Kid Friendly Vail, Colorado

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Awesome playground in Vail at Lionshead

Awesome playground in Vail at Lionshead

“What Is There To Do With Kids In Vail?” Is Vail, Colorado family-friendly?

Vail doesn’t always conjure up the image of happy families skipping through Vail Village. If your kids are not old enough to ski or you are looking for options when they are not skiing these suggestions will help you get dialed in to the family-friendly Vail scene. Most weekends there is something going on in Vail. During the winter season they offer free live music with big name acts, fireworks, tree lighting, and lots more. Check the Vail Events Calendar for details of what’s coming up.

Vail is our family’s favorite ski mountain. Sure there are tons of mountains to ski in the mountains of Colorado, but Vail gives us lots of diverse terrain, a great park and pipe area, back bowls, trees, groomers and lots more to entertain everyone in the family! The food is expensive and buying a ticket at the counter is very expensive indeed. Last weekend it was $165 for the day for adults which is not so family-friendly, but if you think ahead and get a pass it’s a great spot for the family.

Skiing is the obvious option for families in Vail, but I want to point out the other fun things to do in Vail with your family as a day off or after skiing.

Playgrounds:

  • Our favorite is the pirate ship playground in Vail Village. This is located just to the left of the Gondola, right at the base of the slope, through Vail Village. This ship is great year around and you will always see kids playing on it rain, snow or sun.
  • Another option is the funky playground at Lions Head, located just above the ice skating rink.

Other Things To Do:

  • Ice Skate at Solaris. Kids and adults can have fun skating all day and into the night at this cool skate rink close to Vail Village.
  • Ice Skate at Lions Head. Located in Lions Head Village at Vail, this is another fun ice rink for the whole family.
  • Adventure Ridge. This is family fun on the mountain where you can choose snow mobile riding, serious sledding, bungee jumping, and XXX. Expensive, but a blast for the kids!
  • Bol. This is high tech, over the top, bowling at its best. Kids and adults have a blast here. Reserve a lane ahead of time. You can order pizza, drinks, lane side. Expensive, but very entertaining.
  • Fuzzywigs candy store. This is always a fun place to take the kids. This is just in Vail Village.
  • The Vail Library. This is an under utilized resource for families. With programs like Toddler and Preschooler Story Time, Après-Ski Puppetry, games, art projects, and wifi, the Vail Library is a chill and fun place for all kinds of kids. Free.
  • Colorado Ski Museum. If your kids are old enough to appreciate the history of skiing and snowboarding the museum has some great displays and videos showing the 10th Mountain Division and the progression of the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Free.
  • Cinnebistro. Dine and watch at the Cinnebistro at Solaris just outside of Vail Village. Kids love it! It’s not cheap, but the memories last of being served right at your seat in a movie theater. Moderate to Expensive.
  • Take a Walk Along The River. Take a walk along the river in Vail Village. There are beautiful statues, ice carvings, and lots to look at. Free.
  • Vail Events Calendar. This calendar from Vail.com gives you the scoop on upcoming events and activities on and around the mountain. Most events are free. http://www.vail.com/events/event-calendar.aspx

Vail is a super fun family destination. Ski. Skate. Play. Watch a Movie. Learn. Bowl. Sled. Have fun!

#Vail #Colorado #Family #Vacation #Kids #Children

Kids Eat Free – Add Noodles To Your List!

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Hey Boulder Families! You can now add Noodles to your list of Kids Eat Free nights. On Thursdays from 4 to 8pm you can get a free meal with the purchase of a regular entree. That’s right, Noodles has gotten in the game and now Kids Eat Free!

How To Find A Hotel Room For Half The Amex Membership Rewards Points!

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Photo courtesy of SPG Hotels and the Aloft Hotel Phoenix

Book a hotel for half the Amex Membership Rewards points! If you have an American Express card then you earn valuable Membership Reward points [MR]. These can help with purchasing from Amazon, Home Depot, as well as traveling. I am focused on travel!

When you use Amex points you have a few different ways to book your travel. The first is to use the Amex travel portal. The second is to transfer points between Amex and one of their travel partners [e.g., SPG,  Delta, etc…]. These are both good options depending on what your travel plans call for. Mine call for a hotel in Phoenix, AZ since my son will be competing in a soccer tournament there in February and we are staying an extra night to check out Phoenix!

