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Grab a Burger at Boomer's Drive-In
Whenever my family is feeling like burgers for dinner, we head to Boomer’s Drive-In on Samish Way. It’s quick, affordable, and about as family-friendly as you can get, with take-out or sit-down or eat-in-your-car, whatever you please. Besides the burgers, what I love about Boomer’s is its old-fashioned drive-in kind of feel with its outdoor menu for those who want to park and order from outside.
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Start Your Morning at Rocket Donuts
Sometimes on a Saturday morning, there’s no better way to start the day than with a doughnut (or a donut, as it’s also spelled). So my kids think. Their favorite doughnut haunt is Rocket Donuts. Personally, I prefer toast and eggs for breakfast (and Old Town Café is tantalizingly close), but one recent morning I agreed to take Leah and a friend of hers out to breakfast at Rocket. We weren’t disappointed.
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Authentic Mexican at Taco Lobo
It’s dinnertime once again, and our family is in the mood for Mexican. Not just any Mexican, though; we want Taco Lobo Mexican in downtown Bellingham. Whatever we order, Taco Lobo’s fare never fails to bring back memories of a winter trip to Baja—it’s that good—where my kids discovered what authentic Mexican tacos taste like. Now my eleven-year-old is a self-confessed convert to authentic Mexican, along with her parents, and we go to Taco Lobo to get it.
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Kid-Friendly La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza
La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza in downtown Bellingham is known for its gourmet pizza with a hand-tossed crust that has been "kissed by the flame" in their wood-fired pizza oven. And according to Joanna Nesbit, it's also one of the best places to bring the kids in town. From a menu that appeals to tastes of all ages to a warm and inviting atmosphere, find out why La Fiamma is such a popular place for dining out with kids.
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Getting Dramatic with The Neighborhood Playhouse
Most kids love to play games and pretend, but not all kids want to get up on stage in front of a large audience. For those who aren’t into the glitz and glamour of the stage, The Neighborhood Playhouse (TNP) might be just the ticket for exploring their creative side. Owner and founder Lizanne Schader is devoted to the process of theater rather than the product, offering workshops that help kids learn the discipline and craft of acting through games, creative dramatics, and scene work.
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Why Rats Make Great Pets for Kids
When my daughter was eight, we decided she was old enough to take care of her own pet—a small pet that would live in a cage. She really wanted a dog, but together we settled on something smaller that didn’t require daily walks and poop scoops. We explored the pros and cons of hamsters, gerbils, and rats, and many conversations later, we’d made our decision. Rats. As in, they were the winner, not “Oh no.”
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Skiing on the Mt. Baker Highway
Winter seems to be fading in the Northwest, but there is still plenty of snow to enjoy if you search higher ground. If you’re looking for a fun day out with your kids, why not try skiing before the season ends? The kids will have a blast in the snow and skiing is great exercise for everyone. Joanna Nesbit recommends taking a drive along the Mt. Baker Highway, where you'll find some great opportunities for cross-country and downhill skiing that the whole family can enjoy.
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(Mostly) Healthy Valentine's Treats
It’s that time of year again when sweet treats abound, and celebrating Valentine’s Day seems to be all about eating chocolate (and, yes, lovely valentines too). February is also American Heart Month (is this by design or coincidence, I wonder?). Kids, of course, won’t be thinking about their heart health, and, personally, I worry more about their teeth. So here are some fun food ideas to help your kids celebrate the day without suffering sweet treat overload.
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Considerations Before Competing
Do you have a child who loves to play chess? For our family, tournaments have been a positive experience— they offer our son a chance to build his game skills, but more than that, they link him to a community of kids who love chess. But there are lots of different factors that determine whether or not your child can handle the competition. If you’re thinking about signing your child up for a chess tournament (or any competition), here are some considerations.
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Chess Season in the Northwest
You might not be aware of this, but we are in the middle of chess tournament season. Yep, chess has a season, too. From November to April, you can find a number of tournaments in our area that will culminate with the state tournament, to be held this year in Redmond on April 26, 2008. My eight-year-old son, Ty, plays chess and has become something of a regular at local tournaments. His first tourney was last year’s Lynden tournament, held at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in January.