Mt Whitney is the highest point above sea level in the contiguous 48 states, Death Valley is the lowest point below sea level – and they sit about an hour away from each other. If you know me and my husband it won’t surprise you to hear that our response to learning this was; “of course we have to drive up and see both in a weekend.”

The highest point of Mt Whitney is 14,505 feet.

The lowest point of Death Valley is Badwater Basin which sits at 282 below sea level.

As you drive between the two you go up and down and up and down mountains. The altitude is posted every time you go up or down 1000 miles. We found this endlessly entertaining.

Our family’s biggest altitude change was about 8,500 miles above sea level to 282 feet below sea level – which we did in one day. I mean, that’s pretty cool, right?

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A Weekend Trip to Mt Whitney & Death Valley

Our trip was kind of a loop. We drove north east from San Diego to Mt Whitney, spent the night, drove South into Death Valley, camped for a night, and then drove back Southwest to San Diego. Below are the parts we loved and a few things we learned along the way.

Read Also: 5+ Kid Friendly Day Trips from San Diego

TO DO.

I think you could spend a whole week in this area if you really like hiking and camping, but a few days is a good amount of time. The different landscapes are fascinating and offer a good range of hiking and other experiences. Below are our favorites.

Things to do at Mt. Whitney & Lone Pine CA with Kids

MT WHITNEY NATIONAL PARK WEBSITE

Mt Whitney can certainly be a trip of it’s own. Many people hike up to the camp, sleep in a tent for the night and then climb the rest of the way to the summit and back down the next day for a long and exhausting weekend. My husband and his dad actually did the entire thing in one day many years ago for an exceptionally exhausting day.

If you want to climb to the peak you need to apply for a pass ahead of time.

With our seven year olds, we didn’t feel ready to summit a mountain so we just did a day hike. You can hike the first few miles without a pass and that was plenty for us.

We got to see Mt. Whitney. We got to experience the upward climb and learn the term “switchbacks”. We got to hop across a couple of creeks – obviously the best part. And we got to see the beautiful scenery.

I think my favorite part about visiting Mt Whitney was watching the sun set. The sun drops behind the mountains well before actual sunset and it is breathtakingly beautiful.

We stopped at Alabama Hills which lies between Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine (a quick drive from Lone Pine on the way to Mt. Whitney) for sunset. The kids got to climb around on boulders and we watched the sun set and explode across the sky.

Things to do in Death Valley National Park with Kids

I was completely surprised by how much we all loved Death Valley. My daughter described it at the “best trip ever!” and she’s not wrong. It was an awesome weekend.

Heading into the park from Mt. Whitney you will pass a ranger station (stop to pay your entrance fee there!) and then the Mesquite Sand Dunes.

These appear out of nowhere which I found fascinating. Our kids loved running up and down them and trying to sled down the sand dunes. Being Midwesterners, we brought actual sleds but we saw a lot of people having success with boogie boards as well.

You do have to hike up and down a ways out to get to steep enough dunes to sled, so I wouldn’t recommend sledding for kids under 5. Just running around on the sand is fun too – especially after you’ve been in the car for a while. (Our favorite dune sledding experience was in White Sands National Park which I also highly recommend!)

Our next stop was the Ranger Station by Furnace Creek. My twins love getting their National Park Passports stamped and adore the Junior Ranger Program at the parks. This is a free program at the National Parks. Just ask at the Rangers’ desk for a Junior Ranger activity book and they’ll tell you what to do from there.

Also Read: How to Make the Most of Your Fourth Grade National Park Pass

My kids liked learning about the different desert animals. Some Junior Ranger Programs you complete as you’re traveling around the park, but this one you could do just in the little museum at the Ranger Station in Furnace Creek.

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the continental United States. It is a gorgeous place to watch the sun rise or set.

We watched the sun set here on our first day and it was beautiful. My one regret is that we didn’t get there much before sunset and I would have enjoyed walking out and exploring a little more before it started to get dark.

Golden Canyon was our favorite hike in Death Valley. We did that one first thing the morning before we drove back.

My kids loved the random boulders to climb and we were all fascinated by the different kinds of rocks we saw along the way.

Things I Was Grateful I Remembered to Pack:

• Warm layers. Both Mt Whitney and Death Valley were chilly in November, especially in the evening.
• Hats. We wore sun hats during the day in death valley and winter hats from about 3pm on.
• National Park Passports for stamps at the Sierra Nevada Ranger Station in Lone Pine and at Death Valley.
• Rock Guide. My kids are obsessed with the different kinds of rocks and had all kinds of questions. I remembered shockingly little from college Geology. This book was helpful.
•  Soap and hand sanitizer. The bathrooms weren’t terrible at either, but there was no soap at most.
• Stargazing App. This isn’t something I really packed, but I have a stargazing app called NIGHT SKY on my phone and it was an awesome resource at night in Death Valley. The sky was clearer than I have ever seen and we could see a trillion stars in the sky. Either the app or some sort of stargazing aid is helpful if you don’t know the names on your own.
• Sleds. I was on the fence about packing them but our kids had so much fun sledding on the sand dunes. If you don’t have sleds we saw a boy scout troop with boogie boards sledding as well so that looked like another good option.

STAY.

Mt Whitney/Lone Pine

We left San Diego early on Saturday morning and drove straight to Mt Whitney. By the time we had hiked a little and eaten it was almost time for bed.

We spent one night at the Comfort Inn in Lone Pine, the town at the foothills of Mt Whitney. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was clean, offered free breakfast in the am, and was a perfect location.

