Many people are looking to get out of town to visit loved ones or simply they just want to escape for a few days. Amtrak customers can travel in the comfort of a private room at a discounted price this summer. Now, when one person purchases a Roomette, one companion can join them for free.

Amtrak

Roomette accommodations are offered on many routes across the country. Located in the sleeping car, a Roomette is the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight. All customers in private rooms receive complimentary lounge access at major stations, priority boarding and complimentary meals onboard. 

Roomette accommodations are available across the national network on the following trains: California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Service, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle.

Available on Amtrak.com or by using the Amtrak app, customers can book between Jul. 7-17, 2020 for travel from Jul. 13, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2020.

To receive this discount, use the Fare Finder from this page or enter code V306 when booking a trip on the Amtrak app. The offer is subject to availability and not available on the Auto Train. An advanced reservation of at least three days is required. Other restrictions may apply.

In an effort to simplify and safeguard the travel experience, several cleaning, contract-free and convenience measures have been implemented to every part of the customer journey. Learn more about all measures at Amtrak.com/coronavirus.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Aris on Unsplash

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Good news, Eastside parents! No more long drives in search of an indoor playground – JuzPlay Kids has juz’ opened in Issaquah and is ready to delight your little monkeys. Combining the best small-scale climbing toys (think Giggle Jungle in Redmond and DaBuDa in Bellevue) with large-scale towering climbing, crawling and sliding apparatus (think Funtastic Playtorium), JuzPlay Kids offers exciting variety for wee ones all the way up to 55 inchers.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

JPK Visionary
JuzPlay is the brainchild of Stephanie Tang, who, along with her sister, opened JuzPlay Kids right off N.W. Gillman Blvd. on Mall Street. Seeing a need for not only something in the Issaquah/Sammamish area, Tang also understands the benefit of providing a place that can entertain kids and siblings alike. After all, she and her sister are both mamas to small kids. And since Tang often finds what appeals to her younger daughter isn’t as exciting for her older daughter, she designed and constructed this play area to grow with kids up to 55 inches.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

Treehouse Fun for Everyone
Centered around a treehouse theme, JuzPlay Kids features mascots Juzzy and Spila, magical treelings who love to play in their world made up of enchanted playgrounds. The treelings watch over a dedicated area for infants and toddlers along with an upper loft designed for nursing moms (complete with a glass railing to keep an eye on older sibs below). Toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy a soft climbing pyramid, balloon pit with slide and a variety of climbing and swinging pieces, while older kids will find the netted-in play structure right up their alley. Psst! The play structure includes two ball pits, a large-scale slide and three stories of climbing fun.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

Party Time
If you’re looking for a place to throw your little animal’s next big bash, a party room is available for rent and provides not only the private room rental and free play passes for guests, but also decorations (balloons and banners), the ability to bring in your own food and drink, paper and plastic products in the color of your choice and use of the photo booth. While still in-process, the photo booth will provide 2”x6” photo strips – unlimited use for guests available as a party add-on. Additional extras include themed decorations (think Frozen, Star Wars and Dora the Explorer) and snacks provided by JPK.

Work Hard, Play Hard
If you’re looking for a place to pull a little work/play double duty, JuzPlay Kids features an “out of the way” upper loft and seating inside the party room (with visibility to the main play room), plus free Wi-Fi and ample access to plugs and USB outlets. Snacks are also available for purchase and an upper TV loft is scheduled to be installed which will provide the ultimate chillax station—making this a truly comfortable space for every member of your family.

JuzPlay Kids
1430 N.E. Mall St., Ste. B
Issaquah, Wa 98027
425-657-0074
Online: juzplaykids.com

Hours:
Mon.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Fri.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (check website for early closures due to private parties)
Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Costs:
$12/Child (over 24 months) for 2 hours
$8/Toddler (12-23 months) for 2 hours
Free/Adults & Infants (under 12 months)
Siblings – 10% off

Have you visited JuzPlay Kids? Do you plan to visit soon? Tell us about your experience in the Comments below!

— Jennifer B. Davis

What’s more fun than a day at the farm? A day at the farm celebrating your lil’ cowpoke’s big day! From barns with animals to barns with more carnival than cow, round up your petite posse for a fun, festive birthday at one of these local barns. With a moo, moo here and a cluck, cluck there—you are sure to see lots of smiles all around. Yee-haw!

Kelsey Creek Farm

Party with the animals at Bellevue’s Kelsey Creek Farm. This historic farm nestled in the middle of the city offers the unique opportunity to hang out with traditional barnyard friends. Meet and pet the farm’s pony, sheep, rabbits, goats and chickens and visit the historic barn before heading into the farm room for more party fun and a craft - create your own woolly sheep to take home. Party packages include one hour tour/craft time and one hour room rental. In addition to the animals, partygoers can enjoy the playground, trails and open spaces to run.

Good to Know: Parties are suited for kids ages 2-11 and are limited to 30 children and/or adults. Children under 2 are free. The Farm Room is a heated classroom with a small kitchen, three preschool-sized tables and chairs for your pint-sized partygoers, plus a small carpeted area for games and gift-opening. Parties begin at $160 for up to 15 children for Bellevue residents; non-residents are $175; each additional child is $5.50 each.

Kelsey Creek Farm
410 130 Pl. S.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98005
425-452-7688
Email: kelseycreekfarm@bellevuewa.gov
Online: farmerjayne.com

photo: Kristina Moy

Have you taken your kids to one of these spots for a birthday bash? Share your experience with us in the Comments below!

