YMCA of the Rockies Granby

Over the past few years, I’ve really found the value in being a tourist in your own area. 

Not only does it save you on costly airfare, but I think it’s important to “bloom where you’re planted” – and that includes learning to love where you live. 

Now, I grew up in Colorado, and I’ve always loved living here – don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I just really want to travel somewhere else. And we do!

But I often remind myself that traveling to Colorado is a trip that people from around the world try to do – so I shouldn’t take for granted all that this beautiful state has to offer. 

I love the mountains – whether it’s during the summer or the winter. There’s just so much they have to offer, and I don’t think anything can beat the fresh air of the mountains. 

Colorado has a lot of different places you can go in the mountains, but one that I think doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves is Snow Mountain Ranch at the YMCA of the Rockies. 

The first time I came here was when I was about ten, and we came for a family reunion – then I came back about six years later for a youth conference. 

Both of these experiences are forever cemented into my mind – they were just so fun and laid back. And I think those are some of the best kind of memories – especially for a child. 

We have spent a few other trips up at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain and have enjoyed it thoroughly – in fact, next week, we are going there next week.

Every time we leave, it truly feels like our time there was much too short. It’s a gem of a place to visit for families and people of all ages!

Lodging

There are a variety of different lodging accommodations available – and there’s really something for every budget. We stayed in the Indian Peaks Lodge, which is one of their hotel-like lodges. 

We were very comfortable there. It came with two queen beds, as well as a full-size couch bed, so we had plenty of room. There was a standard bathroom with a bathtub and shower, as well as a vanity outside the shower/toilet area. 

The room came with a microwave and nice sized mini refrigerator, which we thought was really nice to have. We especially loved that we had a sliding door that opened to a porch with some patio furniture. There was a playset right outside that our boys were thrilled to see…until they realized it was covered in snow 🙂 

There was no TV in the room, but that is to encourage more family together time. It was surprisingly nice not to have a TV. They do have WiFi, though. It worked really well for us the first night, but the second day it had kind of disappeared. 

It had a couple of large, public lounges with games, TVs, and books. I was thinking it would be a perfect meeting place for a family reunion – maybe even if you bring some slow cookers you could gather out there for a meal. 

There are a few lodges that you can choose from at the Snow Mountain Lodge at varying prices. They also offer cabins, family reunion lodges, as well as Yurts and camping. There really is something for every budget. If you come for a reunion, you could easily let people choose the accommodations that fit the budget best. 

Groups of 15 or more can book up to two years in advance. 

You can check out availability, prices, and options here. 

Snow Mountain Ranch Activities

There is SO much to do at the YMCA of the Rockies – it’s hard to decide what to do first. Our boys were over the moon with all the fun activities we were able to do. 

What we loved most about the YMCA of the Rockies was that many of the activities were included with our stay – and the ones that were very affordable. 

Free Activities

Free Winter Activities:

• Rollerblading
• Basketball
• Foosball
• Tubing Hill – I believe the Saturday we were there was the first day it was open
• Ice Skating – This was not open while we were there, but it should be opening soon
• Indoor Pool
• Mini Golf (weather pending)
• Disc Golf (weather pending)

Summer Activities

• Game Room
• Hiking
• Historical Sites
• Mini Golf
• Playground
• Disc Golf
• Roller Skating
• Sand Volleyball
• Summer Tubing
• Swimming
• Tennis

Paid Activities

Winter

• Craft Shop
• Archery
• Nordic Trails (these are included with the overnight stays)
• Snowshoeing
• Snowmobiling
• Sleighride

Summer

• Archery
• Biking
• Challenge Course
• Rocking Climbing
• Craft Shop
• Fishing
• Horseback Riding
• White Water Rafting
• Zip Line

You can view a full list of activities by clicking here. 

If you are staying at the Snow Mountain Ranch, the free activities are all included. However, if you are just coming up for the day, you can purchase a day pass. 

In addition to the activities above, they have daily programming that is fun for the whole family. While we were there, they had s’mores, movie nights, life-size Hungry, Hungry Hippos, Yoga, and more. I love that they provide organized activities like this. 

Nordic Skiing

Our favorite activity, by far, was Nordic skiing. In hindsight, it was not the best decision for me to participate, considering I just had my endometriosis surgery about six weeks ago (and I definitely paid for it afterward!), but we all had so much fun. 

Nordic skiing – also known as cross-country skiing – is a big draw to the Snow Mountain Ranch for people. It is very affordable – much more so than downhill skiing – and Forrest and I were so impressed by that. I believe it was around $20 for a full-day adult for equipment, and it was $10 for a full day child. If you are staying overnight and have your own equipment, there will be no equipment fees. 

We were able to have an hour-long ski lesson for our family, and it was fun for everyone, right down to three-year-old Oliver. The ski instructors were SO nice, patient and encouraging. It made it a much more pleasant experience not feeling like they were annoyed with how slow I was at turning around or how I kept forgetting how to stand up when I fell down.

Jack was a natural – they kept saying how they were so impressed with how they were doing. Oliver wasn’t able to really keep up, so he had a ski instructor that stayed with him as he scurried around a flat track. He loved it, and I could tell how proud he felt when he was done. 

Forrest and I would both love to come back and just do this – there are so many places you can go. We noticed that you can rent a ski trailer (basically a bike trailer on skis), which would be nice so we could take Oliver once he got tired. 

Craft Shop

We had a lot of fun at the craft shop. We went there right before we left, though we wish we had gone earlier in our trip. We ended up doing some ceramic glazing, but they only fire once a day, so we had to pay $12 to have them ship our projects to us, which was kind of a bummer. They had TONS of things you can paint, though, and our boys really enjoyed it. 

