Vacations Blog

Benson Park Sculpture Garden

Most families only visit Loveland, Colorado, because the town is the last stop on Highway 34 before you reach the gorgeous Rocky Mountain National Park, just 30 miles away.

Benson Park Sculpture Garden

But if you’re heading into the National Park, or simply driving through Colorado on Interstate 25, Loveland makes for an interesting stop along the way.

If for no other reason than to see the statues.

Loveland has nearly 300 pieces of public art, mostly sculptures, spread all over, in front of city buildings, dentist’s offices, schools, and private homes.  You can drive around town, playing a game of spot the statues, but I don’t recommend it if you want to keep your insurance premiums down.  Instead, go directly to where the bulk of the artwork is on permanent display, at the Benson Park Sculpture Garden.  And it doesn’t cost a thing to enjoy.

The park is a dazzling site, with over 130 sculptures of all shapes and sizes placed around three large ponds.  When I first took my kids there, their response was the usual, “Oh no, do we have to walk?”  But once they meandered down the trail and spied their first statue, a boy playing marbles with a dinosaur, they were immediately hooked.  Aching feet were completely forgotten as they discovered new surprises around ever corner.

Benson Park is in a quiet, residential area, so it feels peaceful and uncrowded.  On the cold spring day we were there, it was certainly free of people.  The morning snowfall added to the magical air of the place as we took our time walking the trails.

This is the kind of place you’ll want to have your camera ready for memorable poses of your kids with the various sculptures.  They’ll plead with you to take a picture of them with every strange and whimsical creature they see.

There are picnic tables, benches, and bathrooms, so don’t worry about how much time you spend.  We were surprised to find two hours gone by without even noticing.

Granted, we were not in any kind of hurry.  Loveland was an overnight stop for us on our way through the state.  I highly recommend the new Holiday Inn Express just off I-25, which features the usual indoor pool but with a kid-pleasing giant red water slide.

Colorado is an amazing state, with majestic mountains and stunning scenic vistas.  It’s easy to overlook the little things.  But, next time you’re traveling through the area, you’ll find it well worth your time to add Benson Park Sculpture Garden to your list of places to see.

Benson Park Sculpture Garden

Benson Park Sculpture Garden

Benson Park Sculpture Garden

All photos by Phil Corless

Babble is an online magazine that covers all things kid and parenting. It’s what they do. That means that with the summer suddenly upon us they have devoted a good portion of their time planning how to get away from it all – assuming all does not include the children (but nice try).

Here are a few examples of what they offer:

From “Babies on a Plane” by Hana Schank:

“We’re just checking to make sure you’re not over the limit,” the security officer said when I asked exactly what they were looking for with regards to the baby food.

“What’s the limit?” I asked.

“Just a reasonable amount,” explained the security officer.

Which is what? Enough to feed a baby but not enough to make an exploding applesauce bomb?

As if that’s not bad enough, the type of baby food you bring on board is also subject to inspection. I was once in line in front of a woman who had a jar of Gerber’s Peach Cobbler confiscated because the security officer said it was a dessert, not baby food.

For more Babies on a Plane visit Babble!

From “10 Toddler Vacation Tips” by Merideth Broussard:

Fill up the iPhone or iPod with family photos and videos.

If you have an iPhone, it’s probably already loaded up with kid-friendly apps like MyFirstABC, Poppin’, Doodle Kids, Scribble, and KidArt. When your little one tires of doodling or popping bubble wrap bubbles, pull out the big guns: family photos. I’ve yet to meet a toddler who doesn’t love going through the family digital photo archive. It’s a chance to tell stories, reflect on the past, and remember the good times your family has had. In other words: a perfect way to begin a family vacation! When you tire of explaining who’s who in every photo, it’s time to move on to home movies of your child. Unrepentant narcissists that they are, toddlers looooove seeing movies of themselves and people they know.

Going to a warm place? Don’t forget that afternoon nap conflicts with prime time on the beach.

There are two strategies for dealing with the afternoon nap issue.

Option 1: reserve a room with a balcony, or a first-floor room with outdoor access. It sounds simple, but I can tell you that it made a huge difference in my happiness on our beach vacation. While my little one napped in our first-floor beachfront room, I sat outside in the sun and read my trashy mystery novel or chatted with friends. It was perfection.

Option 2: Avoid hotels and go to a family-friendly B&B or small inn.

