Best Mountain Towns - Pitstops for Kids

Best Mountain Towns: Jackson Hole Wyoming

September 10, 2020 By Amy Hagstrom

Ready for a Western vacation in a breathtaking setting? Jackson, Wyoming is one of the best vacation towns for families, in any season. We love to visit in summer, where we can base ourselves in Jackson to explore Grand Teton National Park, the Snake River, and area lakes and hikes. Here’s what you can expect in Jackson Hole, what to do, where to stay, and where to eat. Read on for our Jackson Hole Wyoming guide:

During a time when many vacations are not possible, outdoor activities in road trip-accessible locations offer the ability to safely social distance. Hotels.com asked me to share my favorite activities and tips for exploring Jackson Hole, so start here as you plan a safe and responsible vacation.

The center of Jackson Hole is pedestrian-friendly, with a central square decorated with elk antlers and more than a few Western wear clothing stores and outdoor stores. You’ll find plenty of cowboy bars and casual eateries in the center of town, too. Along the outskirts, families will find the larger resorts, including the ski resorts of Snow King (just outside town) and Jackson Hole (a few miles away). The entire region is framed by the majesty of the Tetons….Grand Teton National Park is only 20 miles away, up Hwy 26 or Hwy 390.

Where to stay:

There are as many types of lodging in and around Jackson as there are ways to enjoy this town. Families can opt for luxury at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole or the Teton Village area, or find lower-budget motels in town (book early!). One travel hack for this area is to book a stay at the Snake River/Jackson Hole KOA just outside town. By far the nicest KOA we’ve stayed in, their luxury cabins are immaculate, and include full kitchens and bathrooms. Located directly on the Snake River about 15 minutes from Jackson Hole, this KOA also offers its own float trip in season. In addition to luxury cabins, they offer standard cabins for well under the cost of a hotel room, and standard RV and tent camping sites, some of which are directly on the river.

As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and within regulation as any travel is at your own risk. If you do decide to travel at this time, here are our recommendations:

Wear a face mask.
Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands on a regular basis.
Check official websites before your trip for the latest updates on policies, closures and status of local businesses.
Book a hotel with free cancellation in case you need to change your plans at the last minute.

What to do in Jackson Hole:

Plan at least one full day in town. Find parking once, then leave the car during the busy summer months and hoof it from place to place…everything is close by. Browse the fun shops in the heart of town, then head down Snow King Avenue to Snow King Mountain Resort. Try the alpine slide here, or the other summer recreational offerings.

In warm weather, head next to the Amaz’n Jackson Hole Maze, where kids are given a water gun and sent into a large wooden maze to wage their water wars. This is good old fashioned fun at its best! Be sure to leave time to catch the historic Jackson Hole Rodeo, which performs every Wednesday and Saturday night in summer. Bring sweaters or a blanket…once the sun goes down over the Tetons, the summer air gets chilly!

Just outside of town, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers mountain biking with lift access during the summer months (and world-class skiing in winter). Families can also ride the ariel tram, try the bungee trampoline, or find hiking trails from Teton Village, at the base of the resort.

On a second day, plan a Snake River float trip from one of many operations based in Jackson Hole; we love to go with OARS. With the Tetons as a backdrop, Snake River floats are scenic but not high adrenaline affairs; look for wildlife and expect a packed lunch en route.

Head into Grand Teton National Park, entering the park at Moose to hike along Phelps Lake (we enjoyed bear sightings here), or continue on to Jenny Lake and String Lake for excellent swimming. Park at String Lake for the best kayaking, SUPing, and wading, but get there early in the summer months…it fills up fast. Farther into the park, rent canoes on Jackson Lake or take a horseback ride at Colter Bay Village.

Where to eat:

We’re not foodies. When we travel, we usually want healthy dining options in a casual atmosphere. In Jackson Hole, we love Pizzeria Caldera, MacPhail’s Burgers, and the Snake River Brewing Company. For great coffee and wifi, the Bunnery is our go-to morning location.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we are partnering with Hotels.com to bring you this post on Jackson Hole.

