ML Season Tag: summer,fall,winter

14 Healthy Halloween Hacks So Genius It’s Scary

By Margie Saidel

No sooner is summer behind us when we start putting up fall decorations, consuming pumpkin-flavored drinks and seeing the ubiquitous Halloween candy lined top to bottom on store shelves. This time of year can be challenging for both parents and children to keep up with healthy habits. At Halloween, candy is front and center.

Here are few tips to help avoid those unavoidable candy-induced arguments:

  1. Emphasize the decorations, costumes, ghost stories, and origins of Halloween. Enjoy trick-or-treating but don’t make it the only activity associated with the holiday.
  2. Enjoy a family dinner before heading out to trick or treat. If kids are full, they’re less likely to eat too much candy.
  3. Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project. A teal-painted pumpkin on your step means you hand out non-food treats to make Halloween safe for all children, including those with food allergies.
  4. Make a game of trading candy for another treat, i.e., seven pieces of chocolate buys a later bedtime, an outing to the movies, etc.
  5. Finally, don’t deprive your kids of Halloween candy. It will only make them want it more. Instead, set up some guidelines for how and when they can have it. For example, let them choose a few favorites to eat on Halloween, but eliminate chocolate with caffeine. Or, keep the candy in a common area so you can control the amount, but your child can choose the treat.

Now, candy may be a favorite, but kids also love a good theme—trust me, I’ve worked in school dining services for 30 years. There are definitely some Halloween- and spooky-themed snacks that are hauntingly healthy. Try these healthy Halloween hacks:

  1. Fill a clear plastic glove with popcorn and place candy corn at each fingertip for Spooky Hands.
  2. Build a candy corn parfait with vanilla yogurt, mandarin oranges, and pineapple.
  3. Slice the top off a large orange and pull out the fruit inside. Carve the orange as a Jack-o-Lantern and fill it with trail mix or fresh fruit.
  4. Dip strawberries into white chocolate and add chocolate chips for eyes and a nose for a ghostly experience.

Halloween Can Be Tricky for Parents, Too

Halloween is the first holiday of the fall and winter seasons that goes hand-in-hand with sweet treats. For parents who may be trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight or limit sugar intake, here’s a few tips to keep you safe from the ghoulish candy binge:

  1. Buy candy you don’t like for trick-or-treaters. Store it where you won’t see it every day.
  2. Say no to pumpkin-flavored coffee drinks that are likely loaded with sugar (I know it’s hard!). Try a coffee or skinny latte with a shot of sugar-free pumpkin syrup instead.
  3. Avoid the highest calorie candy choices in the fun-size packages: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (110 calories), Peanut M&Ms (90 calories) and Butterfinger (85 calories).
  4. If you have leftover candy, donate it or freeze it to enjoy slowly and one piece at a time.
  5. Work out the morning of Halloween because it will keep you motivated to limit your indulgences later that night.

Of course, Halloween should be fun for everyone—even grown ups, so—plan for a sweet treat or two and look forward to it. Don’t beat yourself up and enjoy it!

I have a passion for public health. As a Registered Dietician, I’ve been fortunate enough to turn that passion into a career with Chartwells K-12, where I help give millions of students across the country the nutrition and nourishment they need to live healthy, happy lives.

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Good News, ‘Burbs! Uber-Cool Codeverse is Headed Your Way!

by Maria Chambers

Even if you have a passing interest . . . no, zero interest . . . in technology, you’re going to think Codeverse’s state-of-the art technology and facilities that teach kids how to code are quite possibly the coolest places you’ve ever seen. Read on to hear how Codeverse will change the way you look at the traditional classroom and your definition of languages — and where they are expanding to beyond their Lincoln Park location.

What is this Codeverse?
Codeverse opened their first location in summer 2017 in a visually stunning 3,600-square-foot Lincoln Park facility. It’s the world’s first fully interactive coding studio designed for kids ages 6-13 with a rather lofty mission in mind — to teach one billion kids to code using their proprietary language, KidScript. Think of it as a school for learning a vital foreign language the kids of today will definitely need to know in the future: coding.

