Celebrating the New Year In The Rockies!!!
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| Happy New Year! |
Normally during this time of year I am trying to get out of the cold weather and vacation somewhere warm. After our past two PCS moves to cold weather places I think this Florida girl is really starting to embrace and enjoy the "real" winter. I was so excited to go on this family trip to the Rocky Mountains and all I kept wishing for snow and we got tons of it!!
Getting There
The city that we stayed in was Estes Park, Colorado and it is a 2.5 hour drive from Colorado Springs. The new Rogue came in handy because the closer we got to the mountains the roads were very icy and still covered in snow and tons of curves.
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| Driving through a canyon |
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| Entering Estes Park, CO |
Rocky Mountain National Park
*Special Note: Entry Fee for one private car is $20 (access for 7 consecutive days)
*Special Note: Active Duty Military get an annual pass for free entry into all national parks and federal landmarks in the state of Colorado and several other states.
Family Fun
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| Father-Son Fusball Game |
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| Rory's prize for winning the 1st game of bingo |
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| Dancing in the New Year at the NYE Family Party |
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| Sleeding |
Lodging: YMCA of the Rockies
We stayed at the YMCA and it was amazing!!
In my mind the YMCA is a gym and that's it--but boy was I so wrong. My hubby came home from work one day and asked me if I checked the email he sent me. Of course I'm thinking why did you send me an email we are sitting right here together just tell me what the email is about. So he started talking about how his co-workers all go to the YMCA for family trips in the mountains (of course I was skeptical and that's why he sent me the email because he knew words alone were not going to rope me in) and he said you have to check out the website link of the property.
After checking out the website: http://ymcarockies.org/; and reviewing several online guest reviews I was sold! We booked our stay the next morning.
The grounds are 870 acres of amazing beauty that leads right into the Rocky Mountain National Park and it is only 1 mile away from all of the shops and restaurants of downtown Estes Park. They have lodges and private cabins. The best part about the property is their is so much going on you don't have to ever leave the YMCA. Its like being at stay away summer camp: indoor heated pool (85 degrees), ice skating rink, roller skating rink, gym, craft center, game room, museum, dining halls, cafes, etc. Even though a lot of the outdoor areas were unavailable because of all of the snow their were still more activities than we could even partake in during our stay. I can't wait to go back during the summer!
Longs Peak Lodge: So nice I loved staying here!
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| I sat here every morning in front of the fireplace and watched the sun rise. |
*Special Note: the YMCA of the Rockies runs a special military rate all year of $159 for two nights in one of their lodges and all meals included. Military can only use the special twice a year.
