Visit Antlers at Vail Colorado

The Perfect Hotel for Your Trip to Vail

Whether you are planning a ski trip or a visit in summer to beautiful Colorado you could not pick a better destination than Vail and you could not find a better place to stay than Antlers Hotel.

sculpture at antlers at vail coloradoThe list of benefits for staying at Antlers at Vail is long. The rooms/condos are equipped with full stocked kitchens, lovely decor, and balcony views of Gore Creek, which runs behind the hotel and the picturesque Lionshead section of town. In winter they offer on-site ski rentals and  ski valet complimentary. Located just a short walk from Vail’s Lionshead Gondola it is easy to hit the slopes and get right up on the mountain.

Iceskating rink near Antlers at VailYear round there is plenty to do right outside Antlers at Vail. I honestly loved Lionshead more than Vail town center, with its cute shops and quaint ice skating rink. When you do want to travel around town there is a free shuttle that leaves from directly across from the hotel. This can take you anywhere you want to go in town and saves you from paying for parking! Check out the galleries or grab something to eat nearby at any of the restaurants. We chose to cook so hit the nearby grocery store then loaded up the full size fridge.

rooms at antlers at vail coloradoantlers at vail pool in coloradoWhatever size group you are traveling with Antlers has you covered. They offer studio suites, which we stayed in and they are super spacious, up to four bedroom vacation homes for when the whole family wants to get together. Oh, and if you want to travel with a pup or furry family member, there are pet-friendly rooms too. One of my favorite features is the pool. Located above the bubbling creek that runs behind the hotel you can enjoy time in a hot tub while listening to the sounds of nature.

Vail is certainly one of the most recognizable names for visiting Colorado and skiing/snowboarding, but keep in mind that there are plenty of outdoor activities year round. You won’t find anywhere better to stay when planning your trip than Antlers at Vail.

So find out more on their website Antlersvail.com

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Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

Make Every Trip to the Store a Relaxing Hammock Ride

Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock with munchkinWhen you think of hammocks beautiful beaches may come to mind, or lazy afternoons in the backyard, perhaps thoughts of camping in the woods. Shopping carts are unlikely to be your first association, but Binxy Baby may change that. The shopping cart hammock takes your next visit to the store from hassle to harmony.

Keeping your baby safe and comfortable is absolutely the goal with any product you are purchasing. Functionality and easy use are also key and the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock has all of that. Basically this high quality two layer fabric hammock is designed to clip onto the sides of a shopping cart so you can strap your munchkin in for a secure ride. If you want to use your carseat instead of placing the baby directly in the hammock that works too. In fact it is the safe way to have a carseat mounted onto a shopping cart, just use the strap that comes with it.

carseat and the Binxy Baby HammockThe hammock is designed to have an incline, or tilt so the baby’s head and neck are supported while they ride. It can hold up to 50 lbs. and stretches to fit most standard carts. I love the three point seatbelt to keep my little one in place while I navigate the isles. Once he is loaded there is still plenty of room to load in the groceries. Binxy Baby has awesome designs you can choose from to show a bit of your style and when you are done loading your shopping bags into the car packing up the hammock takes seconds. I can either put it in my diaper bag or keep it in the car with my reusable grocery bags so I am sure to remember it for every trip.

Shopping cart with Binxy Baby hammockA happy baby makes for easy shopping, getting rocked by the motion of the cart has kept my kiddo calm and quiet through our outings. I was also constantly getting compliments about how happy and comfortable my boy looks in his hammock and what a great space saving idea. I love the great material, beautiful pattern, strong fabric, quality crafmanship, soft and comfortable feel. Overall this is just a great product to have, easy to use, easy to store, and the shopping cart hammock makes my son easy relaxed company.

You can find out more at the Binxy Baby site Binxybaby.com or on Social Media at TwitterFacebookInstagram

 

The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope

X-Ray Vision that Inspires with Virtual Reality

Do you think your little scientist wants to know more about how the human body works? The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope is an amazing way to engage their interest. Basically this enhanced t-shirt works with a free app to give an animated 3D look inside the human body. Yes, with just the camera function on your phone or tablet you can have an immersive educational experience.

