Want to make a leg of a trip more interesting? Take a train. If you are visiting the Northwest, the Amtrak from Tacoma to Seattle, WA is a good option. The hour-long ride offers spectacular views of the Columbia River and its bridges. A train ride is so much more enjoyable than fighting traffic. Ask at the station if there are any fun things for kids. At the Tacoma station we picked up these cool Junior Conductor hats and, at the Seattle station, Xavier received a Junior Conductor lapel pin. Months later he still proudly displays his pin on his jacket.

Book your trip here.

Kids love all things transportation, probably because they are always on the go. But exploring the various methods of transportation can be fun for kids and adults alike.

To discover more about planes, trains, and automobiles, start with St. Louis’ Museum of Transportation. Visitors can actually climb on the trains and crawl through their bellies, but keep a close eye on little ones so they stay safe. If the weather is bad, climb aboard trains in the covered station and then walk through the indoor automobile display. If the weather is nice, take a ride on the miniature train and tour the grounds of this impressive place. Note that general admission to the museum is free for: kids under four, members, and teachers (bring a valid ID).

In addition to what is available with general admission, children love the museum’s Creation Station (the additional small fee for a one hour session is worth it). During a Creation Station session kids can: color pictures of cars, build train tracks, climb in a ship, and dress up like a fireman or pilot.

Families that really, really enjoy trains, can consider a day trip on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner. The train services several stops across Missouri including: Kirkwood (a St. Louis suburb), Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Lee’s Summit, Independence and Kansas City. You can buy food on the train or pack a picnic lunch and eat in the dining car while taking in views of the Missouri River. Passengers can hop off at one of the small towns serviced along the tracks or ride to the end of the line, Kansas City, for a weekend trip.

If staying in Kansas City, you will arrive at Union Station where there are lots more family activities, including live theatre, exhibits, and restaurants. If you need a place for your luggage, the Amtrak desk will hold it for a nominal fee. Once at the station, start with a visit to Science City where even the gift shop is fun. Save money when you add on other other attractions, like an Omnimax theatre ticket.  Remember to keep your ticket stubs to receive free entry to the huge model train exhibit housed in a wing of the expansive station.

St. Louis is a great hub for exploring the many modes of transportation whether your family wants to stay close to home or adventure further down the line.

The Goonies is one of my favorite movies and I was giddy to see the house when we visited Astoria. In the picture, I’m pointing to a sign at the driveway entrance, “Goonies on Foot Welcome; No Cars.” That’s cool that the owners are so open to letting fans walk up their private drive. Just Google “Goonies House” and you can find the address or see this site that lists the different locations from the movie. Brittany and Hedda also saw Haystack Rock, a sea stack, near Cannon Beach.

Hedda and I went near closing time, and the place was hopping. We had a breakfast meal of eggs and pancake (no pig). The coffee was great. We sat next to the closed gift shop area. If it had been open, I probably would have purchased some Pig ‘N Pancake paraphernalia, like a stuffed pig holding some pancakes.

The Astoria Column towers above the Columbia River and surrounding lands. At the base of the column are informative plaques; one of which shows you where the Pacific Ocean, Mt. Rainier, and other land masses are in the distance. Xavier was too small to climb to the top, but Hedda loved climbing so high and feeling the wind in her hair.

Enjoyed breakfast at the Blue Scorcher after having it recommended to us by several locals. Its menu utilizes local and organic ingredients. While our kids played in the toy area, we enjoyed a good conversation with one of the employees who “brings his kids in all the time.”

After a stroll down the pier in Astoria, I had a hankering for a cappuccino. Astoria Coffee House felt so European with the front of the building open to the sidewalk. We sat at our table, feeling the cool night air, eating soup and cinnamon rolls. The experience was dee-lish.

When Camille and I set out on this major road trip, I had really only one stipulation: avoid fast food if at all possible. And though we ate some questionable meals at a atmospheric diner or two, not once did we hit up a fast food joint. For the entire seven weeks.

Here are a few things we did to make this possible:

Before our trip, I was on www.localharvest.org in order to compile a list of places that would be either 1) a farm where we could eat fresh pick’d local produce or 2) a natural restaurant or grocery store. The site has a  comprehensive interactive map of the whole US, which was excellent for us going cross-country. We didn’t actually get to most of the places I listed, but doing the legwork helped remind me along the way to make good eating a priority.

In order to save money and eat fresh, we tried to buy just one meal a day from a restaurant. Other meals and snacks would come from food on hand in the car. But sometimes, supplies ran low or were just plain unappealing. So tip two is find a grocery store. We recommend having a GPS if not solely for this purpose! A grocery store (or  Walmart Supercenter in a pinch) can provide  healthier snack choices than most on-the-road eat joints. I even toted a spray bottle of vinegar for quick and easy washing of produce

Hydrogenated oils are a big dietary no-no for me. Don’t be embarrassed to ask about ingredients. Ask! Occasionally, I have used the “food allergies” line when finding out whether or not something contained partially or fully hydrogenated oils. But now I do it so often that I don’t bother. The worst offenders are baked goods and donuts, but even pizza crust may contain it. ASK!

Look at Hedda enjoying herself some vegetable tempura and noodles in a yummy broth! The chicken teriyaki is very tasty, too, and the portions big enough to share. Enjoy this adventurous food with your little ones and then explore downtown Albany.

Toki Teriyaki
300 Southwest 2nd Avenue
Albany, OR 97321-2489
(541) 926-5138

Lewis and Clark enthusiasts will love looking through the Fort Clatsop visitor center and gift shop. The area, home to the Chinook and Clatsop Indians for thousands of years, marked the end of the Lewis and Clark expedition. We also enjoyed a picnic under the evergreen trees.

Free for kids under 16.
Consider buying an Oregon Pacific Coast Passport and save on visiting multiple Oregon Coast parks.