Summer in Big Bear with kids

July 26, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

The town of Big Bear Lake may be Southern California’s favorite snow destination in winter, but this small community has a lot going on in summer, too. An easy drive from San Bernardino, CA, Big Bear is at a respectable 6752 feet in elevation, making it a legit mountain destination for families, with pine forests, wildlife, and plenty of hiking and biking. Here’s what to do and where to stay in summer in Big Bear with kids.

Spend time on the lake with a local:

Big Bear may be a tourist town, but it’s also a thriving year-round community that draws unique individuals to the mountain lifestyle. You can often find these residents at local watering holes (read on for a list), but the best way to tap into this great resource if you have kids in tow is to get out on the lake with Captain John. Captain John’s marina is located on the ‘quiet’ side of the lake in Fawnskin, right on North Shore Drive. He offers paddle boarding and boat rentals, but also guided tours of the lake in his own Duffy boat, which I highly recommend. Yes, you can sail with John himself, who has lived in Big Bear for decades. John is a wealth of knowledge about the area, and gives a great overview of the lake’s history in a way that will entertain everyone. Boat tours are approximately $20 per person, which is a great deal for what you get. Bonus: after or before your boat trip, play a round of frisbee golf on-site, for free!

Play on Snow Summit:

During winter, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain (now under the umbrella of Mammoth Mountain) provide a great place to teach kids how to ski. In summer, Snow Summit is the place for hiking, mountain biking, and chair lift rides. Lift tickets are available for single trips (for hiking down or simply eating a meal at the on-mountain restaurant), or available per day, for lift-served mountain biking.

Snow Summit has a full-service bike rental shop with Trek bikes designed specifically for single track mountain biking trails, which also rents out helmets and pads. Once on the lift, there are several gravity-based single track trails to choose from. Coming down the face of the mountain, the trails are intermediate and advanced (blue and black), but a green to blue option is available along Skyline (turning left at the top). If you’re a beginning mountain biker, get a lesson and ask about the skill builder park, a smaller track set up near the base area for practicing on terrain and features. Freeride and downhill bike rentals start at $68 for three hours for kids and $93 for adults (all day rentals also available), and lift tickets are $44 and $27 (child).

As an intermediate mountain biker, I loved the blue trails, both for the challenge of the terrain and the wooded, mountain setting. We stayed cool in the forest, and experienced mostly downhill with only a few climbs (all the better for stretching out the run). It took us the better part of an hour to come all the way down (with frequent breaks). Some of Snow Summit’s trails are actually ‘adopted’ from the forest service, which means they’re open to anyone to bike up and down without a lift ticket. If you have your own bikes with you and want a workout, ask for directions to the bottom of the forest service trails.

Hiking:

Downhill and uphill hiking are, of course, available at Snow Summit, but many additional options are easily accessible from Big Bear. The Wonderland Trail nature trail is only 1.5 miles (loop) with 20 posted stops.Use it as a self-guided tour to learn about the botany, geology and wildlife of this area. If you’re looking for longer trails, check this resource. If you have young kids, the Discovery Center is a great pit stop, with a nature ‘classroom’ of its own where kids can learn about animal species and ecology, plus an indoor area staffed with knowledgable volunteers. Note: this center is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo:

I never recommend a zoo unless I’ve checked it out personally and feel it cares properly for its animals The Big Bear Alpine Zoo has a misleading name, because it’s actually a rescue center for animals who cannot live in the wild due to injury or other situations. The staff is caring and knowledgable, and the small zoo is filled with shaded, well-maintained enclosures with grizzly bears, black bears, dear, raccoons, bald eagles, mountain lions, wolves, foxes, and many other animals. Plan to spend about an hour here! Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for kids, and you can know it’s going to a good cause.

