kids and youth

As an editor at Practical Travel Gear and a gear reviewer for OutdoorsNW, I test a lot of travel products and outdoor gear. Some of this gear we keep and continue to use as a family, and some of it gets pushed to the wayside. Some of the most-frequent questions I'm asked on Pit Stops for Kids is related to what to pack, what to bring, and what to wear. Our Travel Gear We Use series will address … [Read more...]