Find out why and some other great tips for Traveling with Toddlers at Babble!

From “25 Family Travel Tips” by Annie Bacon:

Always have a couple of small toys in your bag for outings. Avoid toys that have many small pieces: Polly Pockets are perfect to keep a young girl occupied in the hotel room, but you don’t want to have to crawl under the table to find a missing shoe. Also, don’t bring any “beeping” or musical electronic toys: parents have a selective sense of hearing that allows them not to go crazy in the presence of anything from Vtech, but others might not have that skill.
A few good choices…
- Coloring book with washable pencils
- Activity or sticker books
- Etch-a-sketch
- Magnetic play scenes or dress-up dolls
- Anything that comes in a small case

Resist the urge to ask for a child’s plates before yours. It might keep him quiet at first, but then he’ll have nothing to do once it’s your time to eat.

If you travel abroad, keep in mind that some cultures have different meal schedules and that restaurants’ open hours may differ from what you’re used to. Make enquiries before heading out, or you might hit your nose on a “Closed” sign.

Read more Family Travel Tips at Babble!

As you can see, they offer plenty of advice on how to make the most of your family vacation, from airports to passing the hours of a long road trip and all the beaches in between. It’s also a great place to see what the rich and famous are doing over their summer holiday, and who doesn’t want to know that?

Safe travels!

All photos and quoted text are property of Babble.

Hiking Mineral Ridge

Spring is about to be sprung on us here in the Pacific Northwest. The one thing I look forward to most with the passing of winter is packing my kids into the car and finding a mountain trail somewhere nearby so I can stretch out my legs and shake off the cabin fever.

I’m familiar with most of the easy trails in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana. By “easy” I mean, simple day hikes that won’t end with one or another child having a meltdown, pleading with me to “never do this again.” No, we’ve been on those hikes and I learned my lesson.

Today I’m going to highlight eight fun family hiking trails in North Idaho, close to the towns of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, Idaho, and not too far from the metropolis of Spokane, Washington. If you’re in the area for a vacation, or just passing through on I-90, any of these treks will make for a fun, and relatively short, way to experience the wonder and wilderness of Idaho’s great outdoors.

Tubbs Hill Picnic Spot

Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene – It’s the crown jewel of Coeur d’Alene, situated right next to downtown. We’ve made this into two separate hikes; one from the 3rd Street parking lot out to the halfway point and back, and a second hike from the east side parking lot on 10th St. to the halfway point and back. Either one, or all the way around, is mostly level, with awesome views of the lake and hundreds of perfect picnic spots.  You can walk to Tubbs Hill from any downtown hotel or bed and breakfast.

Q’emiln Park in Post Falls – The hiking trails start right at the parking lot near the west entrance to the park. There are spectacular views of the Spokane River, and the rock climbing walls provide a chance for the kids to watch people scaling the vertical rocks. On a hot summer day the city beach with lifeguards is right there at the park for a swim or a picnic.

Higgins Point in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive, it’s a leisurely walk along a paved trail next to the lake. Perfect if you don’t want to get your feet dirty. We go past the photographer statue and up the hill into the park, then down one of the rugged trails to the water’s edge.

English Point National Recreation Trail in Hayden – This one’s kind of hidden away off Highway 95. We love looping through the woods, catching glimpses of Hayden Lake, and generally feeling like we’re in the middle of nowhere. If you’re on your way to Silverwood Theme Park, make a quick stop at English Point.

Mineral Ridge in Coeur d’Alene – The longest of the hikes, at 3.3 miles. We only do it once or twice a year, and make it an all-day trip, with a picnic at the very top where the lake view is well worth the climb. There’s a little cave to explore on the way up, and the whole area is rich with mining history.

Beauty Bay Trail in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene on Hwy. 97, the Beauty Bay Trail is the shortest and easiest hike, at just a half-mile to a viewing deck and then another half-mile through the forest. The kids might want to walk it twice.

Ancient Cedars

Cougar Bay Preserve in Coeur d’Alene – A few miles south of the Blackwell Island Bridge on Hwy. 95, Cougar Bay is one big wildlife nursery with miles of rugged trails. If you want to pretend to be lost in the woods, this is a good place to do it.

Settlers Grove of Ancient Cedars in Murray – Further away than the other hikes, but worth the drive to the Silver Valley. It’s a quiet place, with few visitors. The level dirt trail winds through huge towering cedar trees that make you feel like you’re in another world. In Murray, the historic Sprag Pole Museum is a must-see while you’re in the area. It’s also a good place to get a huckleberry shake.