Camping in Death Valley

Camping in Death Valley was an awesome experience. I wish we had had enough time to spend another night.

Growing up, I always went camping in the Northern part of Wisconsin which is like spending the night in the untouched North Woods of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Joshua Tree was my first desert experience. It felt a bit foreign to me at first but I loved it! This was our first desert camping experience and it made me appreciate the desert even more. The night sky was amazing.

My kids are avid campers. They have loved everything about it from helping set up the tent, to learning camping skills, to walking to the bathroom with their flashlights from the time they were toddlers.

Read Also: Essential Tips for Camping with Toddlers

Our twins are 7 years old now and they are actually a huge help setting up the campsite. Our tent is awesome, but it can be a bit of a beast to set up. However, with four pairs of hands it was set up quicker than ever.

This is our little desert campsite. The sky at nighttime was incredible! I know I’ve said that a few times now, but really it was probably my favorite part.

Good Things to Know:

• Make sure to reserve your campsite ahead of time! We booked ours about three months in advance and it was already filling up.
• Check the average temperatures before reserving a campsite or planning a trip. In November, the weather was perfect for hiking during the day and sleeping at night, but the desert has huge temperature swings during the year!
• There is a shop with some basics and you can buy wood in Death Valley at the same shop as well.
• We stayed in the tent only part of the Furnace Creek campsite and loved the location. This campsite also has flush toilets but no showers or soap at the sinks.

EAT.

• Pizza Factory in Lone Pine was our one restaurant experience. They made good pizza in front of you and were able to accommodate our son’s dairy allergy with a cheese free pizza covered in toppings.
• The rest of our food was carried in a cooler from home. Sandwiches. Hot dogs and baked beans for the campfire. S’mores supplies, of course. Trail mixes, bars, string cheese, and cereal mixes. You can read more about our favorite camping foods in our Camping Trip to West Virginia.

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Washington D.C. was one of our favorite family weekend getaways when we were living in New York City. It is packed with museums and history and fun things for families to do together.

Below are some of our favorites.

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A Weekend in Washington D.C.

These are our favorite things to do with kids in Washington DC based on several different trips to the area.

STAY.

My biggest recommendation about picking a spot to stay in D.C. is to stay somewhere on a train line. It is much easier to navigate D.C. on the trains, rather than trying to drive and park. Driving is possible, but we like not having to worry about traffic or parking. If you stay right on a train line you can easily pop around the city on the train.

We have stayed in several spots that have worked well on the train lines in different directions.

EAT.

D.C. has every chain imaginable and although that’s not the must exciting culinary experience, it is comforting with a child with a severe food allergy. Some of our favorites are Shake Shack, Au Bon Pain, and Jimmy Johns.

TO DO.

National Mall.

If this is your first time in Washington D.C. with kids then the National Mall is a must. Stop and see a few monuments – or all of them.

Our favorite are the Lincoln Memorial which is an absolute must for the gorgeous view of the Mall and the Washington Memorial. We also loved the Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.

If your kids enjoy the National Parks program, they can get their passport stamped at the different memorials. This made seeing the National Monuments a lot more fun for our kids.

National Post Office Museum.

Friends that lived in the D.C. area recommended this to us and I was skeptical but it was SO much fun. We loved the scavenger hunt, collecting stamps, sending a postcard and more. You can see all of my tips and more details in this post I shared on Sunshine Whispers.

National Zoo.

The National Zoological Park (commonly called the National Zoo) is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It was created as part of the Smithsonian Institute and like the rest of the museums in the Smithsonian it is completely free. I find this completely remarkable, especially when you are there and surrounded by the 2,000 animals and miles of walking paths.

The zoo is located inside the DC Metro area and I highly recommend using public transportation. We rode the Metro from our hotel and then walked a couple blocks. It was easy and we didn’t have to deal with finding or paying for parking.

If you are visiting with young children, I recommend a stroller or carrier. It is a large zoo and quite hilly, which can quickly take a toll on little legs. We were grateful to have ours for when they needed breaks.

Much like other larger zoos, I highly recommend looking at the map online before hand and making a plan. If you can spend all day, this isn’t needed, but we were trying to get back to the hotel for the kids to nap. We saw a little over half of the zoo in the morning and then ate lunch at the Mane Grill – one of the restaurants at the zoo. It was your typical attraction food, but varied and they did have Dairy Free options for our kid with allergies.

Our kids loved the zoo. They loved the elephants and the panda bear. They loved the lions and the bird area. They were pretty thrilled with it all.

National Building Museum.

This museum is AWESOME. It is one of the few not-free things we did with the kids in D.C., but it was so much fun. It encourages building and tinkering and engineering and creativity.

From the moment you step in, the architecture grabs you. Our twins were fascinated by the height of the building and by the fountain to one side. As you move around the lobby and into the different areas of the museum, the entire museum delights with thoughtful displays, interactive materials, and a range of creative building, architecture, engineering, and design themed exhibits.

Check out the website for current exhibits. When we went our favorite was their ongoing PLAY. WORK. BUILD. exhibit. You can see a video of it here. We could have spent all day in this one little part. The enormous light table was all kinds of awesome.

There was also a room full of construction materials. Our kids loved the giant over-sized foam blocks and worked so hard at fitting them together. I would recommend starting this space, unless there is a special exhibit you are interested in seeing.

Dulles Air and Space Museum.

Also called the Udvar-Hazy, this place is incredible. We liked the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall, but we all loved this one more. It is a little bit of a drive but worth it.

