Category: Travel and Vacations

Looking to start planning your next family vacation but aren’t sure where to go?

Colorado Springs is the perfect spot. It has something for everyone to enjoy.

There’s outdoor sports and adventures, amazing sights, and lots of culture. With so much to do, it’s hard to figure out where to start planning!

Thinking of what you should do on your next Colorado vacation? Then don’t miss out on this awesome list of things your family can do in Colorado Springs.

There’s All Sorts of Sunny, Outdoor Fun

Colorado Springs has a comfortable, sunny climate. In fact, there are 300 days of sun a year!

There are plenty of places to golf, camp, hike, and horseback ride.

For heart-pounding adventure try white water rafting on the Arkansas River. It’s the most popular place to raft in the country.

The area is also known for outdoor rock climbing. There are many rock formations to try.

One activity Colorado Springs is not known for is skiing. After enjoying the warm weather, head North for some skiing.

Vail, Colorado has some of the best skiing in the US. Leave your gear at home because there are plenty of great ski rentals in Vail.

Colorado Springs isn’t just about adventure. There’s plenty of other things to see.

Visit One of the Many Sights and Attractions

Colorado Springs has fabulous sights and attractions. Some are man-made, some from nature.

A must-see on your Colorado vacation is Garden of the Gods Nature Center. Its beautiful red rock formations make for incredible views.

Nearby, check out Pikes Peak. This majestic, 14,000-foot purple mountain was the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful.”

At the bottom of Pikes Peak you’ll find Santa’s Workshop. It’s an amusement park with 2 dozen rides. The park is open from May through December.

Other attractions include The Ghost Town museum, The Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, and America’s only mountain zoo!

Though this is an active city, there’s still lots of culture and relaxation to enjoy.

Dine, Play, Sip, and Stroll

Enjoy dinner at The Airplane Restaurant. You can have a great meal inside a Boeing KC-97 tanker.

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is another unique dining experience. They serve a 3-course dinner on a 3 hour roundtrip train ride.

For a little adult fun, there are casinos and wine-tasting rooms. There are 14 breweries and distilleries to tour. Print out a brewery tour passport and map to plan where to go.

There’s also a vibrant arts scene in Colorado Springs. Take in a show at the Philharmonic. Go to the Old Colorado City ArtWalk and tour galleries and outdoor installations.

Are You Planning a Colorado Vacation?

If so, then Colorado Springs is the perfect place to go. There’s so much to do you’ll be able to appease everyone in the family!

Before you start planning what you’ll do there, plan how you’ll afford to get there. Going on a family vacation doesn’t have to mean putting yourself in debt. Check out this post: 5 Tips for Handling Your Travel Finances Next Vacation.

When you’re looking at family ski vacations, you want to spend less time stressing about the planning and more time getting ready for the slopes.

Ski vacations can be pricey, but the right planning ahead of time can save you bundles of money and stress. With these tips, we’ll show you how to get your family on the ski adventure of your dreams without all the stress.

Be Flexible — But Not Too Flexible!

If you are flexible with your travel dates, you’ll be able to take advantage of promotions and deals. You can often score big discounts if you go on less popular days.

But you also don’t want to go so far chasing a deal that you compromise your vacation! Remember, skiing is a seasonal sport. Without snow, you’re out of luck!

So, if you see a great deal, check what the average weather conditions are like for that area during the time you’re thinking of going. If March in that area is notoriously warm, or they usually don’t have snow by late December, the savings probably aren’t worth the risk.

Instead, consider being flexible with where you are willing to go. 40 states have ski resorts, so you’ve got a ton of choice.

It may be worth going further to get to the resort if you can take advantage of a great sale. So when you’re searching for resorts, cast a wide net.

Consider Alternative Accommodations

A hotel or chalet room might be your default thought when it comes to ski vacations accommodation, but it isn’t necessarily the best one.

Less traditional accommodation can sometimes provide big savings. Condo or vacation home rentals come with kitchen facilities. This means you don’t have to pay to eat all your meals out. Instead, you can cook something healthy and hearty to give your family the energy they need to ski all day!

Plus, vacation homes are often big enough to split with other friends or relatives, helping cut down on costs while making your vacation more social.

Many ski resorts offer these sorts of alternative accommodations. For example, https://www.whistlerpremier.com has vacation homes and condos all throughout Whistler.

