Travel | Life Elevated Mom

The Bonehead’s Version of The 12 Days of Christmas

November 24, 2009 By Amber

I am in Canada this week for American Thanksgiving.

I know. I’ve always been a bit confused.

Last week was a frenzy of voting and downright begging for people to vote for me. In fact, I’m still doing so because the public can vote here daily until Nov. 29. In case you missed my announcement, I am 1 of 5 semi-finalists to blog at the Olympics for Microsoft Office. I even launched a “Just One Tweet” Whrrl campaign to get Ellen Degeneres to tweet for me.

Because she has, like 3 million followers on Twitter juxtaposed against my 3.

Since returning to my childhood home in Calgary, my frenzied pace has slowed down to being fed three meals a day and having in-house babysitters thrilled to play with their grandchildren.

I may never leave.

My husband remained in Denver for work and I’m always a bit worried when traveling alone with the children (for the reason why see one of my many family travel disasters). Shockingly, everything went smoothly and the only mishap was when my hair got caught in the seat belt of my parent’s SUV. OK, this is an understatement. The shoulder belt completely devoured a large section of my curly mop right up to the crown of my head. My dad was one step away from having to give me a buzz cut to get it to release.

At least my head would have resembled a shiny tree ornament for the holidays

We will be here for 12 days, the longest we’ve been away from my husband Jamie. I wanted to do something above-and-beyond daily phone calls to let him know we were thinking of him.

And to remind him that the peace and quiet he’s enjoying during his throwback to bachelorhood really does suck.

I recruited my 5-year-old daughter and we made cards for every day we’d be gone and hid them all over the house. Hadley wanted to draw a map. I told her it would be easier to just do a master key detailing the location of his scavenger hunt and we’d call him every day with the clue.

Sound seamless? This is me we’re talking about.

In the beginning, everything went as planned. We drew, we hid and we wrote the master key. I was careful to place it in my purse so I would not forget it at home. That first morning in Canada, I went to call him with his first clue….

….and it was gone. Vanished from my purse. Some swarmy member of the Taliban likely swiped it when I was busy telling the grumpy Customs officials I was, in fact, their friend not foe.

Or more likely I am just always cursed.

I broke the news to Jamie and begged him not to tell Hadley I had screwed up our surprise. “We’ll just have a different kind of scavenger hunt,” I consoled him. “One where I try to recall where we hid all 12 of the cards!”

This, from the woman who finally remembered where she cached her husband’s Christmas present six months after the fact.

It’s going to be a long 12 days.

Filed Under: Canada, Humor, travel

Park City Mountain Resort: A Cut of the Good Life

October 30, 2009 By Amber

“This is my best day ever!”

Thus squealed my 4-year-old daughter Hadley. It was Day 1 of our family vacation to Park City Mountain Resort last year. I suspect her proclamation had very little do with the 8-hour drive from Denver we had endured and everything to do with the soak in our private hot tub at Ski Lift Condominiums that overlooked the pulse of Park City’s Historic District.

I moved away from The Greatest Snow on Earth seven years ago. And while Colorado is certainly not lacking in great resorts, there’s no place like home. I once made a career out of extolling the virtues of Utah’s powder playgrounds so I was thrilled when I was named as one of Park City Mountain Resort’s Snowmamas. This was my first time to return with family in tow so expectations to reap what I had once sowed were high.

Family Vacations Without the Kids

I love my children. Really, I do. But sometimes family vacations don’t have to be entirely about the family. Early in my children’s lives, I sacrificed the number of days I spent on the slopes. At Park City, those days were no more.

Clubbin’ at The Clubhouse
We dropped 2 ½-year-old Bode off at The Clubhouse, Park City’s hourly childcare center that accommodates children ages 2 months – 12 years. This was the first time I have left my self-professed Mama’s Boy in unfamiliar surroundings and I was a bit nervous.

My apprehension lasted exactly 2.5 seconds when the doting staff offered to change his noxious diaper prior to my departure. I then watched as my Mama’s-Boy-no-more joyfully delved into the onslaught of toys and activities that included arts and crafts, reading time, games, and song and dance activities. He had snacks, a healthy lunch he actually ate and naptime in a tranquil, darkened room. After his revelries at The Clubhouse, he was asking,

“Mommy? Mommy who?”

Park City Mountain Resort’s Signature Ski Program

With one down, I had only one more to go. I enrolled Hadley in PCMR’s Signature Ski Program. Classes feature a child-specialist instructor and blend ski instruction with additional activities in their world-class mountain school.

