We stayed at the Gorgeous Morning Star Home managed by Paragon Lodging. " Though our homes represent a widely diverse collection, they hold one attribute in common. All make an extraordinary commitment to providing a memorable experience for the discriminating traveler. Our motto, "A model of Excellence," ensures that we will select only the best homes for our portfolio."

We had a fantastic time here. We went in the hot tub, played games in the loft, went sledding in the backyard and cooked some delicious meals in the spacious kitchen. If you are planning a family reunion or trip, you should definitely contact Paragon. They will find a home to suit your needs~

This scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

 

 

I hosted my LIVE Mom TV web cast from the home and had a great show! We chatted all about Spring Fest and upcoming activities for Easter on the Mountain and Summer fun. If you missed the show, you can watch a replay here. Some local business provided prizes for the show.

* Carvers provided a $75 gift card
*Climax Jerky offered a delicious snack of elk, buffalo, and beef jerky
*The Breckenridge Columbia store provided a Women's LiteSpeed Tote
*Hand and Glove gave a beautiful pair of Ladies Silk-Lined Leather Gloves
*Black Tie Rental provided a 3 day package of ski rentals for an adult and child

After the show we bundled up and went snowshoeing. It was a perfect day and the kids loved it! It was our first time snowshoeing and we had a blast. The snowshoes were provided by CBST Adventures. They offer custom guided tours-snowshoeing, hiking, biking, climbing and more. We will definitely use them again when we head up to Breckenridge. The next day we hit the slopes and took advantage of Spring skiing. We love skiing this time of year. It isn't too chilly and we can ski for longer.

All in all we had a fantastic trip. As always, Breckenridge is a perfect destination for our family. For tons of information on the resort and planning your trip, go to Go Breck.

See you soon!

 

Breckenridge Resort
January 2011 21st Annual Snow and Ice Sculpture Extravaganza

My family and I traveled up to Breckenridge for the 21st Annual International Snow Sculpture Championships. We have never seen the ice carvings and were excited to check them out. We arrived up in Breckenridge on Friday afternoon and checked into the Mountain Thunder Lodge. We stay at this complex every time we come up to Breckenridge. It is so convenient for families and their service is top of the line. It is right in the middle of the town and so you can get anywhere within minutes. They have a shuttle service that will take you where you need to go and pick you up when you are done. It was very crowded for the sculpture championships, so it was so nice to have them drive us around and not have to worry about parking.

The snow sculpture was amazing! My kids could not believe all the sculptures that were carved from hand. You can check them all out on the Breckenridge website. As we were walking around checking them all out, the sculpture that Germany created (it was like a bridge on stilts) literally fell over. It was so sad to see it collapse (and a bit frightening too) however, they did the judging that morning and so they were still in the running. It was a beautiful day and I think the warmer temps were starting to impact the sculptures. If you have never been to this Annual event in Breckeridge, it is a must see! It is open through Feb.6th if you still want to take a look.

We were scheduled to ski on Saturday, so Friday afternoon Door 2 Door Rental Delivery contacted us to get all of our skis and rentals set up for the next day. I can't believe I have never heard of this company before!! Seriously convenient:) Instead of heading to the rental place early in the morning (with everyone else doing the same thing) and having to wait in line, fill out forms, then take your shoes to a locker while lugging your skis around, AND THEN hitting the slopes, Door 2 Door gets rid of the headache! You chat with them the day before, give them shoe sizes and heights for everyone in your family, and they bring the skis, helmets and boots directly to you! The next morning, we woke up and walked everything down to the lobby and the hotel shuttle took us directly to the Gondola on the ski slopes. So convenient and easy! I highly recommend this service for anyone going skiing at the mountain resorts.

Do you know what I love most about skiing in Breckenridge?? There is so much terrain and different runs that you never feel like it is too crowded. I always worry about my kids getting run over by some 18 year old snowboarder, but Breckenridge is so expansive that I always feel like we have the mountains to ourselves. Huge relief for any mom out there! My kids can ski at their own pace and not worry about all the traffic. Everyone on the resort is also so friendly and helpful. If you have never been to Breckenridge before with your family, I highly recommend a trip.

The town has this quaint feel that most ski towns do not have. You can walk down mainstreet and shop and eat in a small town feel. The shops are great, the restaurants are delicious, and there is so much to do! We have experienced snowmobiling, dog sledding (in both winter and summer months), carriage rides, ice skating, tubing, skiing and so much more. No matter what age your children are, there is always something really fun to do. My kids love Breckenridge and will carry with them amazing memories for a long time. Check it out!

Breckenridge Resort

December 2010

My family and I took a mini getaway to Breckenridge right after opening Winter season. We stayed at the gorgeous Mountain Thunder Lodge. This lodge could not be more convenient. You literally walk across the street to hop on the Gondola. The gondola takes you directly to the ski mountains. If you want to walk to Main Street and shop or grab a bite to eat the lodge is only a block away. Mountain Thunder Lodge also provides a shuttle bus if you don't want to walk or drive to town. It took us to dinner at Mi Casa and picked us up when we were finished.