Rent, Don’t Buy

Unless you are a family of avid skiers, you probably don’t need to buy your own equipment. It would take a ton of trips for it to be more economical than renting.

When you own the skis, you need to store and upkeep them, and it makes plane travel more expensive. Plus, your kids will be constantly outgrowing their old skis.

Renting is much more economical. However, you will want to buy a few necessities. Ski goggles, gloves, good coats and snow pants are all a must.

Budget Everything

Once you’ve decided on your resort and accommodation, you can draft an accurate budget.

Check out the prices of the resort restaurants by looking at the menus beforehand. Figure out where you can get groceries if your accommodation has a kitchen. Factor in any clothes you still need to buy, like sweaters or long underwear. Don’t forget to stock up on travel essentials like your first aid kit.

And don’t forget a bit of pocket money! You can be sure you’ll want to buy a round of hot chocolates to warm up after a long day on the slopes, and a few souvenirs never hurt. Factoring these expenses into your budget will keep you from overspending.

Wrapping Up

Ski vacations are an absolute blast! With the right planning, you can make sure that yours goes flawlessly.

With some flexibility about your dates, resort, and accommodation, taking advantage of rentals, and having a solid budget, you can set yourself up for a great trip.

Are you planning a ski vacation? How did your last trip go? Leave a reply and let us know!

When you travel with kids, you could be setting yourself in for a stressful time. 6% of parents in one survey confessed to returning home early from a family holiday because it was just too much for them.

A road trip with kids should be simple right? Wrong. They’re tired, they’re fidgety, they start fighting in the back – we love our kids, but sometimes they can be little terrors!

Here’s how to keep your sanity on a long-haul road trip.

1. Distract Them with a Map

When you travel with kids, give them a map and let them trace a finger along to your destination.

This can help to keep them occupied, as well as manage their expectations of when you might arrive.

Plus, they might learn the names of a few states or cities – parents can live in the hope we’re providing a bit of education for the little ones!

2. Plan Regular Breaks

On a long drive, there’s no doubt all that pent up energy in the back seat is going to cause a fuss sooner or later. And you’ll need the bathroom.

Scope out gas stations along your route before you leave, and plan where to stop.

Find places where you can park up a while and head to a nearby play area. Let them run around until they’re tired – and hopefully, they’ll be a bit quieter when you continue driving.

While you’re pulled into a gas station, you might be interested to know about how to get free gas and keep the cost of your trip low. You might also want to check for coupons to grab free or discounted food.

If exercise doesn’t work, how about trying to teach them a ‘calm breathing routine‘? Turn it into a game if you must.

Anything that stops them asking “Are we there yet?” one more time.

3. Bring Some Entertainment and Food

Bring books or audio books along for the drive. If you have an iPad, consider giving them that to play with if they’re old enough. Or even DVDs if you’re lucky enough to have televisions in your car seats.

If you have more than one child, handing them a travel set of a game like checkers, with a magnetic board and pieces can work wonders to keep them quiet for a few hours. So long as it doesn’t cause a fight.

Snacks can help to keep them quiet too – but don’t overdo it on the sugar. The last thing you want is a five-year-old at the height of a sugar high in the car with you.

If it’s a long journey, don’t forget to bring a packed lunch for the family – or make use of those gas station stops to refuel yourselves too.

Travel with Kids – Are You Still Sane?

Hopefully, these tips help you to survive your road trip with your mental health completely intact.

We hope your trip goes well – and if you want to save some money while you’re out of town, be sure to check out these hot deals – you never know when your luck will be in!

Summer is starting to wind down, which means it’s time to enjoy every last ounce of sunshine before the colder months kick in. That means it’s time to grab the family and head out for one last adventure.

One of the best ways to get the most out of your summer is by taking the family on a boating trip. Be it the ocean or just your local lake, there’s something fun and refreshing about an afternoon on the water.

And, before you actually take to the water, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to have the best time possible.

Here are some awesome tips to help you prepare for your next family boating trip.

5 Tips to Prepare For Your Next Family Boating Trip

1. Inspect Your Boat

Before you use something like IMM Quality Boat Lifts, you’ll want to do a quick inspection before you’re good to go.

