Looking for the best things to do on the Oregon Coast? We just finished up a fun family roadtrip along the Oregon coast and decided to share some of our favorite places and activities with you. The Best Things to Do on the Oregon CoastAny good Oregon coast road trip itinerary will start and end with an oceanfront view. Sure, there’s a lot to do here besides taking in the beaches and coastline, but we’ve made special note of can’t miss vistas, plus notes on unique things to do, as well as tips for what to do if it’s raining or the weather’s a little off. Our road trip started in Portland, and then followed the coast from the top of northern Oregon in Astoria, down south and finally ending in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor near the California border. Where to StayWe love the road trip, but we’re not fans of the standard, tired, road trip motel. Wherever we travel, we look for a clean, stylish and affordable place to stay. There’s tons of places to stay in Oregon however clean, affordable, stylish motels are surprisingly hard to find, especially in popular tourist spots like the Oregon coast. When Motel 6 asked us to try out some of their newly renovated properties we were keen to give them a try. The renovated properties have flat screen TVs and stylish bathrooms, plus wood style floors (which I love, as wood seems so much cleaner and fresher than carpet). You can see a map of the renovated properties here. Scroll down to see pics and our take on our favorite Motel 6 in Lincoln City, Oregon. Where to EatThere’s no shortage of great grub in Oregon, but the coast is best known for fresh seafood and, lately, a booming craft beer scene. Plus, as any hard core road tripper will tell you, road trips also mean diner food and lots of it. We also kept this a budget trip, so we made good use of our Motel 6 fridge to self cater. What to see and do on your Oregon Coast road tripWondering what to do on the Oregon Coast? The Pacific Northwest’s Oregon coast is home to rugged cliffs, secret coves, seemingly endless beaches, and amazing marine life. Our route along US Highway 101 takes you from Astoria in the North, all the way down to the California border in the south, traveling past historic lighthouses, charming seaside towns, giant sand dunes, and beautiful state parks. PortlandPortland is Oregon’s largest city, and well known for its cool and hip vibe. It’s a great city to land in but since we were more interested in visiting the coastal areas of Oregon (Portland is over an hour from the nearest beaches), we didn’t spend much time in Portland itself. If you’re interested in visiting Portland, make sure to check out it’s many parks, microbreweries and coffeehouses as well as the iconic Washington Park. AstoriaAstoria is one of my very favorite Oregon coast drive attractions. I’ve stopped by here many times, and love the gritty, historic vibe of this little city. It’ll probably look instantly familiar to you, as Astoria was home to filming plenty of TV shows and movies, from Kindergarten Cop to the Goonies. We had a great meal at Buoy Beer Co., which is perched right on the water, but there are plenty of other cool micro brew pubs here. Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River, and the old harbor is now home to some cool restaurants and fancy hotels. Be sure to check out beautiful Fort Stevens State Park, plus the Military Museum with gun batteries buried in sand dunes. There’s plenty of hiking, biking, camping and a pretty beach near the Peter Iredale 1096 shipwreck. If you’re looking to while a way a little time in town, check out the Astoria column (and it’s great view over the city) as it’s worth a stop, plus the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and the Astoria Riverfront Trolleys are fun as well. You really can’t miss the Astoria-Megler Bridge, with it’s striking steel frame architecture and beautiful views. If you have kids (or you’re a kid at heart), you may want to pop even further North to visit Great Wolf Lodge water park, about two hours north of Portland closer to Seattle. If you take the #5 highway from Portland to Astoria, it’s only an hour out of your way. We stayed a night, and wished we’d had a few more days to spend there! Check prices here. Cannon BeachCannon Beach is one of the most photographed landmarks along the Oregon Coast, and one of the top must-see Oregon coast road trip stops. It may not be the most unique thing to do on the Oregon coast, since it’s so popular, but it’s an absolute must visit. There’s a bustling little town here with some good food (stop by Bruce’s Candy Kitchen for sure), plus the whimsical DragonFire Gallery, and wine and beer tastings at the cute but touristy Wine Shack. The landmark Haystack Rock protrudes 235 feet out of the Pacific, and it’s well worth a visit. The day we visited, it was pouring rain, but we managed to get a break just long enough to see Haystack Rock peeking out among a dark sea and moody storm clouds. Even on a bad day, it’s stunning. On a clear day, take time to walk along Cannon beach itself, which has some wonderful tidal pools, and see Haystack Rock up close. Rockaway BeachRockaway Beach is a charming seaside village of just over 1,000 people with a picturesque beach. Make sure you stop by the Beach Bakeshop for home baked and delicious treats. I loved the scones, but you can’t go wrong with any of the treats here. Take the time to go down to Rockaway Beach wayside, a cute little beachfront stop with public parking. There’s a playground, restrooms, and the main attraction, a stunning view of the off-shore Twin Rocks. Animal lovers like me love the friendly squirrel family that makes its home here. You can also catch a ride on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad here, or in nearby Garibaldi below. GaribaldiIf you enjoy trains like me, or just like taking a relaxing ride with great scenery, check out the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. It’s a slow ride with plenty of stops in a historic 1925 steam train. The train runs from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach (you can depart from either town). If you have time, the Garibaldi boat basin is also a fun place to take a stroll and check out the working docks and boats. Tillamook CreameryHonestly, we stopped by the Tillamook Creamery on a whim because it was rainy and we were looking for a break from the rain. Turns out, it’s a huge tourist attraction, with a packed parking lot, and a remodeled interior. On the plus side, there’s free cheese tasting that makes the wait well worth it. There’s a new building, with the sampling area upstairs, and a huge gift shop with Tillamook things to purchase. Lincoln CityWe spent a good chunk of our time in Lincoln City, one of the most popular small towns along the Oregon Coast. There’s a great mix here of stunning scenery, cool shops, great food, and plenty of activities. The top draw here is the beaches, which stretch for seemingly endless miles along the coast. They’re perfect for beach combing, playing in tidal pools, and long, leisurely walks. We spent time both on the beach in town (which we accessed near Chinook Winds Casino) and Siletz Bay beach. Siletz Bay beach is long and packed with driftwood and tons of people enjoying campfires along the water. There’s also tons of harbor seals and lots of people crabbing and clamming along the mud flats in the area. Make sure to stop by Eleanor’s Undertow at the public beach access in Siletz Bay for some delicious ice cream. We spent a few days in Lincoln City riding out a blast of rainy weather, and found some fun indoor things to do in town. There’s a decent movie theater, and a smallish outlet mall, but we really loved Prehistoric. This small shop dinosaur themed shop specializes in authentic and manufactured fossils, plus has a cool selection of gemstones. There’s also a cheesy but fun animatronic baby T-Rex out front that the kids loved. We had a great breakfast at the Pig n’ Pancake, which serves typical breakfast American fare and makes a great waffle. The rest of the time we grabbed some to-go meals at the local Safeway and IGA grocery stores and heated them up in our motel microwave. While we were in Lincoln Beach, we stayed in the the newly renovated Motel 6. Forget whatever you think about motels – this was a clean, stylish and affordable place to stay with some rooms overlooking the Oregon bay. This motel is part of Motel 6’s newly renovated properties and even the furniture here was a little different, with a clean, comfortable and contemporary style. We’ve long been fans of the Motel 6 renovated properties. We stay at the Swift Current, Saskatchewan, property almost every year on our yearly road trip to visit family in Western Canada. It’s a great value and we love the clean and simple lines! Depoe BayJust south of Lincoln City is Depoe Bay, one of the best places in Oregon to watch whales. Most people go to see the nearly 20,000 gray whales that migrate from mid-December through mid-January on the way to Baja Mexico or in March to see them migrating back up north. There are plenty of tour companies that will take you out on the water, but the Whale Watching Center is a great place to start. You can watch from the windows to catch a glimpse of orcas, humpback whales, dolphins, and even the occasional blue whale. Ainslee’s Salt Water Taffy is well worth a stop to curb a sweet craving and there are stunning views from Tidal Raves if you’re up for a seafood meal. Devils PunchbowlJust south of Depoe Bay, on your way down to Newport, lies the Devils Punchbowl State Park. The walk to the Devils Punchbowl is only safe at low tide, but the walk itself is a wide and fairly easy stroll. There’s a small waterfall, and plenty of tide pools for exploring. Do not hike to the Punchbowl during high tide, as it’s dangerous!
