Flight Day

We awoke at 4 AM to arrive at the airport for a 7:05 AM flight. Who planned this vacation anyway? A huge part of the excitement of this vacation is just flying on an airplane. Our youngest doesn’t remember flying at four years old, which was four years ago. We experienced it all; checkin, security, takeoff, landing, and lost luggage. Apparently, 90% of lost luggage comes in on the next flight. Our bag went to Orange County and was returned to us in Carlsbad, California about 14 hours after landing.

San Diego

After arriving in San Diego, our plan was to hang out a bit and drive up the coast to Carlsbad, California, home of Legoland. So, we followed Dad’s plan of stopping at Busy Bee bagels in La Jolla, grabbed fresh squeezed OJ and bagels to go, and headed up to Mt. Soledad. The term Mountain is used loosely here. The view of the ocean was amazing up there. We also checked out the Easter Cross Veterans Memorial on the Hilltop.

Carlsbad, California

In Carlsbad, we stayed in the Grand Pacific Palisades which is minutes from Legoland. By the time we arrived there, we were ready for naps. The children’s pool is very cute, so we hung out there until dinner. The hotel also had an Olympic sized lap pool which was awesome for a morning workout. This was our splurge hotel, but we really didn’t have the time or energy to take advantage of all the activities offered.

Legoland

The next morning we headed for Legoland. Having an eight year old Lego enthusiast in the family, this destination has been looked forward to for a long time. We all enjoyed the park, but felt the bulk of the park was designed for children eight and under. So, we were happy to be there with an eight year old. We spent two full days experiencing Legoland. Our family favorite was the Dragon ride which we rode approximately 11 times. Other favorites included Miniland USA with Lego replicas of Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and many other interesting destinations. We proudly found the only minature toilet in the park, but failed to find the smallest replica of a bird in the Chinatown exhibit. Other less dazzling attractions we picked as favorites were the Enchanted Walk, and the Adventure’s Club. The food was a bit pricey, but surprisingly good.

Back to San Diego

The next three nights we would stay at a less expensive hotel in Old Town San Diego. We wanted to try seafood, so we walked to Mexican at the Coyotee Cafe. The tortillas were awesome and the Mariachi Band was great. By our request, we were serenaded with “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender.

San Diego Zoo

The next day was unplanned, but the kids really wanted to check out the zoo. In San Diego, that seemed like a good plan. We have spent many, many hours in the Denver Zoo, so we weren’t sure about visiting another zoo. The San Diego Zoo really is an amazing place. With such temperate weather, the San Diego Zoo serves as a Botanical Garden, and Wildlife Refuge as well as a zoo. It was huge and somewhat overwhelming for us beginners. The double decker bus tour at the beginning of the day was so educational and helped us get an overview of the zoo which really helped. Mid day we needed a nap and a break from the heat. That night we came back to see three excellent shows which included Animal Ambassadors, Elephant Food Toss, and Splash. We interacted with two zookeepers and three animals (Serval, Binturong, and Pacarana) in the Animal Ambassadors program. The Elephant Food toss was an interesting talk about the three elephants on display while they ate. Splash, was an artist painting animals with his hands which was really neat.

Sea World

Our final tourist day was spent at Sea World. We didn’t know what to expect, but we did know we would need to spend lots of time with the penguins. Our penguin lover, really loved that. The penguin exhibit mimicked the Antarctic with dark lighting in the summer. We have approximately 50 photographs of penguins mostly the Magellanic Penguins which were on display outside in the daylight. Favorite shows were Shamu Dream, Cirque Del La Mer, and Clyde and Seamore’s Risky Rescue. Favorite exhibits were the Penguin Encounter, Manatee Rescue, and Shark Encounter.

The Ride Home

You couldn’t miss us as we dropped off our rental car, a bright blue PT Cruiser, on the final day. We checked in our luggage 8 minutes before the deadline and had little time to spare on our way to the airplane. School starts tomorrow for our sixth grader, so as the pace of life changes, we look forward to being home. But we do hope to find our way to another family vacation soon.

Trips between CO and MN

On the way to Minnesota, we stayed at the Fairfield Marriott in Lincoln, NE. Then, on the way home we camped at Mormon Island State Recreation Center near Grand Island, Nebraska. Camping instead of hoteling saved us about the cost of one tank of gas, which is considerable at this time. Mormon Island is a great location for travelers, just off of I-80 at exit 340 North (see photo below). People seemed especially helpful and friendly. We felt really lucky to avoid the thunderstorms in the distance. Watching fireflies was a treat. The Maggiolina sleepers were more effected by the campground noise and sticky weather than the van sleepers.

