It’s a Wonder Cruising With Disney: A day-by-day guide

May 1, 2011 By

For Spring Break, Bode, Hadley and I joined my mother-in-law Linda aboard the Disney Wonder to sail the Mexican Riviera and life has never been the same.

I mean, just look at this kid.

Since Disney Cruise Line’s inception back in 1995, I knew I wanted to take my children someday but I must confess, we were not huge Disney fans. Sure, we love most Disney films but we’ve never been to the theme parks and consider Mickey only to be a mouse (and not a god).

But after seven days aboard the 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder, we’re now bonafide mouseketeers. It wasn’t any one thing that made this our favorite vacation ever but rather the culmination of superb service from the 945 crew members, fantastic amenities interspersed throughout the 10 decks, delicious food at the nine restaurants, professional-quality shows, first-run movies like Mars Needs Moms and the simple magic that only Disney can provide.

I’ve been on cruises before that offer wonderful children’s programs but the difference with a Disney Cruise is everything is about the kids. Little girls wandered the halls wearing princess dresses and boys sported Mickey ears. Some families went all-out decorating their cabin doors. Our waitress even patterned our ketchup into Mickey ears.

The Disney Wonder launched in 1999 and many of the reviews I read on TripAdvisor were harsh (too old, not maintained, etc.) While there were times it definitely showed its age (particularly creaking most noticed at night), crews work around-the-clock cleaning and painting.

This old ship (me) should be so lucky to have that kind of TLC.

So, welcome aboard! As you’ll see from Day 0.5, our trip did not start well….

*It’s a Wonder Cruising with Disney: A Day-by-day Guide

*Day 0.5: If Getting There is Half the Fun Then I’m in Trouble

*Day 1: Kids Club, Sail Away Party and Fat Kitty Stowaway

*Day 2: Stateroom, Oceaneer Club, Pools, Entertainment & Pyrotechnics, Oh My!

*Day 3: Our Slacker Character Breakfast, Oceaneer Lab’s Little Red Hen and the Magic of Animator’s Palate

*Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Boogie Boarding and Not-nude Beaches

*Days 5 & 6: Cabo, Lands End, A Brush with Death and a Newfound Love

*Day 7: Farewells & Our Favorite Moment of the Trip

But you’d better believe it ended much better.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Disney, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, travel Tagged With:

Telluride Ski Resort’s Offerings & Why Eco Adventures is the Road That Should be Taken

March 30, 2011 By

Telluride Ski Resort has created a road-less-traveled impasse for families: Register the kids in ski school and conquer the terrain of Colorado’s most awe-inspiring resort.

–OR–

Enroll in Eco Adventures, a one-stop adventure shop designed to connect the entire family to the surrounding Telluride region.

Ever the fence sitters, my family did both. And sorry, Mr. Browning, our indecision made all the difference.

Eco Adventures for Kids

While most of Colorado’s resorts focus their efforts solely on ski and ride school, Telluride’s Eco Adventures offers an unparalleled opportunity to try a compendium of activities while learning about area ecosystems.

Prior to our trip, I sat Hadley (6) and Bode (4) down to review their many class choices that include identifying animal tracks, constructing energy kits, making snow caves, building their own snowshoes, learning about local plants and animals or discovering how skating is possible. Prices start at $25 for potty-trained children 3 and older.

After careful consideration, my children opted for The Bucktooth Builders ($50) where they would hike to a real beaver dam and also Cool Kitchen Science ($60) that included creating weird experiments that included making goop and a pickle glow.

Basically, it was kid heaven.

After introducing Hadley and Bode to their instructor Lexi, they forgot about my existence as they delved into the environmental center’s animal skulls (including black bear, bobcat, elk and mountain goat), dress-up pelts, plants, insects, cool science experiments, and so much more.

That’s my way of saying I had no idea what most of it was.

By day’s end, they were a database of knowledge. Bursting with exuberance, they showed me their science experiments (complete with a hypothesis and conclusion) and downloaded everything I’ve ever wanted to know about beavers. They had snowshoed for the first time to a beaver dam and made their own buck teeth and tail out of cardboard.

If it wasn’t so endearing it would have been a wee bit disturbing.

