A thrifty family guide to summer adventure in Winter Park
Summer in the Colorado Rockies offers perfect adventure for your family vacation. And the Winter Park/Fraser area is a great choice for so many families because it’s in the Rockies but still close to Denver’s airport by either car or train. Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes are a gorgeous day trip (or their own base). Basically, that stretch of Highway 40 is about as easy as it gets for low-effort family vacations in Colorado.
But affordable…that’s an entirely different matter. At least $65 an adult for most major rafting companies. That two story ropes course looks awesome; it’s also $39 for an adult and $34 for children. Guided ATV tours: $190 for a driver and $60 per rider. Zipline courses: starting at $59 an adult. There were some really cool summer activities at the ski resort (like climbing, putt-putt, a ropes course, and an alpine slide). But the best deal was a day pass that still cost $44 for everyone 5 and up. Even the gondola is $20 a person. Twenty dollars! We’re not skiing people, there’s just an average restaurant and some standard views up there and then a ride back down! Then there’s lodging, and while there are many options, it pays to know how to look and save.
All to say, there had to be another way for our three generation family trip. So the research began. I have three awesome nephews, two under the age of 6 at the time of this trip, and it turns out a lot of adventure companies and activities don’t want to include those under 6ers in their offerings. But never fear, there is a pot for every lid. We rafted and drove ATVs. We ziplined and biked and climbed and roller-skated and shot arrows and swam and rode a free mini gondola. If we had the time, more was possible without paying another cent. Let me save you the hassle: here are the steals and deals we found. If you have older kids keep reading; each of these has something to offer all ages.
Snow Mountain Ranch – YMCA of the Rockies for an affordable vacation
This is not your average Y. It’s actually the perfect spot for a Colorado family vacation. This is a 5,000 acre ranch, the second largest YMCA in the world, and it offers a long list of both lodging and activities within its property. It’s also located conveniently near Rocky Mountain National Park, the Winter Park/Fraser valley, and the starting points for many Upper Colorado River rafting companies. And this is the deal of the valley.
Activities: Whether or not you stay here, the activities are open to the public with a day pass ($25 for adults, $10 for kids 6-12, and kids 5 and under are FREE). The day pass includes but isn’t limited to: mini golf, indoor pool, tennis, hiking, reservoir fishing, crafts, lawn games, roller skating, basketball, volleyball, ping pong, and an adventure course playground for kids. For just six dollars more there are more activities for hour time slots: archery, canoeing, ropes courses, and climbing walls. Bike rentals start at just $11 and a zipline run is just $10 (8 and older only.) A $25 pass here versus a $44 pass at the resort for more activities and cheaper add-ons. Everyone found something they liked here.
Lodging: An affordable Colorado family vacation needs the right lodging, Luckily lodging is a good deal for families, too, even in the high seasion. Cabins run $269 a night for 2 bedrooms (5 guests) and $349 for 3 bedrooms (7 guests). On site vacation homes that sleep 10 guests go for $429 a night while a 12 guest home goes for $594. Lodge rooms that sleep 6 start at $144. Or grab a yurt (yeah, a yurt!) that sleeps 6 for $99 a night, any season. Another bonus of staying onsite- you get to reserve the most popular activities that the public can’t, like the summer tubing hill run (basically a tube on a giant slip and slide like run down the mountain.) It’s almost impossible to get in on a summer day pass spot so enjoy the ride.
Here’s the catch: this place fills up. There is even a “Secrets to Success” in getting a reservation section on the site. Basically, summer dates (June – mid Aug) can’t be reserved by non-YMCA members until a set date in early April. Online booking starts at 6am MST and phones open at 8am. They sell out FAST so you need to get on it. OR, if you’re a YMCA member, then you have access to early booking (part of the reason they sell out fast.) So, call it a plan, have your reminder set, and have your fingers primed to lock down that reservation.
Adventures in Whitewater- family rafting runs for your Colorado vacation
One of two companies in the area that would allow our young ones, Adventures in Whitewater delivered a fun, safe rafting experience with a personal touch. Unlike some of the other rafting companies (including one that pairs with Snow Mountain Ranch), we were not part of a chaotic launching of 18 large rafts in one time slot. There were three rafts and each party was thoughtfully assigned to a best-fit guide.
