Hi there!

We just got back from our big summer trip—and I’m still thinking about how doable and worth it it actually was for our family of six.

When you’re traveling with kids (especially four boys like mine!), the logistics can feel overwhelming. But this West Coast loop—from Oregon to Washington—ended up being one of our smoothest and most enjoyable family vacations yet. Here’s why.

✈️ We started with cheap nonstop flights on Allegiant

I chose the West Coast for this trip because I stumbled on super affordable nonstop flights to Portland on Allegiant from Des Moines. I saw the price and thought—Wow! We should just book them!

Once I knew we were flying into Portland, I thought, this is our chance to finally see the Oregon Coast—a place I’ve always wanted to visit. From there, I started piecing together a fun little Pacific Northwest road trip.

🏖️ We stayed right on the beach in Seaside, OR

Seaside was a perfect home base for exploring the Oregon Coast. We stayed in a VRBO right on the beach and the Promenade, which meant we could easily walk to shops, restaurants, the arcade, and entertainment.

We also took a quick drive to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock—a bucket list stop for me!

📸 Kid-friendly stops kept everyone happy

On the way to Washington, we stopped in Astoria to visit the Astoria Column (the boys loved throwing gliders off the top!) and the Oregon Film Museum, where they got to film their own movie scenes. It was such a hit!

🏔️ Leavenworth gave us small-town charm + fun

Next we spent two nights in Leavenworth, Washington—a charming Bavarian-themed town in the mountains. The boys loved the Nutcracker Museum scavenger hunt and had a blast on the mountain coaster at the Adventure Park.

The town was walkable, festive, and full of fun treats and shops. It was a great change of pace.

🌆 Seattle made the big city feel manageable

Our final stop was Seattle, where we stayed at the Hyatt House right next to the Space Needle. It was such a family-friendly location—we could walk to everything, including a fantastic playground and multiple museums.

We ate most of our meals at the Seattle Center Armory, a food hall where everyone could get what they wanted (without waiting forever). We rode the monorail to Pike Place Market, explored the waterfront, and even found time for a donut tour with one of my boys—which ended up being such a fun and unique way to see the city!

🚗 Why this trip worked so well:

• We started and ended near airports but spent most of our time in walkable, manageable towns.
• We mixed nature, small towns, and big-city energy so it didn’t feel repetitive.
• We prioritized convenience—walkable hotels, easy meals, and flexible schedules.
• And most importantly, everyone had fun. That’s a win in my book.

If you’re dreaming of a Pacific Northwest trip with your family, I hope this gives you the confidence to go for it. I’ll be breaking down some of our favorite stops in more detail in the next few weeks!

​

​

Stay tuned for more packing tips, behind-the-scenes travel hacks, and inspiration to make your trips stress-free and fun. I’m all about helping you make family travel as smooth as possible, so you can create memories without the headache.

Thanks for being part of the Travel Tuesday community, and I can’t wait to connect again soon!💕

✨ Want to make planning even easier?

Grab our complimentary travel itinerary planner and start mapping out your next adventure.

​

​

May you LOVE your adventure!

​

Home - Loving This Adventure