October 8, 2017 by Bailey

How to visit a Heritage Site with an ADVENTUROUS Toddler

Do you love Heritage sites? I love visiting heritage sites! And Canada is full of amazing heritage sites scattered across the country. As a history buff, I ALWAYS stop at Heritage sites when travelling. I even plan trips around visiting heritage sites in an attempt to soak up everything. Fun Fact, when I completed my Associates of Science at Cottey College, I had enough credits to minor in US History.

Unforatnely, visiting a Heritage site with a toddler is not the relaxing endeavour it once was. Instead of reading all the signs, and admiring the fine details, I get caught up in chasing toddlers, keeping them from touching EVERYTHING and battling the ever-present MELTDOWN. Regardless, I drag my toddler to Heritage Sites and over the past summer, here are a few tips that keep me sane.

Choose Accordingly

Not all Heritage sites are suitable for small children. Museums are mostly a bust, but large, open spaces win. When deciding where to go, and what to see, opt to choose places with spaces to run and things to touch. Skip the old houses, and search out the old settlements.

Consider Fort St. James for the wide open fields, board walk, and interactive buildings; Or the townsite of Barkerville with it’s storefronts, restauraunts and streets for exploring.

Set Lower Expectations

Instead of taking in the ENTIRE heritage site, opt to take in what you want to see.

Understand you will not read every sign, see every detail, or take every picture.

Remember, toddlers will be toddlers and might rather play with old machinery (if they can touch it) than look at salmon can labels.

Toddlers seldom want to go where you want to go. My toddler doesn’t cooperate with being strapped into a stroller or carrier for too long. Therefore, visiting a historical site with the expectation of just carrying him for the entire visit is unrealistic.

Find peace in exploring with your toddler. With little legs and a lower sight line, a heritage site takes on a whole different perspective. I never considered the complexity of machinery and gears until my toddler found himself trying to push, pull and move every lever and handle along the docks at the North Pacific Cannery. A new appreciation and some fun can come from *most* situations.

Plan ahead of Time

Consider the why? What is it you want to see at the Heritage Site? Map that route out first and get it in ASAP. The rest can be seen afterwards.

Visit these spaces/things/area during the happy hour. My children are the most happy first thing in the morning. However, most heritage sites don’t open until 10 am. Therefore, we opt to go later in the day after lunch & nap. It’s often a little busier but rested children result in a better experience for everyone.

Don’t forget to pack appropriately – will there be snacks, lunch, washrooms, water, etcetera?

Skip the Tour

I love the tour. I love it so much I rarely, if ever, skip the tour.

But for your sanity, you might just want to skip the tour.

If you do opt for the tour, bring something for bribery (I’m not afraid to keep my child quiet for 5 minutes with a chocolate chip cookie). Also, bring an adequate containment device (strollers seem ideal, but some toddlers like mine can bust out of them, and most heritage sites aren’t suited for strollers), and don’t be scared to duck out early when the tantrum full ensues. You can always join back in later, or just call it a day.

Tours are easier when you have one adult per child to wrangle. If, like the time I visited the ‘Ksan Historical Site, you have two children to wrangel, chances are the tour is going to be a major point of regret. Ther’es nothing like trying to calm TWO SCREAMING children while trapped in a a historical house.

How to visit a Historical Site with a Toddler - 'Ksan Historical Village in Hazelton, BC with Kids - Explore British Columbia

These hats are pretty awesome BTW.

Find the Kid Zone

The kid zone is usually boring for adults, but a hoot for the kids. Some heritage sites and museums have a special kid zone. These spaces are ideal retreat when life gets tough. Unwind your toddler with some playing, colouring, and recenter yourself. This is a good time to eat, drink, and figure out what must-see attractions you want to do before leaving for the day.

Kid Zone’s looked different in different spaces, but usually, there is one hiding somewhere. Sometimes it’s an interactive activity that teaches you about the history of the site. Sometime’s it’s just a train table to keep them busy.

The space at the Nisga’a Museum is stokced with an assortment of puppets! These puppets represent many of the traditional creatures from the landscape and mythology of the the NorthWest Coast. Combined with the assortment of puzzles and books, this little nook of activity was a crowd pleaser for everyone.

Do you take on Heritage Site with Toddlers?

Or do you just skip them for something a little different?

We travel to explore and learn and always make time for a little history in between. One day my kids will be rookie history buffs like me.

