If you’ve exhausted every episode of “How It’s Made” and your “Curious George” is still on the hunt for more details, consider one of these nearby factory tours, where you can learn the ins-and-outs of everything from the chocolate bars to dollar bills.
Photo: Turkey Hill
Turkey Hill Ice Cream Be a Turkey Hill ice cream maker for a day on this unforgettable tour. You’ll learn all about dairy culture, sit in a milk truck, milk a mechanical cow and even star in a Turkey Hill commercial. Most importantly, you’ll visit the Turkey Hill taste lab to create your own flavor.
Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels, baby! Your kids have probably eaten hundreds of them, but here’s a chance to watch (and smell) them as they bake in a large pretzel oven. You’ll tour all the rooms where Snyder’s products are made and watch as they’re sorted and packaged. And there are plenty of free samples too!
SPAGnVOLA Chocolateir Learn how cocoa beans are cultivated and harvested, and then watch those beans transform into some of the tastiest chocolate around. See how chocolate is shaped into all of your favorite candies, from truffles to bonbons to bar. Yes, you can load up on samples!
Paul Reed Smith Guitars Novices and experts alike will learn a lot from this detailed tour of guitar production. Walk through the production line for a sneak peak at how electric guitars, acoustic guitars and amplifiers are made and manufactured. At the end of the tour, you get to test an assortment of guitars. Don’t be surprised if your little Jimi Hendrix asks you to buy one
Zeke’s Coffee Your kids don’t have to be coffee drinkers (they will be soon enough) to enjoy touring Zeke’s roastery, where coffee beans are continuously agitated by a stream of hot air to create what looks like a coffee bean fountain. You’ll watch the the beans go from the roaster to the bag, and every step in between.
Harper Macaw Chocolate Get up-close-and-personal with Harper Macaw’s chocolate-making process at this in-depth tour from a conservation-minded chocolatier. Learn how Harper Macaw works to produce the finest chocolate flavor using pre-and-post-harvest practices that are environmentally and economically sustainable. You’ll get an in-depth look at the meticulous craft of turning cocoa into edible art.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Next time you say to your little one, “Hey, I’m not a money factory!” you can follow that with: “but I’ll take you to see one.” At the Bureau of Printing and Engraving you can walk along a gallery overlooking the production floor as millions upon millions of dollars are made. It’s mesmerizing for grown-ups and minis alike. Sorry, no samples to take home.
Route 11 Potato Chips Take a chip trip to Route 11, where potato chips are hand-cooked right in front of you. While you aren’t able to walk through the factory itself, you can watch the chips in progress from large observation windows. Yes, there are plenty of yummy samples to try. Call in advance for a reservation.
11 Edwards Way (Mount Jackson, Va)
Online: rt11.com
Do you know of any other cool factory tours open to the public? Tell us in the comments section below.
Just a short drive away from both Portland and Seattle, the Olympic National Coastline and Kalaloch Lodge lies waiting for outdoor-loving families ready to explore, adventure and relax. If whale watching, tide pooling, witnessing a living tree hover above the earth and watching the sun set on the ocean while enjoying delectable meals prepared by a professional chef sounds like the ideal getaway for your clan, read on to find out more about this stunning Washington coast destination.
Located in the Olympic National Park on Washington’s scenic west coast, Kalaloch beach is approximately 3.5 hours from both Seattle and Portland by car making it a reasonable trek for families with young ones. Unsurprisingly, with immediate access to both the coastline and the nearby Hoh Rainforest, it is one of the most visited areas of the Olympic National Park. Weather you and your little explorers enjoy animal spotting, treks on trails through trees or playing in the sand and exploring sea life, there are plenty of activities to fill a weekend or week-long travel itinerary with. By the time you return home you are guaranteed to feel equal parts inspired, relaxed and rejuvenated.
Stay
Kalaloch Lodge If getting away from city life and cozying up with your family by the beach in a remote lodge or cabin setting sounds like bliss, then Kalaloch Lodge is everything you have been dreaming of. Set on a bluff overlooking the ocean, all accommodations are surrounded by both evergreen forests with winding trails and beautiful beaches.