In addition to the ceramics, they had tons of other crafts that you could purchase and make there, including some very inexpensive crafts for children. It’s the perfect place to come and make a memorable souvenir to remember your time at the Snow Mountain Ranch. 

Tubing

This is the one activity I remember doing here in the past, so I was excited to take my boys. They let you use helmets and their tubes, which was nice. They had adult-sized tubes, as well as child-sized, and they even had some tethered together, which was nice for taking Oliver down. 

This was another activity I probably shouldn’t have done – you have to climb back up the big hill with your tube, and it just about killed me. I was able to go down twice, and I wasn’t sure I’d make it back up. But it was so fun going down. The boys love sledding, and the hill was really fun to go down. 

Archery

This was a fun indoor activity, and I think it was like $5? Forrest, Jack, and Oliver went the first time, and the second time I joined them. It was so much fun! Oliver was a little bit small, but Forrest was allowed to let him help a couple of times. I haven’t done archery in years, and it was a neat activity. Jack had a blast!

Indoor Rock Climbing

This was an activity that Forrest and Jack did while I was resting for a while. They have an indoor climbing wall, and it was pretty inexpensive. Forrest was surprised by how sore he felt afterward. They both had a good time though – they provide the helmets and the climbing shoes, which was nice. 

We loved all the new experiences our boys got to have while we were up there. Forrest and I both really like for our kids to be able to try new things – and this was a great time to let them do this. 

Food at Snow Mountain Ranch

There are a few different options for food while staying at the Snow Mountain Ranch. 

While we were there, we personally took advantage of their cafeteria-style dining. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical at first…because I just don’t always love all-you-can-eat buffets. 

However, I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed the food they offered. There was a huge variety, and it changed every day. Breakfasts were hearty with fruit, meats, eggs, bread, and more. Lunches and dinners always had a nice variety. 

Our personal favorite was the gyro meat with pita and lots of different toppings. The meat basically melted in your mouth. 

Although we don’t have any food restrictions, they seemed to be pretty allergen friendly. If you have issues with food, be sure to contact them beforehand. 

The one thing we noticed was that some of the food was lacking in seasonings, but fortunately, there were lots of salt and pepper shakers around that helped that out. 

If you are staying at one of the lodges, you receive two free adult breakfasts with your stay, and children under five are free. Otherwise, the prices are as follows:

This is a little bit pricey, but I have found it similar to other places we have stayed like this (for instance, the Trinity Center that we stayed at in North Carolina this past summer offered similar food for a similar price). It is very convenient, and you don’t have to worry about cooking. 

They also had a litttle pizza restaurant that you could go to, but we felt pretty satisfied with the food we got. 

Cabins definitely have cooking amenities, which can help you save on money if you don’t want to eat in the 

YMCA of the Rockies Staff

The staff was amazing – we were so impressed by this. Everyone was always smiling and helpful – which isn’t always the case we’ve found when visiting places like this. I kept waiting for someone to get after us for something (kids being too loud? Walking on the wrong side of the road?), but it never happened. From check in to check out, we felt like the staff was wonderful. 

I definitely think this is an awesome place to be able to come and enjoy the beautiful mountains. It’s great for families of all sizes!

Have you been to Snow Mountain Ranch? Let us know in the comments!

More Articles You May Enjoy:

• Gaylord Rockies Resort Review: The Perfect Family Staycation
• River Run RV Resort Review: From a Family of Five

The post Snow Mountain Ranch at YMCA of the Rockies Review: The Perfect Family Get Away appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Since we got our pop-up trailer, we decided we should go take it out for a spin before we rented it out through RV Share. We thought it would be a good opportunity to see what needs to be fixed, take some great pictures, and most of all, enjoy some time together as a family.

We saw an advertisement for a BOGO deal at an RV resort about an hour and a half from our home called the River Run RV Resort. The dates worked out for us, so we decided to book a couple of nights there.

We’ve never stayed at any type of RV resort, so we knew it would be a fun adventure, especially for our boys. I’d read mixed reviews about this place on Google, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

While there were some blips in the road, overall, it was a very comfortable and fun experience. They offer camping, glamping, cabins, and, you guessed it – places to park your RV and pop-up trailers!

River Run RV Resort Granby Overview 

The River Run RV Resort is great location for your next RVing adventure. They have tons of amenities and ways to enjoy the great outdoors – from concrete RV Pads to cabins and glamping vehicles – there really was something for everyone.

It is located super close to Rocky Mountain National Park and Granby, so if you want to venture out, you have some great places to go.

They are definitely more of an upscale RV resort and can accommodate any size RV or towable unit. The average site is about 70 feet in length, which provides plenty of room for your rig and to relax and enjoy the views of the surrounding land as you unwind from your day of adventure.

The RV pads all have full hook-ups, which is really convenient. We found the staff to be really helpful as well pulled in, and they seemed really invested in helping us get settled.

At the resort you will find manicured lawns and lowers…and plenty of great views to take in while taking a relaxing walk around our park or swim in their zero-entry pool. They also have a great lake that you can walk around.

They have activities and restaurants, and it’s really a very fun place to come with your family while enjoying your RV (or cabin!)

River Run RV Resort Amenities  and Activities

River Run RV Resort offers a variety of amenities and activities. Whether you just want to park your rig, cook food outside, and enjoy visiting at your site, or you want some more structured fun, they have something for everyone.

– They have an outdoor pool with a zero-entry design (great for the kids or adults who enjoy a pool). They also have multiple hot tubs, which we all really enjoyed. I love that you can see such great views while swimming.

– They have lots of outdoor games set up and ready to go – Horseshoes and Bocce Ball are just a few

– Wi-Fi – Complimentary! I found it got a little slow at nights, but overall, it worked pretty well!

