Summer Travel Recap 2024: Dino Adventures and Family Fun
Okay, I know that many of you have dino lovers like I do, and so this is info you need. This is just absolutely info you need! Guys, welcome back to Making Everyday Magic. My name is Shanna, and if you are new here, we are a homeschooling family of four entering our eighth year of homeschooling. We love to share our family adventures alongside our homeschool adventures. Today, I wanted to take you along for a little bit. I know it’s a little early, but it is our summer travel recap for 2024!
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Everything is linked down below!
Estes Park, Colorado
In May, my daughter had a performance, and because of that and other commitments, we had a very specific window of time for our vacation. Last year, we took a January vacation and intended to take another later but never did. Life happened, and we were busy remodeling our house. We didn’t want to miss another vacation, so we decided on a more economical approach and chose Estes Park, Colorado.
My husband grew up visiting Estes Park, where his grandparents have a home. It’s a fantastic vacation destination, especially with our specific dates. We drove there, taking our guinea pig along, and stayed at the Estes Park Inn. It was wonderful! They had an indoor pool and a hot tub, and it was still snowing actively, so we even went snowshoeing. It was my best trip to Estes Park ever, with amazing wildlife sightings, including multiple moose, and lots of hiking.
Our stay at the hotel was fantastic. They offered s’mores and popcorn every night and free breakfast every morning. One of the highlights was a horseback ride with Jackson Stables, part of the YMCA of the Rockies. It was my kids’ first time on a trail ride, and they loved it. We also enjoyed the new Alpine mountain coaster, which was so much fun!
Clayton, New Mexico
On our way back from Estes Park, we stopped in Clayton, New Mexico, to see dinosaur tracks. This stop is a family tradition for my husband’s family, and it’s always exciting. We explored the dinosaur tracks in a man-made lake area, which was a unique experience, though the tracks are weathered and worn.
Glen Rose, Texas
We celebrated my little one’s birthday with a dino-themed trip to Glen Rose, Texas. Glen Rose is famous for its dinosaur tracks, and we stayed in a La Quinta Inn with dinosaur-shaped waffles for breakfast! Our visit to Dinosaur Valley State Park was amazing, even though the water was high and we could barely see all the tracks. We hiked, enjoyed keeper talks, and explored Dinosaur World with its life-size dinosaur statues and animatronic displays.
Billings Productions
The highlight of our summer was a visit to Billings Productions, the only North American producer of dinosaur animatronics. We took a private tour and saw how they create these incredible displays for zoos across the country. It was an unforgettable experience, especially for my dino-loving kid.
Wrapping Up
Our summer travels in 2024 were a mix of wild and fun adventures, from snowshoeing in Colorado to exploring dinosaur tracks in Texas. Each trip was unique and tailored to our family’s interests, making it a summer to remember.
If you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to be an insider and to follow along with our days over on Instagram @makingeverydaymagic.Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s a place you’d like to hear more about. We had such an amazing summer, and I hope you did too!
Stay tuned for more adventures and homeschooling tips!
Links:
Estes Park Estes Mountain Inn Snowshoe Rental Mustang Mountain Coaster Estes Park Brewery YMCA of the Rockies Jackson Stables
Glen Rose Glen Rose La Quinta Dino Valley State Park Dinosaur World Billings Production
