Minnesota Tour of Lakes: Independence Day 2007

Posted on July 23, 2007 by ardith

Date of Trip: July 1st – July 8th, 2007

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.

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Exploring Loveland/Fort Collins on Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on June 2, 2007 by ardith

Date of Trip: Memorial Day Weekend May 27 – 28, 2007

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
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A Book Recommendation: Fun with the Family Colorado, Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids by Doris Kennedy

Posted on May 31, 2007 by ardith

A friend loaned me Fun with the Family Colorado, 6th: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids (Fun with the Family Series)before our trip to Fort Collins, Colorado. We received so much value from it on our exploration of the Fort Collins/Loveland area, I bought it myself. If you are looking for ideas to entertain kids while traveling in Colorado, this book has many ideas.

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Spring Break in Arden Hills, Minnesota

Posted on April 2, 2007 by ardith

March 24 – April 1st, 2007

Returning to Colorado: On the Road Again

As we leave Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house it is a cloudy, rainy day and the windshield wipers are working overtime. Cars whiz by splashing water everywhere as we head South on Highway 35W. I recognize the exits as I remember the many people and locations where I played table tennis, went to college, and grew up learning to be independent on these roads.

The Week in Pictures

Since our camera has random memory card errors, I grabbed Grandpa’s camera as we toured the city with our family. Dad reminded me that photos are free, so we took over 100 during the week. It is nice that we can store them on everyone’s computer to improve our memories.

Minnehaha Falls


On Monday, the weather was warm like summer, but there were still hints of snow in places. The Falls still showed frozen chunks of water, but mainly the water flowed strong and loud. While walking on the boardwalk toward the Mississippi, I tried to imagine how beautiful these dark spindly trees would look with large green leaves. Unfortunately, the boardwalk ended before we reached the Mississippi River. Next time, it would be fun to find a path that reaches all the way to the Mississippi River.

The statue Minnehaha and Hiawatha, was very impressive. Although, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow never saw Minnehaha Falls, his poem, “The Song of Hiawatha” was inspired by stories and images of Minnehaha Falls. The Longfellow House is a 2/3 sized replica of the Longfellow’s Home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We made a quick stop at the Longfellow house which was a very interesting old yellow house with historical information inside. Information about Minnehaha Falls found here.

Minnesota Zoo


Two years ago at the zoo, we took the Monorail around the zoo because the weather was cold and snowy. This year we were able to walk. There were many interesting animals in large free roaming spaces. The funny part was that the prairie dog exhibit was probably our favorite. The animals were close and so social. We watched what looked like an argument between two prairie dogs. One mischeivious fellow kept kicking dirt at the other. In Colorado, prairie dogs are often thought of a nuisance because their populations are intruding on our human areas. At the zoo, they are such interesting creatures.

I would like to visit this zoo in the summer months. An amphitheater with a Birds of Prey show and the Farm Animals would be in season. Next time, it would be nice to see the entire dolphin show from a better seat. Checking dolphin show times before leaving home would be a good idea!

Table Tennis

Dad and I ventured out to play some serious table tennis on Wednesday night. I was highly impressed with Dad’s ability to compensate for his loss of depth perception. I know his eyes are improving every day. With a little more healing and practice, he will continue to enjoy the sport. He tells me that his friends enjoy practicing with me, but I know they were mostly interested in seeing him again :)

Mall of America


On a rainy day, this is a fun place to visit. Between themes, the amusement park inside the mall is not yet decorated as the newly planned Nickelodeon. We did have fun spending our 24 coupons on bumper calls, balloon rides, and the ferris wheel. The Rainforest Cafe is back! So, we had to eat amongst the apes, parrots, and fish during lunch. We are not big shoppers, but there are so many distractions, this is a different kind of shopping trip. We did manage to find plenty of things to buy and fun to have.

Minnesota Children’s Museum

We visited the traveling “Bob the Builder” show at the Children’s Museum. Memories of infants and toddlers were everywhere as we watched our little cousin explore the golf ball apparatuses, the ping pong ball waterways, and the bubble areas. We even stopped at the “weather” room only to find the thunderstorm cloud exhibit was broken. It is fun to spectate at the museum, but our family members are quickly outgrowing the exhibits.

Time at Home

Sharing piano with Minnesota neighbors was very fun. Many favorite times were spent at home in the home I grew up in. Highlights included making plans and meals with Mom, celebrating a birthday, practicing yoga together, working out at New Brighton Recreation Center in the early mornings, reading Dad’s book on building boxes and seeing his newest creations, watching photo slide shows, sharing blogs, being with my brother’s family, and getting to hold my baby nephew!