This was Hadley’s third time on skis and her previous attempts had been sketchy at best. But after two days in the program, she was getting on and off the chairlift by herself, snowplowing, turning and stopping. I couldn’t have taught her better myself.

This is exactly why I left it to PCMR’s professionals.

When Grown-Ups Become Kids Again

For two uninterrupted days, my husband Jamie and I played to our heart’s content. We demoed top-of-the line skis from Park City Mountain Rentals. We tackled expanses of untracked powder, experienced thrills and spills on the moguls and marveled at the sea of awe-inspiring Wasatch mountaintops. Jamie’s family joined us for our second day and we played on the terrain park’s jumps, rails and funboxes. OK, more like they played while I took their picture.

I was not that intent on reliving my thrill-seeking years.

To add a dash of variety to its on-mountain activities, Park City Mountain Resort has added the Alpine Coaster, a cross between an alpine slide, a roller coaster and my husband’s worst nightmare.

You see, Jamie avoids roller coasters like a colicky baby shuns sleep. And the alpine coaster’s elevated track has more than a mile of loops and corkscrew turns that I was sure would send him over the edge.

Turns out I should have been more worried about my sanity. For about 10 minutes, my open “car” slowly climbed high above the resort center and then it turned back downhill on a gravity-fueled series of hair-pin curves at 30-40 mph. I screamed like a girl the entire time.

Good thing I am one.

Park City = Good Eatin’

Skiing is a lifestyle that involves all sorts of pleasures, excellent food being among them. Park City does not disappoint.

On-Mountain

My expectations are generally low when it comes to on-mountain cuisine because greasy burgers and French fries seem to be the staples. Not at Park City Mountain Resort. My husband and I had possibly the best chicken nachos and Kobe beef burger I have ever eaten at Legends Bar & Grill. Kristi’s Café had a delicious selection of gourmet pizzas, [non-greasy] burgers, pasta, and a soup and salad bar that puts most buffets to shame.

Off-Mountain

Ski Lift Condominiums have more than just luxurious accommodations going for them: they are centrally located on Park City’s Main Street, which boasts some of the best dining in Utah. Much to my delight, many of the restaurants offer kid-friendly menus and diversions.

On our first night we ate at Zoom, a Sundance-owned restaurant where the children ate the white cheddar macaroni and cheese while I indulged in the Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon. Another night, we ate at Butcher’s Chop House & Bar (http://www.butcherschophouse.com/) where the kids ordered chicken and papaya quesadillas while I opted for the “Le Chateau” Filet Mignon.

Sensing a pattern with my choice in menu items?

Let’s face it: when your life is all about “Ground Beef” at home, sometimes it’s nice spoil yourself with “The Filet Life” when on a family vacation.

And Park City Mountain Resort certainly delivers.

Photo credit: Park City Mountain Resort.

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

The Wienermobile: The Ultimate Vehicle for Wacky Family Bonding

October 5, 2009 By Amber

I get to do a lot of cool things through my job such as the time my family got an all-access pass at Disneyland or when we got an exclusive tour of the National Museum of Natural History.

OK, so may we didn’t actually do these things but we recently experienced something equally as life-altering:

My family rode in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

My first encounter with this 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels was last summer when I rode “shotbun” at a blogging conference in Chicago. I stayed in touch with the publicists via Twitter and was delighted to hear it would be visiting a King Soopers near my house.

As an FYI, there are six Wienermobiles that travel the nation extolling the virtues of processed meat (and making middle-aged women’s dreams come true). At most events, the Wienermobile’s doors remain closed to prevent wear and tear but the PR reps told me if we arrived at the end of the shift, we could get a ride.

I recruited 5-year-old Hadley but she was initially a naysayer.

“How can we ride in a giant hot dog, Mommy?”

Screw Disneyland. The Wienermobile is where the impossible becomes a reality.

Hadley and I arrived on schedule and we were welcomed by Wiernermobile staffers Adam and Crystal. We transported Haddie’s booster seat, put on her “meatbelt,” looked up at the “bunroof” and were on our way.

“Where to?” Adam queried.
“Any chance we could drive by my house so my husband can see it? We live less than a mile away!”

He responded affirmatively and I immediately called Jamie. “YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS SO GET OUTSIDE NOWWWW.”

We arrived a few minutes later to father and son waiting on the curb in anticipation. They were delighted when Adam offered them a ride as well. As Jamie raced to get Bode’s car seat, I peeked around hoping for even one curious neighbor to witness my metamorphosis from geek to chic.

The street was abandoned.

In the end, it didn’t matter. We cruised around, “ketch(ing)up” on all the Wienermobile news. As corny as it was, it was one of the great bonding moments in our wacky family history and a reminder that sometimes the most valuable moments are not extravagant trips to Disneyland.

