https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:31:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2894652 Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:49:01 +0000 josina 2894652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: We're back and had zero issues with altitude sickness so I needn't have worried! Thanks again for your tips, we did eat at Hernando's Pizza which we loved (and contributed $3 dollars to their walls :) ).<br /> I really wanted to do the Grand Lake Area trails you suggested but we were on 3 hours of sleep by that point so headed straight to Winter Park. The Trail Ridge Road was sooo beautiful though and we stopped at a few overlooks.</p> <p>We did the Bear Lake Trail on the east side which was very pretty and great for kids.</p> <p>In case anyone comes back to this, I highly recommend Loveland Pass, so so pretty, starts at 12000 feet and is a pretty easy hike to the top. (made it most of the way with a 2 year old who was glued to me, and 5 year old who didn't complain at all).<br /> We also went to Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rock Amphitheater on our way home. Dinosaur Ridge was awesome for our dino-loving 5 year old and the shuttle was only $35 for our family of 5.<br /> Red Rock is free to walk through, and so pretty! They are right across from each other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2893705 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:31:14 +0000 josina 2893705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Yikes, I'm worried because we're going from 700 ft to 9000 ft in 1 day. We plan to drive through RMNP on the way there, hopefully with frequent stops in the park, but that's as much as 12200 ft.<br /> We do know to drink lots of water and stocked up on pedialyte too - will pack some carbs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2893693 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:15:08 +0000 DesertDreams88 2893693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: not at all. I read that water and carbs help with that, and we naturally consume a lot of both so we were fine. None of us have ever experienced car sickness.</p> <p>It's mainly if you gain 5000 ft of elevation in one day, if I remember correctly. That only happened on one day for us, and we didn't feel it.<br /> On Friday, we drove from Grand Junction to Winter Park gaining 5000 in elevation, but we spaced it out so it was like half driven in the morning, BIG break to Glenwood Springs, then half driven in the evening. We slept at Winter Park and our bodies adjusted overnight.<br /> Then on Saturday was the Grand Lake area, which is lower than Winter Park, then Sunday was the Alpine area, which is about 2000 ft of gain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2893689 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:56:58 +0000 josina 2893689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Did you have any issues with altitude sickness or car sickness from the driving? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892177 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:00:01 +0000 josina 2892177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Yeah, I thought about getting one just for this vacation... but then she probably wouldn't want to use it anyways! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892170 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:42:04 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: all of the trails I mentioned are really just walking trails. We did it with my 3.5 year old and my 1.5 year old, I'm sure your kids will do great. I used the Ergo about half of the time for my little one, but she is in that stage where she wants to walk ALL BY HERSELF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892158 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 14:37:07 +0000 josina 2892158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrskerch2: Thank you! I have read that multiple times so definitely packing lots of water! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892152 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 14:13:28 +0000 Mrskerch2 2892152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just putting it out there in case you’re not aware, make sure you guys OVER hydrate. It’s so easy at elevation to get dehydrated. And, dress in layers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892105 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:36:24 +0000 josina 2892105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: THANK you so much! Saving this and can't wait to check out the waterfall on Adams Falls trail. Been struggling to find one that was kid-friendly.</p> <p>Good to know about Fat Cafe too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892103 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:25:50 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also dress in layers and dress warm for day 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892102 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:17:41 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day 2: Mostly driving the Alpine/ Tundra area<br /> - Drive from Winter Park up to the Alpine Visitor Center. Leave at 7, as a suggestion. Get lulu's donuts to go for breakfast and quickly stop at the holzwarth parking lot to see if the herd of Elk is chilling there in the morning. Get to the Alpine Visitor Center by 9, peruse the gift shop, it is the best one (2 buildings). This parking lot gets completely full all day 10-3.</p> <p>- From the parking lot, walk down the Ute trail a little bit to touch snow.</p> <p>-optional: alpine ridge trail, similar to TC trail below but a bit more uphill, no rock formations. Trailhead at visitor center parking lot.