Grandma and Grandpa

As always, one of the highlights is eating Grandma’s meals. This time, we had loads of strawberries we picked at Pine Tree Farms in White Bear Lake to eat (see photo below). Grandpa fixed up Uncle’s “antique” Schwinn bikes for riding. Also, he engineered the removal of the canoe from the garage. Finally, Grandma detected and Grandpa re-attached a piece of plastic to the bottom of our van. We feel so fortunate for all their special treatment.

Event to Remember

• picking 12 lbs. of strawberries at Pine Tree Farms in White Bear Lake
• snail shell gathering and swimming at Snail Lake Beach
• riding bikes to Ken’s Market for treats and just riding through the neighborhood
• canoeing at Lake Johanna
• playing our keyboard and visiting the neighbors and performing a “concert”
• new Nickelodeon theme at Mall of America
• Anniversary date of Thai food and a movie
• Hot dogs, corn on the cob, and s’mores cooked on an open grill in the backyard
• Wall-E movie
• watching the Williams sisters dominate Wimbeldon
• playing tennis at Mounds View High School and at the park off of New Brighton along the power line path
• Watching fireworks with Grandpa over White Bear Lake with an awesome finale

Leaving

After saying farewell to Grandma and Grandpa, the van was filled with complaints of leaving too early. Just another sign that this trip was very special and memorable.

Something New

After six ski seasons of trekking up to Eldora Resort for daily ski lessons, we reached a family goal this weekend. We vacationed in the mountains on a multi-day ski vacation. Since we had four days, we chose to drive a while and explore something we couldn’t see over a weekend. Dad had visited Crested Butte 18 years ago, so it seemed like a nice, familiar choice. We checked out vrbo.com for condo rentals. Their prices were comparable to Elevation Spa and Resort. So, we just went with the hotel. The location is awesome. To get to the slopes in the morning, you check your skis out of the “ski valet”, walk out the door, and ski about a city block up to the Red Lady Express lift. Right next to Red Lady Express, is the Silver Queen which services the harder terrain. We tried the Silver Queen exactly once. Mom felt a little queasy with the Blue run tight turns, so we decided to stick with the Red Lady Express after that. Our favorite lift was Paradise, which was much fancier than we were used to with maps and speed changes. Overhearing skiers talk about “Paradise” made for some interesting listening.

The Terrain

The ski mountain in Crested Butte is gorgeous! We weren’t used to seeing aspen groves mixed with the pine forests. The Crested Butte “peak” was always a fascination. According to the maps, Crested Butte has the greatest amount of extreme terrain on the continent. We saw ski tracks up on the “peak” and found out you can hike to the peak and ski up there. We we couldn’t imagine anyone being able to do that!

Skiing

As a family, we managed to stick together enough not to get lost. Our group is a mix. We have conservative gentle slope enthusiasts, tree skiers, jump seekers, super pipe skiers, and terrain park lovers. We have fast skiers and slow skiers. Fortunately, we all managed to ski our own style and ride the lifts together. Christy’s Sports is at the base of the hill next to the Elevation Hotel. We made one stop there to get ski readjusted. One of our skier kept losing his ski mostly during jumps. So it was really nice to get a free binding adjustment before heading to lunch in our hotel room.

Tubing

The last evening of our stay, we bought $5 tickets to the tubing hill for the kids. They enjoyed tubing, but the hill closed early and the fun lasted less than an hour. Tubing had no lift which was a major complaint after hauling those large tubes of the hill half a dozen times.

Check-in

When we first arrive at the Elevation, we could barely pull up to the hotel to check in. They didn’t have a room for us. We unloaded our things onto a cart and left it with the Bell Service. With free drink coupons in hand, we headed to the Atmosphere’s Restaurant off the lobby. They were to call us when our room was ready. We sipped for awhile and then decided to order dinner. The grilled cheese was not a hit nor the remaining entrees. After getting our bill, we decided to take the free shuttle downtown to the grocery store and find some real food. This worked great for us. We ate breakfast and lunch out of our little kitchen setup in the hotel. Then, we took the free “town shuttle” downtown to try some local restaurants in the evening.

