Janedoe

I am looking for lodging as high in the mountains as I can get around the Breckenridge/Vail area or RMNF area. I have a 4 yr old, so most B&B are out of the question unfortunately. I am hoping for snow, even thought it is the middle of summer. One can dream, right?

Retired_teacher

Both B/V should have summer ski lodge rentals available. Breckenridge probably has the better rates of the two, although it's been years since I stayed there in the summer. A quick scan through my atlas failed to locate RMNF. Are you referring to RMNP? If so, you might try the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch facility which is southwest of the national park. We stayed at that camp twenty years ago during their X-Mas in July activity week. On the morning of the 25th we had snow flurries......... boy did that make our kids believers! Another area nearby B/V would be Leadville. It has a higher elevation that the famous ski resorts, but I can't help you out on facilities there.

Lexma90

Breckenridge is higher in elevation than Vail, and you should find plenty of lodging rentals available at either place. (I'm not familiar with RMNP.)

As for snow, it depends on when you go. We were in Breck 2 weekends ago, and it snowed in town. The following day, we did a short hike (with 2 young kids) up Mount Royal, just outside the town of Frisco, and there were still snow patches. Any of the hikes at higher elevations are still buried in snow in June. By July, they should be melted enough to hike on them, and I'll bet you'll find some snow along those hikes. By August, it'll be difficult to find snow.

Also, Arapahoe Basin ski resort will be open through July, I'm pretty sure, and you could drive up there and see the snow at the ski resort.

There are lots of rental companies in Breck; a web search came up with Ski Breckenridge Lodging at 1-877-719-2900. I've never used them, so I don't know anything about the company. With a 4-yr-old, make sure that you're within walking distance of Main St., so you can easily walk in for ice cream or to the playground. I know people who've stayed at the Village at Breckenridge (877-428-7829); it's a good location on south Main St. & they have a pool, though some of the units are a bit dated.

lenleigh

Estes Park has tons of fun things to do and is right at the entrance to RMNP. You will definitly see snow in RMNP but it will really only be towards the summit and there won't be a lot of trees where the snow is. There are a lot of lodging options in Estes Park and many of them are kid friendly so I would check into that. We stayed at the Stanley recently so I can't really give other suggestions. I think there is actually more to do, especially with a young child, in Estes than Vail and Breck.

Coskier

Jane you might check out www.summitnet.com you may find that condos during summer may be less htan hotels. Alos check out www.snow.com for events at Breck Keystone and Vail. Keystone does a great job with acivities for all ages. Check out the adventure passport, you can purchase them seperatly from lodging if you find as condo direct from the owners, usally much less than through central res.