What to expect: in The Great Sand Dunes National Park

We also traveled south of RMNP to the Great Sand Dunes National Park on our road trip. Unfortunately, we were met with really bad weather and so we didn't get to enjoy the Dunes like we had hoped for. Plus, we only planned for a 1 day stay there. We will have to plan at least 3 days there for our next visit here. 

What to expect in the Great Sand Dunes National Park:

1. Weather change. Like RMNP, the Great Sand Dunes area was really windy! Prepare for very windy situations. 

2. Campground information: the nearest campground is Pinyon Campground, just a short drive past the Sand Dunes general parking area. Unlike RMNP, the campground is not ministered by anyone. That means, if you made an advanced reservation like we did, all you have to do is drive through loop B (the reservable loop) and find your reserved site. There should already be a post with your name and how many nights you reserved the site for on the post. If you are planning on doing a first-come-first-serve stay, then you'll have to stay in loop A and here's the thing ... you will have to drive around loop A and find a site that no one has taken yet. Set up your things, and then go back to the registration booth at the entrance of the campground and fill out an envelope with a check/credit card info and drop it in the box they provide at the booth. If you've already made advanced reservations and is staying in loop B, there is no need for you to visit this registration booth. 

Now, I had made early reservations for this campground in February too and when I did, all the sites that were suggested online were already gone. Actually, most of the reservable sites were already gone. Fortunately, I was able to book 3 sites that were close by one another and near the restroom (again, very helpful if you have children). Although these sites didn't quite have amazing views as the sites I had wanted, I'm thankful we got these instead because it was so windy when we went that as I was driving by the sites I had originally wanted (with great views of the Dunes), I saw that their tents almost flew away. Not good for them. Lucky for us, we had a tree and at least some protection from the wind from that. The sites we stayed at were sites 84, 50, and 49. 

You can watch this video my husband took of our sites in proximity to the Dunes.

3. Medano Creek was the highlight of why we wanted to do this roadtrip in the first place. We had seen videos on YouTube and saw how much fun the kids were having in this desert place with this cool creek. Unfortunately when we went, the creek was already pretty low (the ranger told us the creek had hit its peak 10 days earlier) and it was too windy for the kids to enjoy it. The creek water was pretty warm though so I could imagine if you went on the perfect day, how enjoyable it'd be! Here is a video of the second day we were at the Dunes (the morning we left).

4. No gas or groceries for miles! Serious. The closest store that had some groceries (hot dogs, beer) and a gas pump (that we weren't even sure that worked) was the Great Sand Dunes Oasis. Which, if you're google mapping it, took us the other direction and we got lost finding it. This store/restaurant is actually towards the Great Sand Dunes, not the other direction like our gps was telling us. So, if you're driving, make sure you get gas and food before you get there.

I think the GSNP is a hit or miss. Either way, you should plan to stay for a few nights at least to allow yourself the time to explore this region and pray that you'll get 1 good day out of your stay to enjoy the Dunes in all it's glory!

What to expect: in Rocky Mountain National Park

I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to these majestic places more than once in my lifetime. I hope to continue these travel opportunities as long as my body and mind allows. My dream is to visit all of the national parks in the United States before my time on Earth is over. The next destination: Niagara Falls! But for now, here are some tips on how to make your time in the Rocky Mountain National Park more enjoyable for yourself and your travel companions. 

What to expect in the Rocky Mountain National Park:

1. Weather change. Mother Nature is something we can not control but we can control our attitude and prepare ourselves better for any situation. One thing to do before you set out on your travel is to check the forecast. How has the weather been? What are they predicting? TIP: Dress in layers! We went to RMNP during the first week of June this year and it was cold! It rained on and off and it got windy from time to time then it got sunny which made us warm. It's important that you dress your little ones in extra clothes as their body temperature is much cooler than yours. During the nights, it got as cold as 30 degrees and on top of that, it was really windy. We dressed our little guy in a long sleeve onesie, put two pairs of pants on him and a pull-over sweater on him. The most important thing I think though is adding socks and a warm beanie. That'll keep them really warm under the blankets.

2. Campsites fill up quick on weekends. So, reserve ahead of time. If you have children, stay nearby bathrooms. I reserved our campsites during the early month of February and got to pick out which campsites I wanted. Since we've been there once before, I knew exactly which ones to pick out. If you would like my recommendations, I suggest you choose site A037 or A038. These sites have great views, it's close to the bathrooms, and has its own food storage unit. When we went the first weekend of June, the Moraine Campground (where we stayed) was full. So, I really recommend you to book in advance!

3. Estes Park is nearby (where we stayed at Moraine Campground) if you need groceries, gas, etc. There are no Walmarts or Shopko's though so if you're tent has a hole in it, you won't be able to find those kind of stores to buy a new one at. Your best bet will be a small, locally owned sport shop.

4. No showers in the park. This is a downfall to the park but not to worry! Again, Estes Park is nearby and there are pay showers at Dad's Maytag Laundry that you can use. It's about $5/person (you have to pay for kids too- even if they shower with you. Around $3/kid.) and there's 3 shower stalls in the women's and men's room. While you shower, you can throw in a load of laundry too! NOTE: portable showers or enclosed areas of the park may allow you to bathe. Check on the campgrounds you choose to stay at for rules.