Even though I am going to use American Express MR points to secure a hotel for us the cost in points is very different. The take home is that you need to compare options to maximize your valuable points. In this scenario I saved half my points for the same room.

My son loves the Aloft hotels. They happen to be an SPG property. I know I can book these through Amex. Time to do some research! Here is what I found:

Option 1: Use Travel Portal at Amex. Here I can purchase the night I need through the travel portal at a cost $159 [same as I could buy directly on the Aloft website] or 22,714 Amex Membership Rewards points. Aloft Room = 22,714 MR points

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Option 2: Transfer Amex Points To SPG. The SPG site says the number of points needed for a room at the Aloft for the night I need is 3,000. On the Amex site MR points transfer at a rate of 1,000 MRs to 333 SPG points. It turns out I need 10,000 MRs to get 3,333 SPG points for the room [Now I will have a few extra SPG points, but that’s just how it works]. Aloft Room = 10,000 MR points

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I am going for Option 2! I get the same room for less than half the MR points! For the same room I could pay 10,000 Membership Rewards points or 22,714 Membership Rewards points. My choice is clear! I will transfer points to my SPG account and only be out 10k MR points. I’m headed off to book my room now…

 

2016 Free Days Announced

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There is such thing as a free lunch! Yup, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District funds free days throughout the year at all sorts of awesome family-friendly places such as:

  • Denver Zoo
  • Denver Botanic Gardens
  • Denver Art Museum [this one is FREE every day for kids under 18!]
  • Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Longmont History Museum
  • Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum

Check out their listing of Free Days at SCFD.

These days can be so welcome for families with small children – especially in the winter. Take them to the Denver Botanic Gardens and let them run around and explore nature indoors and outdoors. Take them to the Denver Zoo and bundle up for a fun escapade to see these unique animals. Take them to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and you can stay all day checking out the interactive exhibits and even catch an IMAX movie [not free].

 

Super Science Saturday at NCAR Puts the Fun Into Science!

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Super Science Saturday is this Saturday, November 7, 2015.

Super Science Saturday is such a fun family-friendly Boulder event! Bring on your littlest and biggest science explorers for a fun filled day from 10 am – 4 pm. This annual event at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) brings kids and adults together to explore hands-on activities, think about new ideas, and learn about science. This year’s theme is “LIGHT”!

Activities and Events:

Location: NCAR Mesa Lab at 1850 Table Mesa, Boulder, CO 80305. 
See the map for more location details. 

Date/Time: Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 10am to 4pm

Get more details on Super Science Saturday: http://scied.ucar.edu/events/2015-super-science-saturday

Got an Amex Business Card? Support Small Biz and Save $20 from Amex

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You can support small, local businesses AND save $20 when you spend $100 now through 11/28/15. If you have an American Express Business Card [or a few] you will need to register the card for this promotion, spend $100 in one purchase at a store Amex shows as local [Grand Rabbits, Satellite, B Town Wine and Spirits, and so many more!], then you will magically get a $20 statement credit. Free $20 – thank you, American Express!

Here is how to get your $20 statement credit:

  1. Register your businesses card [you need to sign in before using the link] – follow this link 
  2. Find a participating small business – here is the small business map
  3. Spend $100 in one purchase by 11/28/15
  4. Watch for your statement credit. In the past I have received a notification immediately that I had a qualified purchase and Amex was applying a $20 credit.
  5. I registered both of my Amex cards [both primary and secondary cards on one account], so don’t forget to register all of your cards.

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Ghosts. Goblins. Halloween Celebrations in Boulder for the Kiddos.

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pumpkin

Where to go. What do to with your kiddos on Halloween. Boulder has options! Here are a few of the best ones around…

What will you do with your kids on Halloween? Share your best resources here so we all know what to do and where to go.

Pearl Street Mall’s Annual Munchkin Masquerade – Each Halloween, Downtown Boulder is invaded by thousands of tiny ghosts & goblins, dinosaurs & dragons, fairies & princes, super heroes and animals of every size, trick-or-treating along Pearl Street. 2 to 4pm, rain or shine on the Pearl Street Mall. More information here. October 31, 2015 for safe and fun trick-or-treating along the Mall.