Having just received $10M in additional funding to support growth, they’ve announced expansion into the Naperville and Wilmette suburbs late fall or early winter 2018. You’re encouraged to join the Naperville and Wilmette waitlists to stay up-to-date on grand opening dates as well as touring and learning opportunities.

What is KidScript?
KidScript is the first-ever programming language designed specifically for kids that’s meant to be a gateway to the languages it borrows from: Ruby, JavaScript, Visual Basic and Python. Kids at the beginning stages of exploring coding can get overwhelmed by some of the complexities associated with mature coding languages, so KidScript is built with easy to read and write syntax that’s simple and intuitive. Other options on the market offer kids a drag-and-drop option for programming, while KidScript actually allows kids to write code which gives them more power to create exactly what they want. And, it’s so straightforward, even a sleep-deprived parent could do it!

Who is behind the creation of Codeverse?
This passion project was started by serial tech entrepreneurs that have launched 12 startups between the three of them: Katy Lynch, former Techweek CEO; Craig Ulliott, Founder of Belly and Facebook’s Where I’ve Been app; and Dave Arel, Cofounder/CTO of Roniin. With the majority of schools not offering computer programming classes, despite a job market that’s begging for skilled professionals, Codeverse’s launch in Chicago, expansion into the suburbs and their planned growth internationally is setting the stage for this to be their legacy company.

What you’ll see in the space
First, your student will check into class using an iPad station at the front desk. Once your kid checks in, one iPad hanging on a wall of iPads will light up with your kid’s name. It then becomes their portal to learning and boundless creativity while they’re at Codeverse. If they’ve been to Codeverse before, it will remember their progress and anything they’ve created previously will be ready and waiting to be developed upon.

The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into the main room is the multiple learning spaces, from a giant cozy couch or beanbag chairs to traditional classroom style seating or hidden coding pods with padding and pillows. Kids can pick the space they feel the most comfortable in and move about freely.

What you may not notice right off the bat is a lot of the things within the space are numbered. Lights, televisions, music speakers . . . that’s because kids will not only learn how to design and build apps and games, they’ll have the ability to control any modern tech gadget within the studio, including all the things we just listed and robotic arms, 20-foot TV, drones, 3D printers and more! Things are numbered so kids can tell the iPad what item they’re trying to control. This means your student can select light number 3, for instance, and turn it from a traditional overhead light to a spinning strobe light worthy of a dance club by making a few changes to the coding language.

What will all this cost me?
A monthly membership is $225 ($175 for a limited time with a 4-month commitment). Each student receives one 75-minute class per week, access to Codeverse at home (which comes in handy because they build their first app on day 1), a personalized, self-adjusting curriculum optimized for their age and skill level, and weekly progress reports sent to you.

Other opportunities to take advantage of Codeverse’s programs
When you hit that part of summer where your kid’s eyes begin to glaze over from lack of educational stimulus, or they have random days and weeks off from school throughout the year, fill the time with Codeverse camp. Kids in grades 1-8 will be treated to full days of fun with KidScript that includes field trips to local technology-centric businesses (the Apple store, for instance) and chef-prepared snacks and lunches. The hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m., but you can drop campers as early as 7 a.m. and pick them up as late as 5:30 p.m.

Besides the camps, Codeverse also collaborates with local school school districts to provide after-school and weekend learning opportunities to work toward their billion-child mission.

Good to Know
They literally thought of everything for these spaces. Should you have a little one who tends to get overstimulated and could benefit from a quiet space, they have a separate room where they can have alone time while they create on their iPad. That space also doubles as a room for nursing moms.

You really do need to see this space in person to understand it’s awesomeness, so if this sounds like something your kid would dig, sign them up to try their first class for free using this link or by calling 844-644-CODE.

Codeverse
819 W. Eastman St., Lincoln Park
Coming Soon! 55 S. Main St., Ste. 230, Naperville
Coming Soon! 517 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette
844-644-2633
Online: codeverse.com

— Maria Chambers

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The 7 Most Hilarious Christmas Cards to Make You Literally LOL

by Keiko Zoll

It’s T-minus four days and counting until Christmas, and there’s a good chance your mailbox has already been inundated with holiday cards. Some families go for the classic summer or fall family portrait while others go for more, um, “stylistic” approaches. Here are seven of the funniest family Christmas cards to make even the biggest humbug crack a smile.