5. Cell service is spotty. But I bet you already knew that. And if it's really cold, your battery life will diminish quickly. So, it's a great idea to bring a portable rechargeable battery to recharge your cellphone. 

6. Check for road closures and ice. We went at a time where there were still some snow in some areas. And because of the flood damage last year, some trails are closed for repair as well as roads. So it's always a good idea to check on their website ahead of time and plan accordingly. 

I hope you all get a chance to get out there and explore nature. RMNP is such a majestic place to travel and explore. What are some of your tips if you've gone here before?

Anakin's (belated) First Birthday Party

Thank goodness the spot I reserved had a large umbrella to shade us and protect us from rain sprinkles.

Even though we had a cake for Anakin's birthday on the roadtrip, we felt that since most of our family members - including his Grandparents, weren't able to come with us that we should have a party for him at home. We decided to rent an area at a local swim pool (since there are tons of little kids in our family) and Anakin loves the water! The day came and it was cloudy and although we did get sprinkled on, we still kept swimming and I think the kids didn't even notice they were being rained on until they got out of the pool to dry off. LOL! Overall, it was a great first birthday for Anakin and we couldn't be more blessed to have such a huge family to share it with!

Anakin's Star Wars themed cake from Sam's Club. Of course the cupcakes were a hit and the first to go!

A little DIY and you have yourself a personalized cute banner for the party. Every body loved this!!!

My Summer Wishlist

1 - The Beach People round towel
2 - Honest Sunscreen Spray
3 - Gap Two-band Sandals
4 - Rarotonga Sun Hat
5 - Hangfire iPhone Case

My birthday is coming up real soon and I would love any of these, especially the round beach towel from The Beach People! What's on your Summer Wishlist?

Family Summer Activities and Events in and around Green Bay

I love Summer in the Midwest, even though the mosquitoes are quite vicious and the days could get so humid. Either way, I love it because it lets me get involved with the community and experience fun events. The month of June was quite the bipolar weather but, I was still able to take advantage of the nicer days by hitting the local aquatic center. There's only so much a 6 month pregnant lady can do! If you're new to the area of haven't heard of any of these (some are new this year), here's my top 10 Family Summer Activities and Events in and around Green Bay.

1 - Farmer's Market: Wednesday nights on Broadway and Saturday mornings on Washington (the new location since Monroe is under construction now). I love going on Wednesday nights because we can never wake up early enough to go on Saturdays. Broadway also has some cute shops that I love stopping into to see what's new.

2 - Aquatics/Pools: My favorite is Resch Aquatic Center because heated zero depth wading and swim area for the tiny tots. The only fallback is that you have to be a resident of Green Bay to receive the lesser price to enjoy. Plus, this pool is pretty popular so it's packed right away (there is usually a long line 30 minutes before open pool time) so if you want to get a spot under the umbrella shade, you'll have to go early and wait in line. Otherwise, I just brought my stroller in and they've allowed it.

3 - Movies in the Park: The Neighborhood Association of Green Bay had this last year and we attended a showing of Jurassic Park on the City Deck. This year, they have a list with dates and shows playing. And new this year to De Pere (a suburb of Green Bay) due to high requests is also a movie in the park series. Last week Friday they showed, Back to the Future. The next one is set for July 25th (my birthday) and they will be showing, The Princess Bride, one of my favorites!

4 - Summer in the Park is a free weekly summer series at Whitney Park every Thursday from June through August.

5 - City Deck: There is just so much to do on the City Deck that its overwhelming at times but if you know how to manage your time well and have a group of good friends to hang out with, this is the place to be. I think this is geared more towards family with older children but hey, if your little Tot loves to be social, this could be your new thing too! They have Dine on Deck and Friday's on the Fox and Yoga... they even have a splashpad. Check it out if you're in the area!

6 - Bay Beach Amusement Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This has long been a favorite among locals. Why? Because tickets are cheap (tickets cost .25 cents each and some rides only take as little as 1 ticket) and kids really enjoy it. Every year we take the kids and every year they act like it's their first time there. Go on weekday to avoid crowds.

7 - The New Zoo recently got a new addition and it's called Adventure Park! Sounds fun huh? I haven't been there yet but I've seen videos and pictures and it looks amazing! Good job Green Bay (well, technically it's in Suamico which is a 20 minute drive North of Green Bay).

8 - I love going to the Green Bay Botanical Garden for its lush gardens and peaceful walks. They also hold many events such as concerts and have classes here and there. Did you also know that its FREE on Wednesday nights from 4-8pm June through August? I had no clue until recently! Bring a camera to take pictures of your kids in the cool kids area.

9 - Events: Summer is really happening around here and you can tell by debating about what your family should choose to do on the weekends. Here are some events during the Summer you won't want to miss... Art Street in August, Packer Family Night in August, The Hmong Sports Festival on Labor Day Weekend, and since it'll be the 4th of July in a few days - there will be Fireworks over the Fox in Downtown Green Bay which always draws out a huge crowd every year. Go early for the best seats!

10 - Since there is so many activities, check out the City of Green Bay's website here to help plan your Summer days. Have fun and be safe!