Restaurants

After reading restaurant reviews, we chose the following restaurants in downtown Crested Butte. Each choice was a winner. The first night, we visited, Slogar, known for southern comfort American cooking. We sat in the parlor to wait for our dinner. Dinner is served family style starting with a relish plate. The main course includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, corn, and biscuits. The decor and food felt like another generation and place in time. The next night, we ate pizza at the ,The Secret Stash, which had a Indian type theme. Luckily, we only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table and 45 minutes for our food. Most larger parties were waiting longer. Despite the waiting, we had a very nice evening. The decor was interesting, the pizza was great, and the conversation was fun. Finally, on our way out of town we stopped for breakfast at Paradise Cafe. This is known as the “best breakfast” place in town and the food was great!

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To Ellis

So, the plan was to leave for Ellis, Kansas late afternoon on Friday July 27th. We didn’t get out the door until around 7 PM. On the way to Ellis, we drove on the edge of a powerful thunderstorm. We arrived at 1:30 AM the next morning.

Ellis Arrival

Tired and ready for bed, we drove slowly down main street Ellis, Kansas. We were amazed by the Ellis Travel Plaza which featured an indoor play area through a large window. The Plaza sits on the edge of the lot where the “station” sat. My grandparents and aunt/uncle owned the “station”, a Mobile Gas Station, during my childhood.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

So at 1:30 AM, I opened up the envelope with the key for the Ellis home. There was no key there! We wrestled through the carpets, the car seats, the garbage, and everywhere else we could think of. At that point, I was wishing I had put the key on my key ring earlier.

Plan B: Ellis City Park

We headed down to Big Creek to check out the camping situation. At that time of night there were many RVs and tents with sleeping campers. We couldn’t be sure if there were any empty spots. The mosquitos were swarming us. We were tired. We had over an eight hour drive tomorrow. It was time for Plan C.

Plan C: Hotel in Hays, Kansas

So, we headed down the Highway to Hays, Kansas looking for a hotel at 1:30 AM. We were optimistic. Hays is a large city. Unless there was a big event going on, we should be able to find something. We stopped at the Fairfield Inn. We were told a Shriners’ convention was in town. No hotel rooms could be found until Abilene, KS which is 120 miles away. It was time for Plan D.

Plan D: Walmart Parking Lot: Hays, Kansas

At this point it was about 2:00 AM and we were getting desperate. We had read about boondocking in Walmart parking lots. About 10 RVs and pop up tents were already parked in the Hays Walmart parking lot. I had read on the web two philosophies of doing it. One theory was just do it and ask forgiveness if they kick you out. The other theory was to ask the manager. Since we really didn’t want to be kicked out after setting up, we decided to go in and ask. We talked to an employee who was very welcoming. She told us her manager keeps both doors open for campers, it is safe because the security cameras are on, and her trucker husband does it all the time. Without many choices at this point, we set up camp in the Walmart parking lot.

On our Way to Oklahoma City

The next morning we were gone by 8:00 AM. I had read that it is good etiquette to leave Walmart Parking lots early. So we did. We went in and bought a few items, including sunglass covers for my glasses. I looked pretty beat up with a mosquito bite that swelled part of my right eye shut. I was afraid to put on my contacts and I needed to see in the sun.

Visiting Norman, Oklahoma

A certain family member who is an alumni from the University of Oklahoma had a couple of items on his list to check off. So we did a whirlwind tour of the campus, had dinner at Goldie’s restaurant, and checked out the state of the house he lived in while going to college. Unfortunately, the house was run down with weeds growing in the gutters on the roof of the house. We didn’t even think to take a photo .

Hoteling in Oklahoma City

The original plan was to camp outside of Oklahoma City. But we decided we needed to sleep well. We had with another full day of driving to Austin. So we swam, slept, and ate breakfast at the Marriott Fairfield Inn near Crossroads Mall in Oklahoma City.

Off to Austin, Texas

With all the driving excitement so far, I think we would all agree the drive between Oklahoma City and Austin was the hardest driving of the trip. On a Sunday, the traffic was non-stop all the way to Austin. We did drop off a Bookcrossing Book in Temple, Texas. To our excitement, a few days later we received news that our book had been caught. See the journal entry, for A Cry In the Night. This is our first bookcrossing release that has been caught!

