February of 2020, we managed to take a memorable vacation to California before life shifted dramatically. We flew into Los Angeles and went on a road trip to enjoy sun, water, and the magic of Disney.
We stayed in LA the first night so we could have a reasonable bedtime and not deal with acquiring a rental car late in the evening. The next day included a big continental breakfast, sunshine, and departing for Anaheim, where we enjoyed one full day of Disneyland. Getting in was stressful. The shuttle from the hotel kept filling up so we gave up and took a bus in. I wished we had an earlier start because lines to get in were insane. Once inside, it was magical. We went straight to meet princesses since there was a short line. And were were happy to spend the money on FastPass+ to reserve ahead for FastPass rides (rather than spending time running around the park with little ones). In one day, we managed all the rides we hoped for, met characters, and saw one show. One kid slept through the Winnie the Pooh ride. And there was agreement that the Roger Rabbit and Pinocchio rides were a bit scary. A little parent hack of mine: I bought Minnie ears and t-shirts before the trip so there was no need to buy apparel at Disneyland.
Waiting to enter Disneyland
The day after Disneyland we enjoyed an extended character breakfast (at one point the waiter made my coffee refill to go) and strolled Downtown Disney. This felt like another day of Disneyland without buying tickets.
Mickey!Goodbye Disney
From Anaheim we headed to Palm Springs. We loved Palm Springs. We stayed at a hotel with a large inviting pool and a lawn the kids could run around on. Our time in Palm Springs was focused on pool time and visiting Joshua Tree National Park. The park was amazing. We left in the morning and got back to Palm Springs at dinner time. We did a few short hikes and explored the area with Skull Rock. Skull Rock was by far the biggest hit for our kids. They enjoyed climbing and exploring. At our last stop, our four year old lost her balance on a small bridge and fall on Cholla Cactus. Luckily, she was impaled by only one spine. But it turns out the spines have little barbs at the end that are extra painful. During our visit to Palm Springs, we stumbled upon their weekly Village Fest. It was very congested and we were nervous we would lose track of a kid but it interesting to walk around and see the various vendors.
From Palm Springs, we headed to our last stop, Santa Monica. We stayed nearby by at Marina Del Ray, next to the Cheesecake Factory. We had a balcony overlooking Mother’s beach that included a playground. We still had our rental car, which made visiting Venice Beach and Santa Monica a little easier. Highlights include playing at the beach, a beautiful sunset, watching roller skaters and skate boarders, and visiting the Santa Monica Pier.
Our viewSanta Monica PierVenice Canals
During the weeks following our trip, everything started shutting down due to Covid. And we didn’t get on a plane again for two years. Where did we go after a two year hiatus on flying? First stop was Palm Springs for much needed sunshine.
For our 2018 family vacation, we did a road trip to Vancouver Island with our almost three year old Ariel and our five month old Sebastian (Ariel and Sebastian being the nicknames chosen by our mermaid loving three year old). We focused on Victoria and Tofino but spent a little time in a few other spots to help break up the drives. We also spent a few days in Vancouver so one of us could run a half marathon before heading back to Seattle.
Heading to and exploring Victoria
We planned to take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria but did not complete the reservation. We were on the road when we realized the mistake and it was too risky to get stuck in Port Angeles. We made a last minute change and drove to Vancouver and took the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry. We reserved a spot on the way and ended up with plenty of buffer time to explore the nearby area and get lunch. We even tried visiting Point Roberts but the line at the border was too long. Once we made it to the port we realized we should have hung out there. There were food options and a playground. On the ferry, we walked around, visited the playroom, and enjoyed the views. After we arrived in Victoria and settled in at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, Jared took Ariel for a swim in the indoor pool and I went for a walk with the baby. The weather was clear and the water calm. There was a small protest, street music, and tourists and locals alike heading for happy hours and dinner. I joined back up with the rest of my family for dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish where the long line (with kids!!) was worth the fish and chips.