We’re linking up with some other mom bloggers. Check out some other great blogs at the link below. <3

Wandering Wedensday Link Up Below and is themed all about Home & Family

October 1, 2017 by Bailey

Prince Rupert: North Pacific Cannery {with Kids}

I’m no stranger to the Northwest Coast, but until recently I had not been able to squeeze in a visit to the North Pacific Cannery. It’s long been on my list as a site to see in the region, and yet I never made it happen. Until NOW. Before we get started, I should clear up one thing – the North Pacific Cannery is not in Prince Rupert. It’s located in Port Edward outside of Prince Rupert, and if you travel even further down the scary, bumpy road, you will find Cassiar Cannery (where you can stay overnight).

For site hours of operation check out their website. The site is only open during the summer and closes for the winter.

I’m going to jump right into our visit by telling you that you need to take the tour. I usually avoid the tour, but the tour was excellent.

Take the North Pacific Cannery Tour

Every day, the North Pacific Cannery offers three public tours of the site. These tours provide you access to several buildings and additional details on the site. While there are an array of signs at the North Pacific Cannery, the tour was a rewarding wealth of stories and information about this site, as well as other sites along the Northwest Coast of BC

With a tired toddler in tow, we didn’t finish the tour, but we did get a chance to listen in on a couple of great excerpts regarding the processing of the Salmon and the living quarters for the various occupants of the site.

More importantly, we got to go into the Net Loft building. I would consider this the only reason to jump on a tour if you have rambunctious children like mine. The building was barged down from Port Essington and is full of fishing nets and mechanical stuff. It was a lookers delight. I loved seeing the nets, and my husband loved exploring all the mechanical stuff. Note, at this point stairs were required to get into the loft. My husband pushed the toddler around on the first floor while I got to listen in on tour #spoiled.

Unfortunately, as predicted, our children began to meltdown, and we found ourselves skipping out of the tour early while we hunkered down to deal with it.

But back to the tour, our guide Wiliam projected well, and we could hear his narration even while tucked into a corner with a furious toddler, and a hungry baby. The site narration was on point for being captivating and interesting, and William was skilled in answering our questions!

Have you ever been to a site with a less-than-awesome tour guide? I have, but it wasn’t this one.

Exploring the Cannery with a Toddler

The North Pacific Cannery is a great historical site to visit and explore with a toddler. Exploring this site offers boardwalks and space for running, exploring and playing. There is just something about running on the boardwalk that is satisfying for a toddler or anyone! However, all this space to run around in meant we seldom had the time to linger and read the information signs!

Along the warf is a series of old machine parts which captivated his attention. Some of them still had levers or gears that moved. Making them move was a helpful relief of curiosity. The cannery insides are less than intriguing for toddler explorers, but with the right distraction technique, parents will enjoy the various stations for processing salmon.

We quickly burned over an hour playing along with the docks and looking at the buildings, and mischevious things scattered amongst the site. Only once did we have a near panic attack when the toddler decided to duck under the railing and get way too close to the river.

Other Things to Know

The site is relatively stroller friendly. However, if you take the tour, you won’t be able to get up into the net loft.

There isn’t a changing station in the men’s washroom. I’m not sure if there’s one in the woman’s because I put husband on diaper duty that afternoon. I usually change bums in the van before we get onto the site, and then right before we leave back at the van. This means I don’t need to bring anything with me while exploring (except snacks, you can never have too many snacks).

Vehicles are easily accessible, so don’t worry about forgetting something. Twice I quickly crossed the tracks to grab more water, snacks, or toys for our adventure.

Dress accordingly as it is a little chilly along the river!

Don’t forget about the train tracks. The CN rail line passes right by the cannery. Watch for trains when crossing from the parking lot into the cannery, and take care with your tiny explorers. Maybe a train will pass and catch the interest of tiny people! We watched a train with much enthusiasm from the cannery docks.

I Can’t wait to return to the North Pacific Cannery because this sight on the river is truly a delight.

I can’t believe it took me so long to visit this historic site. We didn’t stay for lunch as the menu didn’t intrigue us, but you can have a meal in the mess hall! Instead, we returned to Prince Rupert for fish and chips, and to get some gasoline for the trip to Terrace. Maybe next time we will stay at the Cassiar Cannery for the full Northwest Coast Cannery experience.

September 17, 2017 by Bailey

Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park with Kids

When you think of British Columbia, you probably don’t think about lava beds. That type of landscape is more associated with places like Hawaii, maybe Alaska. However, some 250 years ago a volcano erupted in the populated area of the now Nisga’a Lands. Today the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park (or formally known as Anhluut’ukwsim Laxmihl Angwinga’asanskwhl Nisga’a) is located an hour North of Terrace, BC. This short detour north of Terrace is well worth the visit.

Earlier this September, my family took a visit to the Coast. With the smoke from the Wildfires drifting into the City of Prince George we decided to escape to the North West Coast to explore, eat, and visit with family. We even went on a whale watching tour.