– Full-Service Laundry Facilities onsite

– Nice, well-kept bathrooms and showers

– Great park for the kiddos to play at, including a giant jumping pad

– Pickleball courts! We LOVE pickleball, so this was really fun to find this.

– Gas firepits throughout the resort that anyone can use. This was nice, because restrictions made it so we couldn’t use our own fire pit. Only sites with gas fire pits could start a fire, so I was glad there were public use rooms.

– An arcade room for the kids and teens (and adults who love that type of thing).

– Mini bowling – our family LOVED this! It was seriously so much fun. It’s an extra cost, but we felt like it was worth it.

– A store that is fully stocked with beverages and snacks so you don’t have to run out or leave the resort.

There are also several activities near our resort such as fishing ponds, hiking trails, and horseback riding (equestrian trails).

Our Favorites

The Pool – we really enjoyed the pool that they had. It was zero entry, which made it great for our youngest child. But it also had some deeper ends. It was kind of cold, but it was really fun to swim around in. They also had multiple hot tubs, which was probably a good thing because there were a lot of people using them!

Mini Bowling – I think this was our number one activity while at the River Run Resort. I wish we could have played more! I do wish it was included with yours tay, but it’s definitely worth playing at least once. I think I liked it more than regular bowling!

The Pizza – We got some pizza from The Headwaters Tavern, and I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed it. I was really hungry at the time, but I felt like it was one of the best pizzas I have had in awhile. The service was a little mediocre, but the pizza was delicious.

Pickleball Courts – We love Pickleball, need I say more!? They had a couple of courts that were well-maintained and fun to play one.

Playgrounds for the Kids – Our kids loved this! There was a giant jumping pad and some great playground equipment to romp around on.

The ambiance – The whole resort was just really pleasant to be at. It was a very relaxed, chill environment. All the other guests were SO friendly and helpful, which helped as well.

Location of River Run RV Resort in Granby Colorado

River Run RV Resort is located at 1051 Summit Trail, Granby, CO 80446. . They are just very close to Rocky Mountain National Park and lots of other adventures throughout Colorado.

River Run Resort Pricing

Our RV Pad was around $80 a night, however, we took advantage of a sale they had going on at the time where it was buy one night, get one free. It was only valid during the week, so we did miss out on some of the more fun activities they have on the weekends.

They are always offering different promotions, so make sure you check out their website to see if you can grab a deal, too.

River Run RV Resort Review – Pros and Cons

PROS

• The resort has a great location with lots of amenities
• There are many activities and entertainment available for guests
• Campers can enjoy the beautiful scenery that surrounds the campground 
• Guests have access to clean restrooms and showers as well as laundry facilities 
• Close to great hiking and other amenities
• The other campers and RVers were truly some of the nicest people I’ve ever met
• Nice, large spots that are easy to pull into
• Very clean
• There are plenty of activities and attractions near the campgrounds such as fishing ponds, hiking trails, horseback riding trails as well as a park for the kids.

CONS

• Not many grocery stores nearby – they did have a King
• It can be a a bit expensive, especially for a long term stay. I suspect they offer deals for longer term RVers
• We couldn’t use the fire pit at our camp spot due to fire regulations, and they didn’t have gas fire pits at all the RV spots
• The staff was hit or miss. Some of them were really great while others seemed a bit distracted, bored, or just not super well trained.

Overall, we had a great time at the River Run RV Resort. We’ll definitely be going back again sometime!

The post River Run RV Resort Review: From a Family of Five appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Gaylord Rockies Resort has been voted “Best Family Hotel” by Travel & Leisure Magazine. The resort is located just minutes from downtown Denver and offers plenty of family-friendly amenities such as a full-service spa, golf course, movie theater, and children’s pool area with splash pad. You’ll also enjoy complimentary shuttle service within two miles of the hotel! This post will share our experience there with our family to help you decide if it’s the right destination for you!

I really do enjoy traveling.

It’s the getting there part that I less than love.

Especially when I’m pregnant. After a four hour flight, stuck in the middle seat of a very bumpy flight in June, I swore off anymore flying until after this baby arrives.

So I am all about finding fun and relaxing destinations within an hour or so of where we live.

Fortunately, we live near Denver, so options are plentiful. We had thought about going to the Great Wolf Lodge this summer, but when we heard about a new resort near the Denver Airport – The Gaylord Rockies – and their fun Summerfest, we decided to try something new.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it would be new and beautiful, but I wasn’t sure how “family-friendly” it would be.

We had gone to a resort in Park City when Jack was about two, and while families were certainly allowed… we felt totally out of place for various reasons.

However, we thought it was worth giving a shot – and I’m so glad we did.

From the moment we checked in until we checked out, we felt comfortable, welcome, and like we were at a place made for families of all sizes and ages.

Because this is a new resort, I wanted to write a thorough overview of our experience so you can decide if it’s the right resort for your getaway.

This post was originally posted in 2019 on Clarks Condensed. It was moved to this site for more relevancy.

Location

The Gaylord Rockies is located in Aurora, right near the Denver Airport.

I was actually worried it would be noisy because of air traffic, but we couldn’t hear any airplanes. It was actually a very peaceful location, and we really felt like we were able to get away.

One complaint I read is that it’s not actually *that* close to the Rockies – like, you still have to drive quite a ways to get to the mountains. Which is true. However, you do get a great view of the mountains, which was fine by me since we weren’t planning to drive to the mountains while we were there.

The location was perfect for us – it was about 45 minutes from our house, so just far enough to feel like we were really getting away. With me being pregnant, that’s about as far as I can handle these days, anyway!