Leaving from Kremmling, we weren’t subjected to the typical knee cruncher school bus set up, but a bus with two long benches running the length of the bus. Dad jokes and trivia passed the time (including some interesting National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation factoids.) Our particular two-hour plus run on the Upper Colorado included II/III level rapids, hot springs when the river is down, and a 20 ft jump cliff for the adults. From the 4-year-old to the 70-year-old, we had fun. After the first rapid even our little guy who was initially afraid asked our guide (the steady-as-a-rock ChrisP), “when we’re done with this can we do this again?”
The clincher: they allow kids 3 and older or over 30 pounds and were cheaper than nearby competitors for the same service. For families that have older children and want more challenge, this company has the same competitive prices for more challenging runs and offers half-day, full-day, and even overnight packages where they set up your camp and cook the food! (When you go, tell them Rebecca from Travel Your Bucket sent you. I don’t get a kick back, I just liked them that much and want them to know.)
On the Trail Rentals- unguided ATV adventure near Grand Lake
ATVs can be a great way to bring the family together during a Colorado vacation. A lot of ATV companies want to guide you. This definitely has its perks, including getting to go on potentially private land and likely seeking some great mountaintop scenery. But Colorado is also full of National Forests and Recreational Areas that allow motorized vehicles. The truth is you can’t choose your own path or drive like idiots with a guide. Not that you would…but you couldn’t with a guide. Just saying.
It turns out a lot of companies have rules restricting younger children from riding along, too. Even the side-by-side multiple-seater ATVs that are basically well-motored golf carts. Then there is On the Trail Rentals. This operation balances professionalism with a laid-back attitude and launches you directly from their shop into the National Forest trail system with helmets, car seats, a map, and directions for a personalized suggested route.
As long as children can sit up and don’t drive, they’re welcome to ride. They charge by the vehicle, not the person. If you have a larger party you can take advantage of their 4 or 6 seater vehicles. You’ll save over $100 compared to the by-the-person set up. More freedom for less money is my kind of deal. At the end we met them with smiles and they met us with popcorn and a clean bill of health on our vehicles. (Even the fast car in our crew wasn’t an idiot. Mostly.)
Rocky Mountain National Park- Colorado’s Continental Divide
Vacation must: take the whole family to this Colorado jewel. National Parks are great deals. As of this writing you can get a day pass for Rocky Mountain National Park for $25 a car. The Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the US, will take you through meadows and forest up to the barren alpine at the top of the Continental Divide. Along the way are stunning views, diverse trailheads, and more than likely some wildlife spotting. Watch out for the elk- those things are massive and have no road fear! Just crossing the park will take close to two hours depending on traffic. You’ll want to stop at least a few times. With cutesy Estes on one side and rustic Grand Lake on the other, you can easily spend a day gorging yourself on nature and finishing it off with some ice cream.
Grand Park Community Recreation Center- Local family fun
For just $11 an adult, $9 for youth 3-17, and $9 for seniors 60+, you can have all day access to the community’s recreation center. On offering is a climbing wall, a 20 ft slide, a lazy river, hot tub, gym, sauna, steam room, and children’s water playground. Everything is indoors so it’s a great way to have some fun when it’s cold or rainy. Next door is the Foundry with 8 bowling lanes, billiards, and a movie theater serving food.
Bonus Hints: Safeway, Rocky Mountain Roastery, and Camber Brewing
A few more ways to save and get a sense of the place:
- Safeway– hit the grocery store in Fraser and make those big family meals. WOW, did the one meal out create a mind-blowing tab. A place with a kitchen solves these woes. There is an upscale market grocery in Winter Park, but the Fraser Safeway, less than 5 minutes away, is affordable and well-stocked. They offer you a Safeway saver card; go ahead and get one- the deals are good.
- Rocky Mountain Roastery– while the Safeway has a Starbucks in it, the Roastery across the street is a nice local café. Here’s the bonus: this was the place to go to eavesdrop. People chatting had solid knowledge on the local, free mountain biking and hiking trails. You can even strike up a convo! The local bike shop next door has friendly staff and a lot of bikers coming through every time we were there.
- Camber Brewing– okay, maybe it doesn’t save you money but it does save potential sanity. If family vacation is calling for a break from each other, this newish brewery is good for adults and even the kids if you want. The owner/brewer/bartender is slinging brews based on a clever hops/Ski run scale. He seals his own growlers to go, and has a hard seltzer concoction with champagne and your choice of Italian soda flavors. We like his beer the best AND the place is complete with free popcorn and table games.
May the road rise up to meet you, travelers, and may your companions feel loved.
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(Feature picture and pin by Rapid Image Photography with Adventures in Whitewater Rafting- all other pictures by author.)