A Very Cretaceous Christmas

tdastru via reddit

According to reddit, this is what happens when "dad's in charge of the family Christmas card." Not going to lie, this is a pretty adorable and creative Christmas card—and I have a pretty good idea what everyone will be for Halloween next year, too.

A Very "Down Home" Christmas

CartoonAndrew via reddit

Redditor CartoonAndrew (also known as hellvetika on Instagram) is a professional drag performer. He and his family have a tradition to do a completely off-the-wall Christmas card every year; according to reddit, they're in their seventh year of Christmas card mayhem. This lovely take on the annual portrait is from four years ago. But where on Earth did they find—much less obtain—a pig?

"Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal!"

adeannephoto via Instagram

There's sibling rivalry, and then there's this. Seems like this little Christmas elf took "away in a manger" a bit too literally on that whole "away" part.

Ummmm....

tamagothecat via reddit

I'll let redditor tamagothecat explain this lovely rendition of the Christmas story himself: "Me and my cat's Christmas card was deemed "sacrilegious" by a few people. What do you think?"

Yes. The correct answer here is yes.

All the Single Ladies

Emily Seawright via Twitter

This viral Christmas card photo took Twitter by storm last month. Poor Emily. But really, aren't we all Emily at one point or another in our lives?

And Then There's This Very Special Single Lady

kelsofb via reddit

When you've been single your whole life, you have to get a little creative come Christmas-time, as this redditor did in 2016.

Mama Tried.

wankershim4ever via reddit

According to reddit, this was Christmas card photo this family went with in 2016*. Honestly, after the crazy rush of winter holidays, I feel like this is how every parent feels once the New Year finally rolls around. 

*As far as I can tell, no babies were harmed (for life) in the making of this holiday card.

Merry Christmas!

Do you have a funny holiday card you’ve come across this winter? Share your photos in the comments!

—Keiko Zoll

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Feed Your Family For Free: Foraging in the Rose City

by rttyadams

There’s an ancient activity that can tap into your kids’ Neanderthal skill set, provide some useful knowledge and yield some nutritional dishes. Humans have been foraging for wild plants since the dawn of our species, and while modern living has removed many of us from the practice, the good news is that Portlanders are blessed with a terrain and climate that produces an abundance of wild edibles year-round as well as a passionate and committed community of knowledgeable foragers eager to guide us. Local herbalist and entrepreneur Karina Brown of Astralux helped us put together this beginner’s guide to urban foraging with children. Read on for tips and tricks from the pros.

Photo: Heather Sunderland via flickr

Before You Go
Foraging as a family can help us find the secret wild spaces in our city and reconnect us and our tiny tribe with the earth and its calming patterns and pace. Parents might be surprised at how well their normally jet-propelled screen junkies can settle in and focus when diving into the task of picking (and mostly eating) row after row of blackberries.

It’s understandable that safety is the first thought of many parents when contemplating their first foraging trip, but the experts tell us that as long as everyone in the family follows the “golden rule” of foraging, it should be approached with excitement and encouragement rather than fear. The rule is: never eat any wild plant unless you’re 100 percent sure that you know what it is. Beginners are also encouraged to verify every wild plant with a more experienced forager and kids should only forage with adults when starting out.

Unless you plan to stick to only foraging a handful of very easy to identify wild plants, it’s a very good idea to get a field guide or two that you can bring along on your expeditions. There are many options, but one recommended book, Edible Wild Plants, Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate, comes from Portland botanist John Kallas who has been researching wild edibles since 1970. Kallas also runs a website dedicated to wild food and offers regular classes and field trips.

Finding Quality Spots
If you have a yard, it’s a great place to start your family foraging practice, and you might be surprised to discover wild edibles that have been right under your nose. When sourcing other spots in your neighborhood or beyond, keep in mind a few basic rules about etiquette as well as pesticides and other contaminants.