The actual premises are beautiful. It is HUGE – I felt like we were staying at a fancy castle. When you walk in, everything seems so big and welcoming. I definitely got my steps in during the days we were there!

It is over 500,000 square feet, including the conference center. There were a couple of conferences going on while we were there, but we never felt like it was overcrowded.

The thing I really liked though was that I didn’t feel like it was too ritzy. Unlike the resort we stayed at when Jack was little, we just felt comfortable and like it really was a great place to take our family.

I absolutely loved the ambiance though. There was a nice area inside with lots of waterfalls, a pond, a little cave, and even an old train. We loved just walking through there and relaxing.

There are lots of elevators, and I found there to be no lag time at all with getting one – which is often a problem at hotels!

Room

We stayed in a Queen Room suite, which had two queen beds, a mini-fridge, TV, and bathroom.

It wasn’t fancy, but it was very comfortable. We had a great view of the Rocky Mountains from our room, which was awesome.

I think we were in the base room for the resort, so there are certainly fancier rooms. But it was just right for our needs. Plenty of outlets – which is often a complaint I have at hotels!

The beds were very comfortable, and I was able to sleep pretty soundly. Since I’ve been pregnant, sleep has been difficult. I’ve stayed at a few hotels over the past few months, and this is the first one where I actually was able to sleep without tossing and turning all night long.

The bathroom just had a shower – not sure if there are rooms with a bathtub or not. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but with small children, we usually like to have a bathtub. I also like being able to take a bath when I go to a hotel, since I don’t have a bathtub in our master.

Something I loved was that they had tons of amenities in the room – not just the typical shampoo and lotion (which they had as well). They had a nice assortment of items that you may have forgotten, such as a razor, shaving cream, deodorant a toothbrush, etc. I actually had forgotten my razor, so it was nice not having to figure that out.

The TV was large and had a good variety of shows – you could also login to things like Netflix and Hulu.

Food

The Gaylord Resort has a wide variety of food available for you to eat while you are there.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is a resort, so you’ll definitely be paying resort prices for food – which can be a bit shocking if you aren’t prepared.

For instance, the kids meals were all around $10, which is quite a bit more than we’d typically spend.

You just have to go into it with realistic expectations. If you feel that you can’t afford or justify the cost, there are quite a few restaurants and fast food places within just a few miles of the hotel.

With that said, here are the different options they have:

• 24 Hour Room Service
• Vista Montagne – Italian
• Mountain Pass Sports Bar
• Old Hickory Steak House
• Monte Jade – Asian
• Pinyons – variety but primarily alcohol
• The Cocoa Bean – Marketplace/Coffee House
• Rockies Marketplace – Grab and Go
• Arapahoe Springs Bar and Grill

While we were there, we tried out the Arapahoe Springs and Bar as well as the Mountain Pass Sports Bar. We walked through the Cocoa Bean, and while we didn’t buy anything, they did seem to have a really nice variety of food.

So I can’t give an opinion on some of the “finer dining”, but they sure smelled good!

So first the Arapahoe Springs Bar and Grill. This is a casual, poolside grill and bar that you can order from and enjoy while you are swimming or lounging by the pool.

We had lunch there one day, and unfortunately, the wait for food was 1-1.5 hours. So make sure you factor in the time of day when you are ordering food.

I was happy that our food came out earlier than expected though, which was a nice surprise.

Our boys each got a kid’s meal – Jack got a hot dog and Oliver got a cheeseburger. They both had the choice of chips, fries, or a fruit cup. It was around $6, and I thought it was a pretty good deal.

Unlike at the fancier restaurants, anyone can order a kid’s meal, so it may be a less expensive option for some.

I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with a yummy aioli on a potato bun. It didn’t come with any lettuce or tomatoes, which seemed a little bit odd. THe chicken was *slightly* overdone, but overall, I thought it tasted pretty good.

Forrest got some steak tacos that were yummy, which he got with some chips and salsa.

I had a few bites of Oliver’s hambuger, and I thought the flavor was amazing! I did not try Jack’s hotdog, but he seemed to like it.

The french fries are definitely shoestring fries, so if you are expecting steak fries or something thicker – you’re out of luck. They still tasted pretty good though.

Now, on to the Mountain Pass Sports Bar. We decided to go here for dinner one night. It seemed like the most family-friendly place at the resort.

It’s a pretty fun atmosphere. They have huge screens on the wall where they play different sporting events. We went around 5 PM, and there was plenty of seating, though it did seem to get busier the longer we were there.

We ended up ordering one kid’s meal for the boys to share, along with two appetizers – it still ended up being over $40, just to give you an idea of the price.

The kid’s meal came with a main dish and a side, and the boys picked pasta with marinara sauce, as well as some yogurt.

Forrest and I ordered the nachos and a buffalo chili, which came with some corn bread.

Because of my Gestational Diabetes, I have to be careful about the carbs I eat, so I couldn’t eat too many nachos. However, I did have a few, and they were FANTASTIC. A little bit spicy for our boys, but I thought they were great.

They were piled high with tons of ingredients, and I just loved the queso that they were drenched in.

The chili was really good as well, though we wish there had been more in the bowl. It was spicy as well, but it had awesome flavor.

I did really enjoy this restaurant and the ambiance of it. Forrest loved that they had major games playing on the screen and really wanted to come back and watch a soccer game on them!

Oh! One thing that’s pretty cool – you can buy these souvenir cups for around $10, and then you can get free refills during your entire visit. I don’t think this is advertised much, so there’s a fun little tip for you if you are a big soda drinker!

Pool

One of the big attractions of the Gaylord Rockies Resort is their amazing pool and slides!

There is an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, several hot tubs, a lap pool, along with several slides, and our personal favorite – the lazy river!

