CatholicFamily's Passport
 | Been to 15 Attractions |
 | 15 Reviews |
 | 8 First to Review |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
Hello! We are a family of seven (ds9, dd7, ds5, dd3, and ds1). We are from the Midwest but are living in Ireland until summer 2010. We love hiking, camping, fishing, and swimming. We are Catholic and so often incorporate religious sites into travel, and we are quite the penny-pinchers when it comes to traveling.
Our Family's Travel Personality
structured, simple, independent, spontaneous, easy_going
We Just Got Back From
Blackwater Beach, Ireland
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Glendalough, Ireland
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Glacier National Park, Banff Canada
Favorite Vacation Memory
A few years ago when our family (then, six of us) went cart-in camping on the spur of the moment at Glendalough State Park in Minnesota. It was idyllic and perfect for our young family. Swimming in streams, fishing in the lake, hiking in the (stroller-friendly) woods. Love it and recommend to all!!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Probably the flight from Chicago to Dublin when our 16 month old wouldn't stop crying (at about 3am American time) when everyone was trying to sleep, and we had a bit of turbulence so I wasn't allowed to take him out of his seat and walk him around to calm him.
Websites I Like:
Minnesota State Parks (west central)
Here's the inside scoop for young families who want to visit the best of the west-central part of the Land of 10,000 Lakes!!
25287 Whitetail Lane
Battle Lake, Minnesota
reviewed on: January 20 2010
"Perfect for Young Families!"
If you have lots of little ones and enjoy camping and nature, this is the place for you!! This is a preserved Oak Savanna at it's best!! Very clean bath/shower facility at the campground. You "cart-in" to your campsite (the park provides wooden carts) so campsites are more private which is nice with little ones. Also, for Minnesota, we've found the mosquitos aren't nearly as vicious as in other parks at the campsites - but watch the yellowjackets (just on the beach) in late August/Sept, and bring mosquito spray for the trails!MUST-DOs:
*swim in stream (has nice current and ranges from only about 12 inches to four feet deep at most- remember to bring or rent lifejackets for little ones)
*fish in stream and/or lake (lots of nice bass) - we've caught fish every time
*rent a canoe/s and paddle down the stream, and have a picnic at one of the grassy areas onshore (we've canoed with four little ones age 7 and under - the canoeing here is not dangerous unless it is very windy on the lake)
*hike the easy trails (all mowed grass and relatively stroller friendly) - see if the kids can locate the old pet cemetery
*stop in the old resort house near the beach if it's not being rented for a private party (the bathroom is much nicer than the other option - a portapotty)
565 155th St S
Glyndon, Minnesota
reviewed on: January 20 2010
"Four stars for young families"
I'd give it a five, but as in many other parks in Minnesota, the mosquitoes and/or ticks can sometimes make it uncomfortable for families with small children like ours. This park is a HIGH four stars though because of the following:-excellent and very safe swimming pond with okay bathrooms (a real gem with tons of sand for kids to dig in, no biting flies, no swimmers itch, lifeguards, nearby picnic tables --mosquitos come out late afternoon so be prepared to make a run for it!)
-great stroller-friendly hiking trails
-visitor center with wildlife displays and viewing area
-lovely group camp area (sometimes the river there is shallow enough so kids can walk across and play in it)
2601 County Road 38 Northeast
Alexandria, Minnesota
reviewed on: January 20 2010
"Fun for Families"
Like at many Minnesota parks, remember the mosquito spray and plan for great hiking and fishing! Make sure to stop by downtown Alexandria on your trip. Lake Carlos now has camper cabins which we've enjoyed at other parks. They are very clean and private. They say for five, but the seven of us were allowed to share one and slept in relative comfort (once the kids are older this wouldn't work as well. Make sure to reserve your cabin months ahead or you may not get one at this favorite on Minnesota parks.
36750 Main Park Drive
Park Rapids, Minnesota
reviewed on: January 19 2010
"Great Family Destination!"
We always have a great time here. As a family with younger children, here are my tips:*bring your own snacks and drinks - kids can get really thirsty with all the hiking here
*Itasca is stroller friendly
*Make sure to have the kids walk across the Mississippi and climb to the top of the fire tower.
*even if the park campground is booked full, you can find decent private campsites very near by
*if camping don't keep any food or toothpaste etc.. in your tent (bears)
*I've heard the bike rental is a must-do if you can (we've always had too many little ones to do this).
39721 Park Entrance Road
Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
reviewed on: January 20 2010
"Nice for hiking and fishing"
This park was GREAT before we had children. Lots of nice hiking trails (not very stroller friendly - even for the jogging strollers with big wheels) and decent fishing. It was much easier to avoid the swimmers itch and biting flies at the swimming beach before we had children. Our son contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite he received here in the summer of 2008 - so watch for those.Children catch a bunch of panfish at the campground dock - but be careful - the dock is small and there are no railings. Another nice and much larger dock is up the hill and it has railings, but infants could crawl through in places.
Fun geocache location too - but again, it was a struggle with our hiking stroller and we may as well have carried the toddler and infant.
**Don't forget to stop in the nearby town, Pelican Rapids, and take a picture at the giant Pelican, play in the playground and/or swim in the city pool, and get ice cream at the ice cream shop - it's DELICIOUS and they have a back courtyard eating area where little ones can roam free without worries of traffic