  1. Always verify that the area is public property and not being treated with pesticides before you pick, and it’s also a good idea to stay away from roadsides where plants are slathered in vehicle exhaust or even heavily trafficked trails where dogs will be frequently lifting their legs.
  2. When it comes to bushes or trees hanging from private property into a public space, it’s probably better to double check with owners if you’re planning to pick more than a handful.

Now, for those excited about finding new foraging grounds, rather than trying to name all the wild thickets and publicly accessible fruit trees in Portland, we’d direct newbies to a very cool web-based, nonprofit project called Falling Fruit, a crowd-sourced, interactive map of foraging locations worldwide.

There are currently over 13,000 sites listed in the greater Portland area. Live near Fernhill park in Northeast? The site describes the location of two enormous chestnut trees there. Heading to Forest Park? How about a stop off at the apple, cherry or one of several pear trees on public property along NW Thurman Street? There are likely hundreds of options within a few miles of where you live.

What’s In Season?
The growing cycle of plants generally dictates the type of harvest that’s available in each season. In early spring, with all the energy focused on new growth and heading toward the sun, the harvest will be leafy greens, from dandelion leaves to chickweed and nettles (for the well-gloved). Summer is berry time, with raspberries leading the way and yielding to wild strawberry, blackberry, huckleberry, salal, salmonberry and thimbleberry, to name a few.

Fall will often offer a second helping of greens or the edible seed pods they’ve helped produce, as well as early edible roots, many nut trees (if squirrels don’t beat you to them), larger fruiting bodies of pears and apples, and mushrooms. In winter, as leaves and seeds fall, plants return their energy to their roots, when savvy foragers can dig for wild onion, wapato and cat tail among other edible and medicinal roots.

With so many options, it can be overwhelming for beginning foragers, so (in addition to the blackberries that are blowing up) here are four common and easy-to-identify wild edibles that are either ready for the picking right now, as well as a few ideas on preparation:

Photo: Cathy Stanley-Erickson via flickr

Dandelion (Taraxacum) – Let’s begin with a classic, and one that almost every kid knows. From its floating seeds to its weird, milky sap and oh-so-pop-able flower head, everything about the dandelion seems designed just for kids, but it also happens to have some impressive nutritional properties. One cup of raw dandelion greens contains 535% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and 112% of vitamin A. While some folks battle it out with dandelions in their yards, why not turn the invasion into an opportunity to get your wee foragers started? Dandelion does have a prolific mimic, catsear (Hypochaeris), that is considered edible but much less appealing in our opinion. To distinguish between the two, note that dandelions have hairless leaves and are always limited to one flower per stem, while catsear is hairy with multiple flowers per stem.

Preparation: Though some varieties are less bitter and suitable for use raw in salads, if you’re aiming for kid consumption, one of our favorite preparations is to saute tender, early leaves with butter, bacon, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a dash of maple syrup/honey. The flowers can be used to make tasty wine, though make sure to only use the yellow flowering parts.

 

Photo: Fluffymuppet via flickr

Chickweed (Stellaria media) – a small, white flowering annual plant that’s two to five inches tall and almost always an early visitor to Portland gardens. It’s lush and bright green with star-shaped flowers, and the seed pods that develop later are fun for kids because they launch spring-shaped seeds when touched. Distinguish common chickweed from any look-alikes by finding a single line of hairs running vertically up the stalk in a spiral. The tops of this plant can be trimmed and it will continually grow.

Preparation: The flowers and leaves are great to eat raw and make a unique garnish or addition to salads.

Photo: pawpaw67 via flickr

Common Mallow / Cheeseplant (Malva neglecta) – A summer and winter annual or biennial with a deep tap root, hairy, kidney shaped leaves, low spreading stems growing four to 20-inches high, and five-petal flowers that range from white to pink or lilac. The fruits are round and look like a small wrapped wheel of cheese. All parts of the plant are edible, although the fruit is the easiest to prepare and probably the most palatable for beginners.

Preparation: The leaves can be eaten raw but the hair can be a put-off for some. It can be a neat party trick to add the flowers or cheese-shaped fruit to salads and the fruit makes a good substitute for capers. Leaves are a good thickener and have been used well in gumbo recipes. If you want to go next level, the mallow roots can be cooked, releasing a thick fluid when boiled that can be beaten to make a meringue or substitute for egg whites.