On our first full day in Victoria we headed to Butchart Gardens because we did not want to miss the chance to explore the gardens with good weather. Our expectations were surpassed. We loved the sunken gardens and enjoyed afternoon tea time at The Dining Room. We requested a table by the window in our reservation and were placed next to a window overlooking the Italian Garden. We split one afternoon tea and a lunch entree and walked away full and happy. The rest of the day involved our hotel pool, visiting a playground nearby, and cooking dinner in our hotel room. It is worth noting that we reserved a room that included a kitchen so we could eat in at least once a day. We were happily surprised to be upgraded to what was basically a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. This made our ‘room’ easy to decompress and eat in with the kids.
Sunken GardenButchart GardensRose Carousel
It was down-pouring the next day, but we still explored Victoria with a self guided walking tour. Luckily, the kids napped in the BOB and the carrier for our longer than expected walk to Spinnakers for lunch with a view.
Our last full day we went on a long walk to the farm at Beacon Hill Park, Ogden Point Breakwater, and Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved getting up close with the peacocks and baby goats in Beacon Hill Park. The baby goats would even climb up our backs and jump down. The grown ups were just as excited (if not more) as the kids. We were especially happy we got there in time for the morning goat run. From there, the Breakwater was a bit far with two kids but luckily we brought the BOB. The Breakwater was picturesque and the Fisherman’s Wharf was colorful and lively.
Heading to Tofino
Even though it is only about four hours from Victoria to Tofino, we split the trip with one night in Parksville. We were worried that four hours would become eight after potty breaks and diaper changes. Leaving Victoria, we stopped in Chemainus for lunch, a self-guided mural walk, and time at the playground. The murals were fun, but the town was very quiet. Once in Parksville, we were are able to enjoy the water and views and have a low key dinner in our AirBnB.
Chemainus MuralParksville Water PlayParksville Sunrise
Exploring Tofino
Tofino was our first true beach vacation as parents and we loved it. We stayed in a water front hotel with a balcony to enjoy the view when the kids were sleeping. Ariel loved playing in the sand and watching the ocean from the children’s swing. We even met our first Velella! Luckily we took one photo the day we arrived because it was the last day they were around.
We spent most of our time relaxing at the beach and tide pooling but we also managed to go whale watching. Sebastian hung out in the carrier while Ariel spotted the whales with mermaid tails. It was chilly and windy so the kids had to retreat indoors. Afterwards we grabbed a waterfront lunch so we could continue enjoying the view but stay warm.
VelellaSwinging with a ViewTidepoolingHiking to ShoreWhale Watching
Heading to and Exploring Vancouver
Heading out we stopped for a short hike and picnic. We didn’t want to take any risks with a three hour drive before the ferry so we stayed the night in Qualicum Beach before taking the ferry the next morning. Each parent took the opportunity to go on a evening beach walk and we all enjoyed a little beach time in the morning. The ferry ride was similar to before except we were a little frustrated that the television in the playroom could not be turned off. This was difficult for us when we keep our kids screens free. Luckily there were other kids to play with and plenty of boat to explore.
We somehow managed to visit Vancouver on a yearly basis. We usually stay downtown but for this trip we stayed near South Main. It was a short walk to Jared’s race start in Queen Elizabeth Park and within walking distance to playgrounds, shops, and restaurants. We did a mix of eating in and dining out and made it to our brunch spot in Vancouver: Twisted Fork.
Pacific Rim National ParkQualicum Beach
Post trip reflections
We were a little worried that we were crazy for doing a road trip with two young kids. We were more conservative than needed with breaking up the trips, but happy we played it safe. Staying in places we could cook reduced the need to dine out, which can be overwhelming with kids. We couldn’t get a kitchen in Tofino, but managed to have a refrigerator so we could do very simple lunches or dinners in our room. We look forward to visiting in the future when the kids are older. It will be the same places with new experiences.
For our 2017 family vacation, we planned on sailing to and around the San Juan Islands but our boat engine ran into issues before the trip. We looked for a new plan for our family vacation and landed on Banff. Despite the last minute planning, we managed to reserve four nights of camping in Banff. And since we had a two year old, we made the trek out there and back a road trip. We headed east from Seattle for camping in Winthrop and staying with family in Rathdrum before Banff. On our way home from Banff, we stayed in Kelowna, BC. We managed to never spend more than six hours driving in one day.
