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Family Fun in Wallace and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

We spent the last two weeks in Idaho hanging out in Wallace and Coeur d’Alene. Wallace was a cute, small town walkable from our RV park, which was great. We had a blast conquering the Route of the Hiawatha bike trail. We just came out of the first tunnel here and I was very happy to see the sunlight again. The ride starts out with almost 2 miles of riding through a pitch black and wet tunnel, meaning you have to have headlamps attached to your helmet to see in front of you!

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 The 15-mile trail is quite bumpy, but the scenery was gorgeous. It takes you through ten tunnels and seven high steel bridges. We opted to take the last shuttle of the day to take all of us back up.

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The town of Wallace is an adorable stop and has some fun antique shops and restaurants. We were able to do another bike trail from here, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s. We got a lot of bike time in here!

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This is honestly how we spent most of our time in Coeur d’Alene. Hockey camp took up our weekdays while Keith played in his first NHL charity legends game on the Friday night, which was a lot of fun to watch him having fun on the ice again!

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We took the boat across the lake a couple of times to Gozzer Ranch to hang out with our old hockey friends.

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You can see why the kids loved going over to Gozzer’s Lake Club!

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There is so much to do in Coeur d’Alene that we left untouched. Lots of amusement and waterparks and plenty of indoor fun to be found too. Luckily, we didn’t encounter any bad weather so we spent the majority of our time hanging out at the beach at our RV park and riding bikes into downtown. The kids loved renting canoes and water bikes and heading out on their own.

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And of course nighttime smores around the campfire with friends can’t be beat after a long week of hockey camp.

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Tubbs Hill is a fun little hike right past the Coeur d’Alene Resort and Marina. The kids loved jumping from the different cliffs and rocks, while we floated in tubes in the lake to watch them.

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We loved Saturday’s Farmer’s Market in Hayden. Plenty of organic produce to take home, treats to eat right away and all under beautiful shade trees!

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What are your favorite things you’ve done in this area?

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Family Fun in Northern Montana

We didn’t know that our visit to West Glacier, Montana was just a bit too early in the summer season for nice weather. Unfortunately, it rained the entire three days of late June that we were here. Our Jackson Hole, WY weather must’ve conditioned us, because we didn’t let the rain keep us down!

We headed into Glacier National Park and found out that the infamous Road to the Sun was closed as they were still trying to remove all of the snow from a recent avalanche! This meant we were only able to drive 14 miles into Avalanche Creek and hike the Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake.

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It was gorgeous and just slightly drizzling on our hike in. Once we got to the lake, it down poured and continued all the way back getting us completely soaked and muddy. What can you do but laugh and go with it?

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This is for my soccer mom friends. Thought you would enjoy seeing my Lululemon pants and Ecco boots soaked in mud. Definitely out of my league here.

Our final day in the area we spent in Whitefish. What a gorgeous area this is! We chose to spend the day at Whitefish Mountain Resort. They invited us to try the Aerial Adventure Park and the kids were stoked to try another mountain adventure. I was a bit apprehensive to do the course but figured since I was going to write about it, I’d better join in on the fun. I was good with all of the climbing apparatus’ but it was the zip lining platforms that I had a hard time throwing myself off of. I don’t think I ever got 100% comfortable with it but I did have a great time and am proud of myself for testing my limits. How can you not enjoy yourself amidst such beauty?

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We honestly went through all four seasons in our time on this course. It started off like fall, with cool, but pleasant temperatures. Then, it turned really hot before the weather took a turn and we found ourselves in the middle of a rain/hail storm. How in the world did I end up zip lining through hail and rain?

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I had to take a picture of the hail falling on my platform as proof.

Then, the weather cleared and it was gorgeous. We wanted to check out Whitefish’s alpine slide but it was closed due to the rain. The Whitefish Mountain Resort is awesome and offers many options for summer fun. We want to come back and try the zipline course and the alpine slide for sure but next time we’ll come in July!

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Of course, our travel day leaving West Glacier to Wallace, ID was perfectly sunny. We stopped at The Amazing Fun Center so the kids could try out their mile and a half long maze and bank shot basketball. The kids had a blast here before the adults said enough is enough and off to Idaho we went!

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We’ll be back West Glacier and Whitefish. We only scratched the surface of your beauty!

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What’s Behind the Yellow Sign with the Carneys in West Glacier, MT

There is no denying the beauty of this West Glacier, Montana KOA. The property is quite special in many ways.

“Excellence always happens on purpose and this campground is cutting edge with a strong vision, said Mike Atkinson, KOA’s Senior Business Development Consultant. One morning I was able to grab breakfast with Mike, who was on the property working for the week, and owner Greg. One of the things that I love about KOA is the friendliness of their owners and staff and the pride that they have in their properties!