You may be familiar with Curiscope, known for their virtual reality experiences like Great White Sharks. Now they have brought a new level of education to apparel. This new product is exactly what they say, an “anatomical adventure”. Understanding our bodies and anatomy is often something we see separate from ourselves in books or images. By bringing this to kids in a 3D vision that touches their own skin it makes the information a reality beyond the virtual.

Kids can watch their heart pumping then go deeper to learn about the parts of the heart and how it functions in the body. Turn the camera to selfie mode and let the games begin, because that is what this app feels like. In function the t-shirt is 100% cotton and most importantly machine washable. Education and function that keeps the floor clear, since this is not another large toy to trip over.

The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope is an opportunity to share and experience virtual reality and learning as a family. Who couldn’t use a refresher. Can you say which side of the body your liver is on? I plead the fifth…

It is time to get learning with the Virtuali-Tee. If you want to find out more about this and other items check out more details on the Curiscope website Curiscope.com or on their Social Media – FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Copper Mountain, Ski Colorado

Hit the Slopes Here on Your Next Vacation

Whether you slip your boots into skis or a snowboard the important part is where you get to ride. When in Colorado and the Rockies a top choice is Copper Mountain Resort for lodging, entertainment, dining, and of course the trails. The views from the top of Copper Mountain are absolutely stunning. I could have spent all day at the top if it wasn’t so fun going back down!

View from the Top of Copper Mountain skiing in ColoradoCopper Mountain is just 75 miles from Denver and a great balance of size, navigability, and easy travel. With three central locations or villages there are plenty of options to approach the mountain. They have more than 140 marked trails to keep everyone in your family occupied.

East Village Lodge at Copper Mountain ColoradoThe trails breakdown as 21% beginner, 25% intermediate, 36% advanced, 18% expert. Keep in mind certain levels leave from one village or another so be prepared to keep track of everyone, but there are buses to take you anywhere you need to get on the ski resort. If you are looking for multiple days of skiing and snowboarding fun this is the place. The shear size of the resort and number of trails means there is always a new path to master.

Copper Mountain Tubing Hill ColoradoThere are so many more activities than just skiing to offer during your visit to Copper Mountain Resort. Some are snow going like the tubing hill, or the outdoor Rocky Mountain Coaster, and the iceskating pond. When you are ready to get out of the cold, but still want some thrills it is time to hit Woodward Copper. Their Woodward Barn is designed as an action sports training ground! Indoor ski and snowboard training, trampolines and foam pits, skateboards, scooters, and bikes are all options for private lessons with their amazing instructors or just take the intro, then sign up for free time. You can find out all about it in our post HERE.

Woodward Activity Center at Copper Mountain ColoradoStaying at Copper Mountain makes your visit one seamless adventure. We stayed at Copper One in the Center Village and could not have been happier. Being right in the center of restaurants, bars, shops, and most importantly a ski lift made everything wonderfully simple. The little details are sometimes the most delightful, covered parking, nearby equipment rental pickup (in the case of Copper One and performance rentals from Camp Hale we just went downstairs in our same building and they even stored it for us overnight, though our room came with a locker we figured this was just easier), heated walkways to keep the ice away, these are just a few of the bonuses.

Copper One at Copper Mountain in Colorado

View from our room in Copper One of Center Village

The rooms are lovely, exactly what you might expect from a ski lodge in decor. Having a home away from home with a kitchen and fireplace after a long day on the slopes makes a big difference when it comes to relaxing and enjoying your vacation to the fullest.

Copper Mountain Resort has plenty of tasty options for when you are ready to refuel. Meat eaters will love Eagle BBQ, while sushi cravers can grab seafood creations at Storm King Lounge or warm up with some ramen.  Sweet treats? The items for offer at Mountain Top Cookies and Crepe Shop are so innovative you can’t leave with just one. I highly recommend the s’mores cookie. Fancy night out? The C.B. Grille fits the bill. My favorite, not to be missed, is Toast & Co.which is open for breakfast and lunch and I rave about in full detail HERE.

French Toast at Toast & Co at Copper Mountain ColoradoEat, drink, and have a great stay at Copper Mountain Resort while enjoying the natural beauty of the Rockies. Favorite parts of the visit, 1- Tubing Hill – this is so much fun. You can go down solo or in groups while hanging on to each other which is a blast. 2- Center Village – Being in a fun all access ski village. We loved stepping out on the balcony and hearing the music playing and watching the outdoor fires from the nearby bar. 3 – Woodward Copper – because jumping into foam pits is just that much fun.