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Learning to Ski: Eldora Mountain Resort

Posted on February 25, 2007 by ardith

Escaping to the Mountains

Although this is the sixth ski season our family has spent at Eldora Mountain Resort,
I feel like this is just the beginning of the adventure. Last week, we reached a milestone. All skiers in our family ventured up to Big Mountain to ski as a group for a short time. Now, I have visions of developing favorite routes, and memories together. Perhaps we will each lead a set of runs to explore more of the mountain. The challenge will be to slow down our youngest skier long enough to wait for our oldest skier.

A Typical Ski Day


For the last six weeks, we have followed a ski day routine that worked well for us. Following is a typical schedule:

7:00 AM wake up, eat breakfast, gather supplies
7:45 AM leave for Eldora
8:45 AM arrive at Eldora
9:15 AM meet instructors for lessons
2:15 PM lessons over, ski together as a family
3:30 PM skiing is more relaxing with fewer crowds
4:00 PM runs close – time to head for home
5:00 PM return home
5:30 PM pizza and a movie at home

Challenging and Fun: Women’s Day Lessons

This year I participated in the Women’s Days program. Having just started skiing last year, this was a great program for me. Last year, I remember being uncomfortable learning to make turns outside the lodge on the two foot high hills. This year, the Women’s Days ski group started on the Green Beginner Terrain. On the last class, we skied most of a Black Expert hill. Our progress is a credit to the dedicated instructors and a solid Women’s program that has been in existence for 30 years. I look forward to keeping in touch with an amazing group of ladies I met during this session.

A Challenge: Kid’s Trek Lessons

Once again, this year our family participated in Kid’s Trek programs. At the beginning levels of Kid’s Trek, we have always been thrilled with the progress our children have made. It is so amazing to see these young children ski so naturally and with so little fear. However, this is the first year we felt disappointed in a class. In an intermediate level Kid’s Trek class, we felt the class was too large with too diverse a level of skiers to be effective. As parents, we were encouraged to be more aggressive in talking to supervisors if we have a problem in the future.

Lessons Learned: Ski lesson advice for Next Year

* Second Session Kid’s Trek is less crowded and the quality may be better.
* Kid’s Eldora Ski Team may have an option to practice once a weekend.
* Private lessons can be bought in 5 packs to reduce costs.
* You may request your favorite instructors for private lessons.

Season Passes: Should you buy them in March?

For the best prices on season passes, look into purchasing the next year’s season pass during March. Buying in the spring allows you to ski the rest of the season and next year on one season pass. This works particularly well for the five year old, who will turn six years before next season. You will be paying the five year old rate for a six year old’s season pass.

On Sale: Winter Ski Clothing

For winter clothing and ski equipment, we like to start at the SNIAGRAB Sale in Boulder, Colorado which begins Labor Day weekend (SNIAGRAB is bargains spelled backwards). This tent sale is in North Boulder at Sports Authority, which was formerly Gart Sports.

Season Ski Equipment Rentals: What is the plan?

Season Ski Rental do sell out, so procrastination doesn’t work. This year we rented skis, boots, and poles for the season from Christy Sports. Since their website is mostly concerned with short term rentals, I would suggest calling a local store in September to find out when they expect to offer season rentals. They will likely run out before the snow flies. The nice thing about Christy Sports is they have both a Boulder and Broomfield location and will do tune ups throughout the season at either location. They recommend a tune up including edging and waxing after skiing on their rental skis 5-10 times. Also, in the past, we have been happy purchasing children season rentals from Cutting Edge Sports.

Ski Deals: Start looking for Deals on Labor Day

We have never bought inexpensive ski coupon 4 packs, but they sound like great deals if you get them early. Next year, we plan to check out the Colorado 5th grade passport. This provides Colorado 5th graders with 3 free lift tickets at 25 member resorts for a total of 75 free lift tickets. The program is also extended to Colorado 6th graders for a small fee. Around Labor Day, Eldora Mountain Resort will start advertising their pre-season Kid’s Trek and Women’s Days lesson rates. Also in the Fall, we buy the Entertainment Book at our school fundraiser. They usually have good coupons for rentals, lift tickets, and lessons at Eldora.

Ski Equipment: How do Beginners get a Clue?

The equipment scene is a bit overwhelming to beginning skiers. This year we all purchased season rentals at Christy Sports. This is nice for the young skier because they will most likely grow out of gear by next year. For the older skier who wants to know more before owning, they can become more familiar with equipment before buying. The season rental is easier than a daily rental because you don’t have to worry about returning equipment by 5:00 PM after a long ski day.

Misfitted Boots: My feet aren’t that big!

At one Women’s Days lesson, they offered the use of free demo skis for the day. When, I went to try on a new pair of skis, I was told I had been fitted with the equivalent of a men’s size 13 ski boot. Basically, they told me until my boot fit is fixed, the skis won’t matter. Asking around, I heard about Larry’s Boot Fitting in Boulder. So, I decided to check it out.