It is a huge hanger with airplanes and space shuttle. When you arrive, make sure to get the scavenger hunt at the front to keep littles engaged. My twins loved running all over trying to find the planes on the scavenger hunt.

The giant shuttle was their favorite part though.

Find the details on their website.

International Spy Museum.

If you’re in D.C. with some older kids, I highly recommend the International Spy Museum. It is a little pricey but fun if you like mystery, history and intrigue.

There is a well done scavenger hunt at the front for kids. I recommended this one for 7 and up but my six year olds did well and stayed engaged because of the hunt.

Learn more on their website.

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We like camping. Although it is a completely different experience with kids, family camping is fun. Some dear friends invited us to go camping at Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia.

Camping?

Beautiful Georgia?

Hikes to Waterfalls?

Friends? We’re in.

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Tallulah Gorge State Park

Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and almost 1,000 feet deep. The park has hiking trails and many overlooks where you can spot several waterfalls.

There is also a suspension bridge that swings over the river and overlooks the waterfalls. It is beautiful, green and mountainous.

We arrived around dinnertime and set up our tent right away. We had an easy dinner, roasted marshmallows and watched the kids race around pretending to be fairies.

Saturday morning we headed out for a hike. We hiked down 300 steps to the suspension bridge, across the bridge and then up 300 steps the the other rim.

This was doable for our three year olds, but exhausting. There was definitely some whining in between rock climbing, map reading, and delight. The views made the effort completely worthwhile.

TIPS FOR THE HIKE

• If you are attempting this with younger kids I highly recommend a backpack carrier (I love this one)
• Pack a snack
• Bring Water!
• Go to the bathroom at the visitors center before you head out.
• Wear weather appropriate clothes and good hiking shoes.

Also read: essential tips for camping with kids

Our twins loved the opportunity to read maps. Their interest in maps has dropped into the background lately, but when a natural opportunity appears they are delighted.

The views all along the rim and on the suspension bridge were stunning. The green stretches for miles and the water falls are overwhelming. The powerful sound of water rushing over a waterfall is one of my favorites.

After the hike, we drove a short ways to the lake where we found a beautiful picnic spot. Despite the weekend traffic of hikers, this was a lovely peaceful spot. We were a little bummed that the beach was closed until Memorial Day, especially since we were sweating from the 85 degree heat, but we cooled off in the shade.

For hiking, I highly recommend Tallulah Gorge State Park.

The views really can’t be beat and the trails offer a fun challenge. I didn’t love the camping sites, but they too were decent. The bathrooms were above average for a campground.

All in all, we loved our trip to Tallulah Gorge. Check out the video on their website of the falls if you need a little extra convincing.

Park Details

• 50 Tent, Trailer, RV Campsites
• 63 Acre Lake with a Beach (only open Memorial Day – Labor Day)
• Campsites have electricity.
• Bathrooms have plumping and showers.
• $5 Parking Fee to enter park
• Cash or Check Only
• Playground near the campsites behind the bathroom.

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Newport, Rhode Island is a great getaway for families on the East Coast. Last summer we spent a long weekend enjoying the ocean and small town delights and we can’t wait to go back.

We are huge beach fans so that’s where we spent a lot of our time.

Newport had a few kid friendly beach options with bathrooms, lifeguards, and shallow water.

Second Beach.

This was the beach most recommended to us so we started here. We spent most of the our first day here and loved it.

It is a popular beach so I highly recommend getting their early – even on a week day.

Downsides:

*You pretty much have to drive and it isn’t cheap to park.

Upsides:

*The water was much clearer and the beach was clean, which to me made it worth the extra money.

*Decent food options

*Big clean (for beach) bathrooms

Easton’s Beach.

This beach was walking distance from our hotel and right near the Cliff Walk so we actually visited 3 times.

Downsides:

*The main thing about this beach was the abundance of red seaweed. It didn’t seem unclean, just a little odd to be swimming and surrounded seaweed. There were portions of the beach that had less, but it was still something we had to get over.

Upsides:

*Decent sand.

*Food and bathroom options.

*Depending on where you stay – super accessible.

Also Read: 5 Swimming Games for Babies & Toddlers

Newport Beach Hotel and Suites

We stayed across the street from Easton’s Beach at Newport Beach Hotel and Suites. I would highly recommend it for families.

Downsides:

*No meals provided although there was a cocktail hour with a few snacks.

*We had to drive into the main shopping area.

Upsides:

*Our room gave us a two bedroom space which is so nice for traveling with young kids.

*It was walking distance to Easton’s Beach and the Cliff Walk.

*Even though meals weren’t provided at the hotel, there were some restaurants within walking distance that used a 10% discount. We really liked the smoothies at Rhea’s Cafe and the breakfast at Ticket’s Bar and Grill.

*Indoor pool for icky weather days.

Other Things to Do:

*Make sure to spend some time down on Thames Street. There are tons of restaurants, shops, and best of all ice cream.

*Walk down to the docks near Thames Street at see that water, boats, and sunset.

*Hike along the Cliff Walk. I would have loved to do this at sunrise or sunset, but it was still a gorgeous view in the afternoon when we fit it in.

If you’re looking for a calm, relaxing summer getaway this is absolutely perfect.

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This is one of the more unique places we have visited and it is just a mere hour or so from the heart of Brooklyn.

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To get to Fire Island you can drive onto one of the ends, but to access the portion where people actually live you will need to take a ferry. Ferry service is very limited in the off season so make sure to check the schedule carefully.

We went the first weekend in April when some of the residents were slowly heading back to the island to start their gardens and uncover their houses from any Winter disruption.