Where to stay:

You can’t do Big Bear Lake justice in just a day. Plan to spend a long weekend in Big Bear with kids at The Lodge at Big Bear Lake. This hotel offers pretty standard rooms and a decent outdoor pool, but wins in our book because of the excellent made-to-order included breakfast at the attached restaurant. It’s also located in the heart of town, so families can easily walk to restaurants and shops.

Where to eat:

Like many small mountain towns, Big Bear Lake has many options for families. Throughout the walkable downtown core, you’ll find plenty of candy and ice cream shops, coffee shops, and restaurants. The best, according to us:

The Pines: for fine dining on the lake (date night, maybe?) The Pines takes great pride in its menu and has multiple specials per night. Locals tell us you could return many times before ever ordering the same thing twice. The Pines frequently has live music as well. 350 Alden Rd, Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake Brewing Company: This brewery is located right downtown and has indoor and outdoor seating. We recommend Mom and Dad order a beer flight to share, and everyone will love the burgers and salads. If the kids get restless, you can show them the brewing room (open to walk into). 40827 Stone, Big Bear Lake

Moonridge Coffee Company: Moonridge Coffee is located near the zoo, and is a charming and cozy coffee shop run by owners originally from Sisters, Oregon. 42646 Moonridge Rd, Big Bear Lake

Grown-up bars recommended by local Captain John:

I promised to list a few watering holes recommended by Big Bear local and boat captain John. When you go on a boat tour, ask him for his recommendations yourself, but these are a few ideas he gave me. Bonus: Captain John plays music at many of these venues on various nights of the week, sometimes with his local friend and musician Art Harriman.

Whisky Dave’s: 40740 Village Dr, Big Bear Lake

Captain’s Anchorage: 42148 Moonridge Way, Big Bear Lake

Murray’s Saloon: 672 Cottage Ln, Big Bear Lake

Directions:

Big Bear Lake is easily accessible from all points in Southern California. It’s one hour from San Bernardino on Highway 330 to Highway 18.

Pin for later!

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced Big Bear Lake as a guest of the destination, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Estes Park with kids: What to do in downtown Estes Park

September 27, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

While you’re in Estes Park with kids enjoying the mountains, be sure to carve out some time to explore the downtown area of this fabulous destination.

Fun City:

I would be remiss if I didn’t start with Estes Park’s ultimate kid-friendly attraction; it was the place my kids remembered best from our first trip, and the place they most wanted to return to. With burlap sack and 3-story twisty slides, miniature golf, go-karts, bumper boats, and more, this is a place you won’t want to miss. And trust me, you couldn’t miss it, even if you wanted to. It’s right next to the highway on the way to Bear Lake. Pricing is per attraction, and you load a swipe card in advance. Take advantage of the value cards—$57 worth of rides for $50, or $120 for $100.

Feeding the Family:

For low-fuss, fast-service food, try Bob & Tony’s Pizza (124 W. Elkhorn). The pizza is decent and the atmosphere is fabulous, with walls of signed bricks and an arcade with pool, air hockey, foosball and racing games at the back. You order and pick up at the counter, so it’s very low-fuss and family-friendly.

If you’re more in the mood for burgers, go for Penelope’s World Famous Burgers, which really are pretty scrumptious, though you’ll pay more for the quality. It’s a fun, old-fashioned place with small tables and a modern version of a jukebox. (229 W. Elkhorn)

Sugar Rush:

What downtown tourist area would be complete without a slew of sweet shops? The Danish Cone factory makes waffle cones on site; several others offer big, soft cookies and candy-making. There’s also a taffy shop, and don’t forget the old-fashioned candy store, which sells bulk candy by the piece or by the pound, including some you haven’t seen since you were a kid. (Candy cigarettes, anyone?)