Fairview High School’s Trick or Treat Street – Fairview High School opens it’s doors to young trick or treaters. They decorate the hallways and hand out candy in the rooms. Fun for the small kiddos! More info here. October 28, 2015 from 5 to 7:30pm.

South Boulder Recreation Center’s Halloween Carnival – Celebrate Halloween with active, indoor family fun! Join the fun at the SBRC from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. $5 per child (ages 3 to 8) includes all activities such as carnival games, crafts, face painting, prizes, snacks and more! Wear your costume! More details here or Online Registration

Colorado Railroad Museum’s Trick or Treat Train – The Railroad Halloween Town is a safe place to enjoy Halloween. Catch a ride behind the historic locomotive in vintage passenger cars hosted by conductors and engineers in full costume. The Trick or Treat  Visit all the Town’s special stops to fill your treat bags and tickle your funny bones. Try a visit to our “not so spooky” haunted railcar or the Olde Railroaders silly graveyard. And, get a great picture of your costume as you pause in front of our Pumpkin Patch. Train departs every 30 minutes between 10:00AM and 4:00PM. Museum Members and children under 2 are free, $5 for children (2-15), $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (over 60). More info here.

 

Free Money! Thanks, American Express!

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Want to travel for free or cheap? Want to save your family cash on a regular basis? I have the points and miles bug and I hope that sharing this info will help others save money & open up travel opportunities you never knew existed. My family has been doing it. Your family can too! Today I will start by looking at what you may have in your wallet already – An American Express Cards

Save today on things you already spend money on!

If you have an American Express card you can be saving money by simply Tweeting codes they send out. Seriously – Amex sends out codes, you use them, then you purchase items where you normally would and you get cash back. Here is how it works!

Step 1: You have sync your American Express card with your Twitter account. You can simply create a Twitter account just for this purpose. How to sync your Amex account with Twitter. It is really easy to do – don’t get intimidated! Once you sync your card and Tweet, then when you spend on your Amex you get a statement credit.

Step 2: Figure out what you already spend money on that they promote. Here are some current deals which are outlined in a Dan’s Deals post here. Tweet these codes before you spend money.

Whole Foods: Tweet #AmexWFM, spend $75 at Whole Foods on your Amex and get $10 back

Sam’s Club: Tweet #AmexSamsClub, spend $20 and get a $20 statement credit. I went online and ordered a $50 gift card for a teacher gift and got $20 on my statement immediately. I think of it as free money.

Pharmaca: Tweet #AmexPharmaca, spend $40 and get $10 back. I just purchased a gift card for $40 and immediately got the notice that I would earn a statement credit.

Home Depot: Tweet #AmexHomeDepot, spend $75 and get $15 back. I love supporting McGuckins, but sometimes there are things I can only get at Home Depot.

Other shopping options you may like:

  • The Container Store: #AmexTCS $15 off $100
  • Sur la Table: #AmexSurLaTable – $10 off $50

Step 3: Spend at these locations with your synced Amex card and you will get an almost immediate email from Amex acknowledging that you spend on a synced card. Next you will see a statement credit for the amount mentioned. I don’t advocate spending just to save money! Make sure you are particular about what you spend on.

Sync Many Amex Cards

Don’t forget you have to sync your Amex card before you spend. A trick is that you can sync as many Amex cards as you have. So if you and your spouse both have a card you can sync, tweet and spend with both cards. I did that at Pharmaca and got $20 back on a total of $80 spent because I used 2 Amex cards.

I find this a fun game! I have saved hundreds of dollars this way. It is just a small part of cracking the miles and points game that I am playing. But every bit counts!

Do you use points and miles? Do you engage in saving small amounts in other creative ways with credit cards? I would love to hear about how your family is cracking the points and miles game! 

 

 

 

Kids Deserve The Good Stuff Too! A Review of Zeal Goggles

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Wearing his Zeal Dominator goggles!

 

Zeal Optics is a local Boulder company making quality goggles and glasses. I love their products! They are innovative and eco-conscious including some really forward thinking options in their lineups [learn more]. My favorite sunglasses ever came from Zeal – but they are long gone at this point!. I wondered if a company like Zeal would make sunglasses or goggles suitable for kids.

My questions about Zeal products for kids:

Would they fit kids?  Would they be comfortable on a smaller face?  Would they hold up to tough kid behavior?  Would quality make a difference?

Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 3.51.00 PMWe reviewed a pair of Zeal Dominator goggles. They are great looking, so both of my kids immediately wanted to wear them. Good start! The issue was that they both like to wear their goggle under the helmet. Not a good thing for this particular pair. The plastic part on the side is too long to fit comfortably under the helmet. This issue didn’t dissuade my younger son from trying them over his helmet. The fit was perfect! They were extremely comfortable. And the best part is that the lenses on these goggles make a big difference! He loves them in all light – flat, bright, fog, etc… He likes to sing their praises a lot! He will say things like, “If I had my old goggles I wouldn’t be able to see here.”

Answers to my questions about Zeal products for kids above:

Will Zeal products fit kids? YES!

Will they be comfortable on a smaller face? YES, they love them!

Will they hold up to tough kid behavior? YES & NO, the lenses did pop out once, but they were easy to put back in and they have not scratched after a half dozen uses [that’s great for my hard living kids]. The goggle strap stays in place all the time too because there is some sticky stuff on the band in just the right place, so no more goggles sliding over the helmet when it’s off and dropping to the ground or being endlessly frustrating.

Will quality make a difference for my child? YES, he loves that they adjust well to light changes and fit really comfortably.

Kids’ Revew [1-5]

Overall: 4

Liked: “The way they made it easier to see when I ski!”

Didn’t Like: “I cannot put them under my helmet.”

Parents’ Review [1-5]

Overall: 4

Liked: They seem sturdy, flexible and good quality. The lenses make a big difference for kids skiing. My child felt more confident than when they wore their old goggles.

Didn’t Like: I think it’s important that goggles fit over or under a helmet – especially for kids since under the helmet is the style now. I also am conscious that these goggles can be expensive and a big investment – especially for families – so I know the price tag of over $100 could be unaffordable for some families.

Thanks to Zeal Optics for allowing Boulder Families to review your products! We really enjoyed testing and reviewing these goggles!

#Skiing #Kids #Families #Gear #GearReview #Getoutside

ALL Colorado K-5th Grade Kids Get An Epic Kids Pack [4 days of FREE Skiing at 4 Colorado Vail Resorts]

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Elementary kids in Colorado – It’s your lucky day! Colorado elementary school kids don’t have to wait until they are in 5th/6th grade to get their own ski pass – now Vail Resorts is offering their new Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack – and it offers FREE skiing to ALL elementary school children. Vail Resorts just announced that they will be offering Colorado K-5th grade kids a FREE pass as part of their newly launched Epic School Kids Colorado Pack program. That means 4 days of FREE Sking at Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge. Vail Resorts is saying that this is a limited time opportunity, so I say get over to Boulder Ski Deals – see below for what you will need to provide them as proof of eligibility.

Current School of Shred [this is the old 5th/6th grade FREE ski program] participants can get the same deal for their child who is going into 6th grade next year – 4 FREE days at Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, and Breckenridge.

Q: WHAT IS THE EPIC SCHOOLKIDS COLORADO PACK?

The Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack is a FREE program for Kindergarten through 5th graders that provides skiing and riding at each of the state’s top-ranked resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone (restricted: 11/27/15-11/28/15, 12/26/15-12/31/15, 1/16/16 and 2/13/16-2/14/16.)  It includes one FREE first-timer ski or ride lesson with equipment rental during the month of January. (The first-timer lesson is only available from 1/5/16-1/31/16 as a part of “Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month” and is not available 1/1-1/4/16 or 1/15/16-1/17/16.)  Additionally, Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack provides unlimited summer 2015 scenic chair lift rides at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone.

Q. HOW CAN PARENTS ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN EPIC SCHOOLKIDS?

Parents can take their children to a participating Front Range Colorado Ski & Golf, or Boulder Ski Deals location to register their child in person. In Boulder – just head to Boulder Ski Deals. Take a look at what you need to bring below.

Q. WHAT DO PARENTS NEED TO BRING TO REGISTER THEIR CHILD FOR EPIC SCHOOLKIDS?

The parent must bring

  • The child must be present at the time of registration
  • A physical copy of the student report card/transcript/school ID or birth certificate
  • A physical photo of the student (no sunglasses, hats or others in the photo)

 

Want more details? Epic School Kids Colorado Pack