We spend a lot of family time in the car. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t always quality time. However, a quick pit stop can fix that.

While parks are nice, you may not have the time to drive that far off the freeway. Never fear, coffee shops (like Issaquah Coffee pictured above) are great places for kids to sip a hot chocolate and unwind. Please note, espresso in kids may have the opposite effect.

This post is part of UpTake’s Wordless Wednesday Series. If you would like to see your photo featured here please contact us via the link in the sidebar using subject line: WW.

Photo: Whit Honea

Today’s roadside attraction finds us in North Carolina just outside of Prospect Hill. Meet Shangri-La, a small stone village, population none, along the highway.

The town was created between 1968 and 1977 by Henry L. Warren. The buildings are pretty small, but the detail is impressive.

A sign out front reads, “Let me live n a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.” That’s a touching sentiment, but I’ve lived by the side of the road and it isn’t all hugs and handshakes.

Shangri-La Stone Village is on Old NC-86 between Prospect Hill and Hightowers.

This post is part of UpTake’s Tuesday Roadside Attractions Series. If you have a photo of an odd, funny or interesting roadside attraction that you would like to see featured here please submit it via the link in the sidebar with subject line: Roadside.

Photo: bobistraveling via Flickr

Home brewing — the fine art of making your own beer in your garage or basement — has been gaining in popularity in suburbs across America over the last several years. Also gaining ground? Family vacations focused on finding the best beer, or at least the best brewery. Make the rounds of the samplers at local breweries in these three destinations.

Portland, Maine – your grandparents might have come for the leaf-peeping, but today Portland is making a name for itself as a hotbed of fermentation. Half a dozen craft breweries are found in this New England town, including the Peak Organic Brewing Company. Book your visit for February and you can catch the Bartenders Bash.

Portland, Oregon – same name, different coast, an equally impressive collection of microbreweries to tour. The beer scene is hopping in the Pacific Northwest and wannabe brew masters can often find local events centered around tastings and competitions. Check out PortladBeer.org before your trip to get current updates.

Denver, Colorado - home of the Great American Beer Festival each fall, Denver is the domestic holy land for beer lovers. Take the Denver Microbrew Tour to take in all the sights with a designated driver. Reward the kids for good behavior (and patience) by taking them on an epic bike ride along Denver’s miles of gorgeous trails before heading home.

Photo Credit

It’s always good to try something new, especially when it comes to a new ale house. While in town for the 30th annual Great American Beer festival in Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to stop by a place that was new to me: The Ale House at Amato’s.

Located in the Lower Highlands area of Denver’s downtown, Amato’s is a part of the Breckenridge Brewing Co’s family of brewpubs and alehouses and is easily accessible to many of Denver’s downtown hotels and attractions such as Brown Palace Hotel and 16th Street Mall. Breckenridge Brewing has had a wide variety of beers since 1990 when they opened their original brewpub in Breckenridge, Colorado. In 1992, they branched out and opened another brewpub in Denver.

Photo Courtesy of Bloomspot

My stop at Amato’s was a part of an arranged brewery tour that afternoon, with the second stop at the newly opened Denver Beer Co. Although just a 30 minute stop, there was a lot to see and taste.

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