Shopping:

Kitschy t-shirts, pens, mugs, wind chimes, blown glass, Disney figurines, bohemian clothes, toys—you name it, you can probably find it in downtown Estes. Naturally, this means Downtown Estes Park gets very busy in the summertime, with foot traffic on the sidewalks competing with the stream of cars headed to the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. There’s lots of free parking, but prepared for slow traffic. Estes Park has a free shuttle; take advantage of it if you can. One thing I liked was the fact that the city has officers directing traffic at the major intersections in the downtown, and every cycle of the lights, they stop vehicle traffic so that pedestrians can cross—diagonally, even!

Free with kids:

Let’s be honest: with kids, ‘free’ is an important consideration.

Pikas in the Park: Keep the kids active and entertained trying to puzzle out the clues that help them complete this downtown scavenger hunt for bronze statues of the tiny mammal known as a pika.
The Riverwalk: Lining the back side of the main shopping drag, you’ll find this lovely pathway, with sculptures, fountains, and places to sit and watch the rushing mountain stream tumble past rounded rocks. You’ll also find a small play structure, too.
Performance Park: Just west of the downtown strip, this lovely amphitheater sits alongside Fall River. During the high season, there are free concerts on Thursday nights here. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
The Birch Ruins inhabit an outcropping above downtown, with gorgeous views of Lake Estes and both the major corridors into the national Park. The walking trail, accessed from the parking lot behind the police station, takes you through a small nature preserve and then up the hill to the ruins.

Doing ‘grownup stuff’ with kids in tow:

For the most part, even the adult attractions in Estes Park are refreshingly kid-friendly. To wit:

The Slab, a no-frills, good-food outdoor pub which offers lawn games, Bingo, and Jenga as well as live music and adult beverages.
Snowy Peaks Winery, just a stone’s throw from Fun City, which lets kids do juice tastings while their parents taste the more fermented variety. They also have a play room in one corner and a lounge area with tons of board games. If you get rained out, take the family, buy a glass of Colorado wine, and spend a couple of hours together.

What are your “must-do” items in Estes Park?

Best Mountain Towns: Breckenridge Colorado

October 26, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Yes, Breckenridge, Colorado could certainly fall into Pit Stops for Kids’ Best Ski Towns category; however, this resort town truly is a four-season destination. While it’s best known for winter sports, Breckenridge shines in the warmer months as well, boosting hiking, rafting, biking, and lots of storied history.

Here’s what to do with kids and without in Breckenridge, truly a Best Mountain Town.

For all ages:

Hiking: The Tenmile Range, plenty of 14-ers, and a network of in-town hiking trails give families an entire vacation’s worth of hiking at their fingertips. We love that parents with young kids can access trails like the Burro Trail directly from Main Street in town, whereas serious hikers will be quite challenged at higher elevations. See our entire post on hiking in Breckenridge with kids.

Shopping and eating: Always important activities on a vacation, shopping and dining options abound on Breckenridge’s Main Street and the blocks surrounding. Read our post on where to eat in Breckenridge, and be sure to take the time to walk along the Blue River Rec Path, taking in the fall colors in autumn and enjoying the snow in winter.

Skiing: Of course, Breckenridge Ski Resort is omnipresent in and around town. The peaks of this world class resort span across the town, and lift access is available at multiple points (making many lodging choices ski-in, ski-out. In addition to downhill skiing, Breckenridge’s hiking trails become snow shoe and nordic ski trails in winter. Pick up rental equipment at any one of a vast number of sporting goods stores in town.

Bike riding: There are miles of mountain bike trails around town (more on that below) but for families who don’t want to tackle this extreme sport, the Recreational Bike Path is paved, and connects Breckenridge with Frisco and even Keystone. Families can rent bikes and trailers and spend a day on the path. A rec bike path also winds through town, adjacent to the Blue River. Family tip: For families that pedal together, take a ride from the gate along Boreas Pass Road. It’s an old railroad grade, so the climb is mellow and you’ll see incredible views not far from where you start. The best part? It’s all downhill back to the car.

Historical tours and sites: Everywhere you go in Breckenridge, you’re surrounded by early settler and mining history. Families can see remnants of mining on the area’s trails: an easy hike on the short but beautiful Reiling Drudge Trail boosts an actual drudge and hydraulic mining area, and a longer, steeper hike on the Spruce Creek loop yields mining cabins and an old bull wheel.