West Glacier grounds

This Holiday branded KOA is unlike your run of the mill campground in many ways. The kids loved Scoops ice cream shop being on-site as well as the game room, heated pool, and park. You can come to the lodge to have breakfast or dinner.

The grounds are gorgeously landscaped and meticulously maintained. Many pull-thru RV sites were redone over the offseason and ground has been broken for the addition of 36 more spots to open up next summer.

Obviously, their location can’t be beaten if you’re here to explore Glacier National Park. The west entrance is only 2 1/2 miles up the road. 

KOA Bench at West Glacier

New friends and family tent spots opened up while we were there and are the first of their kind in the KOA brand. They feature 3 pads for tent camping so you can be right next to your favorite people, which sounds like fun. Or at least the kids would have a ball doing this! There are lots of cabins to stay in here as well!

West Glacier worship

We loved that this KOA offered nondenominational worship service here in the log-fashioned pavilion lodge. Sue, who has been an employee at this KOA for almost 30 years, led the worship and we just loved starting out our Sunday morning with her.

West Glacier Tepee

The kids loved working on this tepee nestled in the lodgepole pine trees right behind our RV site. We had a hard time pulling them away from there to head into Glacier National Park! We did have a lot of rain and cold temps during our few days here, unfortunately. We still thoroughly loved our time in this area, but will have to come back in July next time!

Rainy day in West Glacier

Rainbow at West Glacier

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What’s Behind the Yellow Sign with the Carneys in Lava Hot Springs, ID

The kids are sure going to miss walking out their front door to this rope swing over the Portneuf River! It has definitely been one of their highlights of staying at the KOA here in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. As beautifully fun as it is, I will not miss the muddy clothes and bloody toes that have come from this. But, isn’t that what camping is all about? Carefree fun times that we definitely can’t get outside our front door in Arizona!

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We have loved our past couple of days in Lava Hot Springs. This KOA is quaint and oh so pretty nestled right on the river amongst many mature trees. We met the owners, Kody and Andi, several times during our stay and they were really nice and accommodating.

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They have really turned this campground around in the past two years they have owned it. Look at our gorgeous spots backed up to the river!

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The KOA is just a short walk/bike ride to Lava’s World Famous Natural Hot Pools as well as to everything in the little town. We also were able to rent float tubes right here at our KOA at a discounted price! We just picked them up in town and down the river, we went over and over. So much fun!

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Our first full day in Lava we spent at the Olympic swimming pool/waterpark. We all had a ball here and the kids loved their first time jumping off the diving boards and various platforms. We bought day combo passes good for both the waterpark and the Hot Pools. What a deal at only $12.50 each person for the entire day!

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Our kids and their friend, Andy, loved synchronizing their jumps off the various boards and platforms!

This Lava Hot Springs KOA offers options for every type of camper.  There are several adorable cabins for rent as well. The kids loved watching the trains go by on the tracks just next to the main road into the campground as well.

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Can you spot Ally B way back there?

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I loved the convenience of this drying rack right at the back of our spot!

If you happen to be traveling along the I-15, definitely take the 12-mile detour to Lava Hot Springs for a couple of days of family fun at this KOA! We recommend going during the week as we hear that the weekends can get a little crazy.

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7 Adventures for Family Fun in Jackson, Wyoming

We based ourselves in Jackson, Wyoming for nine days so we could have a lot of time to explore this gorgeous area. Thankfully we had so much time since we ran into a lot of weather that hindered our plans! Despite the conditions, we still managed to see and do most everything we wanted.

Here are our top picks for family fun in the Jackson, Wyoming area!

1. Yellowstone National Park

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We saw Old Faithful erupt three times during our time wandering around the famous geyser. We endured pretty cold weather as well as rain and snow during our time in Yellowstone! But, the beauty was still breathtaking even in those conditions!

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2. Grand Teton National Park

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Grand Teton National Park was much closer to Jackson and easier to tackle for shorter hikes. One day we hiked to Phelps Lake and on another, we rented paddleboards and went to Spring Lake. You can’t go wrong in this beautiful area!

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3. Jackson Hole Rodeo

We could ride bikes up the road to the local rodeo, so we went on the first Saturday night we were in Jackson. None of us had ever been to a rodeo before, so it was a fun, new experience. The kids had fun going out and chasing the sheep around to try and win a prize. Be sure to order tickets online to save $5 each person!

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4. Snow King Alpine Slide

This was the second Alpine Slide of the trip (after our awesome Olympic Park one)! This was a double one though so the kids loved racing one another. It was a bit expensive we felt, so we were only able to do a few runs.

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5. Amaze’n Maze

This was such a cute, fun place on the same road as our RV park and Snow King Mountain. This was lots of fun and it’s a very affordable, unique place for some old school family fun with the Maze, Mini Golf, and gold panning!