Mi Casa is my kids absolute favorite restaurant in Breckenridge! My daughter loves helping them make tableside guacamole and my son loves the kids strawberry margarita's. It is so family friendly and the food is delicious!

Something new to Breckenridge this year is the Gold Runner Coaster. It is located at the base of Peak 8 and you race down the mountain on 2500 feet of elevated roller coaster track. My husband and I both rode with one of our kids on the 2 seater and had a blast. My kids could not get enough of this ride! We probably went 8 times in a row. Because you are secured on the track you can go as fast as you want without worrying about going off the track. My kids took full advantage of this! I highly recommend going on this ride whether you visit in the summer or winter...it is a must!

 

Summer 2010

We stayed at a Beautiful Townhome at One Breckenridge Place provided by Great Western Lodging. It was perfect for my husband and two kids. We had a private hot tub on the deck and gorgeous views. It was only a walk away from the main street and all the activities. If you are looking for a private home or lodging for a family trip, I highly recommend this location.

I taped my LIVE MomTV show at this Exquisite Huckleberry House. The views were amazing and the ski lift was literally 50 feet from their backyard. It was spacious and cozy. I would love to secure the home for our next family reunion.

Our first day there we had lunch at The Empire Burger. This is not your ordinary burger joint! I had a turkey burger that was moist and delicious and my husband said his hamburger was the best he has had . It came with these amazing side sauces for your fries. I had a mango sauce and jalapeno ketchup. I highly recommend stopping by for lunch if you are in Breckenridge!

We had some time to ride our bikes and soak in our private hot tub and then we were off for dinner. We went to Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina. I am not typically a big fan of mexican food, but this meal was delicious. It was authentic and fresh mexican food and my entire family loved it. My daughter helped our waiter make the tableside guacamole and my son loved the kids virgin strawberry margaritas. My husband got a burrito with a delicious mango sauce and I got a salad with grilled salmon. I highly recommend this restaurant! Because we loved it so much, we went back a couple nights later.

 

We were in for a HUGE treat when we went Summer Dogsledding at Snow Caps Sled Dogs. I had never heard of summer dogsledding, so we were definitely excited to go try it out. We drove up to a very secluded area in the woods and met the owner of the company. This is a fairly new venture but a necessity for the dogs to get some attention and exercise between winter months. We met puppies only 6 weeks old and guide dogs that have been with the company for many years. If you ever take a summer vacation to Breckenridge, this activity is a must!

It was rainy most of our trip, but we picked a gorgeous morning to head up to Peak 8 Fun Park. We all had a wonderful time going down the alpine slide and taking the chairlift up to the top of the mountain for some amazing views. My daughter loved the bungee trampoline and putt putt golf. This is a great experience for the whole family.

Unfortunately because of the rain we were not able to go on our guided hike. Breckenridge offers weekly guided hikes and historic walking tours. Next time we will definitely take advantage of this opportunity.

Ritz Carlton Destination Club in Lake Tahoe

When my husband and I arrived at The Ritz Destination Club in Lake Tahoe we were completely blown away. This is the most beautiful resort we have been to so far. If you would like to plan a wonderful trip for your family or a romantic getaway for you and your spouse, this is the location for you. Our accomodations were top of the line and the service was impecable. If you would like to research a trip at The Lake Tahoe Club, I would ask to speak with the General Manager Craig Sacco. He is extremely knowledgable and accomodating. There are several Concierge's at your service to help you plan outings. They can set up a boat ride, a dinner reservation, a movie night or simply recommend an experience you would love.

Our room was gorgeous and complete with everything we needed. There were several flat screen televisions, a gas fireplace, bathrooms equipped with jacuzzi tubs and heated floors, and much more. If you would like to escape from the everyday, this resort is perfect.

The Ritz Lake Tahoe has a private Gondola that takes you directly into the Northstar Village. There is shopping, delicious dining, Starbucks and a rollerskating or ice rink depending on the season. It is perfect for couples and families who like to explore. In the summer The Ritz has an amazing bike trail system right at their doorstep. There are trails and lifts to take you to the top. For an active family like my own, this is exactly what we love to do.

The 2nd day of our trip we drove all the way around the lake. We stopped at a beautiful trailhead called El Bliss. This trail was titled balancing rock. It was so serene and picturesque. We hiked a bit and took some wonderful pictures. Our kids would have loved this trail.

This picture was taken of the Bay at Lake Tahoe. There is this quaint little island in the middle of the cove. We could not get enough of the beauty of this lake. It truly is breathtaking. I could have spent days on days exploring the trails and sights of Lake Tahoe.

