We’re to that period of summer break where the novelty of lazy days around the house has started feeling like a new normal – and maybe a little skedaddle up the highway for a quick day trip has some allure about now. Soooo, let’s load up the kids, fasten our seatbelts, and take a little trip up Highway 5 together. It’ll be fun, we promise.
Also, this week, we have a few local freebies we’d like to remind you about, but first…
Five Fun Destinations up the Highway
The Oregon Zoo: One of the most scenic zoos we’ve been to is right here in Oregon, and it has all the right animal-folk that just about any kiddo wants to see. Tip: whet young appetites the night before with an online tour of the zoo’s animals – the photos are remarkably well composed. Advance online ticket purchase is required, so click here to reserve. Age 12 and up is $24, 2 to 11 is $19, age 2 and younger is free. Parking is $2 hourly with an $8 minimum.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry: Every kid always loves OMSI, and it’s a downright lovely escape from the heat of summer days. Right now, they’re featuring exhibits and shows focused on orcas, in August they’ll shift to a Festival of Cinema. Age 14 and up is $18, 3 to 13 is $13, and age 3 and younger is free. Grandma and Grandpa are $15 if they’re age 63 or older. Parking is $5. Showings at the Empirical Theater are a $6 to $7.50 add-on, but we often skip it. Click here for tickets and more info.
Gilbert House Museum: So if a museum is named after the inventor of the erector set, it follows that the facility may be hosting a huge 20,000 square foot outdoor play structure for climbing and such. Add a long list of interactive indoor exhibits that sprawl throughout a number of old houses, and what you might have is the precise boredom buster you’ve been looking for. Fun fact: A.C. Gilbert of erector set fame was a Salem resident. The museum is open Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. General admission is $10 a ticket, infants under 1 year are free. $2 discount for age 60 and up, or military. Click here for their website.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum: Go for the Spruce Goose exhibit like everyone does, but stay for the historic aircraft and rockets, landers, drones, and other space equipment – and, of course, the flight simulator. Tip: there’s guided two-hour tours daily at either 11 am or 2 pm. In our experience, kids taking the tour start dreaming of growing up to become aviators, so we’re fans. Also, we suggest clicking their upcoming events tab. Open daily between 9 am and 5 pm. Adults are $22, ages 5 to 15 are $12, and age 4 and under are free. Senior citizens and veterans are $18. Click here to learn more and buy tickets.
Wings & Waves Waterpark: First, a heads-up, they limit capacity, so you’ll need to purchase ahead – and we think that’s a good thing, because believe it or not, our kids aren’t always particularly patient waiting in line. Also, this is an indoor waterpark because, well, Oregon. Caveats complete, you can expect a huge wave pool, and water attractions with names like Sonic Boom, Vortex Pool, Aqua Pool, Mach 1, Splashdown Harbor, Nosedive, and Tail Spin. It is a fun place on hot-hot-hot day, but it comes with a price – four hour tickets are $29. If you can afford the splurge, go ahead and click here for info and to make the buy.
Three Local Freebies
Free CPR Classes: Santiam CPR is offering free single session trainings for parents and teens. Attendees who pass the class can get themselves a certification for children and infant CPR, AED use, and choking emergencies. The certificate is good for two years. We suggest signing up early, there’s classes in August and September. For full info and the schedule, click here. But, to register, you’ll need to click here.
Free Summer Meal Program: Available at various school sites throughout the Corvallis Public Schools District, kiddos age 18 and younger can grab free daily breakfasts and lunches. Funded by the USDA, kiddos don’t have to be district students, and no documentation is required. This summer program is offered five days a week, Monday through Friday. Click here for meal sites and schedules.
Cyber Safety Class: ABC house is offering a brand new hot off the presses Digital Safety curriculum for children, youth, and adults.
They remind, and we take their point, that every time a child uses a smartphone, tablet, computer, or even logs on to a game, the door is open to a virtual world populated by cyberbullies, hackers, and even predators. So the question is, what can you do to keep your children and the children in your community safe? According to ABC House, it all starts with involvement and education.
This new two hour training is free of charge, and it’s designed to empower participants to take the lead in internet safety topics including:
- Predators
- Sexting
- Cyberbullying
- Plagiarism
- Privacy
- Computer security
- Identity theft
- Gaming
- Social networking
- Sex trafficking
The next class is offered on Zoom on Thursday, July 27, at 1 pm. Click here to register.
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