Winthrop, WA
Ever since we stumbled upon Winthrop, WA on the way to a backpacking trip in Twisp Pass, we wanted to go back. We finally returned years later with our little girl, A. We managed to get a spot by the river at the Winthrop KOA near town but hope to reserve far enough in advance in the future to get a spot in the shade. At the campground, we enjoyed sitting by the river, playing at the playground, and swimming in the pool. They also had amazing bathrooms and showers and even a small laundry mat. On our first day we set up camp and walked around town. We ate at Carlos1800 Mexican Grill & Cantina and explored the outdoor Schafer Museum. We read about finding and refining gold while A played with the gravel.
On the second day, we had breakfast and playtime at the KOA before heading to Falls Creek Waterfall. This was further than we expected but we also took a wrong turn that took us up and over the waterfall. It’s best to navigate to the Falls Creek Campground – the waterfall is across the street. The hike to the waterfall is less than 5 minutes so we continued up the hill for another 15 minutes before heading back to our campground for lunch, naptime, and a swim in the pool. A was not a fan of the pool and much preferred our later visit to horses near the main road and to Sheri’s Sweet Shop where the three of us enjoyed Samoa Cookie, Maplenut, and Vanilla ice cream. We ended the day with a walk through town and across the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge.
Our last morning in Winthrop we woke up to smoke and ash from the forest fires. After packing up and visiting the horses one last time, we grabbed some coffee and a muffin at Rocking Horse Bakery and checked out Trail’s End Bookstore, which has a fun kids’ area.
KOA CampsiteFalls Creek Falls, Okanogan County
Rathdrum, ID
We didn’t arrive in Rathdrum until the evening so our first adventure was the next morning. We explored the Twin Lakes on a pontoon boat and saw osprey, bald eagles, and lily pads. We also got to ride around the small community in a golf cart and went through “Stinky Hollow”. In Coeur d’Alene, we visited Mudgy and Millie, walked along Sherman Avenue, strolled the boardwalk, and enjoyed a dinner with a view at Dockside. After dinner, the four of us split a Gooey, which was worth every penny and calorie.
Rathdrum, IDCoeur d’Alene, ID
Banff
Our drive to Banff was our first longer drive so we needed a much earlier start. On our drive, we saw an amusement park, enjoyed a faster entry through customs than we are used to, and eating Timbits. We were surprised with how much of the drive was in the national parks. We were also immediately surprised by the wildlife. Not long after entering the parks, we stopped for a grizzly cub crossing the street in front of us. We took a photo from inside the car and kept an eye out for his mama. We were less pleasantly surprised with how busy Banff was when we stopped for supplies. The grocery store was chaos. We wished we purchased our food and alcohol before entering the park. We were excited to reach our campground in the Two Jack Main campground. Despite being a large campground, our spot felt secluded.
Entering Banff National ParkBanff Campsite
Day 1 in Banff: Lake Louise, Lake Agnus, and Two Jack Lake
We were not expecting how crowded the park would be. On our first full day, we didn’t arrive to Moraine Lake until 10:30am and were unable to turn down Moraine Lake Road because the lot was full. From there we headed to the Lake Louise overflow lot to take the free shuttle to Lake Louis. This was exciting for A because she got to ride in a yellow bus. Once we arrived, the lake was packed with tourists from all over the world taking pictures at the entrance of the lake. After hitting the restroom, grabbing some cash at the hotel, and taking a few pictures of the iconic lake, we headed up the Lake Agnes trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The trail was easy to moderate but we had one person carrying a 30 pound toddler and the other 26 weeks pregnant so the ascent took us about 1.5 hours. The trail was congested but not nearly as packed as the lake. We enjoyed stops at Mirror Lake and a waterfall on our way up. Lake Agnes was packed but we managed to get a table at the tea house, sharing with a few others. We learned the hard way that you do not wait in line for a table but instead hunt one down, similar to finding a parking spot. The food and drinks were simple and a bit more expensive than we expected but we did enjoy a white cheddar and cucumber sandwich on house made bread, tomato and lentil soup, lemonade, and lemon poppy seed bread. We didn’t indulge in tea since tea is a little tricky with pregnancy. Once we made it back down to the bottom, there were less people and smoke so we took some more pictures before shuttling back.