To plan your trip to Copper Mountain visit their site at Coppercolorado.com or find them on Social Media – TwitterFacebookInstagram

 

Woodward Copper at Copper Mountain

For Those Looking to Take Adventure to the Next Level

Snowboarding Woodward Copper LogoCopper Mountain Resort in Colorado, just over an hour from Denver, is already known for great skiing and snowboarding and now they have even more to offer. They are home to one of the Woodward centers that specializes in pushing the limits of what you thought you were capable of. Woodward Copper is a year-round skiing and snowboarding facility with an nearly 20,000 ft indoor space for physical activity. All levels of experience are welcome, and by the time you are done even just with the introduction you will have tried things you might not believe.

Woodward Copper at Copper Mountain ColoradoYou maybe familiar with Woodward as a company, they offer classes and camps in action sports (skateboarding, bikes, parkour), gymnastics and cheer, snow (skiing, snowboarding), and the digital arts. There are locations across the US and one in particular for those embracing winter sports, Woodward Copper and the Woodward Barn at Copper Mountain.

With classes and camps both outside on the mountain and inside at their training facility Woodward Copper has options for all adventure lovers. It starts with their introduction at the Barn. When you enter the building the first startling thing you might notice is all the bodies ten feet up in the air either flying off ramps with skateboards into foam pits or bouncing on Olympic-grade trampolines. Scooter riders cruise around while kids and grownups of all ages take part in supervised activities. My first thought was, huh, I am going to be doing some of that…

Woodward Activity Center at Copper Mountain ColoradoI came in with a little bit of experience rolling around, but mostly a yoga practitioner, where your feet don’t leave the ground much, and this is definitely a place where people fly. By the end of the night we were bouncing off the trampolines into the foam pit. If you bring your ski or snowboard boots experiencing their indoor training to work up to jumps and tricks is also on the list for the Intro session. From there the sky is the limit and just how brave you want to be.

Their teachers are great and super encouraging. The goal of all their work is progression, but not in a pushy or pressured way. The atmosphere is very cool and relaxed which I definitely enjoyed. The Woodward Barn is a great opportunity to spend some energy burning time indoors if the weather is super cold and you don’t want to spend the whole day on the slopes, or take one of the Woodward classes outdoors and get into the on snow application of the skills you learned at the Barn.

Skiing Copper Mountain with WoodwardKids will love the experience and can go solo or you can make this a family activity and all get involved.  They have private lessons in snowboard, ski, skate, scooter, BMX, mountain bike, trampoline and tumbling if you have an area or skill you would like to improve on. In the end, don’t be intimidated, just get yourself out to Woodward Copper the next time you are visiting Copper Mountain Resort for some safe fun that will push you to the next level.

PS. Wear tight socks… Mine kept getting sucked off in the foam pit and I was not the only one fishing for loose footwear. Read Have Sippy Will Travel’s full feature on Copper Mountain HERE.

Find out more on the Woodward site – Campwoodward.com or at the Copper Mountain site – Coppercolorado.com

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Toast & Co. at Copper Mountain

A Must Stop when Skiing Copper Mountain Colorado

Toast & Co logo at Copper Mountain ColoradoWhen every item on the menu looks so good you can’t chose, you know you are in the right spot. Toast & Co. at the Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado is the dining destination not to be missed. Located just outside the main square in picturesque Center Village you can walk right over from the slopes then hop right back on a lift and keep riding. They only serve breakfast and lunch so don’t wait too long or you might miss out for that day.

All of the options we tried at Toast & Co were amazing and trust me we were repeat visitors. French toast, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, steak and eggs… how can you pick between pumpkin ginger cakes and caramelized pineapple pancakes? Or between the BBA sandwich, thick cut bacon cherry wood smoked, fried egg, bacon aioli, greens, roasted tomatoes, avocado on a telera roll, or the Chuck’s sandwich, a toasted pretzel roll, crispy prosciutto, scrambled eggs, Swiss cheese and a Beemster Gouda sauce? Come on!

