• Oregon Coast Road Trip with Kids
    Central Oregon Coast

    Oregon Coast Road Trip with Kids

    Just south of the busy tourist towns of Cannon Beach and Seaside is the 40-mile, quieter Three Capes Drive, which has a few haystack rocks of its own. From north to south, you’ll follow the gentle C shape from Tillamook to Pacific City. This coastal drive — rich in over 2,500 acres of warm-sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, dunes dotted with evergreens and coastal rainforest – encourages you to slow down, smell the sea air and unwind. Here’s an all-day itinerary for enjoyment: 10 a.m. Oregon Coast Road Trip 1: Tillamook Cheese Factory with Kids, Oregon The town of Tillamook acts as a road-trip gateway to the coast, tying Highway 6 from Portland…

  • Camping with kids in Washington, Oregon and BC
    Get Outdoors! Camping & Hiking Trips

    Writers’ Round-up: Camping in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia with kids

    Reading a first-person online camping story is excellent way to feel out a possible campsite – before you’ve even arrived! Here’s a quick round-up of sites (and sights) around the blogosphere, along with great takeaways. If you’d like me to include your camping related-post, leave a comment. Northwest Cheapsleeps: I love this Seattle-based mom’s car camping checklist. Takeaway: StingEze takes the bite out of mosquito nibbles. You don’t know how badly I needed this information. Weelife: What’s a roof-top tent? Let BC-based camping expert weelife tell you all about this new way to camp, then let her tell you about kid fun on camping trips, and then how her hubby MADE A CAMPING SHOWER (yes,…

  • Yaquina Head Lighthouse Center
    Beach Trips,  Newport

    Newport, Oregon with Kids

    Newport, Oregon is a similar destination to Cannon Beach, Oregon for the annual family vacation. You’ve got the lovely, cream-toned sand, the toy stores and kite shops, the upscale and midrange restaurants. But there’s one big difference between Cannon Beach and Newport — you won’t sleep at Cannon Beach hotel prices (which can easily leap into the $300- $400-dollar range). Plus, Newport offers many outdoor and indoor attractions, whether you’re there on a sunny summer day or on a rainy weekend getaway. The downside? It’s a haul from Portland, Seattle or further north or east. You’ll tack on about two hours of drive time each way to reach Newport (we…

  • Other

    What You Need to Do in March: 7 things to put on your calendar

    Want to plan for an awesome spring and summer? Achieve a few (or all) of these items in March: Make your camping reservations for this summer, if you haven’t done so yet. Reserve through Washington State Park Online Reservation Service (Washington) or Reserve America for Oregon. They’re going fast – when I checked, availability was very limited at some popular parks. The scramble for BC campsite and yurt reservations starts on March 15 at 7 a.m. PST at the BC Camping Reservation Service (Discover Camping). Read more on camping with kids in Washington State, camping with kids in British Columbia and camping with kids in Oregon. Book your room for hot…

  • Pelican Pub: Oregon Coast with Kids
    Beach Trips,  Oregon Coast

    North Oregon Coast with Kids

    Check out that view to the right of this post. Looks pretty sweet, right? The photo wasn’t taken in Cannon Beach, Seaside or Lincoln City, but in the tiny burg of Pacific City, on The Pelican Pub’s outdoor, beach-facing deck. If you’re ready to explore further, along the North Oregon coast, consider these 11 options (heading from south to north, about two hours if you’re driving straight through). Whether you want to watch whales or watch storms for spring break or just book your summer getaway, there’s a town for you: Newport. One of my favorite coastal towns for activities, dining and accommodation options. Kids love the Newport Aquarium and the…