I had heard of the Lava Beds in passing. From acquaintances and friends, but not much else. With nothing more than a sense of adventure, we scheduled it into our trip and visited out on Friday morning. It turned out to be the most perfect of days blending my love of culture, history, and geography into one. My only regret is not being able to do it all. Having kids and travelling with toddlers and babies means I need to let that go. I will for sure visit the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park again. There is so much more to see.

Before You Visit

The Northwest Coast of BC is sparsely populated and with few settlements. You will want to be prepared for an adventure before you leave Terrace; fill your gas tank, pack snacks and drinks, and be ready to explore WITHOUT cell reception.

Stop by the Visitor Information Centre in Terrace and pick up an Auto Tour of the Nass Valley for a full list of stops, and brief informational blurbs about the sites to see along the way. This handy map is a must have the journey. Forgot it? There’s an informational centre past the lava beds at the junction of Highway 113.

Bring good shoes. Walking the trails in the Lava Beds is rough terrain. The paths are maintained, lava rock underfoot is crumbly, and difficult to walk on. I wore my hiking boots, and we swapped the toddler into a pair of Keens shoes to help his grip!

Exploring Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park with Toddlers

There are many stops to explore the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park and while stopping at each one might be feasible without children, with the kids it’s best to choose a few.

Unbuckling and unloading children is exhausting and the less you have to play that game the more energy you’ll save for exploring.

The trails we choose were very easy for our toddler to explore. We opted to take on just two sites within the Lava Bed Park – Crater Creek & Tree Cast. Crater Creek was a bit long for our weary travellers, but he managed just fine. He stayed on the trail. Tree Cast was a good length, but the gaps and edges in the lava made some areas a little difficult. Most of the stops along the auto tour would be suitable for adventurous toddlers as they involve getting out of the car and running around! I’ll walk you thru the stops we made.

Traveling the Auto Tour with Kids

The hardest part about travelling and exploring with toddlers is trying to coordinate a nap.

Either you wait until nap and travel during the nap, or you travel back during a nap.

There isn’t a right answer.

I also find that travel days make everything wonky. We ended up just leaving in the morning, and the toddler was awake for the drive there. We made it to the lava beds, explored and then both babies were ready for a nap. However, we had only visited one of the many stops!

So, now what?

It’s an hour drive from the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park to the coastal Nisga’a village of Gingolx. We drove and admired the scenery and potential stops along the way while the kids napped in the back seat.

Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park

The lava bed texture changes throughout the valley. At the beginning it is crumbly, and closer to the Nass River it begins to look like sheets of cement that have been broken by an earth quack.

The first stopped we made was at a Crater Creek.

Crater Creek isn’t the first site, but the first one we made. Hike a gradual incline of 600 metres to a lookout over the lava closest to the cone of the volcano (To hike into the volcano cone you’ll have to arrange for a guided 4-hour tour. This might not be a good adventure with young toddlers/preschoolers, and more ideal for older kids or easily transported babies).

The path thru the lava rock is easily identifiable with a few signs to explain the landscape along the way. Underfoot, lava rock crumbles, and the visitors who have come before have begun to crumble and makes the walk a little loose. Wear good shoes, and stay on the path. After some distance, you’ll climb up a small hill to a look out. This is a good stop for a snack and drink. There is no bench, and the lava rock was wet, slippery and uncomfortable, but I made due with the situation.

Because of the toddler pace, and the meander of our hike, Crater Creek took us about an hour from start to finish. We enjoyed looking, taking photos, and just being in awe of the topography.

The second stop was Tree Cast.

We only made another stop in the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park at Tree Cast because the description sounded intriguing. This site seems a little anticlimactic, but it is interesting. A short hike will take you to a sign which talks about a cast of a tree made of the lava. I can’t remember all the science behind it, but go and see it yourself. 😉

Located closer to the Nass River and just before the village of Gitwinksihlkw, the lava fields topography has changed and looks different than the lava rock located closer to the actual volcano. Here it appears more like slabs of cement that has broken and crushed.

It is a relatively easy walk out to the tree fossil. The path is vague, but head away from the highway, and eventually, an informational sign appears, and you know you are in the right direction. Cracks and uneven walking surfaces are prevalent in this area. With our toddler, we keep him motivated by swinging him over cracks and encouraging him to jump over the gaps with a “1-2-3-GO!”

Tree Cast is a much shorter adventure and probably only consumed about 30 minutes of our time. Again, it isn’t much a serious hike, but more exploring as we stopped and looked at the lava fields and admired the strange little trees trying to make it in the beds of lava rock.

And that was all…

I would love to take a guided tour, but based on the information on the Nisg’a Lisims Government website we figured it would be best suited for when we don’t have kids, or maybe when we have teenagers. My relatives had visited the Tseax Cone prior and said it was neat. It is a 3km hike which does make it one f the longest hiking trails in the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park.