Nye Beach, NewportNye Beach is a wonderful place to hunker down for the night. It’s a scenic beach town with lovely bakeries and bookstore. The Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach is a local’s favorite for, you guessed it, fresh chowder. If you tire of the small town vibe, nearby Newport offers plenty of activities and food options. Newport also has two historic lighthouses that are worth checking out. One is called the Yaquina Bay lighthouse and the other is the Yaquina Head lighthouse. Newport is also known as the Dungeness crab capital of the world, so it may be worthwhile to take in some seafood at the highly recommended Local Ocean Seafoods while you’re there. On your way from Newport to Cape Perpetua, stop by the cute The Chocolate Frog shop for homemade candy, saltwater taffy or ice cream.
Cape PerpetuaCape Perpetua offers a stunning view over the local coastline. This is dramatic coastline, with scenic attractions with names like Devil’s Churn and Thor’s Well, which are both worth a visit. If you’re looking for something less dramatic, stop by the cute Little Log Church. Nearby, you’ll find craft beer at Yachats Brewing + Farmstore. FlorenceThe sea lion caves in Florence are a series of interconnected caves and caverns about 11 miles south of Florence. It’s a privately owned sanctuary, so there’s a charge to enter. It’s a wild place, the USA’s largest sea cave and a year-round home to the Steller sea lion. Take time for the easy hike nearby at the pretty tree covered Hobbit Trail to the ocean. Heceta Head LighthouseHeceta Head Lighthouse was built back in the 1890’s and is as charming and historic as that date suggests. It’s still active, and you can visit at night to see the lighthouse in action. Oregon Dunes National Recreation AreaThe Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is the largest stretch of coastal sand dunes in North America. Sand dunes tower up to 500 feet above sea level, and are perfect for ATV play, hiking, sand boarding and sightseeing. The Oregon Dunes Visitor Center near Reedsport is a great place to start, and packed with information about local wildlife and activities.
Shore Acres State ParkShore Acres is a chance to immerse yourself in Oregon’s flora and fauna. Set among sandstone cliffs, there are two rose gardens and a Japanese garden. Plus, you can see one of the tallest trees in the world here. It’s a 95-foot tall Monterey Pine that has a massive 208-inch round trunk. Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic CorridorThis is a stunning 12 mile long stretch of shore almost to the California border. Photos taken here are stunning, and there are stone formations like Arch Rock and Natural Bridges that are all worth a look. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as far south as this on our Oregon coast road trip this time however it’s on our must see list for our next trip down to California. Have you visited the Oregon coast? What were your favorite things to do? Let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear! from The Barefoot Nomad https://www.thebarefootnomad.com/north-america/the-best-things-to-do-on-the-oregon-coast-for-an-incredible-vacation/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/175356942383
0 Comments
from Extreme Hotels Cabarete https://extremehotels.com/when-is-the-best-time-to-visit-cabarete/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/175279245178 One of the greatest natural wonders of the world lies just 15 kilometers off the Australian coast. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is an amazing living mass of vivid colored coral that stretches over 2300 km (1400 miles). It begins just north of Queensland’s Cape York and continues down past the city of Bundaberg. The Great Barrier Reef lies between 15 to 60 kilometers just off of Australia’s east coast in the aptly named Coral Sea. Interesting Facts About the Great Barrier Reef in AustraliaWhen we last toured Australia, we not only visited the reef, we also did some amazing diving and snorkeling while we were in the state of Queensland. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a good digital underwater camera back then (GoPro’s didn’t even exist yet!), however we do have memories that will last a lifetime. As our kids get older and their fascination with the land down under continues to grow, we put together a post on some of our personal memories of the reef and then tied it in with some fun facts about the amazing Great Barrier reef in Australia for your enjoyment. Read on to learn more interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef. They’re definitely a great reason to go visit! If you’re thinking of heading out there, that there’s no time like the present to plan a holiday to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is hugeAt over 2300 kilometers in length (1400 miles) and up to 65 kilometers wide (40 miles) in some parts, the Great Barrier Reef is the single largest living structure on earth. In all, it covers an area of 344,400 km2 (132,973 m2). How huge is it?The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing that can be seen from space. It’s longer than the Great Wall of China and nearly half the size of Texas, plus it’s bigger than the UK, Holland and Switzerland combined. How many islands are there?The area known as the Great Barrier Reef also includes 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and around 150 inshore mangrove islands. How deep is the Great Barrier Reef?The Great Barrier Reef has an average depth of 35 meters (115 feet) inshore while the outer reefs can extend down to depths of more than 2000 meters (6562 feet). Personal Note: As we traveled down the eastern coast of Australia and checked out the small towns that dotted the sshore, signs for day trips out to the reef appeared everywhere. They must have worked, because we went out to the reef several times as we headed south down towards Sydney. All together, our six month Australian road trip was a ton of fun and of course, our best dive in Australia happened on the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has a lot of lifeWith over 3000 separate reefs, each with their own ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef has a ton of diversity. In fact, nearly 10% of the world’s total fish species can be found within the Great Barrier Reef system itself. What animals live in the Great Barrier Reef?Curious to what lives there? Here’s a quick breakdown of the species you can find on the Great Barrier Reef. The largest concentration of dugong on earth – The dugong is closely related to the manatee or sea cow and is a relative of the elephant. 6 species of sea turtle – Not only are six of the seven known sea turtles found here, the reef is also the largest green turtle breeding ground in the world.
15 species of sea snakes – Yes, they are crazily poisonous, but attacks are almost non existent.
30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises – Everything from iconic humpback whales to playful bottlenose dolphins can be found at the Great Barrier Reef. 100 species of jellyfish – Including the very poisonous box jellyfish for which you need a special lycra suit to protect yourself with if they’re in season. 134 species of sharks and rays – The most common being the harmless white-tip or black-tip reef sharks.
300 species of soft coral – Over one third of all soft coral in the world exists within the area of the Great Barrier Reef.
330 species of ascidians or sea squirts – Small round shaped animals that attach to rock or coral and look like a tube swaying in the current. 400 species of hard coral – As hard coral dies, its skeleton forms the base on which the next hard coral builds for generations upon generations.
500 species of worm – Think colorful fan shaped ones as well as little spiraled ones rather than the earth variety. 1300 species of crustaceans – Besides for the ubiquitous crab, the reefs also contain the mantis shrimp, famous for it bullet fast punches that have been known to break glass.
