Roadtrip to Colorado from Chicago
Mar 19th, 2006, 09:24 AM
#21
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a small correction to travelingtedrow's post - you have to go over Berthoud Pass not Loveland Pass to get to Winter Park. And please check and double check the weather and road conditions. Denver is supposed to get 10 -14 inches of snow tonight, with more in the mountains. Yippee! Great for skiing, but if you are traveling please be careful.
Mar 20th, 2006, 04:56 AM
#23
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi from WI! We do this drive about 2 times a year to see family in CO. We also have 2 kids. Believe it or not, we actually wake at 2-3am and drive straight through. It is a very long day, but we do it because it is sometimes easier than getting everyone out and attempting to sleep. Our kids are very young though, age 2 and 3 at the moment, so that probably makes a difference. And we don't use a portable DVD, just lots of singing, playing, eating....we basically prepare ouselves for anything.
The Nebraska stretch is the hardest, literally not much to look at and it seems like it lasts longer than the rest the whole drive itself. We always cheer when we make it out of NE.
And ditto about the weather warnings. On the way home in Jan. we were going down 1-80 through Iowa and hit a massive and sudden storm. It was unexpected and unpredicted and very scary. We slid over the median and ended up facing oncoming traffic. It was very, very scary. We actually stayed the night because the roads were so bad. The next morning for over 100 miles we saw stranded cars on the side of the road. And the strangest part was we checked the weather before we left and there was no sign of a storm. Everyone in our hotel was saying the same thing.
Oh and from WI, about 80 miles outside Madison it takes us 16 hours to get to Fort Collins. To Golden I think it would be another hour. It helps that the speed limit is 75 through NE.
The Nebraska stretch is the hardest, literally not much to look at and it seems like it lasts longer than the rest the whole drive itself. We always cheer when we make it out of NE.
And ditto about the weather warnings. On the way home in Jan. we were going down 1-80 through Iowa and hit a massive and sudden storm. It was unexpected and unpredicted and very scary. We slid over the median and ended up facing oncoming traffic. It was very, very scary. We actually stayed the night because the roads were so bad. The next morning for over 100 miles we saw stranded cars on the side of the road. And the strangest part was we checked the weather before we left and there was no sign of a storm. Everyone in our hotel was saying the same thing.
Oh and from WI, about 80 miles outside Madison it takes us 16 hours to get to Fort Collins. To Golden I think it would be another hour. It helps that the speed limit is 75 through NE.
Mar 22nd, 2006, 09:25 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks again everyone! When we go, we will leave early am (as StephCar suggested) and drive straight through. Now we have to sqeeze in a soccer game on the way out and an SAT test on the way home, so the sightseeing this time will not work. Will save these great ideas for our next trip. I'm assuming it is easy to get down to I-70 should the weather turn, though it is looking good at this point. We will aim to stop for dinner at Ole's on the way there and Machine Shed on the way back. Want to definitely check out the Old Market, the zoo and John Wayne on another trip. Will bring lots of movies.... I do agree from past trips that they are great to have with kids. When we get back mid April, I will get a report back to you....if so, do I just reply to this or do a separate trip report? Thanks again to all of you!!!!
May 14th, 2006, 09:11 PM
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had a great trip. Thanks to everyone for your advice, especially on the weather. Following is the promised trip report. Some suggestions:
1. weather.com was very helpful. They have an area where you can type in the date and time you will be travelling through various cities. I plotted our route in and the weather they reported was very accurate, including heavy storm activity in Iowa on our return. In the middle of Nebraska, I checked with AAA and a friend who could get on the internet, and sure enough, 2 tornados just hit Omaha (I think the last city you pass through before entering Iowa). We were only about 2 hours from there. The storm was moving east with high winds, hail and thunderstorms. We booked a great hotel in Omaha and went to the Old Market area for shopping and dinner. We ate at the Spagetti Works and it was good, but there was so much to choose from. Omaha was a nice break in the trip as well, and as suggested, a good halfway stop. Will do that stop again and see the zoo next time. We saw 4-5 TIPPED OVER semi trucks when we got back on the road the next morning. So preparing and being aware of the weather really helped, as we had sunny and dry roads the entire time we were on them.