The Lodge Experience
For families looking for more of a resort experience, the main lodge is a perfect choice. The Main Lodge Rooms come in a variety of sizes with either one or two queen beds featuring a custom-made Pendleton blanket. If you choose to stay in the Lodge View Rooms, you will enjoy a stunning view of Kalalach Creek and the ocean as well. Upgrade your stay to the Kalaloch Room or Becker’s Room and your family will have more than enough space for an extended stay with a king bed, sofa sleeper and table and a variety of added amenities.
Staying at the lodge comes with the added benefit of a public sitting area where you can grab a complimentary coffee and relax by a roaring fireplace before you head out on adventures for the day. When you your clan gets hungry, you simply head to the lodge’s Creekside Restaurant to grab your meal before heading out.
A Cabin Stay If your tribe prefers extra space and privacy, or if you have a four legged family member who joins you on your travels, then the Kalaloch Lodge Cabins are just what you need. There are a variety of cabins to choose from and most come with kitchenettes or full kitchens. There are units that also have wood burning stoves equipped with a complementary bundle of wood each night for that extra outdoorsy feel. Cabins are designed to accomodate groups of six to ten people, and some are duplex style and share walls.
All Accommodations Wherever you stay, you can expect to enjoy daily housekeeping, a private bathroom and standard amenities like a coffee maker, alarm clock and walking sticks. Kalaloch Lodge is dedicated to offering a true retreat experience as such they do not offer in-room hones, TVs or WiFi, so get ready to unplug and relax.
Where: 157151 US-101, Forks, Wa Rates: $205/night to $360/night Phone: 866-662-9928 Online:thekalalochlodge.com
photo: Annette Benedetti
Explore
The Tree of Life (AKA Tree Root Cave) Kalaloch beach is home to a mystery that will make both you and your littlest skeptics believe in magic and even miracles. Located on the beach just north of Kalaloch Lodge, this wondrous Sitka spruce tree hovers above a small cave that has been carved into the side of a cliff by erosion cause by a small stream that runs into the ocean. To any passerby the running water appears to flow into the cave from the roots of the tree itself, which are for the most part unattached to soil.
While the tree is attached to soil by a couple of thin roots, the fact that it is still thriving and sprouting new green leaves is astonishing. Only a short, 10 minute hike from the lodge, your young nature lovers will love the trek and the photos you’ll get beneath this amazement are well worth the energy it takes to get to it.
photo: Annette Benedetti
Ruby Beach With a system of beaches (none like the other), there are an endless number of ocean front adventures to go on. Ruby Beach is one of the most well known of the nearby beaches and it is name comes from it’s reddish colored sand and rocky beach. The hike from the parking area down to the ocean is short and easy for even the smallest members of your crew, but gives you a chance to peer at wildlife and enjoy sweeping views of the the mountains, rainforests and wilderness.
Young visitors can entertain themselves for hours exploring the driftwood piles and discovering sculptures made of man-made stacked rocks. Ruby Beach is also perfect for bird watching or, if you make there at low tide. your kids can explore tide pools and get up close and personal with mystical looking sea urchins, beautiful starfish, crusty crabs and tiny fish.
photo: Annette Benedetti
Tide Pooling & Whale Watching Ruby Beach is just one of the areas that offers arguably the most entertaining and educational beach activity for kids and adults alike: tide pooling. The tide pools near Kalaloch are known for having some of the most fascinating creatures and crustaceans to be found. Some of the best beaches for tide pooling (other than Ruby Beach) include Beach 4, Second Beach, Third Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall. Make sure to pick up a map of the local beach areas at Kalaloch Lodge before heading out on your tide pool adventure.
Once you choose your beach, get ready to get a sneak peak into the lives of seas stars, pricklebacks, brittle stars, clams, sea snails and barnacles. Remember to follow tide pooling rules: watch your step and stay off the sea life, touch gently, don’t remove anything from the tide pools, and leave only footprints.