Photo: Toshiyuki IMAI via flickr

Sorrel (Oxalis stricta) – The leaves look just like clover shamrocks though they’re often larger, and is also distinguished by its yellow flowers and height up to 15 inches. While this one shouldn’t be consumed in large quantities because too much oxalic acid can inhibit calcium absorption, you’d probably have to force yourself to do that anyway due to the sour taste. It is loaded with vitamin C, prevalent on most nature hikes in the area and has thirst-quenching properties.

Preparation: The leaves, flowers and immature green seed pods are all edible (and sour) and are well-used as a garnish, soup/sauce ingredient or as a similar drink to lemonade when sweetened with honey or maple syrup.

Do you have some family foraging experiences, tips or spots you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

— Ty Adams

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All Aboard! Where to Ride Steam Trains

by Helen Walker Green

If tracks, whistles and shiny engines get your little conductor’s boiler bubbling, it’s time to hop on a steam train. From old logging locomotives to tank engines to antique diesels, there are plenty of train adventures to keep mini engineers chugging along, all year-long. Read on for our guide to riding the rails in the Pacific Northwest.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
The small town of Elbe is heaven on earth for steam train buffs and it’s where families can easily spend a whole railroad-themed weekend. Stay in a converted rail car at the Hobo Inn, have breakfast at the Mt. Rainier Railroad Dining Company and board the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad for Mineral. Enjoy the trip over trestles and bridges, check out the old logging camp in Mineral and grab a snack in the café car. Then, head back to Elbe for lunch at the Pizza Express.

The number 17 leaves from the Elbe depot three times a day on weekends. Plan to arrive a bit early to grab a bite to eat and look around the gift shop or allow time to do that afterwards. During the excursion, traingoers will enjoy a 40 minute ride through the forested foothills of Mt. Rainier, alongside a mountain stream. The Engineer will be sure to blow the whistle when you’re coming up on a great view (Psst… there’s a wonderful view of the mountain at one point, but of course, it’s not guaranteed to be “out”).

photo: Helen Walker Green

When you reach Mineral, you’ll have 40 minutes to explore this historic mining town and show your mini conductor what life was like in a logging camp during the 19th century. You’ll also have a chance to see the living quarters and some of the amazing tools used. There are great old engines to look at in Mineral too – kids can climb in the cab and ring the bell. And you can see the engine sheds and chat with volunteers working on restoring the old engines. Then, the whistle will blow, the conductor will call “all aboard” and it’s time to head back to Elbe.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Good to Know
1. There’s a snack bar on board that serves tea, coffee, soda and snacks (think candy and chips).

2. There’s only one restroom on board, so it’s best to go at the depot before you board or take advantage of the restrooms in Mineral.

3. Since this is a popular trip, we suggest buying your tickets online. However, you can buy tickets at the depot if space is available.

4. If you’re looking for a sweet treat after your trip, head to the Copper Creek Inn Restaurant. Located just past the depot in the town of Ashford, the Copper Creek Restaurant serves an epic slice of mouthwatering blackberry pie. And if the weather’s nice, there’s a fantastic little playground in Ashford perfect for burning off the sugar-high.

5. Coloring pages featuring the trains in the collection can be downloaded here.

Special Events
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has some fantastic special events including the Pumpkin Express every October where families can visit the railroad’s own pumpkin patch and take home a free souvenir pumpkin as well as enjoy carnival games and a costume contest. Then, there’s the magical day with Santa aboard The Santa Express, the Bunny Express every Easter and special Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day trains.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Museum
54124 Mountain Hwy. E.
Elbe, Wa 98330
360-569-7959
Online: mrsr.com or map it

Schedule: Weekends, May-Oct. Trains depart at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Open at other times of year for special events.

Fares: $32/Adults (12 & older); $28/Seniors, Military & AAA members; $26/Youth (ages 5-12); $18/Kids (ages 3 & 4); 2 & under Free

Journey time: 120 minutes including stop in Mineral.

ADA: One of the train cars is wheelchair accessible and there is an accessible restroom on the train. There are wheelchair lifts at both Elbe and Mineral. There is a substantial amount of gravel in Mineral (wheelchairs should be kept to the sidewalks to avoid getting stuck).