1600 species of fish – From small Nemo inspired clownfish all to the way up to 8 foot, 800 pound groupers, the Great Barrier Reef is teeming with fish of all shapes, colors and sizes. 3000 species of mollusk and clams – Including the giant clam which can grow over four feet long and weigh more than 500 pounds and live over 100 years. Personal Note: As we dove and snorkeled around the Great Barrier Reef, we saw some of the largest concentrations of fish in one area that we had ever experienced as divers. It’s amazing that an area can yield such a diversity. We also saw some enormous groupers and only found out that saltwater crocodiles can also be found out there after witnessing one swimming below us as we walked along the pier on the beach. Who knew! *Icons made by Freepik via Flaticon How old is the Great Barrier Reef?At over 500,000 years old, the Great Barrier Reef has seen some crazy changes over the years. From droughts and ice ages to population booms and busts it has stood the test of time. That being said, this current “version” of the reef is only around 8,000 years old. There was an ice age in the region around 20,000 years ago and the water levels dropped nearly 200 feet (61 meters) from today’s height. As the glaciers eventually melted and the sea water rose again, they left behind small dunes which helped form part of the Great Barrier Reef we know today. Want to read more about crazy Australian facts and our trip there? Check out this post about interesting facts on Australia we wrote back in January. Coral breeding on the Great Barrier Reef is synchronizedNo, the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t have a clock but if it did, that would explain its yearly breeding event. During certain moon phases and for only a few nights a year in late October or early November, the Great Barrier Reef is home to the largest synchronized breeding event in the world. On these rare low current nights, billions of red, white and pink coral eggs and sperm are all simultaneously released over the span of the reef. The entire Great Barrier Reef is literally alive as all the different coral species of egg and sperm find each other and begin life anew. Each fertilized egg can theoretically start its own colony and the tiny coral joins the thousands of other minute fish species that comprise plankton as it matures and seeks it own home along the reef and beyond.
Personal note: We missed this event by only a few days when we were there and it’s still on my diving bucket list to witness the phenomenon firsthand. The Great Barrier Reef is an UNESCO Heritage SiteUNESCO listed the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site in 1981. The reef has also been protected one way or another since the creation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 1975. These days, the Australian government spends over $200 million each year tending and protecting it. As such, it is one of the best protected environments on the planet with lots of rules and regulations delegating everything from no boat to no fishing zones. Over 2 million people visit each yearWith over 900 tour operators and 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, over two million visitors check out the area annually, bringing in over $5.6 billion each year to the Australian economy and creating over 70,000 jobs. Personal Note: Just like everyone else, we were charged a daily fee (Environmental Management Charge or EMC) for visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (it’s currently $6.50 AU for kids age four and up), however I can remember at the time that we truly believed our tour operator was swindling us. Turns out they weren’t! The Great Barrier Reef exists above water tooWhat, you thought reefs only exist below the water? Turns out that the Great Barrier Reef is a complete ecosystem and that includes over 900 islands. Up on land and in the air you can find 215 species of birds (including 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds) living or visiting the many islands as well as the giant blue skinned cassowary which can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and weigh up to 60 kg (130 lb). Like I previously mentioned, large saltwater crocodiles also live in mangrove and salt water marshes along the coast near the reef and some have been seen out on the islands. The islands also contain huge monitor lizards that feed on giant grasshoppers local to the area. If you’re there in the sea turtle season, which runs from November to late March, you might also get a chance to see a sea turtle on shore laying its eggs or perhaps seeing the baby turtles fighting their way back to the sea after hatching. Either way, both can be a magical event. Personal Note: Besides for seeing huge saltwater crocs in the ocean (we never realized that was a thing) we had the opportunity to see some baby sea turtle hatchlings in a local turtle hatchery. As much as we love sea turtles, baby sea turtles are even cooler. Best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef in AustraliaEvery day of the year is a great day to visit the Great Barrier Reef, however there are certain times it’s better if you’re hoping to see certain events. Stinger season happens from November to May. During this time you need to swim inside designated stinger enclosures at the beaches or wear a lycra stinger suit. If you’re diving or snorkeling they’ll give you a suit to wear or a typical wetsuit will do you fine. Just be careful taking it off or rinsing it down after just in case you had a jelly fish encounter and didn’t realize it. Turtle season runs from late November to late March. This is the perfect time to go if you hope to see a sea turtle on land. Go early and you might see a turtle laying, go in February and you might see some hatching. Wet season generally runs from December to May and is considered the low season which means better specials, but it’s more likely to rain and the weather can get quite hot. Either is fine if you’re diving but you could get wet and you will get hot while exploring topside. Dry season generally runs from June to November and has lower day time temperatures, humidity and less rainfall. This is considered high season around the Great Barrier Reef, so there are more visitors and less tour availability. Coral spawning season happens over the course of 2 or 3 nights in late October to early November and depends on temperature, ocean currents and the moon phase. Its exact timing varies from year to year however they all involve one thing. Going out to do some night time diving and a little luck. Whale season happens from May to September with many Dwarf Minke Whale encounters happening in June and July. Tours for the ever playful humpback whale typically happen in August and September and dolphin sightings happen year round if you’re likely. No matter when you head there, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia has an amazing collection of underwater species that will leave you yearning to return time and time again. Whether you’re a diver, a snorkeler or just love nature, if you’re planning on taking a holiday to Australia, you should definitely check out the Great Barrier Reef for yourself. You won’t be disappointed! Since we regrettably don’t have many pictures of our time at the reef, some pics are courtesy of Tourism Queensland as well as Pexels. from The Barefoot Nomad https://www.thebarefootnomad.com/travel-blogs/fun-and-interesting-facts-about-the-great-barrier-reef-in-australia/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/175155468443 Family Beach Games in CabareteTime for some fun in the sun with the whole family this summer with our top beach activities.Whether the kids are still little tots or all grown up, family vacations are the ideal time to make some irreplaceable memories together. Our front yard happens to be the perfect place with a spacious sandy playground that the entire family can enjoy. So you can enjoy to its full potential, we’ve compiled our favorite family beach games in Cabarete that are fun, simple and won’t break the bank! Beach Frisbee GolfThis is one of our favorites as it’s so easy, straightforward and will keep you entertained for hours. All you need is a frisbee and some targets. The targets can be pretty much anything you can find, towels, leaves, trees, rocks, shoes … anything! The same as golf, the aim is to get a hole in one or land your frisbee on the target in the minimal amount of throws possible. The best is you can make it as many holes/targets as you wish! Water Bucket RelayFor the energetic families, the water bucket relay is a whole lot of fun and giggles! Set up an empty bucket around 5m from the shoreline (or more or less depending on how much running you want to do). Contestants queue behind the bucket as one person at a time sprints to the ocean with a cup, fills it, runs back and pours it in the bucket. The first team with a full up bucket wins! Beach BowlingIf you have your own fancy bowling set, then great! If not, you can reuse some plastic bottles with a little sand in the bottom for some epic beach bowling. Start off by flattening and marking out your sand alley, set your pins up and voila! Bowling balls won’t roll too well on sand and are not so great to travel with so we recommend a foot or volleyball! This will keep the family entertained for hours and the flat sandy area right out front of our condos is the perfect spot for it! Sand BuildingOk ok, so this one is a little vague but with sand, you can let your imagination run totally wild! From boats, cars, planes, animals, castles, forts, whatever you’re thinking, it’s doable. And for the mums, it’s a great way to keep dad and kids entertained whilst you enjoy some much deserved quiet time on your family vacation. We’ve added some sandcastle inspiration for you below.
Pong Beach RaceOur gently sloping beach out front of our condos makes the perfect race track for pong beach racing! Divide the group into pairs and give each pair a ping pong ball. One person will dig a channel for the ball to roll down to the water. The other person will collect and pour water into the channel to roll the ball down to the finish line. Be careful not to put too much water in, if the ball floats out of the channel, you have to start again!
