Dinosaur National Monument with Kids

Spanning both Utah and Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument is a national park destination too massive to tackle in a day, or even a few days. During our visit, we opted to check out only one section of the park, on the Utah side, but we tasted just enough of this park to know we’ll be back. Here’s how to plan a trip to Dinosaur National Monument with kids: Know the lay of the land: There are two … [Read more...]

The Home Ranch review: Colorado dude ranch

If you book a stay at The Home Ranch, located just outside Steamboat Springs, Colorado, you’d better get used to hearing the word ‘yes’. As in, ‘Yes, we can accommodate that’, or, ‘Yes, we’ll make that happen’, or ‘Yes, you most certainly can’. And yes, this 'can do' attitude is a delight to hear during a dude ranch vacation. We discovered this rhetoric early on during our early summer visit, … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Keystone mountain resort area: options for every budget

Fall is in the air, and it's officially ski trip planning season! Throughout the autumn and winter, I'll be offering a large number of family ski vacation tips, recommendations, and resort reviews in partnership with Mountain Reservations, a great resource for budget-friendly ski trips. If you're considering a Keystone Resort ski trip with your family, you know how large (and somewhat … [Read more...]

Estes Park with kids: What to do in downtown Estes Park

While you’re in Estes Park with kids enjoying the mountains, be sure to carve out some time to explore the downtown area of this fabulous destination. Fun City: I would be remiss if I didn’t start with Estes Park’s ultimate kid-friendly attraction; it was the place my kids remembered best from our first trip, and the place they most wanted to return to. With burlap sack and 3-story twisty … [Read more...]

Estes Park with kids: Hi Country Stables review

Rocky Mountain National Park is spectacularly beautiful, but with kids, there can be limits to the distance and elevation you can reasonably expect to cover on foot. Fortunately, there’s another way to get up to the heights: a trail ride with Hi Country Stables. Hi Country Stables review: Hi Country Stables, which is part of Estes Park’s Sombrero Stables family, operates two locations inside … [Read more...]

Open Air Adventure Park Estes Park

Estes Park, Colorado, is known as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. But mountains aren’t the only outdoor adventures you can find in this small town. Tucked off highway 36 on the way out to the Beaver Meadows entrance of the park is the compact but surprisingly extensive Open Air Adventure Park. Open Air Adventure Park is a web of 32 aerial obstacles arranged around a central hub. … [Read more...]

Dog sledding and snowmobiling in Breckenridge

The town of Breckenridge Colorado is known for its epic skiing and snowboarding, but there are many other ways to enjoy the snowy mountains here. Whether you want to plan a day away from the slopes during a longer vacation or have non-skiers among you, head out to Good Times Adventures, about twenty minutes from town. Good Times Adventures offers snowmobiling tours as well as dog sledding … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Breckenridge: Mountain Thunder Lodge review

When we’re on a ski vacation, or visiting a ski resort in summer to hike and mountain bike, we often opt to stay right inside the ski village…the hustle and bustle can be exciting and fun. But by far, the best perk of village lodging is the easy access to the slopes. Breckenridge is a very unique ski resort, in that its lifts and peaks stretch almost across the length of town. What this means to … [Read more...]

Best Mountain Towns: Breckenridge Colorado

Yes, Breckenridge, Colorado could certainly fall into Pit Stops for Kids' Best Ski Towns category; however, this resort town truly is a four-season destination. While it's best known for winter sports, Breckenridge shines in the warmer months as well, boosting hiking, rafting, biking, and lots of storied history. Here's what to do with kids and without in Breckenridge, truly a Best Mountain … [Read more...]

Top reasons why Breckenridge is a perfect family ski vacation

Pit Stops for Kids is happy to take part in the third annual Back to Ski Week, which includes tips on planning a family ski vacation as well as chances to win prizes. To learn more visit the Back to Ski site and sign up for the newsletter, follow @back2ski on Twitter, or like it on Facebook. Today we hear from inveterate outdoorswoman and lover of the Rockies Amber Johnson of The Mile High Mama … [Read more...]