Vacation Ideas

[Thumbcocker]

UTAH
There is a lot to see in Utah.

+1

 

[bogus bill]

We live in SW Utah. Bryce Canyon, Zion, Kolob, and Cedar Breaks National Parks are all within a hour or so of our town, Cedar City. Grand Canyon a couple hours. Mesquite Nev. casinos a hour and half, Vegas three hours. I would rent a ATV side by side for a day and hit some trails here. There are outfits that will guide you on a tour here. We live at 5,500 ft. In less than a hour each direction we can be at 10,000 ft or 2,500 ft. Cool to hot.

 

[BROKENBEAR]

The ultimate family vacation ...YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch Granby Colorado
Our family of five went there 15 years straight while our young kids were preteen and even teens
Our first 3 or 4 years we never even left the "Y" once we checked in ..because on site were archery ranges, horseback riding, craft classes, hiking trails, chuck wagon breakfasts, library, tennis courts, indoor and out door swimming pools, roller rink, ice rink and much much more and all but the horse and chuck wagon were inclusive ( some of the advanced craft stuff asked for modest "supplies fees" for stuff used in the projects you make)
AND GET THIS:::::: for kids like grades 1 thru 12 ...there were/are classes you check in your kids at around 8 and pick up around 4 ..+++++means whoopie for you and the wife!!!! ...Yea!!!!!
And when you get caught up on the "Y" ...near by is Winter Park ...the ski resort which in summer has the Alpine sled run which is a hoot ...you will spend all day there more than once ..and fantastic fishing in streams and lakes ..4th of July on the balcony of the Grand Lake Hotel Restaurant with the mountains made from heaven for the fireworks both visually as well as in sound as the detonation reverberation off the snow capped mountains is just awesome
And an hours drive south over Bertherd Pass puts you into Georgetown where you will find a great narrow gauge rail road ride as well a a very neat and historic town chocked full of well preserved history of the gold rush days
Accommodations at Snow mountain Ranch range anywhere from lodge rooms(like motel), to Yurts, to small to large cottages,cabins and multi bedroom mountain retreats that 2,3, or more families could use and cost share

If mom doesn't want to cook ..you can buy meal tickets at the lodge for breakfast only or Evening meal only or both and are pretty economical

Also near Snow Mountain ranch are the the towns of Grandby, Grand Lake, Frisco, Fraser, Tabernash and Winter Park are all close by and have tons of shops and restaurants galore (Grand Lake is the western portal to the Rocky Mountain National Park)

Did I mention hot air balloon, sail plane, ski lift and river floating rides?

Good Luck
Bear

 

[Don Lovel]

Great Sand Dunes Nat'l park, Zapata Falls and the hot springs works for my family really good, the little kids get to play in the sand the older folks get to soak in the spring pools nearby,
Echo Park at Dinosaur Nat'l park is a fun place for kids, pretty amazing place
If we could all hike, I would take the bunch of us on a backpack overnight to Horsethief Canyon in Utah to go see all the Anasazi petroglyphs on the canyon walls and do some serious star gazing without any light pollution, another activity that is good at Great Sand Dunes park

 

[TJ11]

If it's a winter vacation try Costa Rica.

 

[arfmel]

He stated that it’s a July/August vacation.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Tho a basically liberal state. always thought I'd like to visit Vermont during the leaf-peeper season. Weaslemeatgravy might concur!

 

[Pat-inCO]

Camping around Colorado Springs, you can go to Cripple Creek and Pikes Peak
and take an historic train ride from Canon City up through the Royal Gorge with
lunch on the train.

And I'll add:

Then go West on 160 to Durango and the Silverton Train, then Mesa Verde (plan on
at least two days there [or a very long full day]). From there go West to the Grand
Canyon.

And if you still have days left, Utah has some spectacular arches.

Let's see . . . Those done well will occupy July AND August. :wink:

:D

 

[Fox Mike]

Camping around Colorado Springs, you can go to Cripple Creek and Pikes Peak
and take an historic train ride from Canon City up through the Royal Gorge with
lunch on the train.

And I'll add:

Then go West on 160 to Durango and the Silverton Train, then Mesa Verde (plan on
at least two days there [or a very long full day]). From there go West to the Grand
Canyon.

And if you still have days left, Utah has some spectacular arches.

Let's see . . . Those done well will occupy July AND August. :wink:

:D

Don't miss Garden of the Gods

 

[ndcowboy]

First, thanks for all the awesome ideas.
Second, it looks like probably Alaska via Seattle in August on a cruise ship. We started by applying for passports last week (not required but recommended for the cruise). Haven't booked tickets yet but will when there is a good discount sale.
Thanks again guys.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

First, thanks for all the awesome ideas.
Second, it looks like probably Alaska via Seattle in August on a cruise ship. We started by applying for passports last week (not required but recommended for the cruise). Haven't booked tickets yet but will when there is a good discount sale.
Thanks again guys.

A VERY good choice. Wifie, Son, Daughter, SIL, DIL, both grandkids, and two family friends of ours did that trip in 2011.
We left on the ship from Vancouver to Seward AK. then took a great train trip to Fairbanks with stops along the way, then flew back to Seattle. Son was stationed in Bremerton WA. at the time. An outstanding 12 day trip. We have been on several Ocean Cruises and we think they are the best bang for the buck. You can do lots of excursions or none at all.
Start looking now there are good deals out there.