You're either a camping family, or you're not.

If you are, you grew up throwing the tent in the car, packing up the cooler with the right kind of food, bringing along all the right gear, knowing how to set the tent up, dress for the weather...  and where to go to the bathroom. There's a lot that goes into it.

If you're not, it can all seem pretty overwhelming.

And all of us have a little part that wishes we were camping families.

For those of us wannabes who are interested in roughing it without really roughing it, the YMCA of the Rockies is a pretty good place to start.


Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park has campsites that can accommodate 8 people, and you can stay for under $50 a night! Most importantly, there is a bathhouse located in the middle of the campgrounds. And free wifi. And they're dog-friendly - just a $10 per night, per pet fee.

They even have this cool Yurt Village.


And they have TONS of family activities you can do: bike rentals, fishing, trail and wagon rides, guided hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and a craft shop.

Do they have campsites available for the 4th of July?

Yes they do! And a limited number of cabins and lodge rooms, too... and a big 4th of July Carnival with a cookout lunch, pie eating contest, ultimate Frisbee tournament, relay races, kickball, watermelon seed spitting contests...

Sign me up!

Make your reservations online or call 888-613-9622.