You can check the websites linked below for more great ideas for visiting the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park. If you’ve been telling me what you loved most of the landscape, trails, and regional culture.

For More Information on Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park

BC Provincial Park Website

Nisga’a Lisims Government (and to book a tour)

Stay posted, in the coming weeks, I’ll share our adventures to the Nisga’a Villages and the beautiful Nisga’a Museum (well worth the visit).

September 9, 2017 by Bailey

Prince Rupert, BC: Whale Watching with a Toddler

Maybe don’t take a toddler whale watching.

Sometimes activities sound like they’ll be an amazing experience, but then end up feeling like a complete disaster.

I LOVE WHALES. They are one of my favourite mammals. I’m not about to start collecting whale figurines, but given a chance; I’ll linger the longest at the whale exhibits. Being the indecisive person I am, I refused to pull the trigger on the whale watching adventuring in Prince Rupert with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours. My dear husband did. He booked the tickets. We only visit Prince Rupert once, right? #wewillbeback

I’ve gone on a whale watching tour before in Victoria. I think. I have some vague memory which may or may not be made up. I remember a very different experience. This whale watching trip with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours was in a MASSIVE catamaran with three levels (2 of which have inside cabins). Tiny children were welcome on board. Better yet, kids ride free.

But just because you can take your kids, doesn’t mean it is a good idea. The decks don’t have lips, and minimal railings – perfect for a toddler to slip and fall into the big bad ocean. The inside spaces have seating and tables, but not the space for running and burning off energy. When you have a high energy toddler, space is necessary because some little feet just don’t like to be contained. I have one of these kids.

If you decide you still want to watch the whales with your toddler, here are a few tips I’ll share.

How to go Whale Watching with a Toddler

Babywearing.
I wasn’t expecting to wear the toddler, and we left the second carrier in the vehicle during our adventure, but my toddler was worn the most. Because the decks were perfect for slipping, falling and running around, the best way to contain a rambunctious toddler is with a containment device such as an SSC. This way you can enjoy the view without having an anxiety attack he’ll fall over and without having to hold a screaming child on your back. There’s something about a baby carrier to bring a little wave of calm over your child.
Meals, Drinks & Snacks.
Depending on the length of your tour, you’ll want to bring all the snacks. The Prince Rupert Adventure Tour is 4 hours with a check in time of 12:30. I recommend bringing lunch, snacks and then DOUBLING IT. We plowed thru the cookies (yes, I bribe my child) within the first hour, and suffered the rest of the journey. There is a small counter on board to purchase snacks and refreshments.
Boredom Busters.
4 hours is a long time on a boat. We watched whales for about 90 minutes and the rest of the time is just boat riding without a car seat. Bring it all. The boat did have colouring sheets and pencils, but pack your favourite busy toys, maybe some tech?
Dress Appropriately.
It was an anomaly the day we visited Prince Rupert with a high of 27C. Don’t forget a light sweater/jacket for the cool breeze when boating, and your rain coats if it’s raining. Shoes with a good grip will also help.If it’s hot like when we went, you’ll want sunscreen and a sunhat to prevent a burn. We all came off the boat with sunburns!
Plan the Day.
The 1 pm departure worked perfectly for us since our toddler normally naps from 10 am – 12 pm. We hit up Buntze Rapids at 7 am to a hike and play, returning to our hotel for a nap before our big day. Ensuring your toddler is well rested for the adventure makes a world of a difference. Was he well rested? No, because of course he fought sleep and only had an hour nap.

I am so happy I went whale watching in Prince Rupert. The Humpback whales were spectacular. Prince Rupert Adventure Tours was an amazing company to travel with. I loved the mini-history lesson, the knowledge of the staff on board, and the beautiful photos the ship captain shared of the whale at the end of our trip. The catamaran was comfortable and easy to maneuver, and it was just awesome.

However, I’m less than impressed with the chaos of bringing a toddler on board. Our baby (6 months) was a breeze. She napped, ate, and did her thing. Traveling with a 6-month-old is easy.

I wouldn’t go whale watching with a toddler again.

Next time, I’ll go alone and enjoy some well-deserved me-time.

I wonder if a ferry ride would be a better adventure with kids? Or? Any tips for boating and sight seeing with kids?

August 12, 2017 by Bailey

Barkerville Historic Site with 2 under 2

Taking young children to a historic site is always a gamble. Sometimes it plays out, and sometimes it’s a nightmare. It’s hard to tell, and while you can often gage your children temperament before heading out on the road, it’s not unusual for their behaviour to change wildly while at the historic site. I’m not sure why I’m starting off this particular experience with such a preamble because our recent visit this past July to the Barkerville Historic site with 2 under 2 was a positive experience.