Northwest Railway Museum
If you’ve got train crazy kids, then you’ve probably been here before. This, of course, is Thomas the Tank Engine’s home away from home when he visits the Pacific Northwest. The annual Day Out With Thomas is a huge hit! Kids get to ride a train pulled by their favorite steamie, have their photo taken with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt, play with lots of Thomas toys, bounce to their heart’s content and generally come home tired and happy.

But there’s more to the Northwest Railway Museum than just the friendly tank engine. The museum is located in Snoqualmie’s 1890 Victorian depot; it’s open year-round and free to enter. It’s actually housed in the former lady’s waiting room and freight room and has lots of interesting railroad history exhibits and a fantastic model railway kids can take a turn driving. There’s also a gift shop in the former gentlemen’s waiting room.

photos: Helen Walker Green

Antique trains, some steam and some diesel, run between Snoqualmie and North Bend from April through October. You can board at either station and get a round trip or return. Both Snoqualmie and North Bend have lots to offer families, so it’s a super day out. After stopping at Snoqualmie, the westbound train journeys up to an overlook at the top of Snoqualmie Falls. Psst… we recommend allowing some time in your day for this excursion!

photo: Richard R. Anderson/Northwest Railway Museum

Good to Know
1. The Snoqualmie Depot and Museum is open year-round from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

2. You can purchase your tickets at the original ticket window, just like passengers did back in the 19th century. Regular tickets are not available to purchase online but you can purchase Halloween Train and Santa Train tickets online. Day Out With Thomas tickets are also available online (check the Northwest Railway Museum’s website starting in February for more information).

3. There is no admission charge to visit the depot, museum and grounds. However, donations are encouraged and appreciated.

Special Events
The Northwest Railway Museum hosts a ghostly Halloween Train and festive Santa Train. It’s also fun to visit in August during Snoqualmie Railroad Days – a community celebration of the town’s railroad and logging history and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.

Northwest Railway Museum
38625 SE King St.,
Snoqualmie, Wa 98065
425-888-3030
Online: trainmuseum.org or map it

Schedule: Steam trains run weekends, April through October. Special trains run in December as well as on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July.

Fares: $20/Adults (12 & older); $18/Seniors (62 & older); $12/Children (2-12); Under 2 Free

Journey time: 75 minutes round trip between Snoqulamie and North Bend and to Snoqualmie Falls.

ADA: Northwest Railway Museum coaches are historically accurate, which means they have limited doorway widths and steep stairwells, so are not fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Train crews are always prepared to assist passengers when entraining or detraining. They can also use a hand-crank wheel chair lift for passengers. Please advise the train crew about your special needs prior to boarding, so they may best meet your requirements.

Alberni Pacific Railway
Bet you didn’t know there was a railway on Vancouver Island, did you? But there is and the trains were once used for logging in the Alberni Valley. For a taste of old-time Canadian railways, board the No.7 at the 1912 Canadian Pacific station in Alberni. This 1929 Baldwin logging locomotive will take you for a journey through the beautiful forest to McClean Mill—a steam operated saw mill. The coaches are actually cabooses, refitted with seats and three are open and two covered (lovely for a beautiful summer or fall day trip).

photo:  Alberni Pacific Railway

The conductor is happy to answer questions from your mini engine crew while riding the rails. And he or she may even get to chat with the engineer and fireman at the station. When you arrive at McClean Mill you’ll have a guided tour of the mill and logging camp. Psst… be sure to fill up with some Logger’s Chili or a McClean Burger at the Steam Pot Cafe and visit the Mill Store gift shop before you leave. And don’t forget to ask the gift shop staff about the Children’s Stamp Tour, where kiddos can collect stamps on their tour of the mill.

photo: Mark Sundstrom via flickr

Special Events
Avast there, matey! Journey from the high seas to the rails with the Alberni Pacific’s Pirate Train. There’s also a Trick or Treat Train at Halloween, a Teddy Bear Picnic Train and a Train Robbery Father’s Day Special. For grownups, book a trip on the Wine Steam Train where you will stop at the Chase & Warren Estate Winery.