It was rainy off and on while we were there, so it was nice to have the option of the indoor pool.

The indoor pool is definitely ideal for younger kids, but anyone can enjoy lounging around in it. Our boys absolutely LOVED it. It’s zero entry, and I think it goes up to about four feet. It was the perfect area for both of our boys to practice swimming – Oliver got especially brave with jumping in by himself and going under the water!

There is a little splash pad as well that I saw a lot of little babies and toddlers enjoying.

The outdoor pool is pretty fun – one night it was kind of cold, but the next time it was super warm.

We loved the lazy river! It was the perfect temperature, and it was so fun to just float around in it. This was Jack’s favorite for sure – and I think it was mine as well!

The hot tubs were nice, though they seemed to keep going out of order while we were there.

Jack went down the little slide that was outside, and it was the perfect size for him. I think he was a tad too short for the indoor slides (48″ minimum), but he was okay with that. He’s not a big slide person.

Forrest went on the slides a few times, and he was actually pretty impressed. He said they went pretty fast and were fun.

They have life jackets available for children, but we just brought our own puddle jumpers. However, it’s nice that they had them – in case you forgot to bring your own (which has happened to us!).

Forrest felt like the water was salt water – we asked someone, who said she wasn’t totally sure, but she thought it was. Definitely didn’t feel like a chlorinated pool!

You can rent out a Cabana for your family and friends if you want a little more privacy – I think it’s around $250 for the day or so. There’s also a firepit for anyone to sit around which was kind of fun!

Kids 3 and under have to wear swim diapers, which they offered complimentary. I thought that was really nice!

Activities

There are lots of activities at the Gaylord Resort, and most of them were free. I loved that they didn’t upcharge you for them.

They have a great area outside of the pool where they have mini golf, tennis courts, and a basketball court that you can use – free of charge! You just have to check out the equipment. They also have bikes you can check out, as well as ping pong and an outdoor walking/running trail.

I will talk more about the SummerFest in a bit, but even outside of that, I heard them announcing some activities on the Monday we were there that people could participate in, like a basketball competition.

My boys LOVED the miniature golf, and I loved that we could play as much as we wanted. The course wasn’t overly difficult, and we had a lot of fun with it.

They have an arcade room, which, much to my boys’ dismay, we did not go to. But it did look like fun!

Staff

I was really impressed with the staff – for the most part, everyone was very friendly and went above and beyond to help us.

I really loved the person who checked us in. She made us feel so welcome, and the sunglasses they gave us was a nice touch.

My only complaint was that our room didn’t get cleaned the first day until around 5:00. I kept seeing them on our floor all day when I would run upstairs, but somehow, they seemed to skip our room. Not the end of the world, of course! It eventually was tidied up – it just seemed a little late.

Price

This will definitely depend on when you are going – weekends and last-minute bookings will definitely always be more expensive.

I just checked for a month from now, and a room is about $199, which I think is reasonable for the location and amenities. Always be on the lookout for special deals though!

Parking

This was definitely a downside that I saw to the resort – the parking fees. The self parking was around $25 a night, and the valet was around $50. There was no covered parking, and I’ve heard people complain about how they think it’s unfortunate that you have to pay for uncovered parking in a place that has a lot of hail storms.

With that said, I have never stayed at a resort that didn’t charge for parking, so it’s really something that you have to just factor into the cost of your stay – as well as the resort fee.

Summerfest

The big reason why we went to the Gaylord Rockies was to check out the Summerfest. It was so fun!

The Summerfest takes place on this summer on the weekends, and it’s Alice in Wonderland-themed. We ALL had a blast with it.

They have various activities throughout the day at the pool and outside, and they also have specialty events like an Escape Room and Character Breakfast.

We were fortunate enough to be able to check out most of the events – so here’s what you can expect!

Hatter’s Escape Room

This was an activity that we did on our first night, and it was a blast. We’ve never done an escape room, so it was a fun activity.

I think it was a little bit different than some escape rooms, but it was fun for all ages – even our three-year-old got really into it and even helped figure out clues!

The person who played the Mad Hatter was amazing. He was so engaging and fun, and we felt like he was really the Mad Hatter.

We were put with another family during our reservation time, which was a blast. They were a lot of fun! I loved the clues and it was definitely a highlight of the weekend.

It is $14.99 per person to participate, and you definitely want to make reservations ahead of time. They were totally sold out on the day we checked in.

You can make a reservation here.

Breakfast in Wonderland

The morning after we arrived, we were invited to “Breakfast in Wonderland”. It was a fun and immersive character dining experience.

We are no strangers to character dining, as we always try to attend one when we go to Disneyland. So I wasn’t really sure what to expect!

It was actually a lot of fun. The Mad Hatter, Alice, and the Rabbit were there, and they were so engaging. Because there weren’t a ton of people at the time we went (8:30), our kids got a lot of attention.

The people who played the characters were spot on with their accents and mannerisms, and I just loved how much they interacted with our kids.

The food was delicious as well! It was an all-you-can-eat buffet with tons of options from cold cereal, oatmeal, yogurt and fruit, to delicious sausage, bacon, eggs, French toast, assorted bread…and my boys’ favorite – the dessert table.

Yes, they do serve dessert for breakfast. I was so sad I couldn’t really eat any of those desserts, but I did take a little nibble, and I thought it was fantastic.

Overall, we really enjoyed it. It is a little bit expensive though – it is $32.99 for adults and $19.99 for children ages 4-11. So if your kids are big Alice in Wonderland fans and you want a nice breakfast, it may be worth it – it really was a lot of fun.