We rode the ferry from Sayville to Cherry Grove. We left Sayville at around 11 and took the 3:30 ferry back in the afternoon. Use the bathroom in the bar/restaurant at the Sayville ferry station – it will be your last chance for a while.

Bring cash!! They did not accept cards for ferry tickets – but the parking lot across the street did take our Visa.

It is a relatively brief ride but we did bring some binoculars to keep our excited twins focused.

One of the most unique things we discovered was that it is a town built on boardwalks and stilts. This of course makes sense given it’s role as a barrier island, but it still felt so surreal to walk around a mostly deserted town on long boardwalks.

Following Hurricane Sandy’s destructive wake much of this has been re-done so the boardwalks are smooth and would be stroller friendly.

They are definitely great for racing along. Our twins tested this out fully.

Our favorite part was the beach.

It is long but not super deep. I imagine in the summer this is crowded with swimmers and sunbathers, but in the early Spring it was completely deserted except for the array of beautiful seashells and rocks.

We came home with pocket fulls.

This time of year the island is largely deserted. We often felt like we were the only people on the island.

One of the reasons we picked Cherry Grove was it’s proximity to the Sunken Forest which is part of the National Park Service.

After a walk up the beach we quickly walked to the other side of the island again and found the trail for the Sunken Forest.

Kids ran through it chasing the items on our sensory Scavenger Hunt.

We hypothesized about the habitants of pond nests and were captivated by a lone deer on the boardwalk.

Along the way we found spots to rest and eat the sandwiches and snacks we had carried to the island.

NOTHING is open.

If you’re hoping to shop or get a bite come back during the regular season which starts after Memorial Day.

There was one bar half open next to the ferry dock. They invited us in for a quick soda and we thankfully got to use their bathroom. Otherwise everything else was closed until Summer.

This was not your typical Fire Island experience but we loved it. We loved the quiet. We loved feeling like we had discovered a quiet uninhabited corner of the world.

Our kids had space to run and explore and came home bursting with as many questions as their pockets contained shells.

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]]> https://bambinitravel.com/spring-day-on-fire-island-with-kids/feed/ 2 2086 https://bambinitravel.com/atlanta-with-kids/ https://bambinitravel.com/atlanta-with-kids/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2018 06:00:00 +0000 https://bambinitravel.com/WP/?p=7606 I have visited Atlanta Georgia both summer and winter now and feel like I can safely say I’ve experienced both the chilly winds of their winter and the overwhelming heat of winter and still enjoyed myself immensely both times. If you are planning a trip …]]>

I have visited Atlanta Georgia both summer and winter now and feel like I can safely say I’ve experienced both the chilly winds of their winter and the overwhelming heat of winter and still enjoyed myself immensely both times.

If you are planning a trip to Georgia with kids, rest assured there are plenty of things for families to do.

Atlanta with Kids

Here are my top recommendations for a weekend or more in Atlanta, GA.

STAY: Hilton Garden Inn

Both times I have been to Atlanta I’ve stayed in this hotel. It has a shuttle service from the airport, clean and comfortable rooms, indoor (heated) and outdoor pools, valet parking, and best of all it is walking distance to most places you would want to go. For instance, the aquarium is two blocks away.

Our kids loved the view from the windows of the city and the aquarium. They were also amused by the huge aquarium themed photos in the hallways. That and the ample opportunities to ride the elevator because who doesn’t love that.

Top 4 Things to do in Atlanta with Kids

1. Atlanta Botanical Gardens

This beautiful, botanical garden is one of my favorite spots in Atlanta. The entire garden is beautiful, but they have an especially thoughtful and interactive children’s garden that for us made the Atlanta Botanical Garden stand out as a welcoming space for young children. Such a lovely spot to spend a day exploring plant life, being inspired, and working on the skill of observation.

Some things not to miss:

• Walk through the treetops on the Kendeda Canopy Walk and get an aerial view of Storza Woods.
• Children’s Garden – for families, this is the best part. The Children’s garden is a thoughtful combination of educational and interactive. There are themed gardens – my favorite was the storybook area. There is also a Sunflower Fountain where you can splash on a hot day.
• View the rest of the map to pick out at least one more spot to enjoy. I liked the Japanese Garden.

Pack:

• A camera. You will want to take pictures.
• Paper and drawing materials. Pick a plant or flower and take a drawing break.
• Walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing.
• Sunscreen

We loved these gorgeous gardens. You can walk through the treetops, admire the beautiful flowers, and wander the paths. One of the best parts is the fun, interactive children garden area.

If you have time after the garden, the park it sit on the top of is also an incredible space. Our kids loved playing at the playground and we loved sitting on a bench after all that walking.

2. Centenniel Olympic Park

If you are looking for a spot to get out your wiggles this is a fun park. It is conveniently located in between the Aquarium and the Children’s Museum.

Good things to know:

• There are two playgrounds. One is handicap accessible. They have interesting play equipment for different ages.
• Both are within the larger Centennial Park which is fun to wander and connects some of the major spots like the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke Museum. 
• Decent shade cover for hot summer days but you still want to be prepared for heat.
• The Fountain of Rings is across the street to have some splashing fun on hot days.

3. Georgia Aquarium

Promise me you will not go to Georgia without visiting this aquarium. Unless you have a fear of aquatic animals, this is a must.

This is a stunning aquarium. Although we loved the large animals of Sea World – San Diego and have enjoyed other aquariums, this is the most impressive aquarium we have visited thus far. It is pricey, but in my opinion it is entirely worth the cost.