2. AAA was a great partner on our trip. All lanes closed with after an accident, and they helped us re-route, they advised on weather conditions and very efficiently recommended and booked us the hotel room while I was on hold. Over the years, they have also come through nicely with various road emergency needs (flats, towing, etc.) but they did exceed my expectations on this trip!
3. The hotel in Omaha was the Comfort Inn at the Zoo - 2920 South 13th Court - Omaha, NE 68108 (402) 342-8000. It also exceeded expectations. For $65 for the night, it was clean, the employees were beyond friendly, they had a nice pool area, had a cookie hour at night for the kids, recommended restaurants with directions and had an amazing breakfast (included in price). We will stay there again! When we got there, we asked how they weathered the storm, and their power just got back up. But they were all in good spirits.
4. In Winter Park, we stayed at a YMCA resort called Snow Mountain ranch. Great (but very simple) accomodations - clean with all the amenities (fireplace, full kitchen with dishes, cookware, etc). We shared a 4 br house with friends of ours and it was about $240 per night plust taxes for the house. So the price was right for us, and the best parts were: a fantastic swimming pool with slide, rock climbing, in-line skating area, horseback riding, sleigh rides, cross country skiing, ice skating, game room, scheduled family activities...and the list goes on an on. It is overwhelming. They even had a designated (new) building for cool crafts. They offered 3 meals a day in their cafeteria, which we ate at most nights - good and reasonably priced and most of all easy pit stop after skiing before going home to relax....no cooking or dishes! We also had lunch to order one day and very good (in main lobby area). They also made smoothies to order as well. Could really not say enough good things about this place. If you are looking for luxury, this is not it, but it was perfect for a value vacation with a family. We like the ski in ski out luxury homes once every 3-5 years, but we cannot do that every year, and we almost had more fun at this place in many ways. Their site is www.ymcarockies.org and just click on the Snow Mountain Ranch link to get all the information.
5. Devil's Thumb Ranch is right between Winter Park and Snow Mountain Ranch. Really a cool place but I forget all the details. You can stay there too, but a lot more expensive. We went there for dinner one night with the adults only. Amazing food, unending wine list and history-rich and comfortable setting. Every details is tended to. They recently refurbished (and added onto) and old settlement that was on one of the trails that people took out west. Pictures of the original structure hang on the walls. They use all natural and fresh ingredients in their food. It is a little pricey, but totally worth it! My understanding is that you can also cross country ski there....but we were just there for dinner.
Finally, pack a case of water for a car trip. It was almost gone by the time we got there. Had everyone drink a lot especially as we got into higher altitudes. Packed food in the car for each meal. BTW, we did it in one day on the way there, and it was a piece of cake, even with the kids. Packed a lot of movies, game boys, polly pockets, paper and crayons, etc! Left at 4AM, stopped at 8 for breakfast, gas and bathroom. Stopped at 1pm for lunch (same). Then we at snacks for the rest of the time and made it there for dinner with our friends at their home in Golden. We were looking forward to stopping at Ole's Big Game Steakhouse on the way to CO for dinner, but everyone was full and anxious to get there. The exit was clearly marked, and it would have been an easy stop - next time! Same with Machine Shed on the return...but since we had to stop in Omaha, we passed through more around late lunch hour so we just passed through that exit too. It was so good to know about though, and they both have good web sites to get information and directions.
All your help in planning made this a wonderful and safe trip! Thanks VERY MUCH. I have told so many people about this site because of you. Will schedule some of the sight seeing for next time. Thanks again, and .....
Happy travels to all!
1. weather.com was very helpful. They have an area where you can type in the date and time you will be travelling through various cities. I plotted our route in and the weather they reported was very accurate, including heavy storm activity in Iowa on our return. In the middle of Nebraska, I checked with AAA and a friend who could get on the internet, and sure enough, 2 tornados just hit Omaha (I think the last city you pass through before entering Iowa). We were only about 2 hours from there. The storm was moving east with high winds, hail and thunderstorms. We booked a great hotel in Omaha and went to the Old Market area for shopping and dinner. We ate at the Spagetti Works and it was good, but there was so much to choose from. Omaha was a nice break in the trip as well, and as suggested, a good halfway stop. Will do that stop again and see the zoo next time. We saw 4-5 TIPPED OVER semi trucks when we got back on the road the next morning. So preparing and being aware of the weather really helped, as we had sunny and dry roads the entire time we were on them.
