Snow Mountain Ranch - Fun for the Whole Family!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
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Last weekend, my family and I headed up to the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch for a little wintertime getaway. We hadn't been there before, so didn't know what to expect, and were all delighted. The grounds are beautiful, the weather clear, and there were so many activities to choose from, we feel like we need to go back to do more! Since it's only two hours from Denver, that makes it easy!
We visited during one of the "Break the Ice Weekends," so had even more choices for activities. We started Saturday morning with a free guided snowshoe tour to an old gold mine. None of us had ever been snowshoeing before, so were excited to give it a try. My daughter is 9 and took to it like she'd been doing her whole life - on the return she was the one leading everyone. Our 4-year-old got a little cold (it was about 9 degrees out that morning), but loved the halfway-point stop for hot chocolate and a cookie by the fire.
Next it was s'mores making at the campfire and some art at the Craft Center. There are a ton of craft options for both kids and adults for just $5. They offered a glass fusion class (making beautiful pendants) one morning, but we didn't make it. My daughter could have stayed at the Craft Center her whole weekend - poster coloring, painting (canvas and ceramic), leatherworking... Such a fun place!

Sunday morning we opted for tubing - a family favorite - and the kids played some "King of the Mountain" since there were tons of giant piles of snow. There was no fee to use the tubes, so we each got one, which we hadn't done before at places where you have to rent the tubes individually. It was a blast hooking up and all going down the hill together!
Snow Mountain Ranch and YMCA of the Rockies are currently offering Snowtacular specials if you want to check them out - you can even bring your pets! (In cabins, that is, as pets aren’t allowed in the lodge rooms...)
Snow Mountain Ranch:
January 2 – March 4: Stay three nights in an Indian Peaks lodge room at Snow Mountain Ranch for just $328 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked) Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at Snow Mountain Ranch for one low price of $792.
April 2 – April 15: Stay three nights in an Indian Peaks lodge room at Snow Mountain Ranch for just $168 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked) Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at Snow Mountain Ranch for one low price of $582.
At Estes Park Center:
Stay three nights in a Central Lodge Room at YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park Center for one low price of $168 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked). Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at at YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park Center for one low price of $582.
Plus, pets are allowed in cabins for just a $15 fee per pet/per night with a max of 2 pets per cabin – just in case the four-legged family members are coming along.
Guest post by Mindee Forman

Since it was a pretty chilly day and we'd had a big morning, we opted for indoor activities for most of the afternoon. We started with archery lessons at the Kiva center, which has been something I've wanted to do since I was a Robin Hood-obsessed kid. My husband and daughter were the best shot, but all of us hit the target more than once.
After archery we stayed at the Kiva center and rollerskated and played a little basketball. My 80s childhood rollerskills came in handy, and the kids loved the skating so much we came back for more on Sunday afternoon.
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Next it was s'mores making at the campfire and some art at the Craft Center. There are a ton of craft options for both kids and adults for just $5. They offered a glass fusion class (making beautiful pendants) one morning, but we didn't make it. My daughter could have stayed at the Craft Center her whole weekend - poster coloring, painting (canvas and ceramic), leatherworking... Such a fun place!


Sunday morning we opted for tubing - a family favorite - and the kids played some "King of the Mountain" since there were tons of giant piles of snow. There was no fee to use the tubes, so we each got one, which we hadn't done before at places where you have to rent the tubes individually. It was a blast hooking up and all going down the hill together!

After lunch we returned to the Kiva center for more rollerskating and basketball, plus a little volleyball and air hockey.
There were so many activities, we felt like we could have stayed a week and not run out of things to do. My husband and I really wanted to cross-country ski, the kids wanted to check out the pool, and we would have loved to fit in ice skating and the indoor climbing wall. Next time! Other activities include sleigh rides, dog sled rides, yoga, snow games, animal tracking, weird science, Little Explorers club, curling, evening movies... So much to do!
Snow Mountain Ranch and YMCA of the Rockies are currently offering Snowtacular specials if you want to check them out - you can even bring your pets! (In cabins, that is, as pets aren’t allowed in the lodge rooms...)
Snow Mountain Ranch:
January 2 – March 4: Stay three nights in an Indian Peaks lodge room at Snow Mountain Ranch for just $328 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked) Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at Snow Mountain Ranch for one low price of $792.
April 2 – April 15: Stay three nights in an Indian Peaks lodge room at Snow Mountain Ranch for just $168 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked) Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at Snow Mountain Ranch for one low price of $582.
At Estes Park Center:
Stay three nights in a Central Lodge Room at YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park Center for one low price of $168 (includes two free breakfasts per night booked). Or, stay four nights in a three-bedroom cabin at at YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park Center for one low price of $582.
Plus, pets are allowed in cabins for just a $15 fee per pet/per night with a max of 2 pets per cabin – just in case the four-legged family members are coming along.
Guest post by Mindee Forman
I am entranced right at this point, Incredibly depicted blog
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