All photos by Phil Corless

Seattle From West Seattle

 

A telephone ringing

Operator: Hello, Directory assistance

Santa Claus: Uh, yeah this is Santa Claus and I was wondering if you could help me with a potentially huge problem I have.

Operator: Santa Claus? Ok, buddy, I’m hanging up now.

Santa: No. Wait, wait.  I really am Santa Claus and I can prove it.

Operator: Ok, you have 5 seconds.  Impress me.

Santa: Uhh…ok, ok.  Remember how you asked me for The George Forman Grill last year? You wanted to lose a few pounds around the middle to impress that cute girl in the apartment next…

Operator: Ok, Ok. Enough said.  I’m starting that tomorrow.  So you are really Santa Claus huh?

Santa: I love doing that.  Yeah, the one and only real Santa.  That’s me.

Operator: Wow! How exactly can I help you Santa? Or should I call you Mr. Kringle?

Santa: Season’s over, so call me Nicki.  My problem is this.  Valentine’s Day is this weekend and I haven’t done anything at all for Mrs. Claus. I’m desperate!  I’m already in the doghouse for spending too many weekend nights hanging out at the pool hall with Dasher and Dancer.  Those guys are real hustlers.  Have you seen The Color of Money? Anyway, they nearly cleaned me out of all my spending money for the month. I need to find a place to take the Mrs. at the last minute, which will also be easy on the pocketbook.

Operator: Hmmmm….Well, I am based out of the Seattle area, which is a short flight down from the pole. I’m assuming you won’t get any reindeer this time of year.  And with Airfare deals at Alaska Airlines being some of the best in quite some time, you could bring her down here for the weekend.  There are loads of great romantic places you could potentially book at the last minute.

Santa: Ooooh, that’s a great idea.  I like it a lot.  Any specific places you had in mind?

W Hotel Room: Seattle

Operator: Well, if you are looking for a romantic evening in the city, I might be able to help you out.  I have a copy of ‘The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest’  here on my shelf.  Let’s see, if you are looking for a downtown hotel for the evening you could try Alexis Hotel, which has an Aveda Spa and wine tastings, or the W Hotel with its “chocolate colored velvet drapes on soaring windows.”  There are also the Hotels Monaco, Andra, and Vintage Park which all get great reviews from the book…but all will most likely be out of your price range if you are really on a budget.

My Personal recommendation would be to stay just outside of downtown proper at the Villa Heidelberg, a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in the western part of the city with rooms starting at $100 a night double occupancy.  It is romantic and best of all affordable.  It doesn’t take kids, but I’m guessing you and the Mrs. won’t be bringing any along.

Santa: No, we are a bit old for that.  That actually sounds real nice.  What about dinner options?

Icon Grill Seattle

Operator: If you stay at Villa Heidelberg, you are just up the hill from one of the most romantic Italian restaurants in Seattle La Rustica.  Or you could travel to downtown for dinner at The Icon Grill with all of its beautiful blown glass, which I can attest exudes romance. For other romantic options, there’s the Dahlia Lounge, Café Campagne, Chez Shea, or Andaluca.

Santa:  Wow, you are giving me some terrific ideas. Thanks.  How can I top it all off?

Operator: Well, I would suggest that before dinner you take Mrs. Claus over to Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint, otherwise known as Constellation Park to gaze over the Puget Sound and watch the sun set over the Majestic Olympic Mountains.  It’s simply magical.  The Park is along Beach Drive in West Seattle and just down the road from La Rustica.  It will be the perfect start to an amazing evening.

Santa:  I’m sold!  I am going to go book something right now.  I can’t thank you enough.  Man, tell me what can I do for you??  You name it.

Operator:  Awesome. Well, it would be nice to get a new iphone as a late Christmas gift.  Can you do that?

Santa:  Sure!  Consider it done.  I’ll send it special delivery with Rudolf tonight!

Operator:  Thanks Santa!! You are the Best.  Maybe I’ll see you in Seattle.

 Seattle photo by: joiseyshowaa (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0); W Hotel photo from starwoodhotels.com; Icon Grill photo from Icongrill.com

Paradise Inn at Mount Ranier

Snow Scene From Paradise at Mount Rainier

Photos by: Lee Coursey