Author: Lindsay Racen

California

10 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Junior Park Rangers…

Road Trip! Pile in Junior Rangers and Let’s Go!

Whether you are 9 or 95, we believe you’re never too old to become a National Park Service Junior Ranger, and this road trip offers some spectacular badge and stamp opportunities for family friendly adventures. This summer we set off on the ultimate road trip to explore the wild west, venturing as far as the Dakotas. Along the way we found out not all of Washington is covered in the cliche Pacific Northwest greenery, that there are towns out there that post “population 15” and that Nebraska still has fiddle competitions. Explore this brief overview of our itinerary to help you plan your next family road trip! Clickthrough to the related content for in-depth reviews, tips and travelogue tales.

By the Numbers

  • 10 Days

  • 11 States

  • 8 National Parks and Monuments

  • 4 Junior Ranger Badges (More Available)

  • 4100+ Miles

The Itinerary: An Overview

Day 1: Seattle, Washington

Suspension Bridge Mount Rainier
Grove of the Patriarchs Suspension Bridge

Nearby National Parks: Mount Rainier and Olympic

The beautiful Pacific Northwest the view is hard to beat at times, weather permitting. Seattle specifically can be considered a playground for both parents and kids alike complete with multiple museums and attractions at the Seattle Center and the original Starbucks store conveniently located at 1st and Pikes the gateway to the city’s famous Pikes Place Market. Take a walk through the market and see fish flying, flowers in bloom, uniquely crafted items, taste seasoned jerky, and get your touristy swag to start your trip. Both Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks are stunning sights to see but they are in two opposite directions and both take a day or more to fully take in depending on your adventure goals.

Days 2-4: Somers, Montana

Glacier National Park East

Nearby National Park: Glacier 

This is where the actual calculation of miles starts to expand a bit if you notice the 4100+ miles compared to the 3100 that is listed on the mapped out snapshot. We did not include all of the driving we did throughout all the parks into that map which adds a good amount of mileage to your trip. Somers, Montana is an absolutely gorgeous destination and home of Flathead Lake which is the largest natural freshwater lake by surface area that is west of the Mississippi River. Framed by tall mountainous scenery it is an ideal location to create amazing memories just be careful of the unpredictable weather and don’t get caught out on the water in inclement weather. Glacier National Park is a short 40 minute or less drive away depending on your location and offers some beautiful lake views as well with the unique turquoise tint of glacial runoff. Check for road closures as the Road to the Sun may not open until mid-year based on winter conditions.

Montana PIT STOPs!

Museum of the Rockies

Don’t forget to build in a little buffer time for some pit stops! There are a good amount of rest stops available since this is trucker country but you may want to consider some of the  side-trips if you have the time. A few gems we found along the way included:

  • 5000 Silver Dollar Bar (Lincoln) – Quick stop with chochkies and bar that features silver dollars along the walls, even buy your own silver $  with your name engraved that will be hung forever for all to see.
  • Old Montana Prison (Deer Lodge) –  This small-town gem looks like an old-timey castle which is cool for a simple drive-by. Or you can venture inside the gates for to access five museums from classic cars to yesterdays playthings.
  • Lewis and Clark Caverns (Whitehall) – This requires some planning as cavern tours are 2 hours in length. The drive there was a scenic loop that runs along a winding river that alone is worth a quick side-trip.
  • Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman) – Planetarium, full dinosaur fossil displays, and live crocodiles! Event walk inside an authentic homestead from 1890 and learn about how which is free to all who visit.

As you can tell there is not just one single must-go to pit stop through Montana there are many. Near the western portion of the state you will also find excursions that you can book from ropes courses and zip lining to white water rafting.

Days 5-6: Flagg Ranch, Wyoming

Nearby National Parks: Grand Tetons and Yellowstone 

Grand Tetons National Park

The drive from Somers to Flagg Ranch is lengthy but beautiful. If you get up early enough you may even get to extend your time in Yellowstone National Park, which you pass right through on your way to Flagg Ranch if you choose to stay in the Headwaters Lodge and Cabins. It offers fresh drinking water to fill up your containers, RV hookups, formal lodge rooms, a restaurant, small convenience store, and one-room cabins. Ours had a bunk bed with a twin on top and a full on bottom but other options are available. This campsite and lodge is literally the only destination between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (Our TOP PICK for Best National Park) but offers an easy drive to Yellowstone’s neighbor to the south and allows you to save a little cash by bypassing a park entrance fee which we found quite interesting. If you come up from this direction, passing through Grand Tetons, then you will have to pay both park fees.