Eco Adventures is conveniently located in the Mountain Village near the base of the lifts and is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. year-round. Don’t miss their summer programs that include Kids Programs for kids ages 3 and up and their full-day adventure camps for ages 5-12. Half- and full-day custom excursions area also available for the entire family. 970-728-7300, ecoadventures@tellurideskiresort.com

Eco Adventures for Grown-up Kids

Eco Adventures doesn’t just cater to children and offers adults ice climbing, heli-skiing, Nordic ski, snowcat skiing and fly fishing.

While my kids were happily exploring their environs, this mama took to the trails in Eco Adventures’ guided snowshoe tour. For just $45, my group of five received loaner Atlas snowshoes and rode to the top of lift 10.

I enjoy the solitude of solo snowshoeing so was a bit wary of sharing my backcountry spoils. My concerns were quashed as our guide, Warner Paige, unleashed geology in action. We wound through a conifer forest heavily blanketed in snow along the resort’s TopAten Snowshoe and Nordic Area (which offers 10 kilometers of trails).

We frolicked in the glistening Magic Meadow, identified dizzying 14,000 peaks in the Wilson Range, chuckled at John Wayne Stories, spotted lynx and snowshoe hare tracks, saw celebrity cabins, and had our breath taken at every turn. After two hours with Warren, I had an intimate knowledge and appreciation for the region.

Though it doesn’t take much to appreciate views like this.

Why Telluride?

When I told many friends I was going to Telluride, their response was always “why?”

The magnificence of the sky-scratching panoramas that meld into red-rock mesas are not in question but rather, their proximity to Denver (a six-hour drive).

The reasons are simple: beauty, services and more beauty.

This southwestern resort is not a quick weekend trip, it is a destination. After a mere few days, my family was wooed by Telluride’s western charm, the Mountain Village’s sleek European-style amenities and the free gondola (the first and only of its kind) that connects them both.

The Mountain

Jamie and I fell in love with Telluride Mountain Resort’s 1,700 skiable acres, which offer something for everyone. Though we missed eight inches of fresh powder that had fallen a few days prior and conditions were really tracked out, getting around was simple and fluid. We were able to easily access the entire mountain from one end to the other in just one morning. Jamie hiked and skied down expert terrain in reputed Prospect Bowl while I opted for more sane choices off the Polar Queen Express.

To each his or her own.

Telluride is also a great beginner’s mountain and my children flourished in Telluride Ski School. While most novices are relegated to trails near the base with limited views, anyone can access the top of Prospect Express (lift 12). It is one of the four highest lifts at the resort and has a 13,320-foot peak looming over the ridge. Best of all, the entire family can ski down green-level Galloping Goose, the longest run at Telluride Ski Resort.

Stay

The Peaks Grand Heritage Resort & Spa is about as good as it gets for family travel. Perks include ski-in ski-out access, 161 guest rooms, a Kids Camp for ages two and over as well as private daycare. Your kids will love Telluride’s only water slide that spills into an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, moms are pampered at the world-class spa and everyone will relish the live music on the heated decks that offer the best après ski vibes in town.

Eats

For on-mountain dining, we ordered in Crazy Elk Pizza one night and chowed down on Hop Garden’s delicious burgers another evening (both at the resort’s base).

Another delight was riding the free gondola into town and eating at The Sweet Life, the sweetheart of family dining. While I can’t say I recommend the dinner menu (our items were overcooked), this candy store and ice cream parlor has must-order items like 15 varieties of cupcakes (including root beer float and candied lemonade), fried Oreos, funnel cake fries, and a separate menu of nine different S’mores.

The Perfect Family Destination

As we drove home from Telluride, I reflected upon our whimsical, incident-free weekend and then panicked.

Me: “Quick—Tell me something that went wrong this weekend.”
Jamie: “Excuse me?”
Me: “I always have funny misadventures to write about on our trips, like when I fell getting off the chairlift in Crested Butte, or when we locked the keys in the running car in Steamboat.”
Jamie: “Huh. I don’t think anything went wrong this weekend. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

I won’t. But I’ll just classify Telluride as the perfect resort for an imperfect family.


© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Colorado, Family, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, skiing, travel

World’s third largest cruiseship offers family fun of “Epic” proportions

March 23, 2011 By

March–It’s that time of year when Coloradoans start getting cabin fever and curse any groundhog who dares a winter extension. So allow me to indulge those craving warmer climes.

Last fall, my husband Jamie and I went on a second honeymoon aboard the Norwegian Epic, the third-largest cruise ship in the world that boasts world-class entertainment like Blue Man Group as well as family-friendly offerings. It had all the makings for an idyllic vacation and it mostly was. We:

*Marveled when Jamie landed the key role as “The Investor” during Cirque Dreams and Dinner’s show that was so awe-inspiring we thought we’d taken a detour to Vegas.

*Chartered a boat to go snorkeling in Costa Maya, frolicked with the dolphins in Cozumel and explored the second-largest reef in the world in Roatan, Honduras.

*Lounged by the ship’s two pools, five hot tubs, kid’s pool, three multi-story water slides and the 200-foot Epic Plunge, the only tube slide at sea.

*Cooled down with creamsicle smoothies in the 17-degree SVEDKA Ice Bar (only 1 of 3 in the world).

Factor in a hilarious Murder Mystery lunch from Second City comedy troupe, a Sports Complex, rock-climbing wall, spa and bowling and the only things missing were our kids (who would have gone crazy for the Nickelodeon™ at Sea programs that included poolside parties, breakfast with the characters and a lot more.)

To be honest, Norwegian is the only cruise line I’ve ever sailed because I love their Freestyle Cruising. Instead of having regimented schedules, passengers are given the flexibility to dine and do whatever activities they want, when they want to do them.

Apparently our pastimes primarily consisted of eating at the ships’ 17 restaurants because I gained 5 pounds.

Our week-long trip went reasonably smoothly until the very end. The night before disembarking the ship, passengers have the option to set their luggage outside their room by midnight so the porters can carry it off.

We packed up our belongings and upon my insistence, separated every stitch of our dirty and clean laundry in different suitcases.We set the suitcases outside the door and went to bed in our skivvies.

An hour later, Jamie arose with a horrifying realization: He forgot to leave out clothes to wear off the ship the next day.

He raced over to the cabin door and the luggage was already gone.

The next 12 hours are a blur that included horror (him) and an innocent bystander (me) being forced to pillage the ship’s lost-and-found.

It’s only appropriate aboard a ship named “Epic” that Murphy’s Law should also make an appearance of that proportion.

Epic Family Fun

Kids can meet their favorite Nickelodeon™ characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer with Nickelodeon™ at Sea. When you need grown-up time, they won’t even know you’re gone as they delve into the children’s programs at Recess or teen activities at Entourage. Fun includes a light up dance floor, Wii™ and PlayStation®3 gaming areas and a private karaoke performance stage that doubles a state-of-the-art surround sound cinema. Not-to-be forgotten are the Aqua Park’s multiple slides, bowling, the sports complex’s rock-climbing wall, batting cage, basketball and Spider Web, a 24-foot tall enclosed climbing cage.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Family travel, Humor, travel

Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Skiing & Non-skiing Activities: An Unprecedented Family Vacation

February 17, 2011 By

My family had an unprecedented vacation to Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR).

It wasn’t just attributed to the eight inches of fresh powder without a lift line in sight or the glistening Elk Mountains (the frozen equivalent of Shangri-La). But rather, because I skied my first double-black diamond run (Rachels)…and later managed to fall getting off the chairlift as I avoided a wayward ski-schooler.

Par for the course in a funky mountain hamlet where you should expect the unexpected.

Camp CB

Hands down, Crested Butte is my favorite Colorado mountain town (read my summer exploits) and I was positively giddy to ski Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the first time.

My family awoke to snow flurries but by the time Hadley and Bode headed to Camp CB in the Whetstone Building, it was a bluebird day with fresh powder. The children’s center’s location requires a bit of a hike in snow boots but was characteristically uncrowded (great news as it pertains to teacher-to-student ratios) and we met Bubba and Betty, the resort’s friendly mascots.