Fun in Austin

We stayed in Austin for about three days and four nights. The best part of the stay was spending time with our relatives; Brother/Sister-In-Law (Uncle/Aunt), and Cousins. We had many fun and interesting chats. Also, we stayed in our Brother’s/Sister-In-Law’s beautiful new home which was a wonderful break from camping. We “helped” (as much as we help) with baby sitting our nephews/cousins. They are one year and three years old and growing fast! Swimming and being silly in the pool with our cousin was a highlight. Finally, our group broke into two and went to the movies to see “Ratatouille” and the “The Simpsons Movie”.

Food in Austin

Thanks for the yummy meals at home. Also, we were treated to some of the best food in Austin which included:

• Carino’s Italian Grill
• The Shady Grove
• Salt Lick Barbecue

A Day Trip to San Antonio

Thanks to our Brother/Uncle for taking us on a tour of San Antonio, Texas. First, we stopped at the San Antonio Zoo to feed the fish and watch the bears and flamingos. Then, we drove downtown to visit the Alamo. Finally, we had lunch on the River Walk at Rita’s on the River. Entertainment during the drive included DVDs in the car, music, and conversation.

Trip to Carlsbad National Park in New Mexico

We left Austin around 7:40 AM and arrived in White’s City, New Mexico about 4:30 PM. After getting our bearings, we reserved a camping spot, ate dinner, and headed to Carlsbad National Park visitor center. Around 7:15 PM we arrived at the amphitheater to watch the bat flight show at the Natural Entrance to the Carlsbad Caverns Cave. The Park Ranger put on a very interesting talk about the bats. Then, about 7:58 PM, the bat detector went off. The crowd was silent. We watched approximately 300,000 Mexican Free Tail Bats fly out of the cave in circular tornado fashion. It was really amazing! No cameras were allowed because electronic gadgets interfere with the bat’s echolocation.

Camping

After returning from watching the bats, we were not very comfortable in the camping area in White’s City Resort. I will never think of the word “Resort” in quite the same way again. There was RVers in one section of the park but no campers in the tent part of the park. The bathrooms were run down, and it felt too secluded. So, we drove into the city of Carlsbad and spent our second night in a Walmart Parking Lot. At this point, we learned that we need to do a better job of researching campgrounds.

A Day of Caving

The rain started about 10 minutes before we finished packing up camp. We found breakfast at a gas station in Carlsbad, New Mexico and drove the 27 miles back to Carlsbad National Park. By 9:00 AM, we had our self guided tour radios and were heading into the cave. For the next four hours, we toured the Natural Entrance and Big Room. Carlsbad Caverns is known as one of the most highly decorated caves in the world. It was just beautiful! Dad had toured these caves as a youngster about 30 years ago and remembered several of the features. So, it was very exciting for him to see it again with his family.

Eating Lunch at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The visitor center is being renovated at the park, so several temporary buildings were set up. We ate lunch in one of the temporary buildings. At the eating area, we released another book and registered it at Bookcrossing.com.

Heading for Home

At about 2 pm, we left Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This drive had very few gas stations or stopping places. After driving about 6 hours, we reached Vaughn, New Mexico. We needed to decide if we would continue on to Santa Fe and camp another night or head home. Rain clouds loomed in the distance. So we decided to head for home. We arrived home about 2:00 AM the next morning.

Pharos’ Nest Suite in Lincoln, Nebraska

This trip, we drove Sunday July 1st to Lincoln, Nebraska. Originally, we had planned to camp, so we didn’t make a reservation early enough to stay at the Fairfield Inn as usual. Instead, we had reservations at the Settle Inn. When we arrived at our room, it was immediately obvious that this was a smoking room. We had requested non-smoking. Since they had no non-smoking rooms clean in our configuration, they offered us, Pharos’ Nest, which contained a king sized bed, a black jacuzzi, and Egyptian art and murals everywhere. They hauled in two cots and it was clear this was going to be our favorite hotel stay to date.

Enjoying Grandma and Grandpa in Minnesota

We arrived in Minnesota on Monday July 2nd about 6:30 PM. We ran into more traffic than usual as we drove into the city on a Monday during rush hour when 35 W was under construction. It was a relief to make it home and eat dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. As always, we enjoyed many great meals catching up on the latest news from Minnesota and beyond.

Shopping: IKEA

We spent a day wandering around the IKEA store near Mall of America. Before leaving we bought two chairs, a few pieces for our walls, and a package of cinnamon rolls. Shopping and eating dinner together was our anniversary treat together this year.

