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Aquariums to Volcanoes: 25 spring break ideas
So, what are you doing for spring break? A whole week — and me without plans. So I came up with a list of 25 great ways to spend your family time, from half-day museum visits to multi-day resort experiences. 1. Go tidepooling at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Ore, Shi Shi Beach, Wash., or Botanical Beach in Port Renfrew, BC. 2. You’ve done 3D – now go for the 4D experience at the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, BC. 3. Spend the night on an active volcano — sleep at the National Park Inn on Mt. Rainier. 4. Skip the petting zoo and go on a farm stay. 5. Park your…
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Cascadia Connections: Family Resources
Northwest Cheapsleeps: Favorite places for budget travelers (WA, OR, BC) Kids in Victoria: For Vancouver Island families (BC) KidsVancouver: A helping hand to provide a great family resource in Vancouver (BC) BC Parents Forum: For parents, by parents (BC) Portland Family Adventures: Parents’ guide to family fun in Portland, Oregon (OR) Swings and Roundabouts: Vancouver and Victoria playground reviews (WA) Urbanmamas: Portland mamas with tips on things to do, places to eat and more (OR) Yoyomama: Keeping mums on-the-go in the know (BC)
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10 Tips for Enjoying Farmers Markets with Kids
Wherever our family travels in Washington, Oregon and BC, we always visit a produce market. Almost every destination offers a farmers’ market, whether the big-city Pike Place Market or the tiny, thriving Cannon Beach Farmers’ Market. In fact, we find farmers’ markets so fun that we sought them out in Paris (mmm, stanky cheese!), Provence (chickpea crepes) and Italy (fresh tomatoes). Here are my tips for enjoying farmers’ markets with kids: Check the market’s website before you head out the door. Use the site to pull together a scavenger hunt for in-season produce, print out maps, look for coupons or find out when a children’s performer will be on the…
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Families Travel! Sarah Goes on a Quadra Island Farm Stay
In August 2009, Sarah Pugh, her husband Stirling and 3-year-old daughter Rowan rented a kitchen-equipped cottage from Bold Point Farmstay for six nights. Their hosts, Rod and Geraldine, run the farmstay on the secluded and rustic Quadra Island, BC. Quadra Island is located about three hours north of Victoria (and involves a quick 10-minute ferry ride). Here’s why Sarah thought her family’s stay on a functioning farm was so fantastic: Q: What did you do at the family-friendly farm? Sarah: We went for long rambles in the woods, picked berries and fruit, went swimming in the lakes, and fishing and paddling in the ocean. We went to the market, popped over…
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Four Family Hikes Near Downtown Portland
Spectacular scenery is a fabulous reason to visit Portland, Oregon with kids. Portland is located just west of both the stunning Mt. Hood and the waterfall-rich Columbia River Gorge. Even if you’re in town for just a few days, squeeze in a quick family hike. Where should you go for your hike? To find out, I e-interviewed Paul Gerald, the Portland-based hiking expert and author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland: Including the Coast, Mount Hood, St. Helens, and the Santiam River. Q: If a family was visiting Portland and had a half-day for a hike, where would you send them? What’s a must-see, if you can only experience one hike?…