Colorado Road Trip Quattlebaum Style!!!
Each year my husband and I take our kids on a small vacation. My husband nor I have ever seen all that Colorado has to offer. So We got out a map and looked at cool things to do.
We decided going south of where we live would be our best bet.
So we planned it all out for the first week of June 2016.
After using Groupon to make most of the hotel reservations on the cheap and mapping out or trail on Google Maps, we where off.
In true Shelli fashion we can't just simply load up, go and get somewhere without a little adventure.
We didn't even make it to our first destination without a hiccup.
My fuel pump decided to die just as we got in to Colorado Springs.
As the van died we thankfully came to a stop on the exit ramp of I-25.
Our turn for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was in our sites (literally we made it to our turn).
I called my dad and cried yet again to him.
This just happen to me in December of 2015 too. Dam Van! My awesome dad said he would be down in 2 hours to come help us. We declined and called a towed truck. Thankfully my husbands company has a shop in Colorado Springs.
So we had the van towed there. A couple hours later we had lunch and a fuel pump. I was trying to keep my kids entertained while my handy hubby and a co worker installed the new fuel pump. As I am enjoying the beauty that is the parking lot of a tire distribution center in Colorado Springs, I hear my husband call my name "SHELLI."
I turned to see my husband covered in blood and a large gash on his handsome face. As he was attempting to hold up the fuel tank full of gas and put the last pin in, the bracket fell and hit him square in the eyebrow. Head wounds bleed people. BAD! As calmly as I could we walked to the first aid box. I cleaned him up as best I could and put him back together with butterfly stitches.
After the van was fixed up we headed to Walgreen's to get superglue to put him back together.
My kids didn't complain once about not getting to go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Kid are resilient in trying times.
We checked in to Best Western Plus Peak Vista Inn & Suites in North Colorado Springs. The kids swam their little hearts out and Jeremy and I finally took a break from the stress of the day. We walked across the street to Old Chicago for dinner and set our sights on the rest of our tip.
Day 2
Off to the Royal Gorge!
I planned on each day being roughly 1.5 to 2 hour drives. Our kids don't travel well, so I though that this would be a good distance. We also do not have a dvd system in our van. #oldschool
I packed a cooler full of pre-made pasta salad, lunch meat, drinks, snack cups, and fruit for us to all eat lunch every day for 5 days. Milk, boiled eggs and cereal for breakfast. Did I mention I am cheap? We only eat out for dinner.
The Royal Gorge isn't CHEAP! Buy your tickets ahead of time and save some money! http://royalgorgebridge.com/plan-your-adventure/
Also, there are long lines in the summer. Bring games for kids to play with while standing in line. Don't forget hats and sunscreen!
We waited about an hour to get on the gondola to travel across the gorge.
Once we forked over $100 give or take for the 4 of us we where ready to go.
Before we where let through the doors to enter the park, an elderly man with Parks and Services stopped our kids. Asked if they would like to go on a scavenger hunt.
He gave the girls a piece of paper and pencil. They needed to find 5 letters to make up the word. Once they found everything they got special surprise.
Play ground time and carousel rides are unlimited.
My youngest thought that was the best thing ever!
We found all of the letters and returned to the gentleman that gave us the paper. He swore in Kylie and Addy as honorarily Park Rangers! They got badges and everything. I thought this was awesome!
After we eat a quick lunch we where off to Nathrope, Co. About an hour and a half away.
We checked in to Mount Princeton Hot Spring Resort for the night.
They gave us a Cliff-side Room. This was by far the most pricey place we stayed.
But the pool is included.
http://mtprinceton.com/colorado/cliffside/
Each day when we check in to a hotel we unloaded the car and drained the cooler.
Added in fresh ice from the hotel, and filled up water bottles.
Mount Princeton was AMAZING!!!!!! The kids Loved their pool. Since we had kids we couldn't go to the Adult side. But we made due in the kiddie area.
We eat dinner at their restaurant. It is kinda pricey so be prepared. After dinner we went on a short walk around the grounds. We swam a little more then cuddled up for the night.
Day 3 We woke up early the next morning and eat breakfast out on the deck.
We had a spectacular view!
After breakfast the kids wanted to swimming again.
We needed to make it to Crested Butte some time that day.
As the kids were swimming I texted a fellow photog friend that I knew lived in Nathrope. After packing up and checking out we went to see my friend
Tayor Fisher. (http://taylorjonesphotography.com/)
She recently moved to Nathrope on a little farm with a bunch of property.
The kids got to see their menagerie. Goats, ducks, chicken, horses, and dogs.