We had the Concierge set up a reservation for an evening boat ride and dinner from Wild Goose. The captain and co-captain were wonderful and the ride was exceptional. The boat took us on an hour and a half ride around the lake, complete with drinks and a mini history lesson. We met wonderful people and enjoyed the beauty that Tahoe provided.

This picture was taken from the Southshore of Lake Tahoe. We took the Heavenly Gondola up to the top of the mountain and had absolutely amazing scenery. I was in awe the entire time. I can't explain the beauty from the pristine blue lake to the snow capped mountains. It was truly breathtaking.

We went down to Northstar Village for dinner on our last evening. Rubicon Pizza Company was amazing. They wanted us to have the full Rubicon experience, so they brought out 5 different pizza's for us to try. We looked like we were feeding an army:) Our favorites were the Thai Curry Chicken pizza and the BBQ chicken pizza. Another delicious one was their gorgonzola and pear pizza, which was very unique. Because we had so much pizza we did not want to waste, we took 5 boxes back to The Ritz with us. We gave some to the Gondola operators and the Concierge team. They were extremely gracious!

Overrall, this was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Between the beauty and the exceptional service at The Ritz Destination Club, we created lasting memories. We would love to go back again and hopefully bring our kids with us next time. They would love the pool, the hiking, the skiing, the gondola rides and much more.

Breckenridge Resorts

My family is always looking for family friendly resorts. We have 2 very active and athletic kids and so Breckenridge was the perfect opportunity to do some skiing, go on a dinner sleigh ride and visit the Breckenridge Country Boy Mine. We stayed at the gorgeous Mountain Thunder Lodge. This resort was extremely convenient to everything in town. We walked right over to the Gondola and it took us right up the mountain to the slopes. It was only a block away from the main street. It has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub that we all enjoyed after a day of skiing. The accomodations were very updated and clean.

I have never gone on a dinner sleigh ride, so this was a complete treat! Courtesy of Breckenridge Stables Sleigh Rides in Breckenridge, this is definitely something you and your family should embark on~
We all hopped in the sleigh with blankets and winter gear. The horses were beautiful and the ride was breathtaking. We even got a glimpse of a coyote. It was a 15 minute ride up to the warming hut. We then went inside, had a delicious meal, and listened to a guitar player play some great tunes.

Breckenridge is one of those mountain towns that truly leave an impression~ It is quaint and friendly with so much to do for anyone in your family. For a family that enjoys being active and adventurous, this is the town to explore.

 

Winter Park Resorts in Colorado

I am very grateful that Winter Park resorts hosted my family for a winter ski trip. I am always looking for a fun,
family friendly resort that is budget friendly and full of activities. I connected with Mistalynn Lee who is the
communications manager. She was extremely friendly and helpful. She created an itinerary that was perfect
for my family. I have a 9 year old son and a 6 year old daughter who are very outdoorsy and adventurous.

We stayed at the beautiful and accomodating Zephyr Lodge.

The Zephyr Mountain Lodge is a rustic and contemporary ski-in/ski-out lodge with a slopeside location
just 110 feet from the Zephyr Express Lift. It's as close as you can sleep to the lifts without sleeping outside.

The Zephyr combines a heightened level of sophistication and elegance providing you and your family
with a memorable Colorado vacation experience. Mountain side units have a view of the Village area,
while the Divide side units have a view of the Continental Divide.

VIEW FROM OUR CONDO! Look out and see the ski lifts. We literally walked outside our condo
and within 5 minutes were in line at the chair lift. This is great with little kids. They even have
wagons for families to carry all of their gear to the mountain and back. This is a lifesaver!



We went to the Colorado Adventure Park and had a blast going down the brand new Tubing Hill! They have a magic carpet that takes you up the hill and the kids had a great time. We spent an hour there and left just as the sun was setting. It was absolutely beautiful. There are so many family friendly activities in Winter Park-you will never go bored.

Winter Park has so many different runs, that you can find whatever works for you and your children. It had been a year since we last skied, so everyone was a bit rusty. There were a lot of green runs that got us comfortable on the slopes. We then ventured to some blue runs and had a great time. The resort itself is breathtaking and they cater to all of your needs. We were on the slopes most of the day and by the time we had turned in our skis, everyone was ready for a little rest.

We headed back to The Zephyr Lodge and got into the hot tub. They have an outdoor hot tub that overlooks Winter Park resort. It was just what we needed! We then headed over to Lime Cantina and had a great dinner. The next morning we woke up and headed to the brand new Winter Park rec center. The kids had a great time swimming in the indoor pool, equipped with a lazy river, a diving board and a slide. A great opportunity to do something indoors on a cold day.

Overall, we had a wonderful time in Winter Park and highly recommend it for anyone looking to plan a family trip. There is so much to do and it is all in a very close proximity to each other. Enjoy!
Winter Park Resorts

 

Disclosure:

The accomodations above have all provided lodging fees and some of the activities. The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics.