Taking the Kids: Summer fun and July 4 at Vail Mountain

Just down the road from Aspen, Snowmass offers free concerts (every Thursday night), mountain-biking on more than 80 trails and the weekly Snowmass Rodeo, which is celebrating its 45th year. Check out the new on-mountain Lost Forest, complete with Alpine coaster, climbing walls and zip lines. Join an Aspen Center for Environmental Studies naturalist for a guided hike.

And in Park City, Utah, Park City Mountain will host a celebration and fireworks show on July 3 at Canyons Village and another July 4 celebration and city fireworks show at Park City Mountain Village. All summer visitors and locals enjoy free concerts, Utah's longest Alpine coaster, a 3,000-foot Alpine slide, the ZipRider and Flying Eagle Zip Line, scenic lift rides, hiking, mountain-biking, mini golf, climbing wall, gem panning, a kids' ropes course, tubing and more. (Park City Mountain's all-in-one Adventure Pass is one of the best ways to experience it all in a day.)

The thing about Vail and other snow resorts in summer is that some activities are pricey (the zip line, for example) but others are free. Bring a picnic to save more money, suggests Renee Hamilton, in Vail with friends and a bunch of kids. "It's so safe for the kids here," she added. And for those too young for their own phones, bring walkie talkies so the kids can race around on their own, but with parents keeping tabs on them.

If you want to do the Game Creek Zipline Tour -- complete with seven zip lines and aerial bridges high above the forest -- the Adventure Pass may be your best bet to enjoy all that Vail Mountain has to offer on the mountaintop -- Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, Holy Cross Adventure Course, Gore Range Adventure Course, Pine Cone Adventure Course, Golden Eagle Zipline, Little Eagle Zipline, Eagle's Nest Tubing, Marmot Mini Tubing, and more. Buy three passes and get the fourth one free ($99 for adults).

(This summer, one kid (12 and under) rides the gondola to the top of the mountain free with an adult; download the free Vail app with everything from parking updates to interactive maps, events and activities.)

Also check out the Vail Daily, suggests Nate Goldberg, who has lived here for 27 years, and has worked for the resort. His kids love to ride bikes, splash in Gore Creek and, of course, watch the parade.

Just make sure you are prepared for the mountains -- the right shoes (no sandals at the top of the mountain!) extra layers of clothes, a rain jacket, hat and sunscreen.

Be prepared for crowds, too, especially on a holiday weekend.

The good news is no one seems bothered by the crowds, tiny in comparison to a big-city celebration.

Have a happy Fourth!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. Looks for Eileen's new travel book "The Kids' Guide to Maine," available now.)