Wedding Anniversary: July 4th

We were married in Grandma’s and Grandpa’s backyard 15 years ago this July 4th. After the wedding, our dinner was held at the White Bear Country Inn in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. So on the evening of July 4th, we packed up and headed to White Bear Lake Beach to watch the fireworks. The fireworks were shot off of some water craft which blew its whistle after the show.

Tour of Lakes: Our Swimming Vacation

With the exception of the first evening of our arrival, we swam every day of the vacation. Our swims included two hotel pools, three lakes, and one river. On Tuesday, we collected snails and chased fish at Snail Lake Beach before a thunderstorm moved in that afternoon. On Wednesday, we ran around the pond at Central Park in Roseville. That afternoon, Grandma sat with the kids while they played in Lake Johanna, the beach one block from Grandma’s and Grandpa’s home. On Thursday, we checked out Long Lake Beach which is a beautiful deep water beach with sandy shore, lots of grass for lounging, and a large dock in the swim area to play on. I really enjoyed swimming to the dock with the kids and watching them jump off and play in the lake.

One River Too

Finally, on Friday we loaded up the van with lunch and drove to St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. This park is currently owned by Washington County, but Control Data Corporation owned it as I was growing up. When my Dad worked for Control Data, we took many family camping trips to this park. I think we were all amazed that it really hadn’t changed much in the last 25 years. It seemed very well kept, the camping areas were very quiet and shady. Hopefully, we will have time to camp there again some year. The dock parking area has expanded. There were about 40 cars, most with boat trailers, parked at the dock. We found a small area of shade for the beach sitters in our group. The rest of us swam in the river making major discoveries in the water such as rocks with seaweed, zebra mussels and interesting shells. It was difficult to coax everyone out of the water at the end of our day on the St. Croix River.

A long Weekend: What to do?

While looking for a camping reservation a few days before Memorial Day Weekend, we didn’t find anything within a three hour radius of our home. Not to mention the work to get together a camping trip did not seem appealing. So, we decided to get out of town for one night, stay at a hotel, and check out the sites around Loveland/Fort Collins, Colorado.

Horsetooth Reservoir: Our Weekend Picnic

We headed straight for Fort Collins and drove down Harmony Road. Making a quick decision we turned onto C.R. 23 rather than C.R. 38E. Not knowing where we were going, this quick decision determined the events of the day. We drove about 5 miles, most of the length of the reservoir, before finding a ranger to talk to at Satanka Bay. He suggested turning around, picnicking on the reservoir and then driving back to C.R. 38E and Horsetooth Mountain Park. We wanted to hike to the waterfall at Horsetooth Mountain Park. A certain Uncle/Brother who used to live in Fort Collins recommended the hike. The ranger told us Horsetooth Mountain Park was under construction and new picnic facilities were expected soon. But, the hogback along the reservoir would be a better picnic place this trip.

Horsetooth Mountain Park: Waterfall Plans thwarted by rattlesnake

Our afternoon hike at Horsetooth Mountain Park was lovely. We kept hearing a sound that was either the wind blowing through the aspen trees or a waterfall. Many of the creek beds looked dry, so we didn’t expect to see a waterfall. Around the bend, we were planning to turn around and head back to the trail head. A group of hikers told us they had seen a rattlesnake ahead. We didn’t take this warning seriously. Then as we got ready to cross the bridge ahead, a young couple was climbing down the hill through thick brush. They told us to stop. They were climbing around a rattlesnake sprawled across the path. When they came down, they showed us the snake. The photo to the right shows the snake. The snake is a blur toward the right of the third farthest stair. We watched him for awhile before turning back. The young couple stayed and warned others. Then, on our way back, the young couple caught up to us. They had moved the snake off the path after we left. Next time we are in Fort Collins, we plan to hike the waterfall trail, avoid rattlesnakes, and reach that waterfall!

Old Town Fort Collins: Austin’s Grill and Walrus Ice Cream Shop

Next, we headed down town to eat dinner at Austin’s Grill and dessert at Walrus Ice Cream Shop. The grill is located at College and Mountain in Fort Collins. There are several other Austin Grill locations in the area. Walrus Ice Cream Shop is located on the South side of Mountain just West of College. Once again, these two suggestions, made by a certain Uncle/Brother, were a big hit!

To Loveland: Swim and Sleep

Finally, we headed back to Loveland, Colorado for some hotel pool swimming and sleep at the Marriott Fairfield Inn located near the outlet mall. We often stay at Marriott Fairfield Inns. The Loveland Fairfield Inn had the fanciest free breakfast we have ever seen.