The most impressive portion is the exhibit entitled Ocean Voyager. It is a 6.3 million gallon exhibit. It is teeming with fish, four manta rays, and four whale sharks. The views are stunning and unlike anything in any other aquarium. Mezmermizing. My kids were huge fans of the manta rays and the giant whale sharks.

Our second favorite parts was the Tropical Diver portion which is teeming with fish in every shape and color. We spent a long time in front of the biggest tank spotting fish and learning their names on the interactive computers. Advertised as the largest living reef exhibits of any aquarium in the world, this is almost as impressive as the Ocean Voyager exhibit.

Beyond that, it depends on your favorite animals.

We visited the Coldwater Quest for the penguins and beluga whales. We enjoyed the otters and turtles in the River Scout area.

Throughout the aquarium there are interactive things for kids, including cards you can borrow to help you label some of the sea life, and little nooks for them to crawl through and into. The entire aquarium is well constructed and fascinating. Every inch is worth visiting in my opinion.

The aquarium is big, but portioned off into sections.

With younger children:

• Pick one or two areas to explore so that you do not feel the need to hurry them through.
• Start with what you most want to see to especially avoid the need that you must rush along to get to something.
• Follow their lead
• Make sure to account for breaks needed for sleeping or eating. There is a cafe on the premise but it is a little pricey.

4. World of Coke

A visit to the World of Coke involves a quick tour and then opportunities to explore various exhibits. If you are a coke lover, this will be more interesting than if you are not.

Hands down the best part is the opportunity to try different coke products from around the world. This was definitely the highlight for our kids.

We thought the World of Coke was fun but I do not recommend it for toddlers or young preschoolers. If you’re traveling with really little ones I would go to the Children’s Museum down the block instead.

Close by Spots to Eat

Aside from the Botanical Garden, these attractions are all located in downtown within walking distance of each other.

There are a variety of spots within walking distance of the major spots in downtown. We ate breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn each morning where they have a buffet style breakfast and kids eat free. The aquarium and botanical garden also have cafes. The aquarium is a bit over priced and the food is not exceptional, but I would plan to eat at the botanical garden. It was a delightful spread of shockingly healthy and yummy food.

Here are a couple of other spots we have tried and enjoyed.

1. Max’s Coal Oven Pizza
Open for lunch and dinner this is a yummy spot for pizza and pasta. The wait staff is friendly, children are welcome, and they were able to accomodate our Dairy allergy needs. Plus I love their yummy food.

2. Johnny Rockets
This is a fun spot for families and is located just a block from the aquarium. Good food and yummy malts, but the fun atmosphere makes it all taste even better. My son was able to find food to eat even with his dairy allergy (but not the malts).

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If I’m being 100% honest, the moment I found out we were moving to Mississippi I opened Google Maps and started figuring out where we could easily visit. The gulf coast was #1 on my list.

Two weeks after we signed on our house and a week after our stuff arrived via PODS, we stuffed our limited unpacked items into suitcases, ignored the stacks of boxes, and hit the road for the coast.

Biloxi is about a 3 hour drive from the Jackson, MS area. It took us more like 4 1/2 because of two potty breaks and one oops-mom-didn’t-pack-pajamas stop.

In the morning when we stepped out the hotel and onto the gorgeous white sand we were sure it was worth the drive.

A Weekend in Biloxi with Kids

Here are our suggestions for a fabulous weekend in Biloxi.

Friday
PM: Check into your hotel. We stayed at The South Beach Biloxi Hotel We had a King Suite. A bedroom, huge living space with living room and kitchen, one and a half bathrooms, and a patio. It was the perfect amount of space for the four of us.

DINNER: Find Some Seafood
We ate on the way down, because we left after the workday on Friday and had several unscheduled stops, but there is an abundance of seafood available in this area. Shaggy’s Seafood was located close to our hotel and looked fun and child-friendly.

Saturday
AM: Go to the Beach. I assume this is why most people take their family to Biloxi. The Gulf Coast of Mississippi is the longest man-made beach. It is peppered with yellow umbrellas set on gorgeous beaches with shallow (albeit slightly muddy) water that is perfect for little ones.

Note: If you are planning to spend time away from the beach on your weekend, I suggest doing it on Saturday. Most things (the children’s museum, the marine education center, the NASA museum, art museum, etc are all closed all or most of Sunday)

LUNCH: Pack a lunch so you can stay at the beach a little longer.

read also: 20 best things to do in jackson with kids

PM: Visit the shops in Ocean Springs, MS. This is a charming little town a little further down the gulf coast from Biloxi. Our twins especially liked the Miner’s Big Stuff Toy Stores.

DINNER: We loved the delicious pasta at Al Fresco’s  in Ocean Springs. We realize we should have probably taken better advantage of the fresh fish and headed for a seafood joint, but it was my birthday weekend and I crave Italian food constantly. We sat on the patio by the little water fountain and enjoyed a nice long meal with delightful service. Children’s menu was equally diverse and delicious and our son’s dairy allergy was easily and pleasantly accommodated.

Sunday
AM:  A morning at the beach. Despite how much time you may or may not have spent at the beach yesterday. This is the morning to savor the sea breezes, sunshine, and soft sand. Search for hermit crabs, build sand castles, play pretend fish and shark in the water, etc.

LUNCH: Lookout Seafood and Steaks offered delicious and reasonably priced food. It was also child friendly and we were able to find several options for our son despite his dairy allergy.

PM: Jones Park Splash Pad and Playground in Gulfport, MS.  Watch the boats at the Marina, maybe meet a fisherman or two, and cool off in the splash park.