A Trip To Larry’s Boot Fitting

When I called Larry’s Boot Fitting, I had a very good impression of their service. They told me they do not charge for advice, so I made an appointment. Over a two hour period, while working with many other customers, they helped me find the right boot. This involved measuring my foot and calling Christy’s Sports to reserve the correct style/size boot. Then, I drove across town to exchange my season rental boot with the boot recommended by Larry’s. Finally, I brought them back and they performed some magic to shape the lining to my foot. So, far I have been very happy with the fit of these boots. If you need ski boot equipment or advice, I would make an appointment at:

Larry’s Boot Fitting
2709 Spruce St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 402-6733

Ski Equipment: Unforgettable Technology and Practical Ideas

* battery operated heating elements in ski boots
* pulley harnesses that relieve shock on knees
* disposable hand and feet warmers

Posted in Colorado, Skiing | Leave a comment

A Week in Minnesota: Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

Posted on August 20, 2006 by ardith

Date of Trip: August 12 – 20, 2006

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)

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The Great Sand Dunes National Park

Posted on July 30, 2006 by ardith

Date of Trip: July 29 – 30, 2006

Arriving at the Sand


We left home at 9:30 AM and arrived at the Dunes around 3:00 PM. After arriving, we stopped at the visitor’s center, watched the introduction movie, and listened to a Ranger presentation. Everyone was anxious to get to the sand, so we headed to the Dunes parking lot. The weather was threatening, so we made it across the 1/4 mile flat region to the first dune. The kids ran up and down (some rolling) three times, before we headed back to safety. Junior rangers are taught to get off the sand if you hear thunder or see lightning. So, we headed over to San Luis Lakes to set up our camp. Before leaving the Great Sand Dunes National Park, we noticed open campsites. These public campgrounds do not take reservations so we couldn’t be sure we could get a site when we left home. Since we already had reservations for two nights at San Luis Lakes, we wanted to check this Colorado State Park out.

Camping at San Luis Lakes State Park

San Luis lakes was treeless and quite quiet. The lake had beautiful boating and picnic facilities, but no one was around. We stayed in an electric tent site loop A 02 across from the campground host. As always, we chose a site close to the bathrooms. The park has both shower and laundry facilities. Across the street from our site, was the view of the lake and the mountains. For scenery, these may have been better sites.

San Luis Lake: Where are the lake lovers?

During our stay we heard from a ranger that San Luis Lakes was supposed to be a big fishing lake, but poisoning the hearty carp did not work. So, they couldn’t make the lake useful for fishermen. We were told it is very alkaline lake due to the ground water in the area. The carp poisoning left the lake unsuited for swimming and recreation.

Early Morning Arrival at Great Sand Dunes National Park

After eating camp breakfast every morning we drove 15 minutes from San Luis Lakes to Great Sand Dunes National Park. The drive was gorgeous with the Black-eyed Susan flowers lining the road. The Great Sand Dunes backed up by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was beautiful. Both days we tried to leave the sand by noon, due to the hot sand and overall heat. Our goal was to hike up several dunes for about 1 hour and then head back.

Experiencing the Sand


It was a very unusual adventure to climb mounds of sand, get stuck in our sled while trying to slide down a mound, and finally making it back through the flat area in the heat. We watched a snowboarder have much more luck sliding down a dune than we did. We were trying to use a large a 2-3 person red sled which I wouldn’t recommend. Perhaps a smaller sled would work better.

Sand Dunes: A Picnic

We especially enjoyed finding a picnic table deep inside the Dunes Picnic Area under a large willow tree. The terrain was full of trees, and had bear warning posters. This terrain was a sharp contrast to San Luis State Park.

Sand Dunes: Ranger Programs are Great!

The kids attended a Hands On Kid’s Program which explained about kangaroo rats, magnetite in the sand, and antlers. They even touched a salamander while wearing plastic gloves.

Bookcrossing: Starting a Tradition

We are fascinated with the idea of leaving books in the wild as explained at bookcrossing.com. Before leaving the park, we stopped at the Visitor Center at the Great Sand Dunes to set a book free in the wild using Bookcrossing.com. Here is a description of the book and it’s release.

Great Sand Dunes Oasis

The Great Sand Dunes Oasis is a convenience store located right outside the park. We stopped there two times for ice. Then on the way home we ate sandwiches and hamburgers there. We were told they had an ice cream social on Saturday night for $1.50. ( bring your own bowl ). But we opted for s’mores at our campsite instead. This is the first time this summer, we had a campfire and s’mores! Rain and fire bans kept us from s’mores on previous trips.