Day 7: Dickinson, North Dakota

Nearby National Park: Theodore Roosevelt and its Painted Canyon

Theodore Roosevelt Painted Canyon

There are only two national park service locations in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, dedicated to the great president and nature-enthusiast who led the charge to inspire conservation, and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site a little farther north. The national park offers scenic driving routes throughout the park with expansive views of a rugged system of buttes and canyons. You can even see badlands from various viewpoints. There are hikes and small walks all around the park including those leading to a petrified tree and dino fossils. We learned on our trip that the weather in the Dakotas can be unpredictable so keep tabs on the forecast and an eye out for lightening if you get caught in a storm! We recommend staying at the Comfort Inn in Dickinson for an epic indoor water park complete with a water slide for kids of all ages.

Day 8: Rapid City, South Dakota

Nearby National Parks: Badlands, Jewel and Wind Caves, Mount Rushmore

Yellow Mounds Badlands

The southwest region of South Dakota that is home to a cluster of national parks and monuments is so incredibly family friendly that its near impossible to pack into a travel brief. Badlands is by far one of our favorites for its amazing mix of prairie grass and eroded canyon displays, Jewel Cave has more diverse cavern features than Wind Cave that has mostly box work. There are so many attractions lining the road to Rushmore that you’ll definitely need to pick and choose in order to pack everything into one day. Mount Rushmore is just as majestic as it is in all the postcards and pictures you’ll find online, but be prepared for more crowds than at other parks and unfortunately your annual park pass will not work and you will have to pay to park.

Day 9: Salt Lake City, Utah

Nearby National Monuments and Historic Sites: Timpanogos Cave and Golden Spike 

Salt Lake City Skyline

The drive from Rapid City to our chosen destination, Salt Lake City, was the longest leg of the trip at 10 hours. By the end of any long trip we were feeling the effects of car-lag and ready to be home so it’s not surprising that our commentary here is a little lean. During the winter, the activities are pretty self-explanatory with slopes just outside the city, but in the springtime we warn you, it can be HOT! When we arrived in early June it was a sweltering 100 degrees! There is of course the Great Salt Lake which to this day brings back memories of making learning to float so easy due to the salinity of the lake being far higher than the ocean. It is ironic that I have those memories though because although you can swim in it, many choose not to because of the amount of shrimp and flies buzzing around. I’d still say its worth a look though. If you head south I highly recommend stopping by the many other national parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon for some added adventure.

Day 10: Sunny Southern California

Nearby National Park and Monument: Joshua Tree and Cabrillo

Princess Ariel at the Disneyland Parade

Although it may not be your home base it is ours, and for the sake of your traveling pleasure there are a million places and things to see in sunny southern California that are family friendly. Joshua Tree National Park is our local weekend getaway located about two hours east of Orange County with ideal desert landscape and of course its namesake trees. Cabrillo National Monument is a bit more south in the San Diego region and an easy stop for any SoCal family adventure. Then of course the list goes on to the happiest place on earth in Anaheim and Legoland in Carlsbad. This is just a snapshot of the many things SoCal offers families, as you’ll hear from many others Sunny Southern California can very well constitute a dedicated vacation to maximize your experience.

Travel Planning

Planning Your Itinerary: Five Seattle Sights to Choose From

Seattle offers so many amazing activities for families. Whether you’ve gone one day or one week, the city is bursting with opportunities for family friendly fun. With years of spending time with family in the area under our belts and kicking off our 10 day road trip from the urban oasis, here’s a quick snap shot of our favorite things to do in the Emerald City.