Benson Park Sculpture Garden: A Classic Outdoor Art Museum

On a beautiful Memorial Day morning, we walked around Benson Park Sculpture Garden. We really enjoyed looking at the mostly bronze sculptures. A few had marble, glass, and stone material. A highlight was reading the titles and understanding a little more about the artwork. We spent all morning on the South Pond and only were able to see about half of the 100 sculptures on display throughout the park.

Swetsville Zoo: An Unusual Outdoor Art Museum

A certain Aunt and Uncle on their way from Anchorage to Austin, suggested checking out the Swetsville Zoo. We had seen photographs, so this ought to be easy to find! First, we drove by a white house with a sculpture by the mailbox. This surely couldn’t be what we were looking for. After a bit of a drive we turned around and drove back. Once again, we drove by the mailbox thinking surely this couldn’t be what we were looking for. Across the highway, we turned around, drove back to the mailbox and turned into the driveway. We had arrived at Swetsville Zoo!

An Art of Love: Sculptures made of Car Parts, Machinery and Scrap Metal

We picked up the laminated paper tour guide and walked through the sculpture garden. Each sculpture had a name, description, and comment that made the metal sculptures more interesting. We especially liked the humorous comments. Each family member took a photo next to their favorite masterpiece.

CSU Environment Learning Center: A Bald Eagle in the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

We checked out the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program located at the East end of Drake Road in Fort Collins. More information is at the CSU Environmental Learning Center website. We saw a beautiful Bald Eagle in an injured raptor cage which was definitely a highlight. Also, we walked the Cottonwood Trail which crossed the Poudre River and connected with many other trails.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour: Was this a good family choice?

In one of our Colorado Family Guide Books, the Anheuser-Busch facility was mentioned. We were having allergy problems outside, so an indoor activity seemed like a good choice to end out our trip. We remember reading about the Clydesdales and thought this could be interesting. So we found our way to the tour center. As we walked in the door, the greeter behind the desk asked us if we wanted to go on the tour. We were told it left two minutes ago, and we could catch them if we hurried. So without really knowing what we were doing we were off on a Brewery Tour.

The Brewery Tour and Clydesdales

The adults in our group were really impressed with the magnitude and scope of the brew process. I believe everyone was impressed with the canning area where cans and bottles whizzed by so fast you could barely see them. Each child kept a souvenir of Beechwood used in “Beechwood Aging”. The recycling aspect of the operation was impressive. The advertising aspect was a little unnerving for our young group. The Clydesdales were a highlight. We viewed the beautiful horses in cages at the end of the tour. Although soda pop was an option, we did skip the tasting part of the tour. After rereading our family guide, we realized it recommended a 25 minute video, the Clydesdales, and exhibits at the Tour Center, not the entire Brewery Tour.

Johnson’s Corner: Finally Stopped There

So, we had heard rumors about the famous cinnamon rolls at Johnson’s Corner Truck Stop. The truck stop is located 3 miles South of Loveland on I-25 Exit 254. Every time we drove by, we were in a hurry. On the way home, we finally stopped for dinner and a cinnamon roll for dessert. Johnson’s Corner has an interesting history, claim to fame through the Food Network, and has never closed their doors since opening in 1952.

Must Sees for Next Time

• Waterfall at Horsetooth Mountain Park
• Shoreline/Horsetooth Reservoir Camping
• Middle Pond at Benson Sculpture Park
• Starry Night Coffee: located on the East side of College just South of Mountain in Old Town Fort Collins

Getting Started: A False Start

Our plan was to drive half way to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house in Minnesota, camp overnight at a KOA, and finish our drive the next day. The van had been packed the night before. So, our goals for the morning were to eat breakfast, brush teeth, pack the cooler, and start our trip. What could be easier? We started our drive when we realized we forgot an important item. After returning back home to get the tent poles, we were on our way at 9:17 AM.

Saving Money: KOA Camping Instead of Hotel on the Way to Minnesota

We didn’t arrive at the West Omaha KOA until 8:30 PM local time (7:30 PM Colorado). That left us enough time for some of us to play miniature golf while the rest of us set up camp. We generally fill the tent with all the belongings we don’t need to sleep. So, booster seats, van seats, and clothes all go into the tent. We are always excited to go for a swim after a long day of traveling in the car. On this night, KOA’s outdoor pool had an algae problem and was not open.