While whale watching isn’t a year-round activity, if you plan your trip to Kalaloch during the peak season you are in for the show of a lifetime. May is considered peak whale watching season, but you can potentially catch a glimpse of the majestic gray whales from the shores or from your cabin or lodge room windows during the months of April, October and November as they journey up and down the Pacific Coast. While you are looking for whales, keep little and big eyes peeled and your cameras ready for seals, sea otters and even orcas!
photo: Annette Benedetti
Eat
Creekside Restaurant
All of your family’s seaside adventuring is sure to work up big appetites. Luckily the Creekside Restaurant, located inside Kalaloch Lodge, has something yummy for everyone in your clan. If you like seasonal seafood dishes and fresh local food, this diner will not disappoint. Dungeness crab cakes and lemongrass manila clams are just the delicious start of what this classy but comfortably joint has to offer on their menu. Try their Washington cheese plate, a grilled New York strip or indulge in Dungeness crab mac & Beecher’s Cheese. And the folks at this establishment haven’t forgot the little ones, their children’s menu has kid favorites like grilled cheese, hamburgers, and linguini pasta.
What is your family’s favorite seaside retreat? Share it with us in the comment section below.
—Annette Benedetti
This trip was paid for by Delaware North but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.
Our family of five did Washington, D.C. in just one day. On this trip our three boys were the ages of three to nine so we researched how we could do a day in this city with young kids. A large amount of walking was not going to be doable with a three-year old and we had no stroller along to plop him in. Our plan worked out perfectly and we saw so much of the great city in our only day there.
We had just enjoyed a few days at a rented beach house on the OBX, the Outerbanks of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and our flight home was to leave out of D.C. so we scheduled in an extra day to tour the city before our flight.
The smartest choice we made for in D.C. was our purchase of tour bus tickets which allowed us to hop on and off a bus from a designated bus stop. This enabled us to hop on and get off buses as they ran at regular intervals along a specified route. With young kids this was a total win because in between the sights and monuments they could rest on the bus, plus we didn’t have to drive and park in a busy city.
The open-air bus was fun for the kids and we saw so many amazing statues, monuments, and buildings just from our top of the bus view. The bus was perfect for our family with little kids because even if we opted out of a stop, we were still able to see the sight from our seats on top of the bus. The beauty of the bus line was that we could visit the monuments at our own pace and just head back to the bus stop to wait for the next bus to come when we were done.
The stone monuments and statues were gorgeous and amazing. The kids didn’t always appreciate what they stood for, but they were awesome to behold. We visited the Washington Monument, the Thomas Jefferson Monument, and the White House. As we walked to the White House we saw amazing buildings like the Department of the Treasury and many more elaborate buildings and gorgeous manicured gardens.
The stop the kids loved best was at The Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum. We spent several hours in this museum as this museum held the kids’ interest. They had so much fun seeing all the different types of aircraft, planes, and displays. The astronaut displays were the most exciting to my kids as were the spacecraft. As a mom, I loved that they had some hands-on components to the displays as well for the kids to interact with.
As we continued with our one day tour of D.C., we stopped in at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial which is just massive and awe-inspiring to behold. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was another stop we included in our tour. We walked the wall and told the kids about the lost lives and how the monument was created to honor those people. We also drove through the Arlington Cemetery, though we declined getting out at that stop because with young kids driving through was sufficient.
Our bus also drove past the Pentagon, though there were regulations about visiting so we simply drove past and viewed it from the highway. Our visit happened after the 911 attack so we understood the regulations regarding visiting. The repaired area was visible due to the different brick color.
Our boys wanted to see a Subway. We live in the Midwest so they had never seen a real subway system before. Even though we didn’t ride the subway while we were in D.C., we asked the subway attendant if we could just go down into the tunnels to show our boys what it looked like below ground. He allowed us, but did escort us to go take a quick sneak peak of the trains. Our kids loved seeing the trains and all the people. This gave them exposure to something they had never seen before as trains and people zoomed around beneath the city streets they had just walked on.
The many different types of cultures and people present in the city was also a great experience for our kids. They saw many people from different countries and heard many different languages being spoken. Coming from the Midwest spending even just a day in this city was a great lesson in diversity for our kids.
