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Oregon Water Parks
Oregon’s water parks are few and far between — most people flock to the sunny Oregon Coast to fill up on watery good times. But as if to make up for the lack of water parks, Oregon offers wonderful municipal aquatic centers. Here are Oregon’s water parks, aquatic centers and water slides. Wings and Waves Waterpark at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. McMinnville, Oregon. It’s an air museum. No, it’s a water park. Well, it’s both. Although admission is pricey ($32 for an adult), you’ll get to enjoy a wave pool, a vortex pool, fountains, slides that take you right past an airplane (and nine more slides), along…
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Crystal Mountain with Kids in Summer
Recently, my family went for a long weekend to Mt. Rainier and Crystal Mountain. Here’s what we found ~ Gondola rides at Crystal Mountain A cherry-red gondola takes you to the top of Crystal Mountain and a viewpoint. The gondolas seat six comfortably, but your family probably won’t have to share, even if there are only three of you. The gondolas arrive quickly and frequently. It’s not cheap ($20/adult r/t), but kids under age 10 are only $5 r/t. On the 10-12 minute ride straight up the mountain, look sidelong for eagles, blue jays and red-tailed hawks as they fly from fir to cedar or chase prey, and look down…
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Oregon Road Trip: Dig for Fossils, Meet Dinos & Haunt a Ghost Town
Each turn on an Eastern Oregon road trip presents a new view of the region. Driving through valleys and over peaks carved by ancient floods, you’ll encounter flat range where cattle graze, basalt mountains that stretch thousands of miles into the blue sky, yellow wheat fields bending with the breeze, white windmills generating power for a growing urban population. Truly unusual sights dwell here, yet it’s not too difficult to find a room, even during summer’s peak travel season. It’s like a little slice of undiscovered Oregon — so get out there. Here’s a trip to remember. Eastern Oregon Road Trip with Kids, Stop by Stop: Shop a tiny Powell’s at…
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Oregon Dunes (Florence) with Kids
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area — the largest coastal sand dunes in North America – makes you feel exactly like Luke Skywalker. Well, maybe you won’t look or sound like him, but after 10 minutes here, you’ll empathize with Luke’s long walk over those huge, majestic dunes on Tatooine. Naturally, kids LOVE this place. As if  dropped right into a giant’s sandbox, you’ll find giant 500-foot-tall (152 m.) peaked mounds and “tree islands,†where trees cluster together, surrounded by sand. The Oregon Dunes NRA Visitors Center offers hiking tips through the dunes, info on the area’s natural history and summertime programs on the plants and animals of the dunes. No tusken…
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Bainbridge Island with Kids
On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than catching a Washington State Ferry from Pier 52, bound for Bainbridge Island. En route, ask the kids to find the mountains — they’re all around you. Olympics to the west, Cascades (behind Seattle’s high-rise office buildings) and Mt. Rainier looming to the south. Once you’ve arrived, hop off and enjoy some island time: slow down, ramble along the streets, poke your head into independently owned shops and say “hello” to store owners. Things to Do on Bainbridge Island with Kids Bainbridge Aquatic Center, 8521 Madison Avenue N. Rainy day on Bainbridge Island with kids? No problem! Ride down the 180-foot water slide, cruise…