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What is there to do in Mississippi with kids?

I remember wondering this same thing before we moved. We were pretty content in the Midwest, so when my dear hubby announced that he had gotten a position in Mississippi I was a little stunned. He cheerfully told me that at least they didn’t have cold weather and started bringing home empty boxes. Two weeks later we found ourselves in Madison, Mississippi where we have been for the past almost two years.

Despite my initial concerns, Mississippi in many ways has amazed us.

The weather is indeed wonderful. Their idea of Winter – if you’re used to northern seasons – is hilarious. This isn’t tropical island weather, but you can certainly get outside year round in Mississippi. This is one of the things I will miss the most when we move again in a couple short months back to the cold up north. 

The best thing about Mississippi however isn’t the weather. The best thing is the people.

We have made fantastic friends that we will miss dearly, but it goes further than that. My favorite thing about Mississippians is how much they adore children. Almost everywhere is child friendly and there are so many, many things that are specifically for kids. The Fall church festival season alone is quite astounding.

So, what is there to do with kids in Mississippi? A ton!

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20+ Best Things to do with Kids in the Jackson MS Area

I went with Jackson and the surrounding area when making this list. Jackson is the major city and where a lot of the bigger attractions are, however it is not a huge metropolis and it is pretty easy to move between the city and the suburbs that surround the city. The list below is divided into indoor and outdoor activities for kids and focuses on places you can go with kids any time of the year.

Outdoor Activities for Kids

Visit a Playground, our favorites include;

• Winner’s Circle Park – Flowood MS
• Liberty Park – Madison MS
• Strawberry Patch Park – Madison MS
• Freedom Ridge Park – Ridgeland MS
• LeFleur’s Bluff State Park – Jackson MS
• Old Trace Park – Ridgeland MS

Ride Bikes along the Reservoir at Old Trace Park

The Barnett Reservoir is one of our favorite spots. About once a week we take our bikes to Old Trace Park. My kids ride and I walk or run and we make frequent stops to explore. The Reservoir is beautiful and the path is smooth and wide. In the summer there are also festivals and various events at the park. Now there is also a playground here which is beyond awesome.  View Website.

Bike Ride or Walk on Natchez Trace Parkway

The Trace is part of the National Park Service and stretches all the way across the state of Mississippi. It is primarily a scenic highway with various historical stops, but there are also some trails and parks integrated along the way. In the Jackson area, primarily near Ridgeland there is a nice spot to park your car and hop on the trail. You can bike ride all the way until you over look the Reservoir and further. This is a lovely shaded spot to run, walk or push a stroller as well. View Website

Clinton Nature Center

This is about a half an hour drive from Jackson, but in my opinion entirely worth it for so many reasons. Once a month they have a preschool program called Nature Nuts which is incredibly well planned and executed by lovely staff and volunteers. The Nature Center also has nice nature trails and an outdoor natural playground which is tons of fun, especially in the warmer months when the water section is turned on. A membership is reasonable and gives you free access to their preschool program and special events. View Website

Jackson Zoo

My kids love the Jackson Zoo, but it is likely more because of the train ride than the animals. It is a smaller zoo so it is easy for little legs to explore. In the summer there is also a fantastic splash pad you can use with admission to the zoo. The zoo also has some fun events throughout the year so make sure to check their event calendar. View Website

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum

Honestly when we showed up at this one I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my kids loved this museum. The majority of it is outside, but there are some indoor parts as well. It is not the newest museum in town, which is somewhat noticeable if you also visit the children’s museum across the street, but there is a lot to do. There is a small historical town, farm animals, a large indoor model train display, and more. Many special events, including Jazz Fest and Irish Fest are also held on the ground throughout the year. View Website

Mississippi Petrified Forest

If you’re looking for a nice easy hike for young kids, this is a winner. For adults there is also some added history that is kind of fun. View Website

Highland Village 

This is a darling old outdoor mall that my twins love to explore. It is filled with little nooks and funky wall art. I can’t honestly explain how we manage to kill hours walking around but we get lunch and then wander and they love it. In warmer months there is also a monthly storytime in the courtyard near Beagel Bagel – look on Facebook for details. View Website

Play Ball at the Park

Fun often comes in the cheapest of packages. Bring baseball gear or a soccer ball to Liberty Park in Madison and you can have a blast running and chasing and developing gross motor skills on a nice day.

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, MS Children’s Museum, and Art Museum all have outdoor sections.

see details below

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Indoor Activities for Kids

Mississippi Children’s Museum – Jackson MS

We adore the children’s museum and highly recommend a membership if you live in the area. Make sure to check out their calendar for awesome weekly activities and special events. I have been blown away by their special events – their annual New Years Eve party for kids and Book Festival are two of our favorites. There is also an outdoor space for all those lovely weather days. View Website

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

The Natural Science museum has been another of our favorite spots for BOTH indoor and outdoor fun. The indoor part isn’t huge but for kids 0-5 it is perfect. They always have a visiting exhibit and then you can check out the fish tanks and turtle area and other displays. There is also a small preschool play area for children 0-5 that my kids love. Outside there are trails of varying difficulty and length to explore. And DO NOT miss their special events. We have loved them all from NatureFest to Cajun Christmas. View Website

Library Storytime

Throughout the city there are preschool story times at the various libraries. Our favorite is the Flowood Library. They have the best children’s book area in the city, kind librarians, and several storytime options. They are also down the street from Winner’s Circle Park and it’s awesome playground.