French Toast at Toast & Co at Copper Mountain ColoradoI know you are dying to hear what we did finally pick. (PS. we took both of the above mentioned sandwiches to go and thoroughly enjoyed each, but since I am partial to avocado I would say the BBA was my top pick.) Alright enough suspense. I sat down to the Amaretto French Toast which sounds amazing right off the bat and just gets better. Made from slices of moist fresh banana bread this french toast is then dipped in an Amaretto custard to deepen the flavors. A soft mountain of Chai spiced whipped mascarpone is a decadent addition. Perhaps my favorite detail is the candied pecans for that final sweet crunch.

Steak and eggs at Toast & Co at Copper Mountain ColoradoTo balance out that sugary delight I confess to stealing some of my friends marinated beef tenderloin steak and eggs. The meat was medium rare as advertised and melt in your mouth delicious. The house chimichurri sauce they put on took this dish to the next level. Eggs, toast, and potatoes finish off this dish which might sound pretty standard, but they were anything but. I am usually a pass on breakfast potatoes, if I am going to have the carbs I choose the toast. The potatoes at Toast & Co. changed my mind completely, worth every carb.

Coffee at Toast & Co at Copper Mountain ColoradoThey also have a full bar and great coffee drinks to get you moving and compliment whichever tummy filler you prefer. Toast & Co. has everything you could want. I adore that they are “Colorado Proud” and use products from our local Colorado companies. Also that all of their eggs are 100% cage free/non GMO/free range eggs from nearby Denver. Now how can you pick anywhere else to eat while visiting Copper Mountain Resort? Ski/snowboard the mountain to build up your appetite then sit down for a great meal at Toast & Co.

Read the Toast & Co Menu – Here

Visit Copper Mountain’s Site at Coppercolorado.com or find them on Social Media – TwitterFacebookInstagram

White Mountain Snowmobile Tours Colorado

Sail over the Snow in this Mountain Adventure!

If you love speed and beautiful sights White Mountain Snowmobile Tours is a perfect activity for your next visit to Colorado. Whether you are a rider, a driver, or the tour you choose this is an experience not to be missed when visiting the Leadville area. It maybe a noisier way to get up in the mountains than its skiing/snowboarding counterpart, but also one of the funnest!

Snowmobiling at White Mountain Snowmobile Tours ColoradoWhite Mountain Snowmobile Tours is a year round operation that offers a variety of their namesake snowmobile tours as well as zip lining (which is the year round part). You can go for the Family Prospector Tour which is a laid back 2 hour ride perfect for couples looking to ride double or those with kids. There is even a break for kids up to 70lbs to ride their own mini snowmobile, which they will LOVE.

The next step up is the Performance Tour, taking you higher into the mountain and for solo riders only. You want to push your limits and are already an experienced rider you can graduate the the Extreme Tour and really tear across the countryside. Any level of experience is welcome and there are options for everyone of all ages.

View during the White Mountain Snowmobile Tours near Leadville ColoradoI confess I preferred being a passenger though I gave driving a go. When I got lapped for the third time on the makeshift test track I called it a day and hopped on the back for a more relaxing trip. I wanted to look around not concentrate on driving! Meanwhile my companion was all about faster and further so me stepping back worked out well. Just call me Miss Daisy.

Snow Mobile at White Mountain Snowmobile Tours Leadville ColoradoYou can come bundled up in all your ski gear or they have everything you need, from boots to helmets and googles. White Mountain Snowmobile Tours is a large operation and everything runs like a smoothly oiled machine. Everyone we dealt with was awesome, our guide, Terry, in particular. He made even a nervous driver like me comfortable and since I ended the ride on his snowmobile being confident in your driver is a gift. He really made the trip with his knowledge of local landmarks and by taking us to all the best lookouts.

Even when I am posting the pictures I find it hard to believe how beautiful it is in the mountains outside Leadville and Twin Lakes. Riding the trails with crisp wind in your face and the sun shining on the white expanse of snow was magical. Get your engine revving and get on out there.

Find out more about White Mountain Snow Mobile Tours and the options they offer year round on their website: Whitemountainsnowmobiletours.com

Check out more on their Social Media – Facebook

Ski Monarch Mountain Colorado

Ski Independent, Embrace Family Fun

See what real Colorado skiing and snowboarding is like outside of the resorts and take a trip up to Monarch Mountain.