But rather simple ones we can truly “relish” together.

Filed Under: Bode, Family, Hadley, Humor, Jamie, travel

Our Labor Day Weekend…

September 9, 2009 By Amber

…started with our annual pilgrimage to hike St. Mary’s Glacier.

It ended before we even began.

Upon arriving at the trailhead, the only parking that remained was along a steep ledge so I hopped out to guide Jamie in his parallel parking efforts. Hadley, assuming we had arrived, jumped out too.

While it was still moving.

She started shrieking. I raced over to her side of the car and found her arm caught in the door. I released it, only to realize that was the least of her problems: Jamie had stopped the car on her foot.

“DRIVE, RIGHT NOW! DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE!!!!!!”

Rest assured, I am not a person you want to be around in a crisis situation.

Confused by my hysterics, Jamie paused, unsure what direction to go. Eventually, he just stepped on the gas and rolled off her poor little foot.

We grabbed little crippled Hadley and raced her to the back of our SUV. We removed her shoe and as we surveyed the damage, Bode (ever the supportive brother), came over and demanded, “I’m hungry. Feed me now.”

He will not be mistaken for the sensitive type.

Even though her foot was miraculously fine, we skipped the hike and hung out at nearby Silver Lake before heading down to play in Idaho Springs.

Dejected from our misadventures, I promised them we would go visit Grandma Jean’s kitties when we returned home. Our neighbor had somehow left the two people in the world her cats hate most (meaning: my children) in charge while she went away for the weekend.

They jubilantly raced across the street, I punched in the code Jean had given me to her garage door and entered.

Then the house alarm went off.

She hadn’t mentioned anything about a house alarm.

I didn’t stick around long enough to figure out how to turn it off. We hightailed it over to another neighbor’s house who came back and did it for us. We settled into kitty stalking mode and all was well in the world.

Until the cops showed up.

I’ll spare you the sordid details but they almost involved a preschooler and kindergartner doing hard time for catnapping (mug shots taken two years ago prior to our trip to Mexico. Oh, the foreshadowing.)

Oh yeah, and my dear husband who debated not vouching for us.

He was obviously still recovering from my near-nervous breakdown earlier that day.

I’ll stop there and won’t mention the freezer that was left open all night and how we woke up to all our nice, expensive meat oozing all over the floor, which then ~~inspired~~ possessed me to spend the entirety of my Labor Day cleaning out our garage.

Have I mentioned how glad I am the long weekend is over?

So, make me feel better. Tell me about all the horrible, awful things that happened to you over Labor Day weekend. Errr…. please?

Filed Under: Hadley, holidays, Humor, Jamie, travel

Turning Up the Heat on Murphy’s Law

August 31, 2009 By Amber

This is one of the few summers I will not be returning to The Motherland a.k.a. Canada. It is no secret that I despise the heat. I blame my Canuckian roots and our glorious 70-degree summers. Anything over 85 degrees makes me combust and my body breaks out in a heat rash.

Having 10 pounds of hair doesn’t help, either.

To beat the heat, my family and I will be launching our own Tour de Colorado. For the next few months, we will be traveling all over the state and documenting the best family vacations. And our worst family moments. Here is a preview of what happened on our first Colorado “staycation” to Chautauqua in Boulder two weeks ago.

My Murphy’s Law life aside, many of our chosen destinations are in the mountains. Because high elevation = big cooldown for this overheated mama. I was recently complaining to my husband Jamie about a jump in temperature from the mid-60s to low-90s and how my body just couldn’t adjust.

“You see, Jamie. I need it to be like that frog in water.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, as the story goes: if you put a frog in boiling water, he simply jumps out because it is too hot. You should make it more gradual. You should put him in lukewarm water and gradually turn up the temperature.”

“Amber, that is not better for the frog. In the end, he dies.”

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Stay tuned on Tuesday for a sneak peak of my ultimate cooldown picks on my Tour de Colorado. And then follow my family this summer as we share the Good, Bad and the Ugly of family travel!

Note: This article was originally published at Mile High Mamas on June 8, 2009.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, Tour de Colorado, travel

Tour de Colorado: My Picks for Colorado’s Top Destinations for Families

August 29, 2009 By Amber

From the time my children were born, we have traveled either north or south of the border every summer. But our Canadian grandparents and Mexican senoritas will have to wait until next year. Like many people, we’re watching our dollars so our foreign travels have been temporarily disbanded.