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6. Exploring the town of Jackson Hole

The town is very easy to walk around and features all the typical touristy stores, ice cream, and candy shops that the kids love. The free nightly gun shootout show is really popular as well!

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7. Teton Village

Teton Village was a beautiful little area to spend the day! We bought the family pass ($79) to take the aerial tram up to the top where the views were stunning and quite cool. The real highlight for getting to the top though is the yummy homemade waffles and hot chocolate at Corbet’s Cabin.

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What have you enjoyed doing when visiting Jackson Wyoming and the surrounding area?

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7 Benefits of Hiking in the Great Outdoors With Your Kids

Did you know that June is designated as Great Outdoors Month each year through a Presidential Proclamation that says “Great Outdoors Month is a time for all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors.

Whether camping, fishing, rock climbing, or playing in a neighborhood park, nature offers each of us the opportunity to get active, explore, and strengthen our bonds with family and friends. This month, let us celebrate our natural heritage by experiencing it together.”

On our RV trip around the USA, we did a lot of hiking as a family in America’s National Parks. This month, let’s purposely put the electronic media and gadgets aside and take the time to get out and explore this beautiful country we live in!

7 Benefits of Hiking in the Great Outdoors With Your Kids

1. Gain perseverance

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Hiking around the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

I am a climb to the top of the mountain kind of girl. In all areas of my life, I like having a specific goal to accomplish, so hiking is the perfect activity for me. What goes up, must come down. You have no choice in this. I love seeing my kids persevere through times when they are weary and think they can’t go on. Hiking is a perfect way to show them they can push through and make it to the top or the end of the trail if they are determined enough!

2.  Builds endurance

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At the top of Weeping Rock in Zion National Park

It’s always motivating to keep going when you are hot, tired or feeling weak when you see little kids and much older adults pushing through on the same hike. If they can do it, you most certainly can! I love the friendliness of fellow hikers greeting and motivating one another while enduring the same trail.

3. Builds an appreciation for our country

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Picnicking on the lawn outside Zion’s Lodge.

I wouldn’t consider myself “outdoorsy” but since moving to Arizona I have grown to love hiking. I have seen majestic views, interesting landscapes, and wildlife that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I didn’t realize how many international tourists come to our country just to see the beauty of our National Parks, that just doesn’t exist anywhere else!

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4. Affordable entertainment for the whole family

After we hiked The Narrows in Zion, our daughter said that must’ve been really expensive! She couldn’t believe that doing such an amazing thing as a family was actually free! (Or just the cost of our National Park Annual Pass of $80). We pack our lunches when we hike too, so we can stop at our convenience and enjoy a little picnic along the way. Entertaining kids during the summertime can be very costly for large families, so spending quality time in our Nation’s parks is a really inexpensive way to have fun quality time together.

5. Builds physical strength

Staying healthy and physically fit should be a priority for every family. No matter where you are, there are always a variety of trails and hikes to choose from depending on what your family is up for. It’s important to keep active as a family and hiking together is a perfect way to stay physically fit. Some days you may feel like doing a leisurely path while other days you may be up for a more strenuous climb. Whatever your abilities, there is a trail for you!

6. Builds knowledge

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A lot of trails have signs telling about the surrounding plants and landscape. National Parks also have visitors centers and museums that you can further learn the history of the area as well. The NPS Junior Ranger program is an excellent way to motivate kids to learn through a workbook that needs to be completed and signed off by a Park Ranger in order to get each park badge. It’s a fun and free thing for the kids to collect.

7. Builds connection

Our family has enjoyed many laughs and conversations together along the trails. Getting out in nature helps you forget about any stress and opens up an opportunity for casually connecting with your loved ones.

Take time this month to get outside and celebrate Great Outdoors Month with your family!

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Family Day at This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City

During our time in Salt Lake City, we planned a day of adventure in Park City at the Utah Olympic Park and a day of learning and fun at This is the Place Heritage Park. There are many options of things to do families visiting SLC. We chose to spend the day at This is the Place Heritage Park because it looked like a beautiful outdoor location where the kids could learn some Utah history in an interactive way.

I was worried about our kids being a little too old for this spot at 11 and 12 1/2 years old, but they thoroughly enjoyed their time at this low key park even though they were surrounded by mostly younger kids. It is also an affordable family day as admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children. This is always a huge plus for those of us with larger families!

We had a great, inexpensive lunch of burgers, hotdogs and fries at The Huntsman Hotel at the back of the property. We couldn’t resist the candy and ice cream shops as well!

We started off watching the Native American dancers…

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Then we headed to the Native American Village to learn more about their culture

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Then it was time to go to class at the Pioneer school. Families take turns volunteering and dressing up in period clothing to make everything in the park feel more authentic!