Click here to make a reservation

Splash Party by Bubly

This was a fun event by the pool from about 1-5 on Saturday and Sunday, and from 3-7 on Friday. There were characters from Alice in Wonderland who hosted it, and there were lots of fun games and activities for the kids.

They also had fun lawn games available throughout the day, like giant Jenga and Connect Four. Our boys LOVED these.

Cheshire Cat’s Colorado Adventure Scavenger Hunt

This is a low-key activity available that is fun for all ages. I was resting one afternoon when Forrest took the boys on it.

It is $7 per booklet, and you roam the entire resort looking for clues to finish the puzzle. The boys really enjoyed it, and the LOVED the prize at the end (though it probably is only really cool for kids under about 10).

There was one clue that they couldn’t figure out, and the person at the towel hut said she guessed that it got blown down in the rainstorm and replaced later on. She was really helpful though!

You can get the booklets at the Concierge desk or at the towel hunt – or you can purchase them in advance here.

Queen of Hearts Mini Golf

I already mentioned the mini golf, but it’s all decked out in Alice in Wonderland decor, which made it even more fun. It’s open from 9 AM to 9 PM.

Dive in Movies

On Friday through Sunday starting at 8 PM, there are complimentary movies shown on a big screen right by the indoor pool.

Jack was SO excited about this, and we went one evening. He loved swimming around and watching the movie. They are family-friendly films that everyone can enjoy – while we were there, they showed “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “Trolls”

Overall Thoughts

We truly had a wonderful weekend here. It was just a fun and easy place to escape day to day life, and just enjoy being with my children and husband before our new baby arrives.

Whether you are coming from out of town or are just looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of life for a few days, I really think the Gaylord Rockies is the place to go.

Even though it’s a beautiful property that feels so grand, everyone was so friendly and laid back. I love that type of atmosphere – it’s definitely the kind of place our family likes to go.

I am really hoping we can make it back for their winter festivities, because they seem SO fun.

Click here to check availability for your upcoming trip!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• The Myrtle Beach Family Guide
• A Family Guide to Breckenridge
• The Vail Winter Guide for Families

The post Gaylord Rockies Resort Review: The Perfect Family Staycation appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

When people think about the Colorado Rockies, many of them associate it skiing – and for good reason. There are some pretty amazing places to ski and snowboard around here. However, for me, I love the mountains the most during the summertime. I love escaping to the cooler temperatures of the mountains and being able to explore the many beautiful towns that Colorado has to offer. If I could, I would definitely like in a mountain town, surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains!

One of the hidden gems of the Colorado Rocky Mountains is Breckenridge. I went to this town about 16 years ago with my parents and siblings, and I remember it being such a fun trip. I was so excited to go on a three-day trip to Breckenridge back in August with Forrest, Jack, my parents, and my little brother Michael. I thought I’d share some of the family friendly activities in Breckenridge!

Lodging

There are a variety of places to stay in Breckenridge in every price range. We recently reviewed the Beaver Run Resort, which was a great place to stay. I highly recommend seeing if you can find a room that fits your budget there.

Beyond that, there is camping during the summer, plenty of condos that people rent out themselves, as well as hotels and lodges. I would recommend checking out a website like Airbnb.com or VRBO.com if you are looking for an individually owned condo or townhome to stay. There are great deals to be found there. Otherwise, you all know that I’m a big fan of using Priceline to get the best deals on lodging!

Dining

I mentioned a few places to try out in my review of the Beaver Run Resort. Here are a few other great dining options in Breckenridge.

Empire Burger

If there’s one thing you should know about my family, it’s this – we have a hard time deciding where to eat. My dad and Forrest are always willing to go just about anywhere, but the rest of us? It takes FOREVER to decide. One night for dinner, it took us over an hour to decide. Some of us wanted Mexican, others wanted burgers. Me? I would have totally gone for Italian! However, we finally decided on Empire Burger after reading mostly good reviews.

We jumped on the shuttle from the Beaver Run, and we arrived around 5:45. Since it was a Friday night, I thought we would for sure have to wait for a seat, but they seated us right away! Empire Burger serves a variety of burgers, sandwiches, chicken, and salads – typical grill fare. We all decided what we wanted, and they served us fairly quickly.

First off – HUGE portions. Forrest and I shared a guacamole bacon burger, which was fantastic. The bun was thick and fresh and everything seemed to be made of the highest quality ingredients. We ordered a half order of fries, which we couldn’t even finish. Jack got a kid’s meal, which, quite honestly, seeemed as big as a regular meal! I guess Empire Burger is “famous” for their variety of dipping sauces – and I was very impressed! Forrest and I got the mango chutney sauce, which I highly recommend. It was sweet with a little bit of spice. We also tried the garlic parmesan, which I really enjoyed!

Mary’s Mountain Cookies

My mom wanted to buy a dessert for after dinner one night, and after seeing that Mary’s Mountain Cookies was rather popular, we decided to stop in. They have so many different kinds of cookies that are HUGE! They were a bit pricey, but we splurged a little bit. They have cookie sandwiches, but we opted for the cookies that weren’t sandwiches. We all really enjoyed them! I really liked the ones that had caramel in them. As we were walking out, we noticed they sold day-old cookies for a really inexpensive price, so if you are on a budget, that might be a good option!

Clint’s Bakery and Coffee House

We decided to stop in at this little restaurant for lunch and ice cream one day. I got a chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread, which was pretty good. Forrest got a turkey brie sandwich, and he really enjoyed it. I felt like the prices were a bit much for a sandwich, but that’s okay. I also didn’t find the employees to be very friendly while we were there – one was rather snarky toward a 10ish year-old girl, which I thought was silly.

