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Summer is in full swing and it’s time to leave all the weariness of work life behind and seek out your authentic, adventerous self. It’s road trip season! Not sure where to point the grill? We are here to help with a list of the best places to get outside and play.
DELTA COUNTY
Western Slope, Colorado
Nestled on Colorado’s Western Slope, Delta County sits between the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Grand Mesa National Forest and boasts three national conservation areas (Gunnison Gorge, Dominguez, and Escalante) within its borders. The famed Gunnison River flows through the county, and you can stalk fat brown and rainbow trout on gold-medal stretches of water here. Or head into the high country to seek solitude at blue alpine lakes and up on the peaks. (Daring souls can even try skydiving.) But the biggest highlight of a visit to Delta County just may be the chance to enjoy the largest natural and organic food production areas in the state of Colorado. Throughout the county, restaurants serve farm-to-table delicacies alongside craft beverages from the 13 wineries, numerous breweries and distilleries located here. deltacountycolorado.com | 970-874-2115
BOULDER ADVENTURE LODGE
Boulder, Colorado
Built specifically for the adventure traveler, the Boulder Adventure Lodge (A-Lodge) is the perfect spot to rest your head after exploring Boulder, Colorado’s backcountry. Located on the banks of the Fourmile Creek and tucked within the crags of Boulder Canyon, A-Lodge serves up all the serenity of the mountains, but it’s just a five-minute drive from downtown and Pearl Street. Boasting a newly renovated lodge and saloon, private rooms, kitchenettes, campsites, a hostel room and car camping, the A-Lodge makes it easy and affordable for adventurers to find digs in Boulder. And why not simply enjoy your time here, too? Sip a craft beer with local bluegrass pickers in the beer garden or relax in the outdoor pool. Bonus: Guests (and anyone in the area) will want to make sure to check out the Under the Stars Film Series on July 19 and August 23.
a-lodge.com | 303-444-0882
YMCA OF THE ROCKIES
Snow Mountain Ranch
Looking for the perfect mix of nature and fun? Climb, slide, hop and zip through the Spruce Saddle Adventure Zone, the exciting playground that’s new this summer up at Snow Mountain Ranch. Offering unique adventure activities, the place will bring a smile to the face of children of all ages. This playground is jam-packed with opportunities for confidence building and fun, including a pendulum swing (similar to a seesaw, but in swing form), a small zip line, a twisted log ladder, a bouldering wall, climbing structures and so much more. The third phase of Snow Mountain Ranch’s Family Fun Park, it expands the options for families who decide to head into the mountains to escape the summer heat. The playground is in line with the whole philosophy here: It’s another way to connect many generations through adventure—that is when they are not busy otherwise exploring the numerous trails and pathways that crisscross Snow Mountain Ranch and the public lands that surround it, of course.
Go Outside and Play:
Don’t fret if you are missing the white stuff that makes Snow Mountain Ranch such a wonderful place in the winter. Every Monday and Friday in the summer, head over to the dog park to meet an amazing pack of huskies as part of the Hanging with the Huskies program. Everyone gets to play with the pups and learn about the craft of dog sledding. This is also one of only three spots in the U.S. with a summer tubing hill—you can ride the winter snow tubes down a 300-foot hill covered with a synthetic snow surface and get the same rush. After you make it down, ride the magic carpet back to the top. snowmountainranch.org | 888-613-9622
YMCA OF THE ROCKIES
Estes Park Center
Long known for being one of the best spots for families to head for Colorado adventure, the YMCA of the Rockies will keep you busy. Case in point—a brand-new 35-foot climbing wall located inside the center gives visitors the opportunity to strap in and “harness” their inner alpinist. Built to resemble a real rock face, the wall features cracks and ledges resembling natural holds—but the luxury of the indoor wall means that guests get the opportunity to feel like they’re climbing outdoors even in the worst of weather conditions. With five top ropes, including two auto-belay systems, and plenty of holds, guests can choose from a variety of routes ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced, making the new climbing wall perfect for an afternoon of family fun. Guests must be five years old to use the climbing wall, but a smaller bouldering wall is available for younger climbers. Kids are sure to have fun reaching for colorful holds in the shapes of trucks and animals that mark their successful completion of the route. It’s the perfect way for kids and their parents to experience the joys of the Rocky Mountains together.
Go Outside and Play:
Book a lodge room or cabin to rest and relax after days spent exploring the magnificence of the Estes Park Valley. The Boone Family Mountain Center, a 10,125-square-foot facility with views of Rocky Mountain National Park provides a basecamp for nature-based and high-adventure activities. And the center offers extensive programs every single day. In addition to housing a hands-on education nature center, the Mountain Center serves as the staging and information area for the center’s extensive guided hiking program, guided fishing, mountain biking, archery and the fun new double-person zip line. ymcarockies.org | 888-613-9622