These are just 5 of our favorite family beach games in Cabarete, but we’d love to add more activities to our repertoire. Let us know your favorites in the comments below. The post Family Beach Games in Cabarete appeared first on Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos. from Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos https://cabaretecondos.com/family-beach-fun-in-cabarete/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/175073966793 Family Beach Games in CabareteTime for some fun in the sun with the whole family this summer with our top beach activities.Whether the kids are still little tots or all grown up, family vacations are the ideal time to make some irreplaceable memories together. Our front yard happens to be the perfect place with a spacious sandy playground that the entire family can enjoy. So you can enjoy to its full potential, we’ve compiled our favorite family beach games in Cabarete that are fun, simple and won’t break the bank! Beach Frisbee GolfThis is one of our favorites as it’s so easy, straightforward and will keep you entertained for hours. All you need is a frisbee and some targets. The targets can be pretty much anything you can find, towels, leaves, trees, rocks, shoes … anything! The same as golf, the aim is to get a hole in one or land your frisbee on the target in the minimal amount of throws possible. The best is you can make it as many holes/targets as you wish! Water Bucket RelayFor the energetic families, the water bucket relay is a whole lot of fun and giggles! Set up an empty bucket around 5m from the shoreline (or more or less depending on how much running you want to do). Contestants queue behind the bucket as one person at a time sprints to the ocean with a cup, fills it, runs back and pours it in the bucket. The first team with a full up bucket wins! Beach BowlingIf you have your own fancy bowling set, then great! If not, you can reuse some plastic bottles with a little sand in the bottom for some epic beach bowling. Start off by flattening and marking out your sand alley, set your pins up and voila! Bowling balls won’t roll too well on sand and are not so great to travel with so we recommend a foot or volleyball! This will keep the family entertained for hours and the flat sandy area right out front of our condos is the perfect spot for it! Sand BuildingOk ok, so this one is a little vague but with sand, you can let your imagination run totally wild! From boats, cars, planes, animals, castles, forts, whatever you’re thinking, it’s doable. And for the mums, it’s a great way to keep dad and kids entertained whilst you enjoy some much deserved quiet time on your family vacation. We’ve added some sandcastle inspiration for you below.
Pong Beach RaceOur gently sloping beach out front of our condos makes the perfect race track for pong beach racing! Divide the group into pairs and give each pair a ping pong ball. One person will dig a channel for the ball to roll down to the water. The other person will collect and pour water into the channel to roll the ball down to the finish line. Be careful not to put too much water in, if the ball floats out of the channel, you have to start again!
These are just 5 of our favorite family beach games in Cabarete, but we’d love to add more activities to our repertoire. Let us know your favorites in the comments below. The post Family Beach Games in Cabarete appeared first on Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos. from Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos https://cabaretecondos.com/family-beach-fun-in-cabarete/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/175072557518 On our recent family trip to Colorado, we enjoyed some of the most fun kid friendly things to do in Colorado Springs. We had a few great days seeing everything Colorado Springs has to offer and loved our sunshine filled days exploring this part of Colorado, USA. On this trip we rode a train, spelunked in a massive cave system, fed giraffes, played on water slides, explored nature, climbed a mountain, swam in giant pools, ate at some delicious restaurants and ran wild in a former elementary school. It was a great experience, and since it was just my son Cole and I representing the family on this trip, we spent some amazing time together getting a chance to further strengthen our already great relationship. Read on to see our top picks for family fun! Kid Friendly Things To Do in Colorado Springs: Day 1So what kids activities did we enjoy in Colorado Springs? Well, the first day we rode a cog train up North America’s most visited mountain, Pikes Peak. We then wandered through the beautiful Garden of the Gods. Next, we descended to the depths in the Cave of the Winds and we ate s’mores as well as went on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs. And that was only a small portion of our time.
The second day we had breakfast and a pint in the re-purposed sprawling Ivywild School, fed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and finally relaxed in class and comfort at the sprawling Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Sound like fun? It was, and now here’s the lowdown on all the fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs. Ride a cog train up Pikes Peak in Colorado SpringsThe entrance to Pike’s Peak is just 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs in quirky and charming Manitou Springs. Hosting nine natural mineral springs and a collection of spiritualists, visiting Manitou Springs itself can be a great way to get the kids drinking water while you do the Springsabouts Walking Tour and sample the varieties of water the springs offer (and yes, each spring does taste different). The entrance to Pike’s Peak highway is also found in Manitou Springs and though you can drive yourself up to the summit of Pike’s Peak (it’s about 19 miles of crazy switchbacks), or climb the 13 mile long Barr Trail (only for the fit and bold), we chose to go up via the old Pikes Peak Cog Railway train that runs year round (weather permitting). Once we picked up our tickets and determined our departure time, we got in line and jumped into one of the three open aired coaches our train provided for that run. Luckily for us, the windows close because, as we got closer to the peak, our very hot day suddenly became much, much cooler. On the way up the 14,115 foot summit of America’s most famous mountain, we saw waterfalls and rock formations, old miner cabins and a post office. We also saw deer and about 2/3rds of the way up we saw a bunch of yellow- bellied marmots known locally as whistle pigs. These huge woodchuck shaped ground squirrel relatives were fun to watch and the kids loved spotting them. Some days you can also spot bighorn sheep and even black bears.
Once you get to the summit of Pikes Peak, which takes just over an hour each way, you can stretch your legs and walk around the top before the Pikes Peak cog railway returns you to the bottom. The entire trip lasts three hours and 10 minutes, so it makes a great morning or afternoon getaway. Up on Pikes Peak, you’ll find washrooms (there are none on the train so make sure you go before you leave) as well as a snack bar featuring some unique donuts (they had to be specially crafted to rise at a high elevation) and also a gift shop. Other than that, the view in all directions is simply beautiful so make sure you have a camera with you.