Four-year-old Bode was enrolled in the Explorers Level II program. There are two magic carpet areas (Aspen and Pine) and he spent his day on the more advanced of the two mastering his pizzas and stops. Hadley bonded with her teacher “Sparkles” and was thrilled to graduate to a Level 5 skier under her guidance.

At the end of the day, I took Haddie for a run down the Red Lady lift. She impressed me with her parallel-turning moxie so I decided to return the favor.

“Do you want to watch Mommy ski deep powder?” I [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, skiing, travel Tagged With:

Mommy & Me Ski Lesson at Echo Mountain

February 9, 2011 By

There are Mommy & Me sign language, yoga and swim classes but why should it stop there?

At Echo Mountain it keeps going—straight down the mountain in their Parent and Me private ski lessons for 3-year-old skiers and his/her parent. The concept is brilliant and simple: Take a one-hour lesson with your child to prepare them for group instruction by age 4.

I learned to ski at a one-lift hill in Canada and there is a special place in my heart for small resorts. In addition to proximity to Denver (just 35 miles away outside of Evergreen), Echo Mountains is also about affordability and offers great ski school packages, terrain parks, and night skiing until 9 p.m. five nights a week.

Oh, and the free parking in the small lot and lack of stairs in the lodge were awesome, too.

If you’ve ever walked a mile in your ski boots or attempted to traverse down slippery steps, you know what I’m talking about.

Mommy & Me Class

This wasn’t my son Bode’s first time on skis and I’d like to say he shined but he didn’t. In fact, [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, skiing, travel

Denver’s Best Place to Skate Outdoors This Winter

February 4, 2011 By

A couple of weekends ago, my family had one of our favorite winter adventures in Colorado: We skated Evergreen Lake.

Located just 20 minutes from Denver off I-70, this lake is surrounded by blue spruce, pines, evergreens and is about as close to an authentic Canadian skating experience as you can get in the Denver-area.

Side note: I was raised gliding along frozen lakes and rivers and learned very quickly that pretty much anywhere is skatable and that frozen nose hairs are a fashion statement.

A large portion of the 40-acre Evergreen Lake is Zambonied (a true Canadian verb) into a skating area with several smaller enclaves for hockey. The Evergreen Lakehouse is a stellar place to warm up to some hot chocolate or an affordable selection of food from the snack bar.

Six-year-old Haddie took skating lessons last year but it was 4-year-old Bode’s first time on skates. Several parents had constructed makeshift structures to help their beginners but I did it the old-fashioned way: I strained my back as I leaned over teaching him how to glide. And I let him fall. A lot.

By the end, he was starting to get it and I was ecstatic I am installing one of my childhood passions into my American-Canadian half-breeds.

And enjoying a dose of the best Colorado has to offer along the way.

Tip: Be sure to call Evergreen Lake’s hotline (720) 880-1391 the morning of your visit for ice conditions. If you are planning a weekend visit, the earlier you go the better. The lake gets busier as the day goes on. Plus, if it’s warm the ice will get soft and slushy.

Prices: Tot (3 years and under): free; Youth (4 – 18) : $4.75; Adult (19 – 59): $5.00. Skate rental is $6.

Eats: Run (don’t walk) to Country Road Cafe. Located in Kittredge (just 2 miles from Evergreen), this unassuming log cabin is home to the best breakfast in Colorado (and often has a long wait on the weekends to prove it). With over 100 items on their menu, you can’t go wrong with their nine different kinds of Eggs Benedict or their famous smashed mashes. My husband has never deviated from their gargantuan breakfast burrito and my kids adore the fluffy over-sized stuffed pancakes. This time, I was tempted by their daily specials: an omelet with steak, mushroom, blue cheese, truffle Hollandaise and crispy onions. But the French toast stuffed with lemon-poppy cheesecake topped with almonds was pretty tempting, too.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, travel

Kids Being Kids at Park City’s Gorgoza (Tubing) Park

January 20, 2011 By

When I was single in my late-20s, my friend Garritt and I went tubing at Gorgoza Park in Park City. As we shot down the mountain at unconscionable speeds, we giggled like a couple of school girls.

However at one point, we were mortified when we realized we were the only ones our age without children.