Before you go to Barkerville Historic Site

Before you go to any historic site give up any and all expectations of accomplishing anything. Visiting a historic site with 2 under 2 is nothing like visiting a historic site without children. If like me, you’ve been visiting historical sites as a single adult for year’s prior, give up any expectation of taking the tour, watching the performance, or lingering in porcelain filled rooms of grandeur. You don’t run the show, the kid’s do, and you’ve got two of them; even if you visit Barkerville Historic Site.

Other things you might consider… Pack enough diapers (I opted to bring a stash of prefold diapers, different covers, my Planet wise wet/dry bag, and my Buttons Hanging Bag for the van) and snacks. We opted to have lunch at Barkerville Historic Site and just brought water, fruit pouches and a never-ending supply of crackers. I also like to consider a stash of bribing candy in my pack for keeping toddlers quiet.

Don’t forget to check out the Barkerville Historic Site website to find out a) hours and rates b) any special events and c) anything else you think you might need to know. That was really helpful advice 😉 . We went on a Saturday, but with the current wildfire situation in British Columbia, tourism in the Cariboo is on the quiet-side (just perfect for me. I might like to travel, but I hate crowds – Why do you think we went to Rome in January!).

Barkerville Historic Site

Remember how I told you to give up your expectations for the day? Perfect. Just go with that.

We embraced our visit to the Barkerville Historic Site with 2 under 2 as a toddler-led adventure. Both my husband and I have been to the site before, and just enjoyed a slow moving visit at the lead of our toddler.

For the most part, the toddler was interested in playing in the dirt, collecting rocks, jumping off the boardwalks, and occasionally watching the blacksmith. He was fascinated when the horses came by and enjoyed running up and down the stairs to the heritage buildings. However, after what happened at the Ksan Heritage Village tour, I was not interested in doing a guided tour.

As much as we wanted to do the school house thing we knew it wouldn’t fit. The Richfield courthouse isn’t recommended for kids under 5. We thought about doing the cemetery tour, but my husband wasn’t feeling well enough to carry a cranky toddler. If your toddler sits and listen, you might have success with the theatre performance. However, knowing our children, we knew it was not an ideal event for them.

We arrived at the Barkerville Historic Site at 11 am (as did everyone else) and spent 2 hours walking to the end of China Town and back. I’ve been dreaming of visiting Richfield, but adult energy levels were at an all time low in the heat of the day. It’s a 1.6km walk to Richfield.

We didn’t leave Barkerville Historic Site without a few souvenirs. Earlier in the day, I bought the toddler an all-day liquorice to chew. This gave us some quiet to shop and browse for a bit. We also picked up a spinning top, which gave us peace while waiting for lunch!

And don’t forget the gold! While we didn’t feel up for braving many of the scheduled activities at Barkerville Historic Site with our rambunctious toddler, we couldn’t leave without panning for gold. Little Man isn’t quite ready for the skilled precision of gold panning, but my husband did a stellar job at panning out three flecks of gold at the Gold Panning place.

Next Time

Next time we go to Barkerville Historic Site, I would opt to stay in the region. There are many hiking trails and sites to visit in and around Barkerville and Wells.

It’s hard to squeeze in a toddler nap during a day of fun at a historic site. The baby is easy. She just napped in the stroller or on my chest. But the toddler doesn’t want to nap during walks. We pushed him until 2:30, and he snoozed on the drive home. It would be nice to have been able to return to Wells to enjoy dinner and follow up with a visit to the Barkerville cemetery, or any of the surrounding trails.

I would also love to stay in the B&B on the Barkerville Historic Site.

Have you been to Barkerville Historic Site? Tell me about your experience visiting Historic Sites with 2 under 2 or small children?

Not all children are the same, and some do much better at participating in guided tours and the like.

August 9, 2017 by Bailey

Explore BC: Greer Creek Falls, Vanderhoof, BC

One way to escape the heat, and get the babies to nap, is to go for a long air conditioned car ride! I recently heard of Greer Creek Falls just outside of Vanderhoof, and we opted to head out that direction for a carnap and to have lunch. I hoped Woody’s bakery would be open, but to my dismay, it was not. No fear, we discovered C&J’s for lunch (and post-hike ice cream).

Greer Creek Falls, Vanderhoof

Greer Creek Falls is located south of Vanderhoof. You head towards Kenny Dam and turn left on Kluskus Forest Service Road. The trailhead is located at kilometer 37.5. It is paved for some distance, otherwise, it is a maintained gravel road the rest of the way. Kluskus Forest Service Road is double lane and rather busy (no logging trucks on the holiday Monday, but tons of other traffic).