Since we had to keep all food and cooking supplies in the car, we were able to head straight to the day use area on Two Jack Lake and make dinner. As we drove in, we came across a herd of Bighorn Sheep, including some lambs (Boo Boo sheep according to A). Our biggest tips from the day are to get an early start, hunt down a table immediately at Lake Agnes Tea House, try to stay somewhere close to the sites you plan to see, be prepared to keep everything in the car if camping, and consider Canmore as a less crowded option than Banff.
Lake LouiseMirror LakeLake AgnusTwo Jack Lake
Day 2 in Banff: Johnston Canyon and Downtown Banff
We got a much earlier start our second day to visit Johnston Canyon. We arrived to an empty P1 lot at about 8am and made our breakfast and coffee. The trail was congested but the crowds thinned after passing the lower falls. At the lower falls, we were initially unsure about waiting in the line but happy we did for the up close view of the waterfall. We continued to the upper falls, which were amazing minus the fact that one of us dropped the camera lens cover – giving perspective to how tall the falls were. We decided against the 3.1 km hike to the Ink Pots since we were already cutting it close to naptime. Hiking back, we saw the line for the lower falls was about five times longer. When we departed at about 11:30am, both the P1 and P2 lots were full and cars were lining the road.
After Johnston Canyon, we headed to Banff and had a picnic lunch in Central Park. We relaxed while A napped in her small day tent. We then headed to the roaring Bow Falls, where A enjoyed watching rafts embark on the river. From there, we went to Banff Centre to swim and take our shower since Two Jack Main campground does not have showers. Taking advantage of being clean, we headed back into town to walk around and get dinner at Bear Street Tavern. We indulged in forest mushroom pizza and pork belly mac and cheese. One of us even got to enjoy a reasonably priced stein of double IPA.
Our tips for the day are to hike Johnston Canyon early, plan downtime in Central Park if you have kids, and plan to shower at Banff Centre if staying at a campground without showers. You can also shower at the hot springs.
Hiking Johnston CanyonJohnston CanyonWelcome to BanffBow Falls
Day 3 in Banff: Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway
We finally made it to Moraine Lake on our last full day in Banff. We got up and headed out before breakfast and arrived at Moraine Lake at 8:30am. The road to Moraine Lake was still open but we were still lucky to get street parking. We recommend getting there by 8am to be safe. We made breakfast at one of the picnic tables and then made the short hike to the lake. By then, the clouds were clearing and we discovered the beauty of Moraine Lake. Since they closed the road at 9am, it was not crowded like Lake Louise. We took in the view, grabbed a latte, and relaxed near the canoe docks. We then headed down the lakeside trail, which A hiked most of on her own. Despite being only 1.4 km and flat, few people were on the trail. At the end, we had an amazing view of the lake from the other side. When we got back to the canoe docks, J climbed the short Rockpile Trail to get the $20 view of the lake.
Hiking Moraine LakeNear Moraine LakeMoraine Lake
By the time we made it back down to Lake Louise Village, A was asleep so we ventured 45 minutes north to see Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake. We only had a glimpse of each since we took turns viewing while they other stayed in the car. It was worth the drive but a longer visit of each would have been nice.
After the Icefields Parkway, we headed back to Central Park in Banff to enjoy the playground and an early dinner in the park. We debated taking the gondola and ended up strolling around town instead. The next day we needed to get up early for the drive to Kelowna.
Peyto Lake
Adventures to and in Kelowna, BC
We were excited to drive through Glacier National Park but we didn’t see any glaciers due to the smoke from the fires. We stopped for a short walk at the Giant Cedar Boardwalk and again 40 minutes later at the Enchanted Forest. Even with our stops, we arrived in Kelowna before dinner.
The next morning we consumed assembly line pancakes at the hotel before heading to a free tour of the cultural district that was informative, interesting, and included a visit to the art museum. After the tour, we walked around and grabbed lunch at the arts center before returning to the hotel for napping, laundry, and time at the pool. In the evening, we hit up one of the local public splash parks before grabbing an eclectic dinner at Curious Cafe. After dinner, we walked down to the waterfront where A danced to piano playing and jumped to music at a concert in the park. Our last day was the drive home but we made one more stop in Hope, BC for lunch and a midday stroll. Taking a road trip with a 2 year old felt a little crazy but we had an amazing family adventure and hope to visit Banff again in the future.