Here’s a list of things to check for before bringing your boat down from the lift:

• Make sure there aren’t any cracks.
• Look at any wiring that may have been exposed to water.
• Test your fuel and oil.
• Clean your upholstery and check for mold.

2. Bring Sunscreen and Bug Spray

No day in the sun is complete without a healthy helping of helping of sunscreen. It’s a great way to keep your family burn-free and can even prevent skin cancer later down the road.

If you haven’t already, try and figure out what types of sunscreen work best for your family. Some of your family may have fairer skin than others, so it’s not a bad idea to pack a few different types.

You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got some bug spray on hand. With a growing concern about the Zika virus, it’s important that you keep mosquitoes away.

Once on board, keep a watchful eye out for any unwanted pests near still waters.

3. Safety First

To have the fun day you’ve always wanted, keeping the little ones safe is paramount.

And, unfortunately, without planning and preparation, preventable accidents can happen.

Before you even crank up the boat, make sure there are plenty of life jackets on board. Then, be certain that those life jackets are as safe as possible.

Here’s a quick check list to get you started:

1. Make sure each vest fits.
2. If it’s inflatable, make sure it has plenty of air in it.
3. Make sure there aren’t any leaks.
4. If your boat has been dormant for a while, make sure your life jackets aren’t beginning to deteriorate.

A boating trip is tons of fun, but you’ll want to make sure everyone is as safe as possible.

4. Bring Snacks

No day in the sun is complete without a couple of delicious snacks. Be sure to take a break from swimming, tubing, or just floating and grab a bite to eat.

And, you don’t need to be a Michelin starred chef to prepare before you go.

To save money, pack a cooler full of sandwiches, as well as a few bags of chips.

Cut up some apple slices and pineapple and bring them along for the ride. You can even sip on some watermelon lemonade for a tasty, tropical treat.

5. Stay Hydrated

The longer you’re out in the sun, the more important it is to stay hydrated. Grab a giant pack of water bottles, a cooler of ice, and make sure you’re regularly drinking water.

Dehydration is no joke, and water is absolutely critical for optimal health. Try and drink some water at least once an hour.

Lastly, Have Fun in the Sun!

So, now you’re ready for your day out with the family. We sure hope it’s a fun trip!

Love a boating trip as much as we do? We’d love to hear any tips you have!

Can you remember the last time you had a girls night out? If the memory is pretty faint, now’s the time to start planning!

On a budget? Got a jam-packed schedule that doesn’t leave much much free time?

Stop making excuses! Don’t you deserve a weekend that is all about you and enjoying your friendships?

Life is demanding, but you have to make time to be with your best friends.

There are endless reasons to take a weekend off with your girls. Here are three reasons that are sure to convince you.

1. A Weekend of Pure Relaxation

Life can be stressful. From work to family life, you focus on everyone else but yourself. But, we all need days where it’s all about us.

Girls weekend getaways give you the time you need to relax and rejuvenate. There’s nothing better than drinks and laughter, all while surrounded by your closest lady friends.

Spend a weekend on the beach. Or take a road trip and try some retail therapy. Check out some unique bucks party ideas.

2. Zero Judgment Zone

While years have passed, you’re all still the same girls. You can do and say whatever you want. And no one will judge you!

Time for a night of endless wine drinking while watching romantic movies? Want to walk around in your bikini without any cares in the world?

You can get away with anything during a girls weekend.

3. Rebuild Connections

As adults, it’s likely that you and your best girl friends have grown apart.

As we get older it’s easier to put close friendships aside. While you and your girls will be friends to the end, it helps to rekindle those old connections.

Sit around with wine and talk about boys. Talk about your sex life! Vent about those pesky five pounds that you can’t seem to shake.

Any and all topics are on the table. Your girls will listen!

Laugh and build new memories. Remember why you’re such great friends, even after all these years!

Fun Girls Weekend Getaways Ideas

There is no wrong or right way to spend a girls weekend. We’ve come up with a few ideas that may get your party planner’s imagination stirring.

• Check out a local B&B. Nothing completes a girls weekend like good breakfast and mimosas.
• Spend a weekend in the city. Cities are the perfect outlet. Go shopping. Enjoy being a tourist!
• Hit up the local beach. Soak up the sun and get your toes in the sand. The beach is the ideal location for a relaxing girls weekend.

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