There is a good chance of missing the trail head at Greer Creek Falls if you’re not paying attention. There is no sign, just a trail in the bush. A parking lot-like area on the left, along with other vehicles indicated we might be in the right place. Did we really venture down a trail assuming it was something. Yes. Yes we did.

Greer Creek Falls Trail

Considering you’re in the middle of nowhere without cell reception and no trail signs, the trail is well maintained. It is very rooty and the toddler tripped more than a dozen times, but there is also bridges and boardwalk during this 1.7km adventure.

It’s downhill to the creek. The trail starts off gradual with a few steep drops.

Once down at the creek bed, you are almost at the falls. During this part of the trail the bugs picked up and began to be a nuisance. We continued onwards. The trail splits. You can go straight and check out the fall. Or you can head to the right and go over a bridge, or two to what might be a campsite with picnic benches. Because we had fussy children we opted to head straight to the falls and take a quick break.

Greer Creek Falls in Vanderhoof, BC is beautiful. While War Falls is a dramatic scene, Greer Creek Falls is a classic picturesque view. Plummeting 8 metres into a big pool the water is delightfully cold on an August Day. The falls trickle into a slower moving stream. Playing in the stream was a delight to the toddler, but I wished I brought towels, swimsuits and more!

With Family

This is definitely a carrier-only trail.

I was surprised by the number of people we passed on the trail! There were many families with kids in structured carriers!

A rough 1.7km thru the bush, this trail is just pushing the limits for our 2-year old to hike. He did the trail with many stumbles and jumping off the boardwalk. It was unlikely he would clamber back to the parking lot without a meltdown. Simply Dad carried him back up to the parking lot. We did the return trail in about 40 minutes.

We arrived shorty after 1:30 and returned to our vehicles at 4pm. I left my phone in the vehicle and we did not have anything to keep track of time. It was sort of refreshing, but it means I don’t know much for times.

There is no washroom facility or trash. Be prepared for a nature pee and to pack out what you pack in.

Next Time…

Next time I visit Greer Creek Falls I would pack a lunch and towel.

Our decision to make the drive was impromptu. Children were melting down in the heat and needing a nap. We tossed a couple of diapers and snacks in the car and just drove. We didn’t bring a backpack or much of anything with us. This would be a lovely hike in for a day trip and picnic lunch. I would cross the river and settle into the beach to play along Greer Creek.

The hike back is exhausting in the heat, but totally manageable. Next, I would love to tackle Cheslatta Falls further down at Kenny Dam.

July 27, 2017 by Bailey

Prince George Playground – North College Park

This afternoon, we explored North College Park in College Heights with our weekly Hike it Baby playground. This Prince George playground is located in the College Heights neighbourhood. It is an older playground the City of Prince George has identified for an upgrade in 2017. As of our visit at the end of July 2017 there was no signs of playground replacement. I am not sure when replacement will occur.

North College Park

North College Park is a Prince George playground located at 5355 Eton Avenue, in Prince George, British Columbia. It is relatively easy to find, if you are in the right neighbourhood. I may have mistakenly driven to the Westgate neighbour in the City of Prince George, instead of staying in College Heights. North College Park is located in College Heights. Take a left at the lights by the gas stations and McDonalds. It’s easy to find after that (or at least I think it is). The park features a triple tennis court, along with an older playground.

The Little Tykes commercial playground structure is showing its age and years at North College Park. This is probably why the park is slated for a playground replacement under the City of Prince George’s recent review of parks and playgrounds. It features a total of three slides over two structures. One much larger structure that is ideal for kids 5-12, and a smaller structure for the waddling toddlers of the group. My toddler had difficulty clambering on the bigger structure, but he did enjoy going down the curly slide. It is note worthy to mention my 2-babies-later-hips were not able to squeeze up the stair case and I shimmied up.

Surprisingly, you will still find an old school merry-go-round at the park! It doesn’t move very fast, and seems a little clogged up with sand. The playground has a sandy base, which my toddler mostly just played in! There is also a set of swings, but at the time, no baby swings. You’ll also find a park bench and picnic table.

With minimal shade, North College Park is very hot, but you can easily find a glimmer of shade along the edge of this Prince George playground. However, the park was still well attended with local families. A slight breeze this afternoon helped keep us all cool.

There is fence along the side of the park backing onto Eton Avenue. I don’t believe a stroller would manage very well. You could access the park via the tennis court if you had a stroller. In such, the park is not very accessible as it is a relatively moderate hill into the playground.

My toddler enjoyed the slides, playing in the slide and bouncing on the little bouncing things. If you know what these little things with single springs are, drop me a comment below. I’d love to know!