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Panning for gold in the creek was a popular activity for all of the kids!

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Getting a shave from the local barber was a big hit too! There were many pioneer tradesmen you could visit and learn from in their respective stores and homes.

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Thanks for the fun day This is the Place Heritage Park!

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This is the Place Heritage Park comped our admission in exchange for this review. 

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Family Fun at Utah’s Olympic Park

Utah Olympic Park was the perfect day trip from Salt Lake City. It was a beautiful 1/2 hour drive from our Salt Lake City KOA. We had a blast, surrounded by beautiful scenery, great 90’s music piped throughout and fun active adventures all day long. Dad is a past Olympian, so of course, we are a family who loves anything to do with the winter Olympics!

With our gold wristbands, we were able to experience all of the fun activities as we wanted throughout the day. These unlimited, all-day wristbands cost $65 for adults and $40 for kids 12 and under.  The kids weren’t old enough to do the bobsled run yet, as you have to be 14. There is an additional cost for that, but they’ve all already put it on their teenage bucket list.

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We started out at the hardest ropes adventure course in the middle of the bobsled track. I chickened out but the rest of the family had a ball accomplishing the two courses here.  Yes, my children are up on that top level!

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Afterwards, the kids did the zipline which ended at the drop tower. I just love that all of my kids are adventurous and willing to try all of these challenges. They certainly didn’t get this from me.

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I experienced ziplining for the first time here. Only one of the boys weighed enough to do the extreme zip line and he really wanted a partner to go with him, so I decided to join him. The guy working the cables promised me I would enjoy it if I just tried it. I’m not a big fan of heights nor am I an avid thrill-seeker, so I was hesitant. But, he was right, it was quite fun and I had no problem tackling the smaller lines after. I’m glad that I didn’t read that this zipline is one of the steepest in the world before I did it!

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The Alpine Slide was new for all of us and was probably our favorite activity. We rode the chairlift up the mountain several times, just to take that slide down again and again. The views were absolutely stunning!

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One of the most exciting highlights of the day was sitting and watching athletes train for their skiing events by going down these slopes and into the pool. It was so fun sitting there having our picnic lunch and watching the talent. They even have a kids camp/private lessons that our kids would love to try one day! The cool thing about this too, is that this is free. You can just bring lunch and come sit and watch these guys if nothing else.

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It was so exciting knowing that we were in Olympian territory. The reminders of Salt Lake City’s 2002 Olympic games were all around and we had an amazing family day together. We all highly recommend this park the next time you visit Utah!

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Utah Olympic Park generously comped our family’s day gold wristbands. Any written review is 100% my honest opinion.

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What’s Behind the Yellow Sign with The Carneys in Salt Lake City

We all couldn’t wait to get to our first KOA stop of the trip in Salt Lake City, Utah. Everyone questioned why we would want to stay in the city, but we loved our time in Salt Lake and the KOA was a perfect home base. It was only two miles away from Temple Square and an easy 1/2 hour drive to Park City for us as well.

After long days of touring Utah Olympic Park and This is the Place Heritage Park, we loved coming back to the ease of the campground for the evenings. We enjoyed jumping on our bikes and riding along the river behind the grounds as well as just tooling around the park.

KOA bike riding

There was a fun basketball court, playground, and swimming pool for the kids to burn off some steam. The WIFI worked perfectly the entire time and everything was clean, safe, and quiet.

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Nico’s was a great Mexican restaurant right at the front of the KOA parking lot, which made for a quick, inexpensive first night’s dinner. The Trax light rail stop is right outside of the park as well, making it an easy $2.50 cash ride into downtown if you don’t feel like driving yourself.

Boys KOA basketball

Not only does camping provide lots of opportunities for play, but it also helps bond the family as everyone pitches in to set up and break down at each stop! The girls take the inside while the boys shut down the outside. Onward to our next adventure…. Keith and boys

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One Week on the Road with the Carneys

We’ve been on the road a week now and if you’ve been following, you know we’ve really been having a ball. The beauty that we have seen in just seven days has overjoyed us immensely!

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Inside Lower Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona

I’ve totally embraced this RV lifestyle so far I have to say. Easy to do when you’ve only been gone a week and you’re surrounded by glory I guess. But, I’m enjoying the low keyness to this. I think I’ve put makeup on twice and I haven’t blow-dried my hair yet. (I said blowdry, not wash.) My model perfect manicure is no longer and my preteen precious daughter was sure to point out yesterday how ugly my nails looked.

Amy outside RV

So far our family highlights have been Lower Antelope Canyon near Lake Powell, Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park and wandering through the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. Did you know that Bryce Canyon isn’t even a canyon? We are learning a lot along our travels already! The kids have earned two Junior Ranger badges and done a lot of geocaching at every stop too. Read more

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