Afterward we went upstairs to their ice cream parlor. The prices were reasonable, and there were a lot of different flavors. Jack and I shared a chocolate flavored one, and it was pretty good. We got two scoops, though when I compared it to my mom’s one scoop…they looked about the same size. haha! Forrest got a blueberry buckle, which was just kind of like blueberry coffee cake, but it was really yummy!

If you are looking for more recommendations on dining in Breckenridge, check out Zomato.com! This is one of my favorite places to look for new restaurants and read honest reviews.

Family Friendly Activities in Breckenridge

There’s so much do in Breckenridge! We primarily focused on the free and inexpensive activities in Breckenridge, because we don’t feel like you have to pay a ton of money to have fun. However, there’s really something for everyone. Here’s a few things we enjoyed the most.

Hiking

Of course, since we were in the mountains, there are so many great hikes nearby! We went on a little one up the mountain a bit that was pretty family friendly. I don’t think it actually had a name – we tried to find a specific one but got a little lost. It was still really nice though, and Jack could easily walk on it. There were a lot of mountain bikers on it though, so we had to stop quite a bit for them.

Near the Beaver Run, there are several hikes that are short and family friendly. Forrest went on one of them one day during Jack’s nap, and you can see a bit of that in the video at the beginning of this post.

Museums

At the front desk at the Beaver Run, there were a bunch of different flyers and brochures for activities in the area. I found one that listed all the different museums and historical spots in the area, which was perfect!  While there were historical walking tours that cost money, we opted for the free museums – which were awesome. We didn’t have a lot of extra time, so we just picked out a couple. First, we went to the Edwin Carter Discovery Museum. This is great for little kids! There are a bunch of interactive exhibits related to animals and wilderness, as well as a fully-dedicated children’s room. There was only one girl in the museum when we got there, but she was very friendly and gave us a lot of information about the museum. The museum focuses on Professor Edwin Carter, who is Breckenridge’s famous log cabin naturalist.

We also tried to go to the Red, White, and Blue Fire Museum, which sounded really interesting. Unfortunately, it was closed when we went. The tours are led by firemen, so if you have a child who loves all things firetruck, this would be a great place to stop.

Right before we left Breckenridge, we stopped at the High Line Railroad Park.  Jack LOVES everything train related, so we thought it would be perfect for him. They have some real trains there, as well as a great park.

There are a whole bunch of other fun historical sites and tours in Breckenridge (both paid and free) and you can read all about them on the Breck Heritage Website.

We didn’t get a chance to go, but the Mountain Top Children’s Museum looked like so much fun! We are big fans of children’s museums, and this one sounded great. They have tons of interactive exhibits, kid’s night out, and more. It does cost money – $7 per child and $5 for an adult – but grandparents and children under 1 are free!

Parks

There were a bunch of random parks that we saw throughout Breckenridge. I don’t know exactly where all of them are, but we saw several as we were walking around downtown.

Walking on Main Street

We did this several times – it was a lot fun! Main Street has all sorts of restaurants and fun stores that are owned by local people. This is a great thing to do if you are wanting some exercise and want to experience the heart of Breckenridge.

Gondola

Something really cool about Breckenridge is the free Gondola! The Gondola can take you to different parts of Breckenridge, or you can just ride it for fun. We did the latter, and we all really enjoyed it. It did get a little bit stuffy, but the views were beautiful. Jack thought it was the coolest thing ever. I highly recommended taking at least one right to the top of the mountain on this!

Summer Fun Park

This park has so many activities for families – a scenic chairlift, maze, mountain coaster, alpine slide…and so much more! We didn’t go here because it is pretty expensive, but it definitely has enough to keep you occupied all day long. It is only open during the summer, but it looked like a lot of fun. You can buy passes for a day of fun on all their activities, or you can purchase a la carte tickets for different activities.

Overall, we had an amazing time in Breckenridge, and we all still talk about how much we wish we could go back. I highly recommend trying to stay at the Beaver Run, because it’s truly such a family friendly environment that is so close to everything!

The post A Family Guide to Breckenridge appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

The Denver Zoo is definitely a must-see attraction when visiting Colorado. I honestly haven’t been to very many other zoos, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I think it’s pretty awesome. There is so much to see, fun exhibits, and you definitely won’t get bored here. In fact, most times we go, we can’t even see the whole zoo because there’s just so much to see and do!

My parents still have a membership, and with that membership, all their grandchildren get in free? The zoo may be wanting to retract that rule every time my family comes in with the ever-expanding amount of grandchildren my parents have, but it’s an awesome deal. Last week, when my sister Cindy was in town with her two little girls, we all loaded up and headed to the zoo.

It turned out to be a pretty cold day (more on that later) but we were able to see lots of animals and really enjoy ourselves. We took Jack last year when he was about five months old, and needless to say, he enjoyed it a lot more this year. He quietly made some of the animal noises for animals he recognized (namely, a leopard and a monkey) and had fun playing with his cousins. Here are a few pictures from the day:

Having been to the Denver Zoo quite a few times, I feel like I have a good grasp on how to have a good time. Here are some of my “expert” tips for visiting. Feel free to add any!

1) Free Days

So, I have a love-hate relationship with free days at the zoo (or anywhere, for that matter.) The plus-side is, you get in free! And the downside? Everyone and their mom (and grandma) are there. And even though it’s a huge zoo, it feels small when you have to fight your way through the crowds to see an animal. So if you can’t afford to go to the zoo, then definitely take advantage of the Denver Zoo free days, but be prepared to be patient. Otherwise? Go another day.