Washington D.C. is a beautiful city with the amazing architecture, statues, fountains, and gorgeous landscapes. Some day when the kids are older we will go again and stay longer to take in more of the sights. We were impressed with how much we saw in just one day as a family of five with young kids in this grand city. It was a perfect addition to our east coast trip.
Julie Hoag is a wife and mother of three boys. She enjoys writing about motherhood, family, kids, travel, faith, and recipes. She loves spending time with her family, two dogs, and two guinea pigs. Her favorite past time is watching her kids' sports games.
Frances England had us hooked the first time we heard the song Tricycle, from her debut album Fascinating Creatures in 2006. The Bay Area singer/songerwriter, who has been compared to Sarah McLachlan, Ani DeFranco, and Neko Case, is getting ready to release her fifth album and we’re lucky enough to get a sneak peak.
Here for your listening pleasure, is the video trailer for Explorer of the World, which is available for presale on iTunes and Amazon (on sale date is April 1, 2016).
Let us know what you think in the comments below. We’ll pick one commenter to receive a signed copy of the new album. To listen to some of her other music, visit FrancesEngland.com.
Summer may technically be coming to end, but don’t fret. No one knows better than our plugged-in team of writers how many cool things there are to get out and do during the fall months. We asked them to give us a sneak peak of what’s on their autumn must-do lists. Click through the slideshow to meet them and to hear their picks, and then start planning your own fall adventures!
Mae Respicio
In the fall, we love Sonoma for easy day-tripping. One of our favorite outings starts with Train Town (feels way less crowded once summer's over), followed by lunch (or dinner, if you got a late start!) and good people watching just a few minutes down the road at Historic Sonoma Plaza, the town's central square. Our latest go-tos for yummy stuff: Burgers and Vine and homemade scoops next door. The finale: playtime right on the square. With 2 playgrounds, you could bring a bottle (or box) of wine (because this!) for a bit of grown up time while the kids get their energy out.
What is on your fall bucket list? Tell us in the comments below!
If you haven’t hopped on the Instagram bandwagon yet, now might be the time to do it—if only for these six cool moms whose feeds are chock full of gorgous photos (aka insta-spiration). Not only are their images infused with style and fun, but they give you a sneak peak into the lives of other mamas as they go about their daily lives inside the District.
Ally Coglianese, Ally Cog
This fashion and style blogging mama uses her corner of the web to share her personal style, inspirations and what life is like in the Nation’s Capital. The style pics that Ally shares in her Instagram feed are the perfect anecdote for days when you have NO CLUE what to wear. Look close, her adorable baby girl makes a special appearance every once in a while, often draped in mom’s shawl or wearing matching headbands.
Andrea Khoury, Real Housewives of Northern Virginia
This social media junkie strives to be one of the first to know about, well, everything. Especially as it relates to D.C. and Northern Virginia (think: local getaways, hot new businesses, and must-try Pinterest recipes. When she isn’t at her full time 9-to-5, Andrea is running after her energetic son.
Favorite Place to Take Pics: “We are always snapping pics on our outdoor adventures,whether at Fairfax Corner’s fountain, movies on the lawn at the Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park, or visiting the animals at Frying Pan Park Farm.
Lisa Leslie-Williams, The Domestic Life Stylist
It’s no wonder this Caribbean born, self-proclaimed travel enthusiast chose the DMV as her home—there’s so much to do and see with her husband and kids (ages 19 months and 5 years. From local fairs and children’s museums to farmers markets and family events, her Instagram feed captures those adventures in real time.
Favorite Place to Take Pics: “I Instagram whenever I feel inspired. It helps if there’s good food around or it’s a beautiful day. I’m also a sucker for photos on the beach (when I can get there), and great hotels. Lately, my photos give a glimpse of how crazy life has been recently. I’m always on the go.”
Amanda Rodriguez, The Dude Mom
Full disclosure: “The Dude Mom” is one of Red Tricycle D.C.’s trusty writers. But, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include her in this round up. Her Instagram feed mimics her blog (and her penmanship) in it’s cheeky humor, swirled with lifestyle tips and sports…so many sports (oh, did we mention she has THREE boys?). Amanda also moonlights as a photographer, so many of the images she captures of her all-boy brood are simply stunning.
Favorite Place to Take Pics: “My kitchen counter, because that’s where all of the crazy happens. Or, on the sidelines of some sport because that’s where I spend most of my time. ‘On the playground is where I spend most of my days…’ Okay, I’ll stop! You probably mean an actual location, right? I’d have to say Downtown Frederick, Md because of all of the pretty brick and funky alleyways.”
Jaclyn Day, Jaclyn Day Blogs
Sure, this fashion blogger instagrams her fair share of style pics (FYI: She has the BEST plaid scarves collection!), but you’ll also peep images of the books she’s reading, her cuddly kitten, and school lunches. This trend setting mama keeps it real by blogging about (and taking photos of )babies, books, and everything in between.
Angelica Talan, Clarendon Moms We wouldn’t be surprised if you recognized this mom of two. Angelica can often be found jetting around town (her nabe of Clarendon and all over the District) to scope out new and exciting things. Whether she’s exploring shops, restaurants, schools, or play spaces—oh my!—her Instagram feed isn’t far behind.
Favorite Place to Take Pics: “Anywhere in Georgetown. It has the waterfront, which is a great backdrop in any season. There’s also a plethora of stores and boutiques, gorgeous brownstones and houses, amazing hotels and rooftops, the ice rink in winter, the water park in the summer and lots of restaurants—which we frequent regularly.”
Which local, kid-friendly Instagrammers do you follow? Tell us in the Comments section below.
One hundred years ago this month, San Francisco was buzzing with the biggest event in its history. The Panama Pacific International Exhibition featured new inventions, animals, daredevils, art and dozens of beautiful palaces and gardens built just for the event. Well, one hundred is one heck of a birthday, so this weekend SF is throwing the party of the century to celebrate—and everyone is invited!
Photo: PPIE100
A Party at The Palace
This Saturday, February 21, the celebration kicks off at noon with Community Day at the Palace of Fine Arts—one of the few remaining structures built for the original fair. At this free event little makers will love exploring the Palace, which will be transformed into the Innovation Hangar for the run of the fair. It will be filled with new inventions and prototypes from the world’s most innovative companies, and hands-on educational activities and exhibitions from your favorite museums, including the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Smithsonian and the Tech Museum. Also under the dome will be the exhibition “City Rising: San Francisco and the 1915 World’s Fair,” which tells the story of the original event through historical photos, stories and other memorabilia, so the whole family can brush up on the SF history.
Back to The Future
Everyone who’s anyone will be at the party, including some special guests from way, way back—Buffalo Bill Cody, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Michael H De Young, and aviator Art Smith. The littles will love seeing an original 1915 Ford Model T, and they will even have a chance to sit in a Wells Fargo stagecoach and get old timey photographs taken. If firetrucks are their thing, don’t miss the trio of original 100-year-old fire engines on display from the last Exposition.
Uke Gotta See This
There will be no shortage of entertainment, including performances by the Academy Of Hawaiian Arts, Emeryville Taiko, Nemenzo Polynesian Dance Company and San Francisco Opera. But the big show starts at 3 p.m., when hundreds of Ukulele players will gather under the dome for the Uke-a-Thon. Got a uke yourself? Bring it along and join in the symphony, which will be led by famous ukulele players from around the world. Why the ukulele you ask? The mini string instrument was introduced to America at the 1915 World’s Fair, and, well, the rest is history.
Photo: Courtesy of nps.org
After Dark
Once the sun sets, guests will be transported back to 1915. The grounds will be set aglow with thousands of twinkling lights, and you can even enjoy an outdoor film. Designers tried to replicate the look and feel of an evening at the fair a century ago, and after a day of looking back in history, you might just start to feel like it’s actually 1915. Stroll through the picturesque park from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday (or you can come for an early sneak peak on Friday evening) to take best advantage of the light show.