Tip! Kids and adults will love the zipline and Gold Runner Coaster at the Fun Park. For history on the town, families can participate in gold mine tours and try their hand at gold panning. There’s also an array of outdoor activities for families to enjoy including, full moon rafting, summer dog sledding, fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding and more.

In town, stop at the Breckenridge Welcome Center on Main Street to tour an excellent and free museum on the town’s mining history. Next, go to the Edwin Carter Discovery Center, where kids learn about one of the area’s first naturalists, and the Barney Ford Victorian Home, also both free. The latter offers a living history tour of the home of Barney L. Ford, an escaped slave who made his fortune in the West. His is an inspiring story for both kids and parents (one tidbit: his mother stole a dictionary for him, hoping it would lead to a better life). There’s also a schoolhouse replica in his home.

If you have school-aged kids, consider booking a walking tour with the Heritage Alliance. Tours are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, and take about an hour and a half. Our guide taught us about the historical buildings in town we didn’t even realize were of significance, and toured us through two 1880s homes not open to the general public. It was absolutely interesting and relevant to kids of about eight and up. See all tours offered.

Check out the Country Boy Mine, just outside of downtown, to tour an actual mine shaft and learn about mining conditions for miners in the late 1800s. Best for older kids who are not afraid of the dark!

For families with young kids:

Be sure to take time while walking along Main Street to play at the small but inventive playground at the River Walk and River Walk Square. In summer, kids can wade in the Blue River here, too, jumping between the stones. The Breckenridge Mountain Top Children’s Museum sits adjacent to the ski village, within easy walking distance of Main Street, and is a good option during bad weather.

For families with older kids:

Rent mountain bikes if you’re family is comfortable on trails, and use Breckenridge’s excellent trail network. Trails are rated green, blue, and black, just like on the ski slopes, and are well-marked. Bike rentals can be found throughout town; we opted for Avalanche Sports. We love that you can ride directly from the rental shops (or your lodging) to the trails, but there are also trailheads with parking lots if you’re coming from further afield. Here are my favorites:

Lower Flume: Access the Lower Flume trail directly from town via the recreational bike path (more on that below). From the Breckenridge Recreation Center, follow the path out of town to where it connects with Lower Flume. Or, follow Main Street down to the 7-Eleven, turn right, and access from the recycling center.
Betty’s Trail: Find this intermediate trail right off Reiling Road. It’s just under one mile, and parallels the road most of the way (you won’t get disoriented). While it goes up and down, it’s not too rocky, though you’ll want to take care on the sharp turns.
Turk’s Trail and Reiling Drudge Trail: Further up Reiling, a parking lot offers access to a wider network of trails, including intermediate Turk’s and easy (and short) Reiling Drudge. Turk’s has quite the incline and tends to be rocky, but intermediate to advanced riders will love that it connects to more in the blue category, or can be looped with easy B&B.The Reiling Drudge Trail is fun because of the historical plaques marking remnants of mining history in the area.
XLOU8: My favorite intermediate trail I experienced, XLOU8 can be accessed from the same Reiling Drudge parking lot, and connects to Minnie Mine trail. It’s up and down, fairly free of rocks, and has an interesting mine to ride past.
Pence Miller: This intermediate trail can be accessed directly from Mountain Thunder Lodge via a short access trail. It winds above the resort area at the bottom section of the ski runs.

If you go:

Many families visiting Breckenridge in the summer months rent a car, but if you are flying in and out of Denver and the Breckenridge area is your only stop, a car is not necessary. We like to take Colorado Mountain Express to and from the airport (there’s WiFi onboard, so I can get work done on the drive) and once in town, we can access all hiking and biking via foot or with the Breckenridge Free Ride shuttle, which runs year-round!

Do you love Breckenridge? What time of year do you visit?