2) Take Advantage of Promotions

The cost for an adult to go to the zoo is $15. A lot, I know. Luckily, there are often coupons or promotions going on to help lower that cost slightly. As of right now (summer 2013) you can pick up discount ticket coupons at Wendy’s restaurants. I don’t know if all of them are participating, but the Wendys off of Wadsworth in Littleton is. The coupon took $4 off the admission prize. There seems to be a coupon like this available every summer.I know there are random promotions as well that will give you cheaper, or even free, admission. Earlier this year, if you texted a certain number during the 7th inning of the Rockies’ baseball game, you would get a free adult admission to the zoo. I don’t know how often things like this happen, but just keep your eyes and ears open, and who knows — you might get lucky! If you are planning a trip to the zoo, I encourage frequenting the Denver Zoo’s website, they

There are also promotions, like Yesterday’s Zoo. This is a cool program that gives each child enrolled a book and zoo voucher each month, which can be used at participating . A monthly membership is 7.95, and if you think you might frequent the zoo, this could be worth it.

2) Check the Weather

Take it from someone who has gone to the zoo one too many times when it has been scalding hot. Don’t do it. There’s just something extra miserable about it being hot, and being at the zoo, at the same time. For one thing, a lot of the animals don’t come out when it’s hot. For another thing, it makes the experience a whole lot less fun, especially if you are with children. Just prepare for a lot of complaining!

Still, be aware that cooler weather isn’t necessarily the best either…at least, if you forget a jacket. When we went to the zoo, we checked the weather report two days before, and it was supposed to be 70 degrees with a little bit of cloud cover — the perfect weather for the zoo. However, we didn’t check the weather day of, which is a major mistake when living in Colorado, and it was so cold and windy! Had we been dressed for those conditions, it would have been the perfect day to be at the zoo…but all of us were in shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. We had to come up with makeshift ways to stay warm, like this:

3) Ride the Train and Carousel

When we come to the zoo, about half way through our trip, we make our way to the center of the zoo. There, you’ll find a bunch of picnic tables, food, and best of all, a train ride and carousel. They both cost two dollars each, but I think they are worth it. The train takes you on a short ride, but it’s a nice way to relax your feet, and see a few parts of the zoo. The carousel is beautiful and huge, and decorated with the most intricately created animals. The kids always love riding on it, and there’s something for everyone — there’s a carriage to sit on if you are older, or have a small child you want to sit with, and then there’s lots of animals for everyone else to sit on.

Throughout the zoo, you’ll also find some random, interactive stations, such as being able to see how tall you are compared to a penguin, or you can see how far you can jump compared to different animals. Take your time when walking through – you never know what you’ll find!

4) Bring your own food and water

Like just about every other tourist attraction, the Denver Zoo has grossly over-priced food and drinks. Luckily, they let you bring in your own food and drinks. With the already expensive admission fee, this is probably a good idea. There are water fountains that you can fill up water bottles with, and plenty of picnic tables and grass to sit on. Be careful eating though — there are lots of ducks around that will come right up to you and grab any food you may have dropped! There are also peacocks that roam the zoo free, but they’ll leave you alone.

However, if money is not an issue, they have a lot of different little restaurants and food stands set up throughout the park. We always end up getting an ice cream cone or bag of popcorn at some point on our trip, and even though it costs an arm and a leg, it’s fun to do.

5) Grab a map

As I already mentioned, this zoo is huge. And chances are, you won’t be able to see everything. Especially if you have whiny kids (or, if you are with me, whiny adults.) So as soon as you enter the zoo, grab one of the complimentary maps and plan your route. The maps are very detailed and can help you navigate through the zoo and find your favorite exhibits.

6) Check out the schedule

There are lots of fun events that go on throughout the day at the zoo — from formal shows, to feedings. Before you head to the zoo, check out this page, which lists feeding schedules and daily events. It also lists the free zoo dates.

Even if you forget to check the schedule before you go, don’t fret. There are signs throughout the zoo that list special events, and I’m sure one of the helpful zoo employees would be more than happy to find whatever information you are looking for.

7) Bring a Stroller or Carrier (or rent a wagon!)

If you have a baby or a small child, this probably can go without saying. But I’ll say it anyways. Bring some form of transportation for your child that doesn’t involve you carrying them the entire time. Believe me, this can get tiring. And if you are like us, bring both a stroller and a baby carrier! Jack was content in his stroller, until I took him out for a second…then he refused to go back in. Luckily, I had one of my baby carriers with me, and he was content in that for the most part.

In all honesty, I preferred having him in the carrier because he could more easily see all the animals. Plus, it was so cold…it was nice to have some extra insulation.

The zoo rents out wagons, which is a fun option if you have more than one kid. I’m not sure how much the rentals are — they could be complimentary for all I know!

7) Go By the Nursery

One of my very favorite parts about going to the zoo is seeing baby animals! It’s really hit or miss if there will be any, but I’ve found there’s usually at least one somewhere in the zoo. There is a nursery in the zoo, but the only time there is an animal here is if it’s mother has abandoned it, or it has some kind of health problem. However, there is a guide outside the nursery that tells you which exhibits currently have baby animals, which I think is so neat. We found out there was a cute little baby orangutan from this map that we probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise, because, if you didn’t look close enough, you wouldn’t see the little baby hanging on to its mom.

In Conclusion . . .

The Denver Zoo is open year-round. From March 1 to October 31, the hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from November 1 through February 28, it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I highly recommend going to Zoo Lights during the winter. The whole zoo is decked out in Christmas lights and awesome displays.

The prices also change according to which season it is. For the summer months, ages 12-64 are $15, 65+ is $12, ages 3-11 are $12, and 2 and under are free. During the winter, 12-64 are $12, 65+ is $10, ages 3-11 are $8, and 2 and under are free. Even more reason to go during the winter!

What is your favorite zoo? Have you ever been to the Denver Zoo before?

The post What To Do in Denver: The Denver Zoo appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.