Good to Know: The Celebration continues all year long. Check the PPIE100 website or follow them on Facebook to see what other awesome events they have planned for the rest of the year.
PPIE100 Community Day
Saturday, February 21
Noon-10 p.m.
Palace of Fine Arts
3301 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-563-6504
Online: PPIE100.org
—Erin Feher
How much do you know about the 1915 World’s Fair? Will you attend the anniversary celebration?
Remember when Batkid (aka Miles Scott) saved Gotham (aka San Francisco) last year? Well, now he’s back in a full length feature film to share his whole touching story. Get a sneak peak to Batkid Begins in the heartwarming trailer below.
Batkid Begins traces the origins of 5 year old Miles Scott, from when he first learned to become a superhero by battling leukemia, to the big day where he saved San Francisco and inspired millions. The official documentary will also cover interviews with people who made Batkid’s day happen from Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to Batman, and show exactly what it took to make this little superhero’s dreams come true.
Photo credit: Shelly Provost via Flickr Creative Commons
While all the footage has been shot, the film is still in post-production phase. Funds are currently being raised through an Indiegogo campaign to truly give Batkid’s journey a visually magical finish. The money from the campaign will go towards getting stunning aerial shots of San Francisco, and paying big-name creators, who’ve agreed to work at a reduced rate, to provide Hollywood quality graphics and animation, original music, special effects and more. Afterwards, all profits from the documentary will go towards the Batkid Fund, which supports local San Francisco charities.
Photo credit: Shelly Provost via Flickr Creative Commons
25,000 San Franciscans stopped what they were doing that day to support Miles Scott in his fight against leukemia (and The Penguin). As legendary film composer Han Zimmer (The Dark Knight trilogy, 12 Years A Slave) said: “He gave everybody license to just be a little absurd, a little ridiculous, live their little dreams for a little bit.” We’re sure by the end of the film, we’ll be left wondering who inspired whom.
Did you tune into Batkid’s epic adventure? Don’t forget to share this story!
Maybe you’ve heard of some of these museums, but we bet you haven’t yet explored these hidden gems with your kids. These small, local museums are an easy (and cheap) way to find adventure in your own backyard. Keep in mind that many of the museums on this list are staffed by volunteers so it’s always a good idea to call ahead to confirm opening hours. Flip through the gallery to begin your adventure.
The Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse, SF
This museum makes you feel like a tourist in your own town, with an elevated viewing area to see the winding machinery for the cables as well as a sneak-peak at where the actual cables leave the barn into the streets below. It’s full of cable car history, historic photos, gears, levers, wheels, and an adorable gift shop.
Hours: Apr. 1-Sep. 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Oct. 1-Mar. 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day Cost: Free Ages: All Ages
One of our favorite Top Mom Food Bloggers, Catherine, shares her delicious recipes on her blog Weelicious.com. We love her blog because it is so easy to find a quick and nutritious recipe that will make both kids and adults happy. Now let’s take a sneak peak at current foodie, former model Catherine’s family favorites in Los Angeles.
1. What is your best advice for parents of picky eaters?
Try not to label kids “picky.” Not every child will love every food, so it’s important to empower them as much as possible. I find that letting kids be a part of the process in any way possible–like shopping, growing food or cooking together–will give them some independence and broaden their choices.
2. Where do you shop for your kids’ clothes?
I’m blessed to have a mother-in-law with great taste and a love for her grandchildren. She gets most of their clothes at Bit Z Kids.
3. Where do you like to catch a bite with the little ones in tow?
There are amazing restaurants in our neighborhood. We love going to a little Vietnamese restaurant called Gingergrass for Pho, banana leaf steamed fish, and more.
4. What’s your favorite local vacation or day trips?
Los Angeles is filled with kid friendly destinations like the LA Zoo, Travel Town, the Long Beach Aquarium, Kidspace Museum, and more.
5. Where do you and your husband like to go for date night?
There’s a tiny restaurant called Aroma in our hood that’s family owned and makes the most fresh, seasonal italian dishes that we both crave.