We look forward to seeing the City of Prince George upgrade this park in the months/years to come! It is a lovely location within town. So far, my favourite Prince George playground in the city is Harper Park from earlier in July.

July 4, 2017 by Bailey

Explore BC: Canada Day 150 in Smithers, BC

It’s probably appropriate to write a post about our Smithers Canada Day adventures on the 4th of July, eh? This Canada Day we celebrated in Smithers BC by visiting the Northern Lights Society and downtown Smithers celebration.

This year we thought we would peace out of Prince George and explore something new. I originally had intentions of going to Revelstoke, but the prospects of that LONG road trip with 2 under 2 all by myself was beginning to give me some serious anxiety. I ditched that plan, and decided to visit a friend who lives in Smithers, well actually Telkwa.

Northern Lights Wildlife Society

The Northern Lights Wildlife Society is a well known wildlife rescue in Northern British Columbia. Based out of the Smithers region, they rescue all sorts of animals, and most notably they take in bear cubs. You can find out more here.

Since they were having an open house when I was in the area, we decided to go. We loaded up the kids, and got there right as they opened at 10am. Naturally, this was the best decision as people flocked from everywhere onto the Farm. When we left at 11am, it was getting quite busy.

Little Man loves birds. He enjoyed watching the Hawk (?) being fed in the hospital, and checking out the goslings. I loved the bear cubs, because they are seriously the cutest thing EVER. We also saw baby deer, wolves, cougar, moose, and horses.

Smithers Canada Day 150

Next stop was to explore the Smithers Canada Day celebration. The highlight of this adventure was getting to check out a Fire truck. The Smithers Fire Department even had a little mini jacket and hat Little Man could wear. He was unbelievably enthralled with the experience and we bribed him with a mediocre Canada Day cupcake to move onto something else.

That was about the extent of our downtown Smithers celebration. I’m still disappointed in the lack of food vendors and festivities around the Smithers Canada Day celebration. I went home hungry.

Other Random Facts

Nobody wore red and white. I don’t like the colour red. I feel it brings out the red in my face.
I did dress the kids in our favourite Canadian brands – Live Love North & Peekaboo Beans.

We even wore Canadian diapers including the ever awesome Outdoorable Print by Nuggles in a Tuck & Go Cover and

June 7, 2017 by Bailey

Explore BC: The Best Kept Secret in 100 Mile House, BC

I have driven thru 100 Mile House, BC millions of times. Alright, I’m exaggerating; but at least 8 times a year for the past coupe years… Twice I went for work-related reasons in my previous life. Yet, not once did I ever know about the WATERFALLS within the downtown. Bridgecreek Falls, in Centennial Park, 100 Mile House, is a great stop when traveling with kids thru the Cariboo/Chilcotin Region.

On our most recent road trip in the area, I stopped into the Visitors Information Centre to get the low down on a trail to hike. I had left Cache Creek earlier that morning with the intent to find a trail to hike. I hoped to find something along the roadside, but after over an hour of driving, I had not spotted any hiking signs (I was catching all the BC/Canada Parks signs that point towards different recreation sites and none of them featured the hiker. Thus, I kept driving).

I walked in with two babies wearing my flip-flops and I’m most certain she didn’t take me seriously. She suggested the walk around the marsh, but I wanted earth under my feet (it had been a rough night, Little Man woke at 3am and was tossing and turning until I begrudgingly got us out of bed at 7am to drink coloured water at the local cafe). Then, she suggested a playground in the area thinking my wild child and screaming baby meant I wanted to stretch our legs not HIKE. Her third suggestion was Centennial Park, 100 Mile House. I admit I stuck up my nose a little as she described how it was just across town (and by across town, she means like four blocks over). I really wanted to get out into the forest because my morning had been filled with anger and hatred towards my children and myself. But she said there were waterfalls, and who doesn’t love waterfalls?

I took my map, loaded up two children, and drove across town (It took me 4 minutes because I drove past the entrance and had to turn around) to Centennial Park, 100 Mile House to check out Bridgecreek waterfalls. We unloaded, changed diapers (and clothes), and headed out onto the trailhead.

Centennial Park, 100 Mile House

I’ve never seen a sign from the highway eluding the beauty of Centennial Park. I’ve never heard of the whisperings of the beautiful short and stout waterfalls within the heart of 100 Mile House, but it’s there. This beautiful park is for sure 100 Mile House, BC’s best kept secret. The park is the perfect place for kids, dogs and adults to explore.

Address: 105 Evergreen Cres, 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E1

Besides Bridgecreek Falls, here’s 3 other reasons to check out Centennial Park, 100 Mile House with Kids.

Playground: There’s a fair sized playground at the park.
Large Open Fields: Perfect for all sorts of fun and play, including a lovely picnic.
Trail Network: There are a series of trails and paths in Centennial Park to meet your exploring needs.

Bridgecreek Falls, 100 Mile House

The trail along Bridgecreek Falls follows a fast flowing river. This is very likely to be a dangerous space for small curious children. Walking along the trail, I felt I needed to yell for Little Man to hear me due to the crashing of the waterway.

Despite my anxieties about the water, Little Man walked to the falls. At todder pace it was about 25 minutes. We stopped to climb the hill, the stumps, and to eat a snack. When we arrived at Bridgecreek Falls, I placed him on my back for the walk back to the car and to ease up on my anxieties.

The trail is totally accessible for most wheels with benches along the way. The return adult-paced hike back is no more than 10 minute adventure.

Do bring bug spray when visiting during the summer months. Unlike our previous exploration at Scout Island Nature Centre in Williams Lake, the mosquitos were out and biting!

Should our adventures ever require another stop in 100 Mile House, I won’t think twice about where to go: Centennial Park, 100 Mile House for sure! Bridgecreek Falls are absolutely stunning, and the park is the perfect spot in the Cariboo Region for families and kids to get out and stretch.

After finding some links to add to this post I also stumbled across the 99 Mile Demonstration Forest and Trails. We might make a stop there next time we drive from Prince George to Vancouver.

May 30, 2017 by Bailey

Explore BC: Scout Island, Williams Lake {PG to Vancouver}

Scout Island Nature Centre in Williams Lake, BC, isn’t advertised from the road and chances are if you haven’t lived in Williams Lake you wont know about this hidden gem tucked just down from the highway when traveling thru Williams Lake. In my previous occupation, I had seen events and activities at Scout Island, Williams Lake, but somehow I always forgot to make the stop.

I like to think of myself as a bit of a meanderer when traveling and having dogs, and now kids, has reinforced this need/want/desire to stop along the journey and explore new places. We frequently travel from Prince George to Vancouver to visit with friends and family. Williams Lake, located a mere 2.5 hours from Prince George continues to be one of our more regular stops.

Part of surviving a road trip with 2 under 2 is being flexible and adaptable. My children were frustrated with car seat containment when we came into McLeese Lake, and I quickly reached out to a friend to find out what to do in Williams Lake. She suggested Scout Island Nature Centre for us! It was the perfect suggestion for taking on Williams Lake with Kids.

3 Reasons to Stop at Scout Island, Williams Lake, BC

Toddler Friendly Exploration.
One of the only reasons I need to make a roadside stop with a frustrated, pent up toddler, is to burn off some energy with toddler exploration.
- If you can move past goose poop, the gentle meandering trails thru the marsh and lakeshore environment at Scout Island, Williams Lake provide the perfect habitat for toddler paced walks.
- My toddler loved pointing at trees, mud, and marsh. He listened to the quacks of the geese, and if I could have convinced him down one path we would have seen a mother goose and her goslings.
- Falling into marshland is a concern along the boardwalks, but trust in your toddler and encourage them to be an active participant from the boardwalk. The boardwalk is just as much fun as it makes clunky noises beneath their feet. The other mini panic is the lakeshore my toddler ran towards; however, once back on track, he quickly stayed on the trails.
Within 5 Minutes of the Highway.
Just a short drive down from the highway (head towards Hwy 20, take the first left, the next right, and then the next right – or just put 1305 A Borland Rd, Williams Lake, BC in Google maps), Scout Island, Williams Lake is neither a massive detour nor close enough you can still hear the highway, or have a toddler run towards the highway.
Amenities (Washroom, Picnic Tables, Benches, Nature Centre).
Scout Island, Williams Lake boosted indoor plumbing washrooms big enough to accommodate the whole family, and a series of picnic tables and benches throughout the park. There is no covered shelter, but there is a Nature Centre. The nature centre was closed when we visited.

Areas of Concern

Scout Island, Williams Lake might not be for you if you don’t like goose poop or have a crawling baby to stretch. My toddler has mostly moved past putting everything in his mouth.

Due to the marsh habitat, Scout Island, Williams Lake is prone to bugs and insects. This is easily managed if you come prepared, or just trudge thru. During our visit in the late morning in May, we did not experience bugs but were questioned in the parking lot.

Details.

Address: 1305 A Borland Rd, Williams Lake, BC.
Length: total of 2.5 kilometres in trails.
We spent an hour exploring and eating lunch. It took my toddler about an hour to do one of the shorter loops.
Dogs? Yes, on leash.
Accessibility: Some Trails/
Map: Find one here.

Have you ever stopped at Scout Island in Williams Lake, BC? If so, share your experience with other readers!