Descend to the depths in the Cave of the Winds in Colorado SpringsWhile we were in Manitou Springs, we also checked out the infamous Cave of the Winds. These caves were discovered over a century ago by a couple of young brothers and then later explored in depth by a slew of early adventurists. Over the years, as new tunnels have been discovered, the Cave of the Winds has been opened up to the public and is now a major tourist destination. The huge complex features multiple cave trips, two adrenaline inducing aerial lines (the Bat-A-Pult and aptly named Terror-Dactyl free fall) as well as the Wind Walker climbing course that sits directly over a 600 foot drop. It also has a large concession area, a picnic area, a giant slide and a mining station for kids. We did the 45 minute long Discovery Tour and that was perfect for the kids. We walked up and down pathways and also stairs and ladders as we explored everything that a million year old cave system features. We saw tons of stalagmites, stalactites, amazing waterfall like flowstones, fossilized shells and other speleothems (cave decorations). At one point, our guides shut off all the lights and, well, you haven’t experienced darkness until you’ve stood in the middle of a cave a hundred feet below ground. It really made me want to take the special Lantern Tour where the group travels only with handheld lanterns like the early spelunkers and explorers did while telling ghost stories and delving into the caves past. For the truly adventurist, there’s also the well reviewed Cave 101 tour where you strap on your helmets, grab your flashlight and climb and crawl your way through undeveloped caves and smaller passageways. Claustrophobics need not apply for that tour. Wander the Garden of the Gods in Colorado SpringsIf gods roamed gardens, you might find them in this oversize 480 acre garden of giant colored sandstone formations. The Garden of the Gods was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in the early 1900s from the head of the Burlington Railroad, Charles Elliott Perkins, after he passed away. Set forth with strict provisions, the Garden of the Gods nature park is set to remain free for all visitors and free from all structures not prevalent to maintaining the park for all time. As such, you won’t find much in the park except the world class Visitor & Nature Center and the Café at the Garden. It’s simple, but still one of the many fun family things to do in Colorado Springs that’s worth a visit. You can walk around the park, take a Segway tour or, go on an open aired Jeep excursion that drives around the park just like we did. A guide will tell you all about the history of the park and the formations you’re seeing. No matter how you see the Garden of the Gods you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the main 300 foot sandstone formation as well as all the different colors of the smaller formations. Inside the sprawling Visitor & Nature Center is a museum featuring local flora and fauna as well as the cool multi screen Geo-Trekker theater experience explaining how all the red sandstone rocks were formed and how they became part of the amazing scenery. (Shows start every 20 minutes.) Eat s’mores, enjoy waterslides and go on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado SpringsWhat’s the best way to end a long day seeing all the sights and sounds of Colorado Springs? Well, if you’re a kid, or a kid at heart, not much beats water slides and s’mores. The newly opened Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs has that and a lot more and the kids loved ending their day there. The rooms were a huge hit as well with many theme rooms and, every kids fave, bunk beds! On the fun side, not only were there indoor water slides for the whole family, but there is an indoor ropes course, indoor mini golf and of course, MagiQuest! All it takes is a special wand and your kids will be running around the huge Great Wolf Lodge waving their magic wands at everything they see as they go on their very own magic quest. Not only that, there are ice cream parlours, candy stores, restaurants, pizza joints, and, luckily for parents, a bar you can sit in, as your kids run around burning off whatever remaining energy they have. The kids might have their own favorite memories of Great Wolf Lodge, but mine will be sharing a few delicious locally produced beers with my fellow parents. To be honest, sitting by the campfire roasting s’mores was definitely a highlight for everyone and we all vowed we would be back to Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs again in the future. And so finished our fist day of fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs. Want to see more things to do in Colorado outside of Denver? Check out our post of fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well. Fun things to do with kids in Colorado Springs: Day 2We had so much fun on our first day in Colorado Springs that the entire group was excited to see what was in store the second day. Luckily for us, it was a little slower than the first day but we all welcomed the relaxed pace and had a good opportunity to enjoy even more things to do with the kids in Colorado Springs. Eat, drink and be merry at the Ivywild School in Colorado SpringsEver had that dream where you’re walking through your old school but it’s not quite as you remember it? Even better, ever dream that your old school has turned into a happening place filled with delicious eateries, micro brewers, art spaces and a movie theater in the gym? Well, the former students of Ivywild sure must when they walk through the revamped Ivywild School in Colorado City. This actual decommissioned school built back in 1916 was on the verge of being torn down in 2009 before an enterprising group of individuals decided that yeah, they could work with it. So a dream became reality and the Ivywild School has been converted into a trendy boutique of shops, eateries and micro pubs with the expansive Bristol Pub headlining the site. The interesting part? They left the majority of the old school in place. Nowhere is that more evident than when walking in and looking at the principals office or seeing the old style urinals and the crazy kids artwork in the boys washroom. Even walking down the halls makes you feel like you should have a hall pass for skipping class, and the fact that you can order dozens of tasty micro brews in old classrooms just highlights the surreal feeling you get while walking through Ivywild School. Kids will love that there’s no teaching at Ivywild School in Colorado City and it will definitely fuel a few daydreams of what their own classroom might look like if they put in a restaurant or a few vats of cider in the broom closet. It also doesn’t hurt that the food you can get at Ivywild School is much, much better than anything I ever got in my school canteen. The hard fact is that the Ivywild’s Old School Bakery had some of the tastiest cinnamon buns I’ve had in some time. Even better, all the eateries in Ivywild School also practice the food to table approach with gardens planted throughout the old schoolyard and close ties with local farmers. It doesn’t get much fresher than that. Feed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado SpringsWhat has four legs, a blue tongue the length of a small child and has to be standing 10 feet below you to look you squarely in the eye? No, it’s not a giant lizard, it’s a giraffe and they’re just one of the many highlights we found while walking around the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The coolest part about having these gentle giants at eye level is you can feed them lettuce right from your hands. It’s still a little unnerving to see those huge giraffe tongues come out but the look of happiness they have as they grab their lunch from you is undeniable. Who knew lettuce could taste so good? As well as hand feeding giraffes from the largest giraffe herd in the Americas, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo you can take a chairlift called the Sky Ride that will have you soaring above it all. Not only do you get some amusing bird’s eye views of the many animals below but you get some amazing views over Cheyenne Mountain and a good portion of the valley around Colorado Springs. Love animals? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has over 750 animals and 170 species from all over the the world. We thought we walked just about everywhere while we there but, as we left, we realized we still hadn’t seen everything. From lions, tigers and snow leopards in the African and Asian exhibits to learning about and interacting with chickens and goats in My Big Backyard, there are tons of things for kids of all ages. They also have some great wildlife encounter shows that get you up close to the animals and we both enjoyed the elephant exhibit and the hippo section. Their monkey and primate section were also quite extensive, especially the gorillas and orangutans. Since the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also the only mountain zoo in America, they also have an extensive collection of local wildlife like mountain lions, grizzly bears, moose, river otters, lynx and porcupines. Even though all these animals exist back home, it’s still nice to see them in an authentic mountain setting. One of the kids favorite areas at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was their walk-through aviary in their Australia section, where you can have budgies and parakeets eating right from the palm of your hand. As you leave this area, you walk through the wallaby walkabout which has small wallabies hopping about freely everywhere around you. We had to usher the kids out of this area otherwise they would have spent all day following the little kangaroos around. Ever dreamed of being a zookeeper? Who hasn’t? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has an area called The Loft where you get to go behind the scenes and see what it takes to make it all happen. From training and weighing, to feeding and cleaning, The Loft is designed from the ground up especially for kids (and would be kids). It’s not only a great space for hands on training and learning, it also preps them for all the responsibilities that comes with taking care of animals themselves. Relax in comfort at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado SpringsEver watch a summer movie of teens hanging on the beach, then playing a little beach volleyball before heading to one of a half dozen different swimming pools, tennis courts or basketball courts while the parents are off enjoying a round of golf or maybe spending the day being pampered at the spa? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that place. It turns out that this huge sprawling mountainside resort with their own private lake is the dream resort of my childhood. Before arcades, wave pools and fancy electronics were a thing, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort would have been my epitome of resort high life. With their own private 35 acre lake complete with a sandy beach, volleyball courts, canoes, kayaks and SUP rentals, they have the outdoor enthusiast covered. They also have an aquatics center complete with four outdoor swimming pools, including a huge 50 m Olympic sized pool with water slide, a splash pad and a kiddie pool as well as an adult only pool and spa. They also have another heated pool in the main complex. If you’re a tennis fan, they do tennis with 17 covered and uncovered tennis courts including two outdoor clay courts. For the fitness buff, there’s an expansive 9000 sq. foot fitness center complete with yoga, spin and cross training group classes. One of the coolest features of Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that the resort has its own championship grade golf course surrounding it that makes this mountain sided, lake adjacent course not only one of the most beautiful in Colorado but also one of the best. With over 300 days of sunshine in Colorado Springs, and separated by the Rocky Mountains from snow loving Denver, you can enjoy golf 365 days of the year here. For the kiddos, they even open the course at night with a mini putt glow golf course. Not only were the grounds beautiful at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, the food was tasty as well. From their award winning Sunday brunches at Mountain View Restaurant, to tasty bites and local brews from Elevations Lounge, I always left the table satisfied. Staying at Cheyenne Mountain Resort was a treat not only for adult me but also for 12 year old me who never got to go to a cool camp in summer. To say that I was a little jealous of my son Cole getting to stay here probably speaks more about the place than all those sentences I just wrote. It’s a lovely place and you and your kids will definitely enjoy it. Some final words about Colorado SpringsWell, that about wraps up our time in Colorado Springs. We saw and experienced some amazing things and my son and I both had a great time checking out everything the area had to offer. If it’s your first time heading to Colorado Springs in Colorado, USA, know that it borders the Rocky Mountains. It’s a gorgeous hilly area with beautiful vistas and stunning plateaus’s around every corner. There are so many great things to do in Colorado Springs with kids that you might just need to come back more than once. That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll discover even more to do the second time. For even more ideas, make sure you check out my previous post on fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well. How to get to Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs is about 70 miles due south of Denver down highway I-25 S. It’s just over an hour by car from the Denver International Airport (DEN) or you can fly directly into Colorado Springs (COS) from 15 cities across the USA. What are you favorite family things to do in Colorado Springs? Let us know; we’d love to hear! Many thanks to Colorado Tourism, who hosted us. We definitely had a great time in Colorado. You guys were the best! from The Barefoot Nomad https://www.thebarefootnomad.com/travel-blogs/kid-friendly-things-to-do-in-colorado-springs/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/174927084378 On our recent family trip to Colorado, we enjoyed some of the most fun kid friendly things to do in Colorado Springs. We had a few great days seeing everything Colorado Springs has to offer and loved our sunshine filled days exploring this part of Colorado, USA. On this trip we rode a train, spelunked in a massive cave system, fed giraffes, played on water slides, explored nature, climbed a mountain, swam in giant pools, ate at some delicious restaurants and ran wild in a former elementary school. It was a great experience, and since it was just my son Cole and I representing the family on this trip, we spent some amazing time together getting a chance to further strengthen our already great relationship. Read on to see our top picks for family fun! Kid Friendly Things To Do in Colorado Springs: Day 1So what kids activities did we enjoy in Colorado Springs? Well, the first day we rode a cog train up North America’s most visited mountain, Pikes Peak. We then wandered through the beautiful Garden of the Gods. Next, we descended to the depths in the Cave of the Winds and we ate s’mores as well as went on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs. And that was only a small portion of our time.
The second day we had breakfast and a pint in the re-purposed sprawling Ivywild School, fed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and finally relaxed in class and comfort at the sprawling Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Sound like fun? It was, and now here’s the lowdown on all the fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs. Ride a cog train up Pikes Peak in Colorado SpringsThe entrance to Pike’s Peak is just 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs in quirky and charming Manitou Springs. Hosting nine natural mineral springs and a collection of spiritualists, visiting Manitou Springs itself can be a great way to get the kids drinking water while you do the Springsabouts Walking Tour and sample the varieties of water the springs offer (and yes, each spring does taste different). The entrance to Pike’s Peak highway is also found in Manitou Springs and though you can drive yourself up to the summit of Pike’s Peak (it’s about 19 miles of crazy switchbacks), or climb the 13 mile long Barr Trail (only for the fit and bold), we chose to go up via the old Pikes Peak Cog Railway train that runs year round (weather permitting). Once we picked up our tickets and determined our departure time, we got in line and jumped into one of the three open aired coaches our train provided for that run. Luckily for us, the windows close because, as we got closer to the peak, our very hot day suddenly became much, much cooler. On the way up the 14,115 foot summit of America’s most famous mountain, we saw waterfalls and rock formations, old miner cabins and a post office. We also saw deer and about 2/3rds of the way up we saw a bunch of yellow- bellied marmots known locally as whistle pigs. These huge woodchuck shaped ground squirrel relatives were fun to watch and the kids loved spotting them. Some days you can also spot bighorn sheep and even black bears.
Once you get to the summit of Pikes Peak, which takes just over an hour each way, you can stretch your legs and walk around the top before the Pikes Peak cog railway returns you to the bottom. The entire trip lasts three hours and 10 minutes, so it makes a great morning or afternoon getaway. Up on Pikes Peak, you’ll find washrooms (there are none on the train so make sure you go before you leave) as well as a snack bar featuring some unique donuts (they had to be specially crafted to rise at a high elevation) and also a gift shop. Other than that, the view in all directions is simply beautiful so make sure you have a camera with you.
Descend to the depths in the Cave of the Winds in Colorado SpringsWhile we were in Manitou Springs, we also checked out the infamous Cave of the Winds. These caves were discovered over a century ago by a couple of young brothers and then later explored in depth by a slew of early adventurists. Over the years, as new tunnels have been discovered, the Cave of the Winds has been opened up to the public and is now a major tourist destination. The huge complex features multiple cave trips, two adrenaline inducing aerial lines (the Bat-A-Pult and aptly named Terror-Dactyl free fall) as well as the Wind Walker climbing course that sits directly over a 600 foot drop. It also has a large concession area, a picnic area, a giant slide and a mining station for kids. We did the 45 minute long Discovery Tour and that was perfect for the kids. We walked up and down pathways and also stairs and ladders as we explored everything that a million year old cave system features. We saw tons of stalagmites, stalactites, amazing waterfall like flowstones, fossilized shells and other speleothems (cave decorations). At one point, our guides shut off all the lights and, well, you haven’t experienced darkness until you’ve stood in the middle of a cave a hundred feet below ground. It really made me want to take the special Lantern Tour where the group travels only with handheld lanterns like the early spelunkers and explorers did while telling ghost stories and delving into the caves past. For the truly adventurist, there’s also the well reviewed Cave 101 tour where you strap on your helmets, grab your flashlight and climb and crawl your way through undeveloped caves and smaller passageways. Claustrophobics need not apply for that tour. Wander the Garden of the Gods in Colorado SpringsIf gods roamed gardens, you might find them in this oversize 480 acre garden of giant colored sandstone formations. The Garden of the Gods was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in the early 1900s from the head of the Burlington Railroad, Charles Elliott Perkins, after he passed away. Set forth with strict provisions, the Garden of the Gods nature park is set to remain free for all visitors and free from all structures not prevalent to maintaining the park for all time. As such, you won’t find much in the park except the world class Visitor & Nature Center and the Café at the Garden. It’s simple, but still one of the many fun family things to do in Colorado Springs that’s worth a visit. You can walk around the park, take a Segway tour or, go on an open aired Jeep excursion that drives around the park just like we did. A