Fast-forward 10 years and my family of four went tubing at Gorgoza Park for the first time together…and had an amazing time. I finally felt like I had full license to be a kid, with my kids.

I grew up tubing on a steep gully in Canada but since moving to Colorado, our sledding efforts have been sub-par at best because the snow in our area is frequently too powdery, which prevents us from going more than 0.0005 mile/hour and it’s not easy to pull two small children up a steep hill!

Enter: Gorgoza Park’s lift-serviced, impeccably groomed and fast runs.

It had been a bluebird day, which transpired into a starry night. We connected with one of my best college friends Lori, and her family of five, at the base and later went back to our condo for pizza.

Both of my children met the 42-inch minimum height requirement to tube the upper part of the hill but I figured 4-year-old Bode would want to play it safe and stay lower.

I was wrong.

After a couple of runs on his small tube, he announced he wanted to go higher. Even his 6-year-old sister (whom I have dubbed “Adventure Girl”) was wary. We swapped their small tubes for large ones and made the pilgrimage to the top. As we gazed down the four steep tracks, Bode squealed, “I’m weady!”

With that, he linked up to my husband’s tube and tore down the mountain. It was one of those tender moments as a mother when I witnessed my little guy growing up.

Then I proceeded to link up to my daughter’s tube and scream like a baby the enter way down.

Our starlit night was replete with ecstatic faces, new horizons, dear friends, hot chocolate in the warm-up yurt and lasting memories. It is what Dirty Dancing’s song, “I had the time of my life” is all about.

But with good, clean tubing.

Gorgoza Park adult prices: $8 (1 ride), $22 (2 hours), $33 (4 hours). Individuals under 42”: $4 (1 ride, $12 (2 hours), $18 (4 hours). Persons less than 42″ (must be 3 years old) are limited to 390′ conveyor and lower lanes.

Address: 3863 Kilby Rd in Park City, 435.658.264.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Humor, travel, Utah

Park City Mountain Resort’s Alpine Coaster: Slowpokes Need Not Apply

January 19, 2011 By

My young children are adrenaline junkies. At least that is the conclusion I’ve come to based upon their addiction to Park City Mountain Resort’s Alpine Coaster.

Or maybe they’re all about scaring the bejeebers out of their mom.

After a full day of skiing, we took two runs down the Alpine Coaster. For my kids, “brake” is a bad word and we are expected to go full-throttle.

For the first run, 6-year-old Hadley went with my husband while my son and I followed. When we reached the bottom, I found my jubilant but disappointed daughter who said they had caught up to the people in front who were riding the brake the whole way.

Gasp! Not the dreaded “b” word!

For our second run, I promised my daughter we’d follow my speedy husband. I even interrogated the parents in front of them to see if we needed to give them a head start at the base. They, too had adrenaline-addicted children and assured us it wouldn’t be a problem.

The problem was the car in front of them that came to a literal standstill on the tracks, causing a potentially disastrous and dangerous situation. The parents in front of us took charge.

“HURRY UP, DON’T STOP!”

The perpetrator was riding with his 7-year-old son and shouted back, “Hey, I’ve got a kid on-board.”

He then turned around to discover he’d caused a traffic jam that consisted of much younger kids and so he sheepishly kicked his car into gear.

Lesson learned: There is a special place in this world for the brake-riders of this world.

And it ain’t in front of us.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Family travel, Hadley, Humor, travel, Utah

On Being Filled

January 17, 2011 By

I had a frustrating week so when Friday dawned bright, snowy and beautiful, I resolved I was going to take some time off and enjoy it. I talked to Jamie about the possibilities.

“I want to go hiking today. What do you recommend?”
“How about Red Rocks?”
“I always go there. I want someplace different–a place that fills my soul.”

I swear that came out of left field and I’ve never said anything quite so cheesy. But that’s how I felt. In my inner core, I sense big, life-altering changes coming in my life and I wanted to just clear my mind and get outside. I opted to climb Mount Galbraith near Golden but after a few minutes on the shady, icy and cold trail, I proclaimed:

“THIS IS LIKE, SOOOO NOT SOUL-FILLING.”

