Washington State
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Are Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes a Good Deal?
“Can we just go to Great Wolf Lodge for the day?” many a Great Wolf Lodge-hungry child has asked. Welp kids, after more than a decade, day passes are now available at Great Wolf Lodge in Washington State. However, you may be wondering in a Great Wolf Day Pass vs. Great Wolf Lodge Room battle, who wins? It’s important to compare options, as pricing has changed tremendously in the past few years, and as of 2022, you’ll have to do the math to make sure advantages pencil out. What are Grand Mound Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes? Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington day passes come in two varieties:…
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Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth in 2024
First, the bad news: There’s only one Amtrak train per day from Seattle to Leaveneworth (and vice versa). But the good news outweighs the bad. A no-hassle, no-driving trip to European-style Leavenworth in winter is more than worth it. The Empire Builder train leaves downtown Seattle (SEA) at 4:55 and arrives at 8:17. On the return, the Amtrak leaves Leavenworth Icicle Station (LWA) at 7:23 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 11:29 a.m.,and takes about 4 hours. The train’s schedule makes it impossible to go on a day trip. Visiting Leavenworth really requires two full overnights, particularly if you stay at a place like Sleeping Lady Resort or even if…
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Where to Ski with Kids in Washington State
All those rainy days have an upside, too. In winter, Washington State families typically enjoy a long, snowy season of skiing with kids—not to mention snowboarding and tubing. Even if you don’t (yet) enjoy any of the above sports, there’s always the option of making a snowman or two with your toddler. All the better if a lovely lodge is nearby, so you can run inside for a cup of hot chocolate or bowl of chili after a day on skis. Here are Washington State’s winter destinations and their kid-friendly aspects – from cheap and inexpensive cross-country ski trails to upscale snowboarding and skiing resorts, along with ski camps, lessons,…
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8 Amusement Parks in the Northwest and BC
We don’t have any mega-big-deal-amusement parks (read: Disney) here in Washington, Oregon or BC. No huge surprise, as we also lack the year-round pleasant weather. But we do have several options within easy driving distance of major cities, including water parks and kid-friendly amusement rides. The parks are all fairly inexpensive, at least when compared to airfare for four, lodging and ticket prices at mega-big-deal-amusement parks. It’s low-key fun, an easy getaway in pleasant weather. Note: Updated in December 2022. There used to be 9 amusement parks, but Dinotown has gone extinct, alas. Amusement Parks in Oregon 1. Oaks Amusement Park. Portland, Oregon. One of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest operating…
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Seattle Cat Cafes and Vancouver Cat Cafes
I first visited a cat cafe in Tokyo, and was so happy when cat cafes started popping up in the Pacific Northwest. I mean, what’s better for adults or children than making small talk with a cat while drinking a cappuccino? Okay, maybe cappuccinos + kids don’t mix. Hot chocolate or ice cream is a better idea. A few things to know before you go to a cat cafe (with or without kids): Cats are cats. They may interact with you or they may just ignore you. Frantic, needy behavior tends to spook kitties. Remember: Cats needs to sleep up to 18 hours a day, much like a newborn. Like…
