Travel

/

Home & Leisure

Taking the Kids: And Exploring Colorado in Summer?

By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Media Services on

Aspen's deluxe Little Nell Hotel (www.thelittlenell.com) is offering a third night free and a free day of fly fishing or mountain biking. For more Aspen deals -- and locals whisper late summer and fall is the best season to be here -- check out www.aspenchamber.org.

The Durango Mountain Resort (www.durangomountainresort.com) promises four nights for the price of three and an adventure for the entire family, including Total Adventure tickets that include the alpine slide, mountain bike trails, mini golf, climbing wall and the Purgatory Plunge zip line starting at just $407 per family.

As I write this, I'm sitting in my room at the Broadmoor Resort on a blue sky day looking out at Cheyenne Mountain. The resort, spread out over 3,000 acres, has been welcoming families since 1918. When I leave my room at 8 a.m. for a spa appointment at one of the nicest spas in the state -- I'm trying not to feel guilty about a little me time! -- I spot a swan on Cheyenne Lake, its water so clear I can see a reflection of the mountain in it.

Families are spending this sunny Sunday splashing in the pool and playing tennis and golf at the Broadmoor, which boasts special tennis camps and summer kids' activities. Kids fly down the mountain water slides and paddle-boating on the lake. Everything is as it should be on vacation.

In Aspen and Crested Butte, where the entire downtown area is a registered National Historic District, everyone seems to be hiking, backpacking, biking, horseback riding and enjoying local restaurants (check out the new St. Regis Aspen and Chef's Club by FOOD and WINE (www.stregisaspen.com) where even the youngest foodies are welcomed.) Visit farmers' markets and Aspen's fantastic Center for Environmental Studies (www.aspennature.org) to see the resident golden eagle or join a naturalist on a hike.

Families here are flummoxed that people are staying away because of their fears about the fire damage. I look around at the smiling faces and think, given what happened in Aurora, it's even more important to make time together a priority, especially when you can get outdoors in such spectacular places with the kids.

At the Broadmoor we probably wouldn't move from the pool all day after our work on the farm, if we hadn't had a hard-to-get reservation for the Broadmoor's famous Sunday brunch, which at $39 (plus tax and gratuities) seems a bargain.

 

Where to start? Eggs Benedict and corned beef hash, waffles with berries and cream or chocolate sauce? Oysters, shrimp and smoked Colorado trout? Omelets to order or roast beef and ham, hanger steak, red snapper, mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy and every variety of salad and cheese. I'm so glad we've come hungry.

We finish with chocolate covered strawberries. Did I mention the chocolate fountain? The kids line up to dip marshmallows and cookies into it.

Bananas Foster, anyone?

We can't resist. After all, we've got a big hike planned for tomorrow.

========

It's not too late for a summer getaway. Check out TakingtheKids 51 Great Ideas for Your Family's Summer Vacation, http://www.takingthekids.com/travel-topics/summer-guide-to-fun/ and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.


(c) 2012 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

Comics

Mike Luckovich John Darkow Lee Judge Michael Ramirez Poorly Drawn Lines Mike Beckom