guide will tell you all about the history of the park and the formations you’re seeing. No matter how you see the Garden of the Gods you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the main 300 foot sandstone formation as well as all the different colors of the smaller formations. Inside the sprawling Visitor & Nature Center is a museum featuring local flora and fauna as well as the cool multi screen Geo-Trekker theater experience explaining how all the red sandstone rocks were formed and how they became part of the amazing scenery. (Shows start every 20 minutes.) Eat s’mores, enjoy waterslides and go on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado SpringsWhat’s the best way to end a long day seeing all the sights and sounds of Colorado Springs? Well, if you’re a kid, or a kid at heart, not much beats water slides and s’mores. The newly opened Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs has that and a lot more and the kids loved ending their day there. The rooms were a huge hit as well with many theme rooms and, every kids fave, bunk beds! On the fun side, not only were there indoor water slides for the whole family, but there is an indoor ropes course, indoor mini golf and of course, MagiQuest! All it takes is a special wand and your kids will be running around the huge Great Wolf Lodge waving their magic wands at everything they see as they go on their very own magic quest. Not only that, there are ice cream parlours, candy stores, restaurants, pizza joints, and, luckily for parents, a bar you can sit in, as your kids run around burning off whatever remaining energy they have. The kids might have their own favorite memories of Great Wolf Lodge, but mine will be sharing a few delicious locally produced beers with my fellow parents. To be honest, sitting by the campfire roasting s’mores was definitely a highlight for everyone and we all vowed we would be back to Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs again in the future. And so finished our fist day of fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs. Want to see more things to do in Colorado outside of Denver? Check out our post of fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well. Fun things to do with kids in Colorado Springs: Day 2We had so much fun on our first day in Colorado Springs that the entire group was excited to see what was in store the second day. Luckily for us, it was a little slower than the first day but we all welcomed the relaxed pace and had a good opportunity to enjoy even more things to do with the kids in Colorado Springs. Eat, drink and be merry at the Ivywild School in Colorado SpringsEver had that dream where you’re walking through your old school but it’s not quite as you remember it? Even better, ever dream that your old school has turned into a happening place filled with delicious eateries, micro brewers, art spaces and a movie theater in the gym? Well, the former students of Ivywild sure must when they walk through the revamped Ivywild School in Colorado City. This actual decommissioned school built back in 1916 was on the verge of being torn down in 2009 before an enterprising group of individuals decided that yeah, they could work with it. So a dream became reality and the Ivywild School has been converted into a trendy boutique of shops, eateries and micro pubs with the expansive Bristol Pub headlining the site. The interesting part? They left the majority of the old school in place. Nowhere is that more evident than when walking in and looking at the principals office or seeing the old style urinals and the crazy kids artwork in the boys washroom. Even walking down the halls makes you feel like you should have a hall pass for skipping class, and the fact that you can order dozens of tasty micro brews in old classrooms just highlights the surreal feeling you get while walking through Ivywild School. Kids will love that there’s no teaching at Ivywild School in Colorado City and it will definitely fuel a few daydreams of what their own classroom might look like if they put in a restaurant or a few vats of cider in the broom closet. It also doesn’t hurt that the food you can get at Ivywild School is much, much better than anything I ever got in my school canteen. The hard fact is that the Ivywild’s Old School Bakery had some of the tastiest cinnamon buns I’ve had in some time. Even better, all the eateries in Ivywild School also practice the food to table approach with gardens planted throughout the old schoolyard and close ties with local farmers. It doesn’t get much fresher than that. Feed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado SpringsWhat has four legs, a blue tongue the length of a small child and has to be standing 10 feet below you to look you squarely in the eye? No, it’s not a giant lizard, it’s a giraffe and they’re just one of the many highlights we found while walking around the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The coolest part about having these gentle giants at eye level is you can feed them lettuce right from your hands. It’s still a little unnerving to see those huge giraffe tongues come out but the look of happiness they have as they grab their lunch from you is undeniable. Who knew lettuce could taste so good? As well as hand feeding giraffes from the largest giraffe herd in the Americas, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo you can take a chairlift called the Sky Ride that will have you soaring above it all. Not only do you get some amusing bird’s eye views of the many animals below but you get some amazing views over Cheyenne Mountain and a good portion of the valley around Colorado Springs. Love animals? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has over 750 animals and 170 species from all over the the world. We thought we walked just about everywhere while we there but, as we left, we realized we still hadn’t seen everything. From lions, tigers and snow leopards in the African and Asian exhibits to learning about and interacting with chickens and goats in My Big Backyard, there are tons of things for kids of all ages. They also have some great wildlife encounter shows that get you up close to the animals and we both enjoyed the elephant exhibit and the hippo section. Their monkey and primate section were also quite extensive, especially the gorillas and orangutans. Since the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also the only mountain zoo in America, they also have an extensive collection of local wildlife like mountain lions, grizzly bears, moose, river otters, lynx and porcupines. Even though all these animals exist back home, it’s still nice to see them in an authentic mountain setting. One of the kids favorite areas at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was their walk-through aviary in their Australia section, where you can have budgies and parakeets eating right from the palm of your hand. As you leave this area, you walk through the wallaby walkabout which has small wallabies hopping about freely everywhere around you. We had to usher the kids out of this area otherwise they would have spent all day following the little kangaroos around. Ever dreamed of being a zookeeper? Who hasn’t? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has an area called The Loft where you get to go behind the scenes and see what it takes to make it all happen. From training and weighing, to feeding and cleaning, The Loft is designed from the ground up especially for kids (and would be kids). It’s not only a great space for hands on training and learning, it also preps them for all the responsibilities that comes with taking care of animals themselves. Relax in comfort at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado SpringsEver watch a summer movie of teens hanging on the beach, then playing a little beach volleyball before heading to one of a half dozen different swimming pools, tennis courts or basketball courts while the parents are off enjoying a round of golf or maybe spending the day being pampered at the spa? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that place. It turns out that this huge sprawling mountainside resort with their own private lake is the dream resort of my childhood. Before arcades, wave pools and fancy electronics were a thing, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort would have been my epitome of resort high life. With their own private 35 acre lake complete with a sandy beach, volleyball courts, canoes, kayaks and SUP rentals, they have the outdoor enthusiast covered. They also have an aquatics center complete with four outdoor swimming pools, including a huge 50 m Olympic sized pool with water slide, a splash pad and a kiddie pool as well as an adult only pool and spa. They also have another heated pool in the main complex. If you’re a tennis fan, they do tennis with 17 covered and uncovered tennis courts including two outdoor clay courts. For the fitness buff, there’s an expansive 9000 sq. foot fitness center complete with yoga, spin and cross training group classes. One of the coolest features of Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that the resort has its own championship grade golf course surrounding it that makes this mountain sided, lake adjacent course not only one of the most beautiful in Colorado but also one of the best. With over 300 days of sunshine in Colorado Springs, and separated by the Rocky Mountains from snow loving Denver, you can enjoy golf 365 days of the year here. For the kiddos, they even open the course at night with a mini putt glow golf course. Not only were the grounds beautiful at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, the food was tasty as well. From their award winning Sunday brunches at Mountain View Restaurant, to tasty bites and local brews from Elevations Lounge, I always left the table satisfied. Staying at Cheyenne Mountain Resort was a treat not only for adult me but also for 12 year old me who never got to go to a cool camp in summer. To say that I was a little jealous of my son Cole getting to stay here probably speaks more about the place than all those sentences I just wrote. It’s a lovely place and you and your kids will definitely enjoy it. Some final words about Colorado SpringsWell, that about wraps up our time in Colorado Springs. We