Not one to sit around licking my [non-travel-induced] wounds, I came up with a brilliant plan to visit many of the world-class destinations in our backyard. After some intensive research, I drafted up an itinerary for my family’s own Tour de Colorado this summer and we will visit the following: Colorado’s Best-kept Secret, Best Splurge, Best Mountain Festival, Best Mountain Community, Best Dude Ranch, Best Camping and Best Front-range Destination.

The best news of all? We are taking you along for the ride.

Well, not literally. You’d likely take up too much room and eat my favorite road-trip snacks.

Stay tuned for my [often] fun, [sometimes] painful, but [always] entertaining accounts of Colorado’s best staycations beginning next week. And now, a preview of our Tour de Colorado:

BEST-KEPT SECRET: Chautauqua in Boulder

One might wonder how Boulder, an outdoorsy city just 25 miles from Denver, could hold any secrets. But I stumbled upon one when I hiked Chautauqua’s Enchanted-Mesa Trail with some friends. It was then that my love affair with Chautauqua’s 48 miles of verdant trails began.

This National Historic Landmark nestled against the Flatiron Mountains is one of Colorado’s true hidden gems. It’s an area heaped in history and very few locals know about the historic and affordable cottages for rent. The Dining Hall boasts some of the best outdoor dining in Colorado with epic mountain views. Don’t miss the silent films, concerts and children’s programs at the Auditorium that will delight old and young.

Visit the Boulder Farmer’s Market on Saturdays—a veritable cornucopia of organic food, live music, eccentricities and fun. Then take a stroll along the Boulder Creek Trail and also take a foray over to famed pedestrian mall Pearl Street Mall to shop, eat, play in the spray fountain and watch the street performers.

BEST SPLURGE: The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs

Where do you take The Mother Who Has Seen Everything? The Broadmoor’s new cottages, of course! Guaranteed, these gorgeous 1- to 8-bedroom cottages are welcome additions to The Broadmoor’s already lofty 5-star pedigree and are the ultimate Colorado destination for the extended family. My parents are making a special trip from Canada for the occasion and guaranteed, these cottages will impress even my beloved high-maintenance mother.

The Broadmoor is located on 3,000 lush acres under the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain and offers two swimming pools an award-winning spa, fitness center, three outdoor hot tubs, one lap pool, 54 holes of championship golf, six tennis courts, children’s programs and an exceptional Sunday brunch.

Located 70 miles south of Denver, Colorado Springs has some of the state’s best activities for families. Take a tour through Cave of the Winds, pay Santa a visit at the North Pole’s family-themed amusement park, chug to the top of 14,110-foot Pikes Peak on the world’s highest cog railroad, hike Seven Falls, eat a high-flying meal at The Airplane Restaurant and sample chocolates at the Patsy’s Candy tour, topped off by a genuine ho-down, dinner and stage show at Flying W Ranch.

BEST MOUNTAIN FESTIVALS: Crested Butte

This will be our first summer trip to Crested Butte after falling in love with the ski area a few years ago. Not only is this charming hamlet renowned for its world-class mountain biking but July rules supreme. Don’t miss their 4th of July revelries and The Crested Butte Music Festival July 4 – 26, which brings symphony, chamber and jazz music to the mountains. Want to know what it would have been like to have a Beer with Beethoven? Find out during one of the symphony orchestra’s most popular concerts. Best of all, this music festival also caters to kids with the Divine Family Young People’s Concerts.

Located 230 miles southwest of Denver, Crested Butte also offers a full slate of activities during their popular Wildflower Festival July 6-12 that includes horse-drawn wagon rides, guided hikes, yoga classes in mountain meadows, and photography classes.

While Mama and Papa hit the trail for a couple of hours, our daughter will be at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s Kid Nature Camps. Not to be overlooked is the new Adventure Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort that has an outdoor synthetic ice rink (recycled from the American Museum of Natural History), a climbing wall and reverse bungee. The area also offers some great family hikes, while many enjoy the simple pleasure of watching the ducks at Peanut Lake.

BEST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY: Steamboat Springs

During my only vacation to Steamboat Springs (located 170 miles northwest of Denver), I got lost hiking to the famed Rabbit Ears. This trip will be about redemption…and celebration with fabulous activities such as hiking Fish Creek Falls (allegedly easier to find than some silly bunny parts), soaking in Strawberry Park Hot Springs and soaring in the resort’s gondola with fabulous views of the Yampa Valley.

Be sure to check out the Gondola Square Adventure Zone, which features a 24-foot climbing wall, a “Mini Bounce” castle, a 2-person Gyro chair, a ropes course and a mechanical bull. Not to be forgotten is the Howler Alpine Slide that will be sure to make you, well, howl. And Steamboat’s free summer concert series at the Rusted Root is all about hooting…and hollering!

Oh, and did I mention tubing down the Yampa River and all of Routt National Forest’s wildflower-dotted trails just waiting to be explored? Redemption, here I come.

BEST DUDE RANCH: Devil’s Thumb Ranch

Maybe “Dude Ranch” is an unrefined description for this rustically upscale resort and spa located on 5,000 acres at the foot of the Continental Divide, just 75 miles from Denver. One of the greatest things about Devil’s Thumb Ranch is it caters to cowboys of all ages, not to mention their mamas who like a bit of pampering on the side.

Why it’s my choice for Best Dude Ranch: swimming in a heated outdoor pool and outdoor hot tub, the petting zoo at Cabin Creek Stables, wagon and feed rides, pony rides, hikes along easy-grade trails, nature/bird watching tours, a game room with no electronics, a candle pin bowling alley and a 37-seat movie theater for movies and sports viewing.

BEST CAMPING: YMCA of the Rockies

I love backpacking but my young children are not quite yet up to the task. That is why I looked for a camping destination that offered varied activities as well as some great services.

Enter: YMCA of the Rockies. With two locations—one at Estes Park (adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park) and the other at Snow Mountain Ranch (just minutes from famed resort Winter Park)—they are known for extremely affordable and fun family vacations. We have stayed in their rustic lodges and cabins before but for the first time, we will camp on their grounds with a group of friends.

YMCA of the Rockies’ activities are varied and include hiking, biking, fishing, camps, mini-golf, volleyball, tennis, crafts, scavenger hunts, canoeing, family programs, picnics, a high-ropes course and archery.

BEST FRONT-RANGE DESTINATION: Beaver Creek

With the tagline “Not exactly roughing it,” Beaver Creek is synonymous with luxury and recently received the National Ski Areas Association’s Best Overall Guest Service Award for the fourth consecutive year. We will get a taste of this during our stay at a gorgeous Beaver Creek Resort Properties condo.

But the budget-conscious need not be scared off because in addition to the notorious pampering you receive, there are plenty of fabulous deals. Beaver Creek offers free daily nature walks for the family and Beaver Creek Hiking Center’s Hike-ology program, which invites kids to play at the Big Dig (an archeological dig site at Spruce Saddler). Don’t forget the free Children’s Museum, free children’s theatrical performances in the village and recreational-Mecca Nottingham Park in Avon has free outdoor movies for the family once a week.

Another fantastic freebie is Fridays at the Park Hyatt with music, activities and gondola rides for the whole family, not to mention a gourmet s’moregasbord at the open fire pit.

If this is “not exactly roughing it,” count me in.

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Our Tour de Colorado will stop there. Overwhelmed by all of Colorado’s bounties? I’ll let you in on a secret: Vail Resorts has put together “Epic Summer,” an all-inclusive package with some of the best Colorado has to offer. Scenic gondola rides at Keystone and Vail. Whitewater rafting in the Rockies. Horseback riding in Beaver Creek. Panning for gold in Breckenridge.

There are four-day/three-night and seven-day/six-night packages available. All accommodations, transportation and meals are included with a mix of picnics, cowboy dinners, restaurants and BBQs. The best part is you will have a personal guide so don’t need to plan a thing.

Well, except to have a fabulous time in Colorado.

Note: This post originally ran at Mile High Mamason June 9, 2009.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, Tour de Colorado, travel

Tour de Colorado’s Best-kept Secret for Families: Chautauqua

August 28, 2009 By Amber

You’d think my choice for Colorado’s best-kept secret would be a far-flung destination but I have been absolutely amazed how few locals know about Chautauqua’s charms. Located at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, this National Historic Landmark has rental cottages that are surrounded on three sides with open space that includes 48 miles of hiking trails and thousands of acres of natural lands begging to be explored.

I had been living in Colorado less than a year when I hiked Chautauqua’s Enchanted-Mesa Trail with my daughter and I was, well, enchanted. After my hike, I explored the grounds and was smitten by the Dining Hall’s throwback-to yesteryear patio and the 110-year-old Chautauqua Auditorium, which hosts films, lectures and an entire series dedicated to children. The workshops include Young People’s Concerts (ages 3-7), Family Fun Concerts (ages 4-8), Classically Kids Workshops (ages 7-11), and Masterclasses for Emerging Musicians (ages 13-18). Be sure to enter to win 15 passes to the Young People’s Concert for you and your friends.

When I saw their quaint and affordable cottages, I vowed to my 6-month-old baby, “Someday, we will stay here.”