Colorado's Monarch Mountain Ski Resort LodgeWhether you are local or traveling in to get your share of winter fun, skiing/snowboarding is a great adventure for all ages and skill levels. There are a lot of things to consider when looking for the perfect destination and Monarch Mountain is a great match for the top items on my list. Plenty of varied levels of ski terrain, natural snow (Monarch receives more than 350” of natural snow each year), one lodge (makes it easy to keep track of all the members of your group), short wait times, affordable prices, and quality food make an ideal mix of family friendly fun.

Ski and Ride school at Monarch Mountain colorado.

For the newbie skier like myself there are great class options offered at Monarch’s Ski + Ride School, whether you want to separate or even take a family lesson. Parents might consider sending the little ones off to learn while they get some runs in or brush up on technique with expert help. The covered magic carpet and learning area was great, with plenty of room for classes while still being accessible for independent riders. This section was ideal for those working their way up to the lift.

Ski + Ride School at Monarch Mountain ColoradoYour littlest ones even have their own section to get the hang of things. Starting as young as 3 your munchkin can begin to get their ski or board legs under them. Monarch Mountain has group lessons that are kids only, grouped by age and experience or if you are looking to be hands on try the Mini & Me program that introduces children, ages 3-6, to skiing, while the grown up gets tips from an expert. There is also a children’s center with indoor activities to take breaks in.

Monarch at the top of monarch mountain coloradoOnce you hit the mountain the action is non-stop. There are long runs at all levels from all over Monarch, but a highlight is getting to the top of the mountain and straddling the continental divide while looking out over the San Isabel National Forest. You can go up and visit the metal Monarch, or Peak Locator for a breathtaking destination. Turn this little butterfly and she will let you know exactly where you stand and the local landmarks you are looking out over. From there coming down the mountain is a choose your own adventure of green, blue, or black to get back to the base.

Since we have a big gap in ski proficiency in my family so having a good mix of advanced and beginner runs was one of the first items I looked for. The breakdown is 22% Green (easiest), 27% Blue (more difficult), 37% Black (most difficult), and 11% Double Black (extreme) at Monarch Mountain. As the most beginner in the group that made me happy. Traveling with a speedster I also wanted to keep everyone on the hill for a while so Monarch’s longest run is 1 mile and the mountain has a vertical drop of 1,162 ft. to keep my thrill seeker occupied. Keep in mind that your base elevation is 10,790 ft. so you might be short of breath if like me you are coming from sea level, but there is nothing like looking out at all of that natural beauty to inspire your soul and body.

Skiing Monarch Mountain Colorado

For all you dare devils out there that want to go higher, meet the Cat. You can hop in one of these bad boys for a tour or take it up beyond the ski lifts for the really extreme stuff. You could hike up part of that way too into the part of Monarch Mountain known as Mirkwood, but trust me the Cat Skiing is where it is at for views and going outside the beaten path. With a longer Cat Skiing tour you get to eat lunch in an exclusive mountainside yurt and explore 1,635 acres of expert terrain.

Cat Skiing at Monarch Mountain ColoradoWhen you are ready to eat there are a few options, the Sidewinder Saloon for a sit down meal, the Gunbarrel Cafeteria for grab and go quick eats, and the Java Stop for your caffeine kick. Early morning is great at the Java Stop. They serve Brown Dog Coffee, the freshest locally roasted coffee and espresso for those that are passionate about their morning joe. If a Bloody Mary is on the menu I have to mention the carnivore. It is a spicy meat lovers dream (yes, you do really see a slice of bacon, a piece of steak, and pepperoni in this spicy libation), that is breakfast and a cocktail all in one at Elmo’s Bar, a full service western style watering hole. There are options for all tastes and budgets at Monarch.

Yummy eats at Monarch Mountain Colorado SkiingMonarch Mountain is a drive in ski and snowboarding destination, but parking is free and there are nearby spots to rest between trips to the slopes. Local towns like Salida, a super cute and fun town to visit when in the area, offer accommodations for your trip and other exciting activities. If you are coming in from Denver it is just under three hours, and about 2.5 hours from Colorado Springs. Picking the right location can go a long way to enhance everyone’s experience so think about what will make your trip. Monarch Mountain is a perfect place for great winter sports without resort fees and commercial mark-ups.

Find out more about Monarch Mountain on their site skimonarch.com

You can also follow Monarch Mountain on Social Media – FacebookTwitterInstagram