Deep South Pops

If you just need to get out of the house for a little bit or what a delightful treat, stop by Deep South Pops in downtown Jackson. The popsicles are amazing (and there are a lot of dairy free options), the staff is friendly, and the shop itself fun. View Website

Barnes and Noble and the Renaissance Mall 

This isn’t unique Mississippi, but it is still a fun way to pass a few hours. This Barnes and Noble has a huge kids area and a little train section for play. Our kids love playing and browsing for books. Check the website for brief storytimes as well. Across the street there are fountains to splash in on hot days and there is plenty of space to wander and run in this outdoor mall. Five Guys and Panera are also conveniently located in the mall. View Website

Mississippi Museum of Art

Truthfully the art museum is on the small side, but if you have preschoolers or early elementary schoolers they have a fabulous FREE event on the third Friday of every month called Look and Learn with Hoot. Someone from the staff reads a story and then the kids get to create something in the art studio. The art museum also has water fountains outside to splash in on hot summer days and a small, but lovely garden to wander through. View Website.

Bouncy Houses

Our favorite is Bounce Palace – mostly because of its convenient location. There is also a Pump It Up in Brandon MS and High Heaven in Flowood MS. These are just fun places to let loose and move wiggly bodies on super hot or rainy days.

Northpark Mall Indoor Playspace

This isn’t huge, but as far as mall play spaces go this is a nice one. It is enclosed on three sides, clean, and quiet on most weekdays. View Website

Lemuria Bookstore

This is a cozy little bookstore in Jackson. There is a section in the back for kids with a great selection of books. It is also housed in the same building as a cute little lunch spot. If you follow them on Facebook you will occassional spot some child friendly events as well. View Website

Panera in Flowood

There are now two Panera restaurants in the Jackson area which I am inexplicably giddy about – but our favorite is the one in Flowood. It has a huge chalkboard and small place space off to one end of the restaurant. Grab lunch or a snack or even just a coffee for you and the kids can play for a bit on a rainy day.

Little Giants Center 

This sweet little playspace in Madison is perfect for the 3 and under crowd. They do have some classes for older kids, but the space is ideal for the youngest set. You can get a membership or pop in for some sessions at low cost. View Website

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With Chicago so nearby, Milwaukee is often dismissed as a small city. It is indeed smaller, but its location on the lake is hard to beat, especially in the summer, and it has a wonderful character.

Summer is my favorite time of year in Wisconsin and Milwaukee is full of things to see and do. We recently spent a few weeks before our big move to Mississippi. As with all major cities, the possibilities are endless, but here are some of our favorite things to do in our home city.

A Weekend in Milwaukee WI:
Summer Edition

Note: I call this the Summer Edition but many of these ideas would work well on a pleasant Fall or Spring day as well. I’ll share a chilly or rainy day itinerary separately.

STAY.

We have an abundance of family in the area, so we haven’t stayed in a hotel in Milwaukee.

We would highly recommend staying near downtown though – close to most of the best parts of Milwaukee. Somewhere in Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, or Wauwatosa would allow for decent access to the city as well.

EAT.

•  KOPP’S. Their butter burgers, fries, and custard at Kopp’s are a must for anyone visiting Milwaukee. Try dipping their fries into the custard, so delicious!
• The City Market located just down Capitol Drive from Atwater beach. Yummy sandwiches that are perfect for lunch and high chairs are available.
• Pizza Man located on Downer Ave. on the East Side has amazing pizza, but also delicious pasta and other options – including Dairy Free food.
• Milwaukee Sail Loft is a delicious dinner spot by the Milwaukee River minutes from downtown.
• Milwaukee Public Market: so much in one little spot downtown. Full of options for any time of day and fun atmosphere.
• Blue’s Egg short drive from the Zoo and offers a menu full of delicious options. The children’s menu offers particularly thoughtful options.
• Try Botanas Mexican Restaurant on the south side of Milwaukee for some delicious Mexican food.

TO DO.

Atwater Beach

Lake Michigan is one of my favorite parts of Milwaukee and this is one of my favorite spots to enjoy it.

You have to walk down a remarkable amount of stairs, or stroll down a really long ramp, to get there, but it is worth it. Beautiful clean beach in a quiet little nook that makes you forget about the hubbub of the city.

Bring some sand toys and enjoy the morning. There is also a park at the top of the hill perfect for little ones.

also read: 10+ Things to do with Kids on Milwaukee’s East Side

Go Paddle Boating at Veteran’s Park.

This is a fun space just to run around and be near the lake. Smaller festivals and events are occasionally held here. You can also rent different kinds of boats, float in the lagoon and enjoy the skyline.

If you need a little snack break, we love Collectivo Coffee by the lake. Coffee for the adults, smoothies and bakery goods for the little ones. Sit outside and enjoy the people watching.

also read: 16 summer adventures with free bingo printable

Lincoln Park Pool

There are several splash pads and pools in the Milwaukee County Park system, but this is our favorite for little ones. It has a zero to 3 feet pool area for little ones. The mornings from 10-12am are reserved for younger children before the rest of the pool is opened up for older children. Our three year olds had a blast with their 5 and 7 year old buddies at this pool.

If you aren’t in a big pool mood, Lake Park is a beautiful place to walk and has a fun playground for little ones.

Take in a Festival.

Milwaukee is often called the “city of festivals.” The Summerfest grounds along the shore of Lake Michigan is famous for its festivals throughout the summer.

The largest of these being Summerfest, an enormous music festival, which runs around the Fourth of July. My personal favorite is Irish Fest which we wrote about in a previous post. View the page mentioned above to see what festival is happening while you are in town. You can get your hand stamped if you need to leave and return after a naptime. Typically the more exciting bands are later in the day, but for little ones there are many thing to do during the day.