Quick Take: 5 Seattle Sights

  1. Spend the day at Seattle Center
    The opportunities are practically endless if you just follow your way to the iconic Space Needle which stands within the Seattle Center grounds. Some even go there just to enjoy the beautiful gardens and art that is all around the area. A few notable activities include the Seattle Children’s Museum, the Pacific Science Center, the Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture and Seattle Duck Tours. There is far too many activities to feature in this one post so we’ve gone into detail in our Seattle Center blog post.
  2. Find Flying Fish at Pikes Place Market
    Pikes Place Market is a must-see for any out-of-towner and a playground for both parents and children alike. Mom and dad, the original Starbucks location is right at the entrance to the market, if you are willing to fight the long lines you can grab your frap and revel at the home of the siren that has half the world in her spell. Walk through the marketplace and enjoy the sounds, tastes, textures of the shops that is accompanied by the fighting fregrances of fresh fish and full blooms. For a bit of extra fun, whether you tackle it as one team or many, you may even consider venturing on a Pikes Place Market Scavenger Hunt to take in the whole experience.
  3. Wander the Woodland Park Zoo
    Open daily, the Woodland Park Zoo is a wonderland of wildlife. It gives your family the perfect opportunity to inspire the little ones with dreams of international travel with exhibits from Australia, Africa, Asia and various ecosystems. The zoo is also part of the Seattle City Pass program which lets you save some cash on the top attractions. Adult admission is about 20 bucks and children ages 12 and under are $13. One of our favorite stops is the Snow Leopard exhibit. I mean when will you ever get to see such an amazing animal? We’ve been to many other zoos, including one of our favorites in Saint Louis (mostly because its free! and adult friendly), and those certainly didn’t have such a rare species to spot (pun intended).
  4. See Under the Sea at the Seattle Aquarium
    One of the most beautiful sights in the Pacific Northwest is Seattle’s Puget Sound. We encourage you to take a walk around the many shorelines and parks while you’re there but if you can’t there is always the aquarium. This attraction gives you an underwater view of the amazing sea life that surrounds the area – including sharks 🦈 and a Giant Octopus🦑.  It’s a little more pricey than watching the land animals at the zoo but it offers a ton of opportunities for learning and experiencing new creatures as a family. You may even want to print out some of the fact sheets, or access them from your phone, while you’re visiting to enhance your underwater excursions.
  5. Takeoff to the Museum of Flight
    If you want to inspire the future pilot in your family, or just revel at the genious flight engineering that our nation’s travel industry derived from, stop by the Museum of Flight on your trip to Seattle. Admission is relatively reasonable with children under 4 recieving free entry and other ages ranging from $14 to $24, with small price breaks for those who plan ahead and buy online.  The venue opens a little later in the morning at 10 a.m. and we encourage you to check the events calendar before you go to see if there is anything in particular that catches your eye. There are over twenty air and space crafts to experience and there are audio guides available in 7 different languages.

For Your Junior Park Rangers

Seattle is called the Emerald City, not because the Wizard of Oz lives there but, because it is surrounded by beautiful lush greenery. We set off on our 10 day road trip from this amazing destination and if you follow our itinerary you will start your journey with 2 awesome national parks and a million other green spaces in between.

Travel Planning

Pike’s Place Market Scavenger Hunt

We are passionate about creating experience for all families to enjoy their adventures together. For those who find themselves in Seattle’s Pikes Place Market, consider going on a scavenger hunt. Smaller families or groups can choose to complete the list as a team, and larger gatherings may add a competitive edge by breaking up into teams and racing to catch them all. Make sure a parent is with each group if you take the team approach and set a meeting location, or finish line if its a race, to gather back together again. Take pictures along the way and post them to Instagram, Facebook or other social media network for proof of completion or just plain fun. Tag us @FamilyFriendlyAdventures to show off your photos from your Pike’s Place Market Scavenger Hunt!

The List: 20 Things to Find in Pike’s Place Market

  1. Find a Flying Fish

  2. Smell a Bouquet of Flowers

  3. Spot a Starbucks Siren

  4. Taste a Piece of Jerky

  5. Find an Old Baseball Card. Who is on it? _____________

  6. Touch a Piece of Leather

  7. Spot Some Silver

  8. Stand Next to a Magician

  9. Learn About a Painting

  10. Find a Veggie You’ve Never Seen. What is it? ______________

  11. Flip Through a Book

  12. Put a Coin in Rachel the Piggy Bank

  13. Smell Fresh Fruit

  14. Count the Crab legs at a Fish Stand. How many did you find? _________

  15. Read the Public Market Sign Clock. What time is it? __________

  16. Touch the Gum Wall

  17. Say Hi to a Farmer

  18. Find a 3D Wooden Puzzle

  19. Spot an Umbrella

  20. Find a Sculpture

 

Palawan vs Bali Indonesia

Palawan or Bali? A “Best For” List Side-by-Side Comparison

I was recently asked “Where should I go: Bali, Indonesia or Palawan, Philippines? As with most things, they both have their own spirit, beauty and features that you’ll have to sift through to figure out what fits your getaway style.  To help you through the process we’ve put together a side-by-side breakdown of the “best for” by island with some more details following:

Best For…

Palawan

Bali
Affordability ✔
Wifi, Electricity and Air Con ✔
Transportation ✔
Island Hopping ✔
Zip Lining ✔
Monkey Sightings ✔
Waterfalls ✔
Beaches ✔
Resorts ✔
Caves – Natural Wonder ✔
Sunsets ✔
Jungle Canopy Hikes ✔
Variety and Quality of Food ✔
Native Authentic Food ✔
Drinking Water ✔
Shopping ✔
Turquoise Lagoons ✔
Surfing ✔
Beer and Beach Bars ✔
Rice Terraces ✔

 

Travel Planning

All About Seattle Center: 10 Family Friendly Activities

When writing our Seattle blog post to kick off our Western US Road Trip series we realized that there is just far too many exciting things to do in Seattle Center to give a quick snapshot of the area. Instead we decided the best way to give you a breakdown activities would be to highlight them all in one easy list. So here we go:

10 Things to do in Seattle Center

#1: Go to the top of the Space Needle

Of course, the Space Needle is a must-see if you make your way to Seattle. The wraparound observation deck gives you a 365 view of the city. On a clear day you can even spot Mount Rainier, the centerpiece of Seattle’s neighboring national park.

#2 Build a fort in the Seattle Children’s Museum 

This is a perfect playground for toddlers. It provides every opportunity to create, touch, see, feel and experience the world around them. We loved the Global Village of course with mini-trips to places like Ghana, the Philippines and Japan. And what kid, or kid-at-heart, doesn’t love making forts? The museum’s Fort Adventure puts your kid’s architectural skills to work.

#3 Learn About Dinos at the Pacific Science Center 

The amount of information and exhibits to explore at the Pacific Science Center may take a whole day so you’ll want to preview the featured exhibit before you arrive. You can buy general admission tickets to see the permanent displays, but the rotating exhibits, laser dome, and iMAX films add to the cost.  Although the permanent displays may just be enough for you with tide pools, dino and animal exhibits and more.

#4 Get Inspired at the Chihuly Garden and Glass

Dale Chihuly is one of Washington’s homegrown glass artists with a passion for color and sculpture. Walking around the grounds can easily spark inspiration and hosts are available daily to talk and share information about the featured artwork. For more in-depth insight check out the audio tours. Mobile photos are allowed but more professional gear such as advanced cameras with tripods and accessories are not permitted.

#5 Explore the Museum of Pop Culture

This one leans a little more toward being a parent’s playground of sorts but the building itself is a beautiful creation of imagination. On a bright and beautiful day you can easily see the Space Needle reflecting off its shiny panneling. The music and culture exhibits that are in the museum offer great learning conversations in diversity and creativity. Plus check for activities in the summer for teens.

#6 See Seattle by Land and by Lake on the Duck Tours

You’ve probably heard of these types of tours before in other cities, but if not, this tour lets you explore by land and by lake. We actually took this as a pre-wedding activity for my brother and sister-in-law and on a beautiful day (yes Seattle does have some!) its a great way to experience the city. The tour guides are entertaining and energetic.  Book your trip just outside the Seattle Center area by the McDonalds.

#7 Find Free Peace and Poetry in the Many Gardens

Seattle center has nearly a dozen individual gardens that you can stroll around. Some are gated with an entrance fee, like the Chihuly Garden, but others are free and available to all who want to enjoy. A few others include the sculpture garden, Kobe Bell Meditation Garden, and the beautiful September 11 Memorial Garden.

#8 Be Your Own Tour Guide on the areas Tree Walk

There are 30 different types of trees that are featured throughout the Seattle Center grounds. Visit this link which will bring you to a map that you can download that shows all of the locations of trees of all kinds, some with berries and others with heart-shaped leaves. This is the perfect FREE activity for nature lovers of all ages.

#9 Frolic in a Fountain in Seattle Center

You could even add this to your tree walk. There are six beautifully different fountains that decorate the grounds. From Encircled Stream Fountain where you should only dip your hand in to the extravagant International Fountain where you can get utterly soaked in. It was built in 1961 for the World’s Fair and renovated in the mid-nineties for all to enjoy.

#10 Grab a Bite at one of the Many Eateries 

There are over 20 different places to hunker down and enjoy the view, including the top of the Space Needle for the fancy families. You can find anything from BBQ to Boba and everything in between. We’re sure there is something for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters.

 

These are just some of the many things you can do in Seattle Center with your family. The learning opportunities are practically endless and what we love the most is that in a big city, it provides the area has freemium cost options for almost any budget.