Fish Hatchery & Museum

Off highway 58, just outside of Oakridge, OR there is a gem of a learning experience for kiddos and adults alike. Entry is free!

Immediately after entering the park, you will notice fish ponds on the right with live 8 foot long sturgeon, and a couple hundred ripe rainbow trout. Kids will enjoy putting a quarter in the dispensing candy machine for a handful of fish food to toss in along the railed catwalk. Watch as the fish swarm and charge over each other for a morsel in this man-made fight to survive.

Odell Lake, OR

When I go out camping or day exploring with my son, I usually wing it. We wander up random roads and stop at spots (hills to climb, streams to play in, dirt piles to roll toy trucks on, underbrush to forage through) we might be able to make into a fun and interesting adventure.

Sometimes, winging it can be stressful.

My cousin and her family (husband and daughter) wanted to go camping with me because I'm awesome and random. We needed to meet somewhere half way so neither of us had an exceptionally longer drive over the other.

Odell Lake is about an hour and a half east of Eugene along highway 58. I had passed by it many times, entranced by its water surrounded by high peaks. Little did I know that campsites around the lake fill up fast and are reserved weeks ahead during the summer (like many popular recreation sites). Still, it worked out alright.

As soon as my partner got home from work we hit the road on a Friday afternoon to lock down a spot before my cousin arrived the next day. There are five campgrounds around the lake. The first we tried had only one site open, but it wouldn't fit two tents, so we decided to keep looking. Oh, what a mistake that was. Sort of.

Spontaneity Preparedness

Being spontaneous with a kid has some limitations. In order to leave for a random adventure at a moment's notice, there are some essentials I always keep stocked in my car and go-bags.

What is a go-bag?

A go-bag is a pre-assembled kit of supplies for an intended spur-of-the-moment trip, task, or job. For my purposes, a go-bag has parenting survival essentials. I also have a separate day hiking go-bag. All of these items are tried and tested.

Traveling w/ a Kiddo

Many parents have asked me how I got my kid to travel on road trips. Truth? Once upon a time, when my son was very young, I had to drive to Portland from Medford (about 300 miles north along Interstate 5). My family lives in Portland, and they couldn't make the drive for financial reasons. So if my son was to know them, we would have to be the ones to visit.

So one night, when the crickets were creaking, and the roads were near empty, I loaded a sleepy baby into the car and drove off into the night. I decided nighttime was my best bet for getting there in one go. I thought the darkness and quiet of the road would keep him asleep.

Boy, was I wrong.