Vacation Time!

We are headed out on vacation again - this time headed west to Colorado. Nothing specific set. Can go anywhere from Aug 3 til Aug 10. Suggestions for places to stay? Things to see etc? 3 kids - ages 10, 8, & 11 mo. Money saving ideas? I want to spend as little as possible on food and crap so we have more money to spend on attractions/exhibits etc.

What part of Colorado are you going to?

Denver/Co Springs - need to go visit my very very elderly and sick grandmother before her time comes .

Id like to trek into the mountains some too - I wanna do some photography!

Not that planning ahead isn't a good idea, but if your grandma is really getting close maybe you should see how things go with her before making too many plans or promises to the kids.

no she isn't but we don't get out that way much - and I better make an effort just in case.

Check out the north pole at pikes peak. Seven Falls is pretty cool too! You can pack a Cooler with sandwich stuff for "picnics" we've done it and it will save money!

Let's see, Garden of the Gods is cool and Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is awesome, in addition to being one of the best places in the world for a concert. There aren't any major concerts scheduled in your timeframe, but there is a Film on the Rocks showing of "Ghostbusters" on the 4th. For real adventure, you could take the older kids whitewater rafting while the hubby stays with the little one. There are several companies that offer full and half day trips on the Arkansas River west of the Springs.

I put this in a separate post for a reason.

One of the best family vacations that we've ever had was at Copper Mountain Ski Resort. in August. The room rates are relatively cheap in the summer. I just checked and you can get a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo for as little as $100 per night on the 4th through the 7th. There's also a wide array of activities available right in the village complex, including the free ski lift all day, every day. And being a condo, you can bring your own food and cook in the kitchen, thereby saving lots of money vs. going to restaurants for every meal. My two youngest kids were about the same age as your two at the time, and they had one hell of a good vacation. In fact, all four of them had a great time. And you can't beat sitting out on the balcony in the evening with a fine Colorado microbrew and listening to the mountain stream, then returning in the morning with fresh brewed coffee in the chilly mountain air. The day we left, I think it was August 14th, the temperature was 40 degrees in the morning. One morning they even had a free three hour guided hike for the kids, leaving Oz and I some "alone" time in the room, if you know what I mean.

All in all, this rivaled Disney World/Universal for a great family vacation. Plus it's much less expensive and much more relaxing.

nobodysbusiness wrote:

no she isn't but we don't get out that way much - and I better make an effort just in case.

I see. Kind of a vacation and trip to see grandma combined. That doesn't sound so somber. I'll leave it to those who know Colorado to suggest the fun spots. Last I was there I was maybe 2 years old on a train. Funny how since then I've traveled South to Mexico and East to Alabama but never past Goodland West or past McCook North.

Copper Mountain was a lot of fun...got tons of great photos, too. Another place I loved was Estes Park. It's a charming little town. I'm not sure if your kids are in to "Ghost Hunters", but you can visit the Stanley Hotel (the inspiration for "The Shining") and check out the haunted hotel.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs was always a lot of fun, too.

We discussed the zoo, but the elevation might not be so good on Buff - If we don't get our tax return in time we won't be going anywhere. Sigh... I love the government.

Tax return in July?Wow your patient

Tax return? You should go shopping in Vail, then.

yeah my ex screwed us so we had to file paper, then the irs lost it etc....

it isn't that big of a return... lol

That Stanley Hotel sounds interesting. If they weren't so far away I'd like to go to that Florida light house and Waverly Sanitarium. The Ghost Hunters had some good stuff happen there.

Aren't there some gold panning places for tourists in Colorado? That might amuse you for awhile. The Ghost towns would be fun for me, but some of them are off the beaten track and require hiking. Then I think there's a major water park around Denver somewhere too.

Ratzilla wrote:

That Stanley Hotel sounds interesting. If they weren't so far away I'd like to go to that Florida light house and Waverly Sanitarium. The Ghost Hunters had some good stuff happen there.

Aren't there some gold panning places for tourists in Colorado? That might amuse you for awhile. The Ghost towns would be fun for me, but some of them are off the beaten track and require hiking. Then I think there's a major water park around Denver somewhere too.

