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?