Alberni Pacific Railway
5633 Smith Rd.,
Port Alberni, Bc V9Y 8M1
250-723-1376
Online: welcome-alberni-pacific-steam-railway or map it

Schedule: Daily, during the summer months. Check online for special events throughout the year.

Fares: Vary, depending on the time of year. Check the schedule online.

Journey time: 35 minutes each way

Tickets: Purchase online or at the station. Walk up tickets may be available on the day of your visit, space permitting.

photo: Doug Hay via flickr

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad (Battle Ground, Yacolt & Chelatchie Prairie Railway)
This rustic Victorian railroad opened in 1888 as a logging and passenger railroad. It runs between Yacolt and Chelatchie Prairie. See if your little engineer can spot what the 1929 steam engine has in common with Thomas. (Hint: it’s a tank engine, meaning that it doesn’t pull a coal tender behind it but carries its fuel, oil and water in large tanks mounted on top of the boiler and behind the cab). This was an advantage for branch lines as it meant the locomotive could easily operate in reverse, so this is why Thomas has his very own branch line.

This steamie will take you from Yacolt through forests and tunnels, past farms and the Lewis River. See what wildlife you can spot along the way. On the return leg, the train stops at Moulton Station, where your family can take a short walk to scenic Yacolt Falls.

Special Events
Stick ‘em up! Revisit the old days of the Wild West with a train robbery special. Will the robbers get away with the loot? In addition to this wild excursion, Chelatchie Prairie RR hosts Fall Leaves specials, the Headless Horseman Halloween Train (ride if you dare) and the Steam Winter Spectacular (featuring Santa!). However, the highlight is definitely the Christmas Tree Special Train (it’s an antique diesel, but we had to show the diesels some love too). Take the train out to a tree farm, pick your tree and the crew will load and offload it for you. You’ll also get a great deal on a tree. At just $60 for a family of four, the prices are so good it’s almost like getting the train ride free. What a lovely twist on a seasonal tradition.

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
207 S. Railroad Ave.,
Yacolt, Wa 98675
360-686-3559
Online: chelatchieprairierr.org or Map it

Schedule: Varies throughout the year. Check their website for special events Dec. through May.

Fares: $20/Adults (12 & older); $19/Seniors (60 & older); $15/Youth (5-12); $13/Kids (ages 2-4); Under 2 Free. Adult boarding passes are good for a free wine tasting at Moulton Falls Winery.

Journey time: 1 hour 45 minutes roundtrip

Tickets: Reserve online or buy in the depot if available.

photo: Douglas Auberg

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad
A 1916 steam locomotive pulls the train from this vintage Chehalis station. See if you can spot Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens as you wind through the Chehalis River Valley. The Milwaukee Road track crosses several wooden trestles and passes many historic farmsteads and country homes.

You can choose from two destinations and take either a simple coach run or a dining train. Regular coach runs go to Milburn – where your family will enjoy watching the engine crews run around the train with the locomotive in order to put it on the other end! You can also take a Riverview Coach to Ruth at certain times of the year. You’ll steam alongside the Chehalis River, through forests and farmlands. If you and the kids want to dress up and dine out in style, you can also take a Dinner Train to Ruth. Families will dine in a refurbished 1920’s dining car, with white linen tablecloths, full china and impeccable wait staff (maybe not for toddlers).

photo: Michael Jefferies via flickr

Special Events
Who dunnit? Grownups will love the Murder Mystery Dinner Train. There’s also the Pumpkin Train, The Polar Express Train and Easter Trains for all ages.

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad
1101 Southwest Sylvenus St.
Chehalis, Wa 98532
360-748-9593
Online: steamtrainride.com or map it

Fares: Roundtrip to Milburn – $14/Adults; $13/Seniors; $11/Kids (4-15); 3 & under Free. Roundtrip to Ruth – $17/Adults; $16/Seniors; $14/Kids (4-15); 3 & under Free. Dinner Train Roundtrip to Ruth – $47/Adults; $23.50/Kids (10 and under).

Journey time: Coach run round trip to Milburn 75 minutes; coach run roundtrip to Ruth 105 minutes.