If (when) you get hungry, round up a smorgasbord of treats. (We highly recommend the Saz’s combo platter)

Milwaukee County Zoo

The zoo opens at 9am which makes it a great morning activity for little ones. Complete with a variety of animals, train ride, and playground in the family farm area, this is easily a full day activity. Be sure to check out the polar bears, they are our favorite.

Old World Wisconsin

Up for a small road trip? This is about 45 minutes outside of the city but absolutely worth the drive. Step back in time at this massive park that brings history to life. People dressed in costume, acres of homes and fields, and so much for kids to do. You can watch a blacksmith at work, try your hand at hand washing clothing, help gather chicken eggs, and so much more. 

More Things to Do:

• Lake Park is close to where we both grew up and recently renovated their playground would be our pick for a quick playground, get the wiggles out stop near the East Side / Downtown. There is also a playground along the lakefront North of the coffee shop I mentioned above and South of Bradley Beach.
• Miller Park for a Brewer’s Game or a Tour
• Milwaukee Rotary Club Arboretum + Urban Ecology Center
• Audubon Nature Center
• Free Concerts in the Milwaukee County Parks. Search their website for a current schedule. Jazz in the Park is an annual summer favorite.

Milwaukee in the summer is all about the outdoors for us. We tend to save the indoor stuff for our winter visits, but if you hit an in-climate day here are a few indoor options:
*Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
*Milwaukee Art Museum
*The Domes

Also Read: 10 Winter Activities do in Milwaukee with Kids

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My skepticism faded the moment we rode up into the hills of western Maryland. Suddenly we were surrounded by bright bursts of Fall colors and this trip to Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia didn’t seem quite so crazy.

At the beginning of the summer my daughter had only a few things on her Summer Bucket List. She wanted to;

• swim at the beach. Check.
• go on the rides at Coney Island. Check.
• learn how to do a cartwheel. Ummm…work in progress.
• and she wanted to go camping…

Truthfully I am not a big camping person. I like hot showers and soft mattresses and falling asleep to the hush of a sound machine.

So that camping trip kept getting pushed off.

But she kept after me.

Driving into West Virginia I was glad she had been such a pest about this trip. I was also kind of glad we had waited until Fall.

This part of the country is truly magnificent in the Fall. The mountains, the colors, the blue sky and the trees…

So beautiful.

In case you are headed to West Virginia or Cooper Rock State Forest for some camping or just for a day of hiking, some helpful things to know are below.

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A Weekend Camping in Cooper Rock State Forest

Why Cooper Rock State Forest? Why West Virginia? Good questions.

Since we were going in the Fall we wanted somewhere that would be full of foliage. We looked at upstate New York and Vermont feeling confident in their splendor this time of year, but their cut off for camping is earlier than the 3 day weekend we happened to have free.

ALSO READ: FAMILY CAMPING AT TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK GEORGIA

So we looked south.

As many super random seeming travel decisions in our house, this one was made because West Virginia was a place we had yet to visit. Cooper Rock State Forest came highly recommended so we booked a campsite and started dusting off our family tent.

STAY.

We camped in a tent in the Rhododendron Campground.

Things We Liked:

These campsites are spaced a little further apart and are a little more picturesque. They are also closer to the trails, playground, and shop.

Things We Didn’t Like:

The other campsites have electric outlets and a bathroom with a shower.

I was happy with our choice, but we did drive over and use the shower one morning.

The kids had a blast helping us set up our monster of a tent. We own this 3 room family tent and although it is admittedly a bit intense I love it.

When my husband and I used to camp pre-kids we had a tiny little two person thing that you basically waved in the air once and it was ready to go. This one is a bit more of an event to assemble, but it is easy to use, well made, and has SO much space.

I’m pretty sure that having their own “rooms” is the only reason my kids finally settled down and went to sleep, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

EAT.

There are some crazy awesome creative people out there that cook amazing things on the campfire but we tend to go simple. Hot dogs. Baked potatoes. We did try a couple of fun treats though you have to try some time!

• Best Snack: S’mores muddy buddies – I used this recipe!

• Best Breakfast: Campfire Cinnamon Rolls – Being honest, these are HARD to get right and I think cooking them on tin foil might have been a better way to go than the skewers but the ones we got right were yummy. Go heavy on the cinnamon and don’t skip the glaze. I used this recipe.

• Eat by lantern light. Not a food, obviously, but we waited until after dark for dinner one night because my kids were so happy playing outside. I can’t explain to you how exciting this was for my kids. Headlamps like these were super helpful.

more recipes & Fun stuff on my family camping pinterest board

TO DO.

There are a lot things to do in the park. Read more on the Coopers Rock State Forest website.

My kids spent the better part of the first afternoon being delighted by everything outdoorsy. Poor deprived little city kids.

Once they stopped bouncing up and down about every leaf and bug, here are the other things we enjoyed in the park.

• Hike the trails. There are a bunch of options (get a free map when you check in at the front) and they range in difficulty and length.

• Enjoy the view. (Full disclosure – I was way more excited about the view than my kids but they tolerated my delight)

• Look for signs of the season

• and signs of life. (They love these bug catching kits )

• play on the playground.

read also: Essential Tips for surviving camping with a toddler

Final Thoughts?

Worth the drive? Absolutely!

We would camp in Coopers Rock State Forest again in a heartbeat. We pried ourselves away earlier than we planned because of an impending storm and it was so hard to say goodbye to all this beauty.

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