</p> <p> then drive the Trail Ridge Road , stopping at all the overlooks. The visitor center has a $2 guide that's helpful.</p> <p>- On the drive, do the Tundra Communities, Trail. It's a little uphill but short, like a mile roundtrip? Amazing rock formations and views. </p> <p>Overlook parking can get difficult from about 12-2. My husband would drive in a circle while I did the overlook, then I'd hope back in and we'd switch. </p> <p>- Drive back on the Old Falls Road for a slight change in scenery and maybe less traffic. NOT PAVED, but it's gravel I think. Its technically shorter in mileage.</p> <p>- trails that weren't open for us: mt Chapin and .... something else, I'll come back to this. </p> <p>- eat a hot late lunch / early dinner at the cafe at the Alpine Visitor Center. </p> <p>- drive back to Winter Park. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892101 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:05:45 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For Rocky Mountain National Park, I'm going to recommend SHORT easy "hikes" that are really walks, and where to drive.</p> <p>Day 1 - Grand Lake Area<br /> - Adams Falls trail (.5 miles roundtrip?): little forest hike with an amazing waterfall. Continue down the path if you like and see the river and many meadows (more you go, more mileage) Clear signage at trailhead.<br /> - Coyote Valley Trail: 1 mile roundtrip, flat, gravel, stroller accessible, Colorado River close up, beautiful views<br /> - Holzwarth Historical trail is kind of interchangeable with the previous trail except it has old historical buildings, about 8(?)</p> <p>The Grand Lake area is known for lots of moose and elk sightings, we had a bunch up close but binoculars would have been fun too.</p> <p>I wanted to do the Big Meadows trail but we didn't have time. We went on the weekend and traffic wasn't bad, but trailhead parking was a bit difficult... just had to wait like 5 min for someone to pull out in the afternoon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892100 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:54:36 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: ok here's what I remember:</p> <p>- Don't go to the Fat Cafe Cafe in Granby for breakfast, it's misleadingly named bs it's a buffet and ridiculously overpriced especially for children (something like $14 for adults and $12 for kids). They even charged us for our 18mo (who looks barely 1) who didn't eat anything 😩</p> <p>For eating I recommend these places, notice location: </p> [attach=5393/19/pv5fz0.292x600.Screenshot_20190724-064922_Yelp.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892095 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:26:19 +0000 josina 2892095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Thank you, that'd be awesome!<br /> We are not, and will have to do easy trails with the kiddos, unless we can sneak out for a sunrise walk (my sis and BIL + their son are going as well). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892066 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:38:30 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I literally just stayed in Winter Park for 3 days in July and did RMNP. I'll type up something later when I get home, but don't let me forget. </p> <p>Are you and your husband hikers at all?</p> <p>And yes to the dressing for three seasons comment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892063 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:54:03 +0000 josina 2892063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@COmom: Thanks, checking it out now. Any suggestions on other 'free' or cheap things to do? Or other area hikes that are must-do?<br /> Seems like all the activities (other than hiking) are $$$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892055 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:27:48 +0000 COmom 2892055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in the Denver area but have visited the Winter Park area multiple times. Our family really enjoys the Y's Snow Mountain Ranch- we have three kids ranging from 2-8 years. You can get day passes if you aren't staying on the property and they have all kinds of fun activities. In the summer: a summer tubing hill, horse rides, a lake with canoe rentals, a 2 mile round trip hike to an amazing waterfall, a little village set back in the 1800s, roller skating rink (adults can walk on it with tennis shoes to help the little ones, a small trike play area, an indoor pool, several playgrounds, and mini golf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892048 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:55:57 +0000 josina 2892048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: I feel like I need to pack for 3 seasons! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892045 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:26:48 +0000 hitchhiker 2892045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My recommendation is to watch the weather! We went in late May few years ago and had 3 feet of snow. Hopefully that won't happen to you. As a result, I don't have any warm weather suggestions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/colorado-vacation-tipstricksmust-dos#post-2892041 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:35:58 +0000 josina 2892041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning a last-minute trip to Colorado in 3 weeks, 5 days, staying in a VRBO in Winter Park.<br /> We have a 2 and 4 year old.</p> <p>Any must-do's? Tips or must-brings?<br /> DH and I have never been to the mountains so don't really know what to expect!<br /> We hope to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, and one day at Winter Park Resort, but are open for the rest of our vacation. </p>