Tickets: No reservations required for coach runs; reservations strongly encouraged for dining trains and special events.

Kitsap Live Steamers
It’s a little different from the full steam train experience, but we couldn’t resist including it because it’s such a fun ride for steam buffs! Kitsap Live Steamers is a 7 1/2 inch gauge scale railroad, owned and run by volunteers. Miniature steam locomotives that work exactly like the big ones, down to every little detail. Twice a month, they’ll take you and the fam for a ride on their trains (you sit on them like you sit on a horse, one leg either side). Psst! These engineers are enthusiasts—they own and maintain their trains and love to share them with others.

Special Events
Every year, Kitsap Live Steamers runs a Ghost Train where they’ll take you on a ride through a haunted park and all the proceeds benefit the Kitsap Foster Care Association.

Kitsap Live Steamers
South Kitsap Regional Park
3101 S.E. Marbeth Ln.
Port Orchard, Wa 98366
360-886-1189
Online: kitsaplivesteamers.org or map it

Schedule: Second and fourth Saturdays starting in April and ending in October from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fares: All rides are free, but donations are accepted to cover the cost of maintaining the track and trains.

Journey: Approximately 10 minute rides (and you can ride again and again and try different trains).

Where is your family’s favorite place to ride the rails? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Helen Walker Green

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Hawaii-3-Oh! A Luau-Themed Party You Gotta See

by scott wardell

Even though the leaves may be turning a gorgeous shade of orange and brown, doesn’t mean that throwing a tropical luau-themed birthday party is out of the question. If you’re looking to imbue a bit of summer into your drab fall or winter birthday parties, here’s an excellent idea courtesy of our friends Marisa and Lisa at LA Party Stylists. Marisa, mom to Lillie, decided to take her daughter’s love of hula dancing to the next level. Not only were Marisa and Lisa (she even took the photos!) kind enough to share their photos of the sweet birthday party, but they also gave us some inside tips on how this celebration came together. Ah, to be the daughter of a party planner. We all can dream, right?

When you’re the daughter of a party planner, extraordinary birthday parties are the norm. For Marisa’s daughter’s third birthday party, she took her little one’s love of hula and tiki torches to a whole new level with this awesome celebration that featured hula dancing and a tiki piñata.

The party took place in Marisa and Lillie’s backyard, which would be really easy to emulate if you live in a warmer climate like Los Angeles. If your city isn’t blessed with year round sun, then host your luau party indoors with bright tropical decorations such as tablecloths, streamers and other colorful decor to recreate a tropical island.

Believe it or not, Marisa made the hula girl cake. She dishes to us that you simply need to use a Wilton doll cake pan. The trick is to use a grass frosting tip to get the grass skirt effect. To make the cake a little larger and more substantial for her entire party, Marisa baked another 9 inch round cake, stacked the doll cake on top of it, and then frosted them together. Just a little bit of ingenuity, creative flair, and patience and you can easily make your own hula girl cake!

Head to your local bakeshop for hula girl and tropical cookie cutters. Lillie insisted that her mom make hula cookies but only if they had blonde hair like hers!

If you’re in Los Angeles, head to Party City and Moskatels in Downtown L.A. for all of the store-bought party goods. If you don’t live in the SoCal region, call up your local party shop or check out Etsy for some personalized goods.

All the printed matter for Lillie’s third birthday was designed by Gretchen Postiglione at P.Ink Creative and the party favors were personalized Hawaiian t-shirts from Etsy vendor 98Bottles.

A birthday party, especially when there are antsy little kids involved, wouldn’t be complete without tons of activities. Here, Marissa brought in a hula dancer and three musicians. After the show, the dancers taught the kids some hula dance steps. There was also swimming and water tables filled with soapy water for those non-hula inclined. We love how even the dads are getting into the hula.

A special thanks to our friends Marisa and Lisa at LA Party Stylists for sharing their inspirational photos and ideas. Do your kids love to hula? Do you think they’d love this theme? Share with us your thoughts on this party and the photos in the comment section below. 

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A First Birthday Party Goes Camping

A Totally Awesome Rock Star’s Birthday Party 

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