Five years later, we finally did.

Chautauqua was my family’s first leg in our Tour de Colorado. Amidst much fanfare, we loaded up the car, buckled in the kids and started the ignition. Or at least we tried to: the car was dead. After jump-starting the battery, we drove to Boulder. The next drama occurred when the blaring car alarm decided not to turn off and so we made a grand (and loud) entrance at Chautauqua. Our ultimate resolution to silence the beast was to unplug the horn fuse and let the car battery run out.

Pity us not. There are worse things than getting stranded in Colorado’s best-kept secret.

About Chautauqua

I’m not a big history buff and have been known to fall asleep faster than a narcoleptic when watching the History Channel. But Chautauqua fascinates me. In the 1920s, almost 200 Chautauqua assemblies dotted rural America. Each summer, they brought culture in the form of concerts and classes in what became the country’s first mass experience with 30 million people in attendance. Colorado’s Chautauqua is one of the only remaining assemblies and we were thrilled when they offered to host us for one night.

This historic district has 60 cottages for rent, including their oldest that was built in 1899. The cottages are unassuming on the outside but are quaintly restored on the inside. They are perfect for families and offer studio, 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom rentals. Don’t expect modern amenities like TVs or DVDs. With Chautauqua’s many activities, we did not even have time to acknowledge their absence.

Upon arrival, the kids zoomed down the hill-side slide at the playground and played hide-and-seek in the adjacent wooded grove. We basked in the midday sun and watched the flowers dance in the breeze at the Centennial Garden. We strolled down a lane of celery-green trees to the on-site Ranger’s Station and learned about Chautauqua’s wildlife.

That evening, we dunked basketballs and played tennis at the courts behind our cottage. We ate on the Dining Hall’s outdoor patio, absorbing the dazzling views and fragrance of fine cuisine. Prior to retiring for the evening, we watched the sun dip behind the Flatirons’ dramatic uplifts as we hiked Bluebell Road. We attempted to capture the fleeting magic with a family photo in a meadow.

Chautauqua was a quick weekend getaway of beauty, bonding, amusement and appreciation.

On second thought, maybe I’ll just keep it my little secret after all….

Also visit:

The Boulder Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. This isn’t just any farmer’s market—it is an outdoor extravaganza with a cornucopia of organic food, eccentricities, live entertainment and fun. My kids loved the booths (read: tasty samples), chatting with the farmers and the face-painting tent.

Be sure to take a walk along the Boulder Creek Trail and take a short walk to Pearl Street Mall to shop, play in the spray fountains, eat and watch the street performers.

For more information about Chautauqua, go to www.chautauqua.com.

Chautauqua video journal. (And no, I am not a valley girl as my “like totally rad” commentary would infer.)

Note: This post originally ran at Mile High Mamas on June 17, 2009. Most services were complimentary or discounted.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, Tour de Colorado, travel

Tour de Colorado’s Ultimate Splurge for Families: The Broadmoor’s New Cottages

August 27, 2009 By Amber

I had been touring the Olympic Peninsula all week. I flew home late that night, did laundry, repacked and then jumped in the car with my family the next morning. Upon arrival at The Broadmoor’s sculpted grounds, I was frenzied and sleep-deprived.

The moment we pulled up to the security gate, all my worries were whisked away faster than the Calgon commercials of yesteryear. I gave the guard my name, received a parking pass and drove to the valet. I was greeted by Alex, a Romanian bellhop with a damsel-wooing accent: “Mrs. Johnson! How nice of you to join us again.”

I wondered how he knew I had stayed at The Broadmoor once before. Did he also know my favorite color is blue and that I have no intention to pay that unmerited parking ticket I received downtown?

In the end, I didn’t care. The Broadmoor does that to you. It doesn’t matter if you are promenading around Cheyenne Lake or pairing luxurious accommodations with gourmet dining. If You’ve Been Here, You Know.™

Cradled at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, this Five-Star, Five-Diamond hotel set on 3,000 acres has added a new feature to secure its place in the annals of The Ultimate Colorado Family Vacation: cottages.

Staying here is reminiscent of a Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. Only instead of being made of gingerbread and candies, these cottages feature spacious parlors with high-beamed ceilings, natural stone fireplaces, heated bathroom floors, surround sound systems, large flat screen TVs and the latest in-room technologies that blend seamlessly into the comfortably elegant design.

Nothing like living your own modern-day fairy tale.

The Broadmoor’s one- to eight-bedroom cottages are perfect for family gatherings and so when the Broadmoor offered to host us, my parents made a special trip from Canada for the occasion. Set along the legendary East Course, only a pristine creek separated us from the 18th fairway. I knew this would even impress The Mother Who is Impressed by Nothing.

We kept most of our activities simple. We lazed around the zero-entry infinity swimming pool, water slide and whirlpools, soaking in the turquoise water and golden sun. We watched a fawn skirt across the grounds as we lawn bowled behind our cottage. We strolled 0.8 mile to nature’s Nirvana–North Cheyenne Canyon Park–and admired Starr Kempf’s graceful steel wind kinetic sculptures, an unexpected residential treasure en route. We went to Sunday brunch, a gastronomic feast that features Eggs Benedict, crepe and smoothie stations.

Sound idyllic? Not quite. Our travel drama occurred when my parent’s Explorer died in the valet parking garage. To The Broadmoor’s credit, they immediately sent a technician to ascertain the problem and gave my parents one of the resort’s vehicles to use for the day while they had the car towed to the nearest dealership.

For those keeping track: this is our second glorious destination on our Tour de Colorado. And this is the second time a vehicle has died, leaving us stranded at Said Glorious Destination.

The good Lord loves me.

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Psttttt: good news! Don’t have enough money to spring for the cottages? Check out The Broadmoor’s summer lodging deal: $125/per person, double occupancy. Kids (10 and under) stay and eat free. Go to broadmoor.com for more information.

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Don’t miss:

Colorado Springs has some of the state’s best activities for families that include a cog ride to the top of 14,110-foot Pikes Peak. Manitou Springs’ Arcade Amusements Inc. boasts one of the West’s oldest and largest amusement arcades and Acacia Park’s comical Uncle Wilbur Fountain is the perfect cool down for the kids.

I was absolutely ecstatic to explore Garden of the God’s 25,000 square-foot Trading Post. Try their delicious fudge, check out the large collection of Colorado artists and dine on the Balanced Rock Café’s expansive outdoor patio while watching the children pan for gold.

A few more of my family’s favorites: the Cave of the Winds’ 45-minute Discovery Tour and the North Pole’s family-themed amusement park. Top your evening off with a touristy ho-down at Flying W Ranch’s Western village, complete with a chuck-wagon dinner and stage show. Get there early to try their to-die-for Dutch oven buttermilk biscuits dripping in honey. Tell ‘em I sent you. I promise they won’t disappoint.

Visit http://www.experiencecoloradosprings.com for additional information.

Note: This article was originally posted at Mile High Mamas on June 29, 2009. Most services were complimentary or discounted.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, Tour de Colorado, travel

Tour de Colorado’s Best Mountain Community for Families: Steamboat Springs

August 25, 2009 By Amber

Steamboat Springs was the third stop on my family’s Tour de Colorado and my pick for the state’s best mountain community. Our visit to this western resort town was also The Good, the Bad and the Ugly incarnate. When it was good (such as when my daughter Hadley won the ram scramble at the rodeo) it was very, very good. When it was bad, it was very bad with vomit and rain. But when we locked ourselves out of the car while it was still running? Think very, very ugly.

The Good

Steamboat Springs is home to two ski areas, four Colorado State Parks, hot springs, lakes and rivers–a full palette of activities that will have you painting the Yampa Valley red.

Or rather, dazzingly green.

Hiking—I’m not generally one to cough up money to hike but watching my kids squeal with glee as our Steamboat Springs gondola took flight was worth it. Even better was what unfolded at the summit: a myriad of 19 trails covering over 50 miles and a verdant meadow populated with Frisbee-playing families. We opted for the Vista Nature Trail, an easy 0.86-mile loop that starts and ends at the top of the gondola. This hike is ideal for young children and mine raced to each interpretive sign, ecstatic about their outdoor classroom.

Other hikes: A local rite of passage is the easy 6-mile round-trip hike to the famed Rabbit Ears located off stunning Rabbit Ears Pass. Tourist’s favorite 283-foot Fish Creek Falls has a popular picnic area but expect to pay $5 for parking. For views of the ‘Boat, trek Emerald Mountain’s steep network of trails through perfectly calibrated aspen paradise.

Coca-Cola Gondola Square Adventure Zone—Located at the base of the gondola, this zone has an adventure for everyone in the family. My kids became human catapults in the western-themed “Mini Bounce” and Jamie tried his luck on the Mechanical Bull (think: unlucky). Don’t miss out on the 2-person Gyro Chair (similar to those used by NASA) the “East Face” Climbing Wall and a new ropes course.

Yampa River Core Trail—With 7 miles of multi-use paved trails that wind through downtown along the roaring Yampa River, we felt like we were the only ones not riding a bike. We covered what we could on foot, admiring sculptures and natural springs, cheering the onslaught of tubers floating the river and playing at Stockbridge playground’s mini-western town. Rest assured during my next visit, I will trade in my flat feet for two wheels.

Shopping—Lincoln Avenue may be the hub for Everything Shopping but be sure to venture over to Yampa Street and have Sweet Pea Market’s Pink Panther smoothie (made of rare Soup Sop fruit) or watch twilight’s last yawn as you dine at the Boathouse Pub overlooking the glistening river. A couple miles away, Freshies serves up the best breakfast and lunch in town (must-haves include their Asian BBQ turkey sandwich and lemon coconut cookies). The Ski Haus sells a lot more than skis and is the hub for great gear, rentals and insider information.

Hot Springs—Steamboat isn’t Steamboat without the “Springs” so you must soak in one of their two natural springs. Old Town Hot Springs is the more family-friendly of the two with 230-foot water slides, a climbing wall, two spa pools and a kiddie pool. But we wanted The Full ~~Monty~~ Experience of Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Full Monty is what happens after dark so be warned.

Located about 7 miles out of town (including the last few miles on a dirt road), Strawberry Park Hot Springs is nestled between two peaks just outside the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. When we arrived a large number of people were sitting on the walls of the natural stone enclaves of varying sizes and temperatures. We quickly discovered why: the water was way too hot for my 3-year-old son who instead played in the waterfall-created puddles. Five-year-old Hadley transitioned easily between the hot springs and a polar bear swim in the adjacent river. Me? I was a wall-sitter, liking it neither too hot nor too cold but preferring it “just right.”

You may call me Goldilocks.

The Bad

It was raining cats, dogs and a few horses upon arrival in Steamboat. We stopped at the Steamboat Springs visitor’s center where car-sick-prone Hadley stumbled out of the car…and proceeded to throw up on their front sidewalk.

Because nothing says “Welcome to Steamboat” like regurgitated road-trip snacks.

The Ugly

It didn’t start ugly. Actually, it started out as one of our favorite activities: the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo. For 10 weeks in the summertime, professional riders come from all over the region to compete on Friday and Saturday nights.

I grew up attending the Calgary Stampede (dubbed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”) and had never been to a small-town rodeo. My expectations were met—and exceeded. We arrived early and ate bricket, ribs and chicken at their BBQ dinner. Hadley and Bode played on the horse and carriage structures and we watched the mechanical bull and bouncy house in action.

It was my children’s first rodeo and they were elated to stomp their feet (christened the “Yampa Valley Thunder”) with each triumph. When it came time for the ram scramble, Hadley and Bode were first in line. If you’ve never seen this event, picture a herd of kids ages 5 and under racing around in the mud trying to pull a flag off a sheep’s rear end.

And yes, I fully supported this endeavor.

From the first moment they set foot in the arena, Hadley and Bode entertained the crowd when they tripped over each other and fell in the muck. What unfolded next shocked even me: Hadley won the ram scramble. The same child who was a ski school dropout, hated ballet and barely survived soccer.

She has finally found her calling as a shepherd.

Euphoric from her victory and proudly displaying her belt-buckle award and gift card from western store F.M. Light and Sons, we walked to our vehicle and were confronted with the worst-case scenario: we could not find the keys. We soon discovered them in the ignition, with the car still running and the doors locked. We had been gone for three hours.

I will spare you the sordid details. Just know they involved exhausted kids and a locksmith trying to break into our unbreakable car. Between Jamie leaving the keys running in the ignition and me locking the car, maybe The Good, the Bad and the Ugly designation is not the correct.

Think: Dumb and Dumber.

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Note: This post was originally published at Mile High Mamas on July 6, 2009. Most services were discounted or complimentary.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, Tour de Colorado, travel

Hit the Road, Jack

August 25, 2009 By Amber

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

Over the past 10 years, I have written for innumerable travel publications and blogs. Several of my articles are filed under Family Travel and Travel, both of which are constantly updated. For your convenience, I have listed some of my favorites below.

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Tour de Colorado
(as published at The Denver Post’s Mile High Mamas)

*Overview

*Best-kept Secret for Families: Chautauqua

*Ultimate Splurge for Families: The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs)

*Best Mountain Community for Families: Steamboat Springs

*Best Mountain Festivals for Families: Crested Butte

*Best Dude Ranch: Devil’s Thumb Ranch

*Best Front-range Destination for Families: Beaver Creek

Covering the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games for Microsoft Office

*Amazing News–Help Me Win My Own Olympic Bid!