Any valley-girl/self-help guru would have totally agreed.

I drove on Highway 93, surveying the area’s mesas and foothills. I spotted a new-to-me-trail zigzagging its way up North Table Mountain. The base was shrouded by a neighborhood so I wound around the streets looking for a semblance of a trailhead. I was ecstatic to find a recently constructed parking lot and before long, was exploring a new trail.

This probably doesn’t sounds very exciting to most people but it was thrilling for me. I’ve lived in Denver for eight years now and have hiked pretty much everything the Front Range has to offer. Exploring new passages was the perfect solution for my pensive mood.

The connecting trail was relatively steep and slippery but when I summited, I was greeted with a network of trails that included Tilting Mesa and the North Table Mountain loop. The flattop extended for miles and I resolved to bring my mountain bike back to do further exploration.

And, of course, reflections. At this rate, I may even give self-help guru Deepak Chopra a run for his money.

Like, totally.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Colorado, hiking, travel

How to realize your true potential in 2011 (just call me Oprah)

January 3, 2011 By

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions for the primary reason that I’m not good at keeping them. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a goal-making, ambitious gal but I’ve never met a New Year’s resolution I liked, primarily because there seems to be a healthy dose of guilt associated with not keeping it.

Well, with the exception of the year I resolved (and learned how) to use chopsticks.

Lesson learned: Aim low.

As I’ve been reflecting back upon 2010, I’ve been amazed at how incredibly blessed my family has been professionally and personally. The year kicked off when I was chosen as Microsoft Office’s accredited blogger at the 2010 Vancouver games. Our whirlwind has not stopped as we’ve traveled the world and have learned invaluable lessons at home.

In fact, so extraordinary were our experiences that I’ve been dreading 2011, thinking, “I can’t possibly top the year we’ve had,” or, for the first time in my life, I’ve been filled with worry,”This must mean the bottom will be falling out soon.”

Both sentiments are an anomaly for a glass-half-full kinda gal.

Then, I saw the light. I was deeply moved as I read Oprah’s January 2011 editorial in O magazine. She talked candidly about the end of her show’s 25-year run and the fear she initially had about launching a network of shows on OWN (which debuted January 1):

In July I read a Vanity Fair article about the making of Michael Jackson’s album Thriller. The piece quoted some of Michael’s friends saying that one of the his biggest mistakes was never realizing that Thriller’s becoming the number-one-selling album in history was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. And because he didn’t realize that, he spent the rest of his life chasing that success.

Reading that was a big aha for me. The reason I had wavered was fear: I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to duplicate what I’ve done. But as I thought about Michael Jackson, I began to see that not only can you not duplicate success, you’re not supposed to. Every new endeavor is created out of the quality of energy you bring to it and is meant to be its own thing.

I totally get it.

I spent my final semester of college on a study abroad in the Middle East. Our campus was on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and we traveled frequently around the region. We floated in the Dead Sea and slept in cabanas by the Sea of Galilee. We roamed through Petra’s ancient wonders in Jordan and we climbed Mount Sinai to witness the sunrise. We marveled at the Great Pyramids and sailed the Nile at sunset.

Upon the completion of my studies, I stopped over in Europe with a few of my friends. We backpacked five countries in two weeks and had the time of our lives. One of our final destinations was Switzerland. We stayed at a hostel in Interlaken, the country’s outdoor Mecca. After a day of rafting the mighty Lütschine, we talked late into the night with some fellow travelers.

One of them was named Ralph. He was charming, athletic and drop-dead gorgeous. He was a mail carrier from Australia who had saved up his money for a year-long adventure abroad. He was going home the next morning. Feeling remorseful about the end of my own travels, I asked him how he thought he would adjust back to his humdrum life after being given a glimpse of the world. His answer still resonates today:

“Before this trip, I was always planning my next great adventure. It has taken this trip to help me realize there is so much close to home I have yet to experience. My next great adventures will be in my own backyard for many years to come.”

Whether you’ve had one of the worst or best years of your life, here’s to a New Year that is not dedicated to topping the “old” but ushering in whatever “new” lies in your path. And for expressing gratitude for what you already have.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: travel
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