There's a water park at Six Flags Elitch Gardens. They share parking with Pepsi Center. It's just off I-25, about a mile south of I-70. Mile High Stadium is on the other side of the interstate. It's also within a short distance of Lower Downtown (LoDo), the 16th St. Mall and Coors Field (home of the Rockies). The Denver branch of the US Mint and the state capitol are downtown, too.

So is Colfax.

Justoo wrote:

So is Colfax.

You know what that made me think of? I can't believe Bernie Madoff ripped off Sandy Koufax. What an scumdog asshole.

got AWESOME rooms on hotwire.com!! 4 star hotels in both Denver and Co. Springs for $61 & $71 respectively. I am very happy!!

I am bargain shopping for 2fer deals on some of the attractions. Any suggestions on meals to eat on the road? Snacks to take along etc??

A good snack to take along is a case of beer. Beer always taste good while going down the road at 70mph. For food I recommend anything with splenda in it. It will make a great conversation when the car is filled with odors from horrific toots.

Cheese puffs.

nobodysbusiness wrote:

got AWESOME rooms on hotwire.com!! 4 star hotels in both Denver and Co. Springs for $61 & $71 respectively. I am very happy!!

I am bargain shopping for 2fer deals on some of the attractions. Any suggestions on meals to eat on the road? Snacks to take along etc??

We always bring Ramen cups,in your room there's usually a coffee pot for hot water or in the lobby they have hot water and the kids love 'em,no mess no fuss they are cheap and they make great snacks!!!!

Cheese puffs and Ramen? Yuk!! It's a vacation trip. Let the kids pick their treats.

Cooler full of Reds ice cream!

Ratzilla wrote:

Cheese puffs and Ramen? Yuk!! It's a vacation trip. Let the kids pick their treats.

Rat my kids would live on ramen(cups,not regular)and cheetos!!

http://www.cheyennemountain.com/

http://techcenter.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

the two hotels booked on hotwire.com

wilkykav2 wrote:

Ratzilla wrote:

Cheese puffs and Ramen? Yuk!! It's a vacation trip. Let the kids pick their treats.

Rat my kids would live on ramen(cups,not regular)and cheetos!!

I see alot of that. What ever happened to kids that want popsicles, chili dogs, ice cream, and chocolate chip cookies? Y'all brainwash em into thinking those tasteless Ramen noodles are good?

Ratzilla wrote:

wilkykav2 wrote:

Ratzilla wrote:

Cheese puffs and Ramen? Yuk!! It's a vacation trip. Let the kids pick their treats.

Rat my kids would live on ramen(cups,not regular)and cheetos!!

I see alot of that. What ever happened to kids that want popsicles, chili dogs, ice cream, and chocolate chip cookies? Y'all brainwash em into thinking those tasteless Ramen noodles are good?

Ya gotta put em in hot water first, Ratz....

Then they just taste like wet string. The only times I've had Ramen noodles the only taste I noticed was artificial and crappy.

nitromaxx98 wrote:

Ratzilla wrote:

wilkykav2 wrote:

Ratzilla wrote:

Cheese puffs and Ramen? Yuk!! It's a vacation trip. Let the kids pick their treats.

Rat my kids would live on ramen(cups,not regular)and cheetos!!

I see alot of that. What ever happened to kids that want popsicles, chili dogs, ice cream, and chocolate chip cookies? Y'all brainwash em into thinking those tasteless Ramen noodles are good?

Ya gotta put em in hot water first, Ratz....

Is that how you brainwash kids? Hot water so their brain shrinks like a woolen sweater?

nobodysbusiness wrote:

http://www.cheyennemountain.com/

http://techcenter.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

the two hotels booked on hotwire.com

Hyatt's have the best beds,we usually stay at the one in Kansas City at Crown Center for kiddo's appt's at Children's Mercy-we get a great discount!

this place is AWESOME!!!!!! will be a great vacation!

nobodysbusiness wrote:

this place is AWESOME!!!!!! will be a great vacation!

Route 67601 is where I spend my vacations, too.

hardy har har... LOL





The view out our balcony of Cheyenne Mountain

Nice NB. Looks like it's cool and relaxing. What's the elevation?