— Abbey McGee

Whether it’s made with Mod Podge or maybe just mud and sticks, anything your kid crafts is a work of heart. With Mother’s and Father’s Day around the corner, we wanted to brush up on some spots where kids can create a keepsake worth keeping. Check out these six spots where your whole gang can get fired up about art.

Art and Soul Pottery Studio
Art and Soul offers up everything from glass painting to canvas, mosaics and tie-dye. Note that their prices for pieces range from $2.50 to $120 so be sure to pick your pottery carefully.

Address: 4920 Roswell Rd.
Phone: 404-303-9959
Online: www.artandsoulpotterystudio.com
Let’s Party: Art and Soul offers a wide range of project-based party packages ranging from Finger Painting ($13.50 per child) for the wee ones to tie-dye t-shirts ($17.50) for your tweens.


That Pottery Place
No appointment is needed for this open studio spot. Or, if you are searching for something more structured, try one of their pre-selected project classes. If you have a group of four or more, you can even schedule your own class and select from their portfolio of projects making for a perfect playdate.

Address: 2569 N. Decatur Rd., Decatur
Phone: 404-371-4557
Online: www.potteryplacedecatur.com
Let’s Party: Party packages include two hours of paint time in their private room (for a minimum of five painters) with a price of $15 per child. Each child gets to select one item to paint from their party shelf selection.

All Fired Up
If you are going to make this a regular habit then All Fired Up’s three Atlanta-area locations are the way to go with their punch cards that earn your a free piece to paint. With over 800 different items of pottery, they have something for everyone. Don’t miss their summer camp offerings that tackle a different project each day.

Address: 1563 N Decatur Rd.
Phone: 404-270-9048
Online: www.allfiredupinc.com
Let’s Party: Book their Van Gogh Party ($16 per painter) for an hour and a half of studio time, or their Picasso Party ($20 per painter) which includes higher priced items to select from and a birthday plate for guests to sign.

Just Kiln Time
As well as paint-your-own pottery options, Just Kiln Time also offers Kiln Time On Canvas classes that give step-by-step instructions working with acrylic paint where you leave with your own masterpiece.

Address: 27 Atlanta St., Marietta
Phone: 770-428-9699
Online: www.justkilntimeshop.com
Let’s Party: Twenty bucks per painter buys and hour and a half of paint time in their party room.

Sip and Stroke
Sip and Stroke’sSaturday morning kid’s canvas classes are a true stroke of genius. Two hours to run errands? Yes, please. We also love their mixed media approach to parties offering a variety of pottery, canvas, bead or mosaic themes.

Address: 4401 Shallowford Rd., Roswell
Phone: 770-641-9833
Online: www.sipandstroke.net
Let’s Party: Prices vary depending on theme ranging from $15 per child for pottery painting to $20 per child for a “Crazy Mosaic Party.”

Mud Monkey on Peachtree
This new neighborhood spot located in the Peachtree Battle shopping center is already abuzz with Buckhead bitties.

Address: 2385 Peachtree Rd. NE, #105
Phone: 7404-812-1750
Online: mudmonkeyonpeachtree.com
Let’s Party: Call for more information on party packages.

Did we miss a spot? Tell us where you and your kids like to get crafty in Atlanta!

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Art and Soul via Facebook, That Pottery Place via Facebook, All Fired Up via Facebook, Mud Monkey via Facebook

We parents make the holidays so difficult sometimes, whether it’s dressing the kiddos up in scratchy Christmas outfits, making them wait in long lines for hours, or insisting they sit on some bearded dude’s lap just so we can get our treasured Santa photo. Do they really remember that we go to the same Santa every year? Probably not, but it sure makes for a seriously awesome Christmas tradition. To help minimize the Santa photo stress, we’ve rounded up the best places to seek out your St. Nick nirvana. Choosing the least meltdown-inducing matching Christmas sweaters for your mini-mes? That one’s up to you.

The Ultimate Santa: Downtown Nordstrom

Before there was a Nordstrom Santa, generations of Seattleites would stand in line for hours for a chance to visit with the Frederick & Nelson Santa in downtown Seattle, placing tiny hands on intricate window displays. For the current generation of kiddos, Nordstrom has captured this magic – and then some. Yes, the wait is still long—getting there early in the day and season is highly advised—but now the downtown Nordstrom has eleven rotating Santas on the schedule, including an African-American Santa and an Asian-American Santa. There’s even a Santa that knows ASL (American Sign Language). For special needs kids or large groups, Santa can meet up with you in a private room, away from the hubbub. If any of these preferences sound good to you, be sure to call Santa Lane at 206-628-1000 for additional details (or call him up if your kiddo just needs to hear Santa’s kind voice). In addition to Santa at the Downtown Nordstrom, kids can visit him (with much shorter wait times) at the Nordstroms in Bellevue Square, Southcenter, and Tacoma Mall. All photo packages will be mailed to you once completed; if you want them before Christmas, make sure to visit Santa before December 18. Photo packages range from $21 to $80.

Dates: November 29 – December 24

Downtown Nordstrom
500 Pine Street
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-628-1000

Bellevue Square Nordstrom
100 Bellevue Way SE
Bellevue, Wa 98004
425-455-5800

Southcenter Mall Nordstrom
100 Southcenter Mall
Tukwila, Wa 98188
206-246-0400

Let us know where you take the kiddos for Santa photos every year in a comment below!

–Erin Cranston & Allison Ellis

Photos credits: Fred Jala via Flickr, Katie Christiansen, Space Needle Facebook page, santaphotos.com, Erin Cranston, Heidi Larsen, Danielle Dolbec, Janine Vazquez, Christmas Creek Farm website and Arin Winsor, Wing Luke Museum Facebook page