saw and experienced some amazing things and my son and I both had a great time checking out everything the area had to offer. If it’s your first time heading to Colorado Springs in Colorado, USA, know that it borders the Rocky Mountains. It’s a gorgeous hilly area with beautiful vistas and stunning plateaus’s around every corner. There are so many great things to do in Colorado Springs with kids that you might just need to come back more than once. That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll discover even more to do the second time. For even more ideas, make sure you check out my previous post on fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well. How to get to Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs is about 70 miles due south of Denver down highway I-25 S. It’s just over an hour by car from the Denver International Airport (DEN) or you can fly directly into Colorado Springs (COS) from 15 cities across the USA. What are you favorite family things to do in Colorado Springs? Let us know; we’d love to hear! Many thanks to Colorado Tourism, who hosted us. We definitely had a great time in Colorado. You guys were the best! from The Barefoot Nomad http://www.thebarefootnomad.com/travel-blogs/kid-friendly-things-to-do-in-colorado-springs/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/174896616538 Sea Horse Ranch Tennis Club in CabareteThe Tennis Club at Sea Horse Ranch invites you to participate in its new program. Do you want to improve your tennis game and stay fit? A NEW Tennis Clinic is currently being held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for adults, from 8:30 – 9:45 am. The clinic includes a system of physical fitness preparation, tennis volleying, serving, doubles, game tactics and much more. Price: 10 USD per class if you participate in all three classes per week, or 15 USD for one or two classes per week. Enjoy our high-performance training with certified teachers, have fun and stay fit this summer. Contact us to learn more about our training programs, court rentals and tournaments at the Tennis Club at Sea Horse Ranch. Photo courtesy of Torben | The Global Wanderlust The post New Tennis Clinic at Sea Horse Ranch appeared first on Sea Horse Ranch. from Sea Horse Ranch https://sea-horse-ranch.com/new-tennis-clinic-at-sea-horse-ranch/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/174886668258 Guide to Windsurfing in CabareteOur mini guide to the spot, history, centers and right of way rules.For over 30 years, Cabarete has offered the perfect playground to watersports fanatics from all corners of the globe. So much so that it has been named as one of the top wind sports destinations in the world. Let’s kick start this guide off with a trip down memory lane to where it all began with windsurfing in Cabarete. A Brief History LessonIf you’ve visited Cabarete before, then you’ve probably heard this story. If not, then let us fill you in on where it all began. Around the 1980’s, Hawaii was the place to be for windsurfing. It’s where everyone went to train, compete and socialise. Canadian windsurfer, Jean Laporte, quickly became tired of the lengthy and expensive flights so began to scope out closer training grounds. After putting his trust in his travel agent, he was on his flight to the Dominican Republic. Jean was quickly disappointed with his findings on the south side of the island, but after discussing the wind direction with local fisherman, he realised the north coast was the best bet. After scouring the north coast, Jean and his travel partner were enjoying a cold one with the locals when they noticed the wind and waves starting to pick up. The midday trade winds were filling in. They hopped in the car, drove around the corner and there it was … Cabarete Bay. From that moment on, this little fishing town transformed into a watersports mecca and has since welcomed top athletes. In addition, Cabarete has hosted prestigious windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions like the Windsurf World Tour, Master of the Ocean and the Cabarete Classic! Cabarete Windsurf Spot GuideWindsurfing Conditions in Cabarete
Obstacles While Windsurfing in CabareteIt’s not particularly tidal meaning less current, no predators, and a vast amount of space! We have no big obstacles here, we just recommend paying attention to the reef at low tide as sometimes areas can become exposed. The only other obstacles are other water users. As an increasingly popular wind sports location, it’s important to be aware of other windsurfers, kitesurfers, sailors, kayakers, SUPers, and swimmers in the water. Fortunately, there is a set of right of way rules that take care of this problem! Right Of Way Rules For WindsurfingOvertaking Sailor Needs to Give Way As the sailor in front is rightfully looking where he/she is going, the person overtaking needs to avoid a collision by giving way and space to them. When two windsurfers are heading towards each other, the one with the left hand closer to the mast must most out of the way and the person with the right hand nearer the mast can stay on their course. As the downwind sailor cannot see the windsurfer upwind, he/she holds the right of way. If they decide to change course and bear upwind, the upwind windsurfer must change course. Aside from these rules, it is everyone’s job on the water to avoid a collision. Always be conscious of people around you and be aware that they might not know the rules. Graphics courtesy of howtowindsurf101.com. Windsurf Centres and Schools in CabareteAll of the windsurfing action takes place right in our backyard and conveniently all the schools and centres are located within a 5 minutes walk of our condos. Right next door to us at Villa Taina Hotel is the Cabarete Windsports Club, then midway through town is Vela Cabarete, and at the far end is Ion Club. Each offer lessons, coaching and rentals. With the combination of ideal and safe conditions, Cabarete is the perfect place to learn and improve. The post Guide to Windsurfing in Cabarete appeared first on Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos. from Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos https://cabaretecondos.com/windsurfing-in-cabarete/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/174886505993 Guide to Windsurfing in CabareteOur mini guide to the spot, history, centers and right of way rules.For over 30 years, Cabarete has offered the perfect playground to watersports fanatics from all corners of the globe. So much so that it has been named as one of the top wind sports destinations in the world. Let’s kick start this guide off with a trip down memory lane to where it all began with windsurfing in Cabarete. A Brief History LessonIf you’ve visited Cabarete before, then you’ve probably heard this story. If not, then let us fill you in on where it all began. Around the 1980’s, Hawaii was the place to be for windsurfing. It’s where everyone went to train, compete and socialise. Canadian windsurfer, Jean Laporte, quickly became tired of the lengthy and expensive flights so began to scope out closer training grounds. After putting his trust in his travel agent, he was on his flight to the Dominican Republic. Jean was quickly disappointed with his findings on the south side of the island, but after discussing the wind direction with local fisherman, he realised the north coast was the best bet. After scouring the north coast, Jean and his travel partner were enjoying a cold one with the locals when they noticed the wind and waves starting to pick up. The midday trade winds were filling in. They hopped in the car, drove around the corner and there it was … Cabarete Bay. From that moment on, this little fishing town transformed into a watersports mecca and has since welcomed top athletes. In addition, Cabarete has hosted prestigious windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions like the Windsurf World Tour, Master of the Ocean and the Cabarete Classic! Cabarete Windsurf Spot GuideWindsurfing Conditions in Cabarete
Obstacles While Windsurfing in CabareteIt’s not particularly tidal meaning less current, no predators, and a vast amount of space! We have no big obstacles here, we just recommend paying attention to the reef at low tide as sometimes areas can become exposed. The only other obstacles are other water users. As an increasingly popular wind sports location, it’s important to be aware of other windsurfers, kitesurfers, sailors, kayakers, SUPers, and swimmers in the water. Fortunately, there is a set of right of way rules that take care of this problem! Right Of Way Rules For WindsurfingOvertaking Sailor Needs to Give Way As the sailor in front is rightfully looking where he/she is going, the person overtaking needs to avoid a collision by giving way and space to them. When two windsurfers are heading towards each other, the one with the left hand closer to the mast must most out of the way and the person with the right hand nearer the mast can stay on their course. As the downwind sailor cannot see the windsurfer upwind, he/she holds the right of way. If they decide to change course and bear upwind, the upwind windsurfer must change course. Aside from these rules, it is everyone’s job on the water to avoid a collision. Always be conscious of people around you and be aware that they might not know the rules. Graphics courtesy of howtowindsurf101.com. Windsurf Centres and Schools in CabareteAll of the windsurfing action takes place right in our backyard and conveniently all the schools and centres are located within a 5 minutes walk of our condos. Right next door to us at Villa Taina Hotel is the Cabarete Windsports Club, then midway through town is Vela Cabarete, and at the far end is Ion Club. Each offer lessons, coaching and rentals. With the combination of ideal and safe conditions, Cabarete is the perfect place to learn and improve. The post Guide to Windsurfing in Cabarete appeared first on Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos. from Better Than a Hotel – Cabarete Palm Beach Condos https://cabaretecondos.com/windsurfing-in-cabarete/ via Tumblr https://cabaretedr.tumblr.com/post/174885890208 |
AuthorLearn about traveling and living in the Cabarete, Dominican Republic. Good places to visits and fun things to do in Dominican Republic. Archives
October 2018
Categories |