2. AAA was a great partner on our trip. All lanes closed with after an accident, and they helped us re-route, they advised on weather conditions and very efficiently recommended and booked us the hotel room while I was on hold. Over the years, they have also come through nicely with various road emergency needs (flats, towing, etc.) but they did exceed my expectations on this trip!
3. The hotel in Omaha was the Comfort Inn at the Zoo - 2920 South 13th Court - Omaha, NE 68108 (402) 342-8000. It also exceeded expectations. For $65 for the night, it was clean, the employees were beyond friendly, they had a nice pool area, had a cookie hour at night for the kids, recommended restaurants with directions and had an amazing breakfast (included in price). We will stay there again! When we got there, we asked how they weathered the storm, and their power just got back up. But they were all in good spirits.
4. In Winter Park, we stayed at a YMCA resort called Snow Mountain ranch. Great (but very simple) accomodations - clean with all the amenities (fireplace, full kitchen with dishes, cookware, etc). We shared a 4 br house with friends of ours and it was about $240 per night plust taxes for the house. So the price was right for us, and the best parts were: a fantastic swimming pool with slide, rock climbing, in-line skating area, horseback riding, sleigh rides, cross country skiing, ice skating, game room, scheduled family activities...and the list goes on an on. It is overwhelming. They even had a designated (new) building for cool crafts. They offered 3 meals a day in their cafeteria, which we ate at most nights - good and reasonably priced and most of all easy pit stop after skiing before going home to relax....no cooking or dishes! We also had lunch to order one day and very good (in main lobby area). They also made smoothies to order as well. Could really not say enough good things about this place. If you are looking for luxury, this is not it, but it was perfect for a value vacation with a family. We like the ski in ski out luxury homes once every 3-5 years, but we cannot do that every year, and we almost had more fun at this place in many ways. Their site is www.ymcarockies.org and just click on the Snow Mountain Ranch link to get all the information.
5. Devil's Thumb Ranch is right between Winter Park and Snow Mountain Ranch. Really a cool place but I forget all the details. You can stay there too, but a lot more expensive. We went there for dinner one night with the adults only. Amazing food, unending wine list and history-rich and comfortable setting. Every details is tended to. They recently refurbished (and added onto) and old settlement that was on one of the trails that people took out west. Pictures of the original structure hang on the walls. They use all natural and fresh ingredients in their food. It is a little pricey, but totally worth it! My understanding is that you can also cross country ski there....but we were just there for dinner.
Finally, pack a case of water for a car trip. It was almost gone by the time we got there. Had everyone drink a lot especially as we got into higher altitudes. Packed food in the car for each meal. BTW, we did it in one day on the way there, and it was a piece of cake, even with the kids. Packed a lot of movies, game boys, polly pockets, paper and crayons, etc! Left at 4AM, stopped at 8 for breakfast, gas and bathroom. Stopped at 1pm for lunch (same). Then we at snacks for the rest of the time and made it there for dinner with our friends at their home in Golden. We were looking forward to stopping at Ole's Big Game Steakhouse on the way to CO for dinner, but everyone was full and anxious to get there. The exit was clearly marked, and it would have been an easy stop - next time! Same with Machine Shed on the return...but since we had to stop in Omaha, we passed through more around late lunch hour so we just passed through that exit too. It was so good to know about though, and they both have good web sites to get information and directions.
All your help in planning made this a wonderful and safe trip! Thanks VERY MUCH. I have told so many people about this site because of you. Will schedule some of the sight seeing for next time. Thanks again, and .....
Happy travels to all!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
blueslipper
United States
23
Aug 6th, 2008 12:44 PM
barbara27
United States
12
Nov 14th, 2006 07:28 AM