Mosquitos: Would we get any sleep?

We slept with sheets only because the night time high was forecast at 70 degrees. Outside a cool breeze blew. However, this is mosquito country and we didn’t have screens on our windows. Instead of smoothering ourselves in bug repellent and opening the windows, we decided to close up the van and turn on the air-conditioner. So much for our rugged nature! The air-conditioner didn’t cool the van for long. We all had trouble going to sleep. But, with the help of adrenaline, we all seemed rested in the morning.

The Weather: An Early Morning Surprise

The next morning at 6:30 AM, we heard thunder. So we quickly got up. Before too long, the rain was pouring down. So, when the rain slowed down, we packed our wet tent and things as quickly as we could. Then, we were on our way by 8:30 AM (Minnesota time). I was shocked at how quickly we packed up in the rain. We arrived at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s home at 4:52 PM.

At Home In Minnesota

We had a wonderful visit with Grandma and Grandpa including a trip to Fort Snelling, Como Park Zoo, Island Lake Beach, New Brighton Eagles Nest (3 times), and table tennis with Grandpa (Mom 2 times). We also went on walks to Sampson Park and scoped out new homes being built on Lake Johanna Blvd. Mom and Dad went to see the movie “Scoop”, ate at Chilis, and walked around Central Park. The kids went with Grandma and Grandpa to eat at McDonalds and to walk around Central Park. Although we ended up at the same park, we didn’t run into each other which was a funny story afterwards.

Heading Back To Colorado

On the way home, we stayed over night at the Fairfield Inn in Lincoln, Nebraska. We swam, went to Culvers, played at a park off of 27th street beyond the railroad tracks, and rested in the hotel room. We left Minnesota that day at about 8:30 AM and arrived in Lincoln about 5:00 PM. We may have been able to go further that day, but the hotels in Grand Island were full.

Roxanne

This trip, we learned that Roxanne, our cat, had passed away while we were in Minnesota. We broke the news to the kids while sitting in the bedroom Mom grew up in. Over time, as we mourn, we will realize the impact, Roxanne, our cat had on our life and family.

Ideas for Next Time

* The kids would like to go geocaching in Minnesota. Geocaching is like a treasure hunt using a GPS unit. See the geocaching website for more details.
* Morman Island Nebraska State Park (exit 312) on the East Side of Grand Island, NE looked like a nice camping spot. We could see a beach from the gas station we stopped at.
* For summer travel, we need a scheme for opening the windows without letting the mosquitos in. (Minnesota photos by MDL)

Van Camping: Arches National Park

We slept overnight at Devil’s Garden Campground at site 39. The rock formations, picnic table, and extra cement table made this camping site extra nice. The sandy terrain is so different than camping in Colorado. We slept in the van and it was cold!

Family Hikes in Arches National Park

The next morning, we walked across the road and hiked the easy Broken Arch hike. We definitely would have been lost without the cairns along the way. This just added to the adventure. The hike was really unforgettable and perfect for young families. Another perfect hike for a young family is the Sand Dune Arch. The Delicate Arch, being one of Utah’s most famous icons, is a must see. Since the Delicate Arch hike is rated as strenuous, we chose the Delicate Arch Viewpoint hike instead.

Moab Hotel: The original plan

We planned for one camping night and two hotel nights from the beginning. This was a good plan since the camping night was a little harsh temperature wise. After all, we can survive just about anything for one night.

We spent the following two nights at the Best Western Canyonlands Inn. This hotel was nice, comfortable, and the continental breakfast was a hit with the kids.

A Morning View of Landscape Arch

We started the day with a hike to Landscape Arch. Landscape Arch is one of the most unstable arches and may be gone tomorrow. So, it seemed urgent to view Landscape Arch on this day.

Arches and Canyonlands: Two National Parks in One Day

Our goal was to see a little of both parks. After a quick stop to pick up a pair of Junior Ranger Badges at the Arches Visitor Center, we drove to Canyonlands National Park. First thing after arriving we stopped at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and watched the introduction movie.

Our Canyonlands Tour Guide: a CD

We rented a CD at the visitor center which described the highlights as we drove through the park. The CD was a huge help for our quick tour. We found Upheaval Crater to be the most fascinating view. The mystery of its history was a draw. I know this National Park has some great adventures for the more rugged. But, for our young family, the car tour was scenic and educational.