Tips

* Gnats at San Luis Lakes are worse if you wear white socks. Wear flip flops instead.
* Avoid the Dunes between noon and 4:00 PM at this time of year.

Posted in Camping, Colorado | Leave a comment

Mueller State Park By Way of Colorado Springs, CO

Posted on July 9, 2006 by ardith

Date Of Trip: July 8-9, 2006

Should We or Shouldn’t We Go?

This trip almost didn’t happen. The weather forecast was for 70% chance of heavy rain on Saturday. But, trips are hard to cancel. Would it be harder to follow through? We decided to expect an adventure. So, we set out at 10:30 AM Saturday morning.

Unexpected Visitors: Us

Failing to plan ahead, we called our Colorado Springs and Larkspur friends as we were driving through Colorado Springs and Larkspur. Visiting them was unanimously our favorite part of the trip.

The Forecast Did Mean Heavy Rain

At 4:20 PM, we left Colorado Springs, drove to Mueller State Park, set up camp, and cooked dinner. Just as we sat down for dinner, it started to rain hard! So we dashed to the van with our food and anything else we could grab. In the van, we ate dinner, watched the rain, and ran to the bathrooms when it calmed down a bit. The next morning we woke up early with the threat of rain. So, we ate and packed up camp early.

Highlights of Mueller

We walked Dragonfly Children’s Nature Trail. Then, we drove to the Mueller State Park Visitor’s Center. I was very impressed with all the wildlife exhibits and information. The fact that one third of the park’s trees are Aspen, makes this park feel like a unique Colorado State Park. Learning about Mueller Ranch and gold mining in the area was a very interesting historical perspective on this land. Winning awards for Best Campground, Best Family Camping, and Unique Cabins, this Colorado State Park is extremely well done.

The Future


In the future, I can imagine extended stay camping with the heated shower house and laundry facilities. The cabins would be fun, but the Ranger suggested reserving them six months ahead of time.

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Party and Camping Near Jefferson, Colorado

Posted on June 18, 2006 by ardith

Flag Day Party and Lodgepole Overflow Camping Weekend
Date of Trip: June 17 – 18, 2006
Location: Jefferson, CO
Elevation: 9496 ft.

Flag Day Party


Great company, food, horse ball, and teepee interior decorating. Thanks!

Camping Location

The Lodgepole Campground is located in Colorado’s Pike National Forest. It is 3.75 miles North of Jefferson off of Hwy 285. When entering Jefferson on Hwy 285, look for the only intersection which is County Roads 35/37. Then, turn Northwest on County Roads 35/37. Follow the sign toward Jefferson Lake.

Would we Ever Leave Home?

We didn’t leave our home until 11:30 AM Saturday morning after a full morning of packing!

Expired Reservation

I made reservations at Lodgepole Campground in Pike National Forest. We really only wanted to stay one night. Since they required a minimum two night reservation, I made the reservation for the nights of June 16th and 17th. When we arrived at 8:00 PM on June 17th, we had missed a 24 hour arrival window for our reservation. So, we were without reservations and it was getting dark fast. The Lodgepole Campsite Manager suggested visiting the overflow camping area. The overflow camping area is located down a side road intersecting the main entrance to the park.

Camping in Overflow

On this trip, camping in overflow meant camping with no toilets and no picnic tables during a fire ban. We set up camp in the dark. One large cooler, a small cooler, and food box needed to be stored in the van due to Colorado law. To avoid attracting bears to camping locations, the law is a safety precaution. So, we packed all four of us and our food snugly into the van.

In the Van, A Spook?

The temperature dropped to around 30 degrees that night. We turned on the heat in the van several times. This required reaching over a couple of sleeping children to the dashboard to turn on the ignition. At one point, I heard rhythmic pounding on the van. My imagination was not thinking good things. It turned out I had accidently turned on the windshield wipers. :)

We Endured and Experienced

We woke up on Father’s Day. We survived a camping outing without the safety of a public camping area with site manager! The overflow area we picked had a rock campfire pit where we could lay our stove. About 15 feet from our site, was a beautiful, shallow, gurgling stream with little waterfalls. We watched in amazement as the off road vehicles and some low riding vehicles crossed that stream on a dirt road. The kids were instantly entertained by the sluice and all the natural features around the stream. By the end of the weekend, they all had names including penguin point. The daytime weather was sunny, warm and calm!

Recommendations

Know the campgrounds reservation policy if you arrive late. We had trouble finding County Road 35/37 on the way to Lodgepole Campground. At Jefferson, head Northwest on the only road intersecting Hwy 285. This should be County Road 35/37.

Posted in Camping, Colorado | 1 Comment

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab, Utah

Posted on April 2, 2006 by ardith

Date of Trip: March 30 – April 2, 2006
Moab, Utah Elevation: 4185 ft.

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.

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