A Best Western For Dino-Lovers

A Best Western For Dino-Lovers Read Post

Best Western Hotels

A Best Western For Dino-Lovers

Warm your bones by the fire at the dino-themed Best Wester Denver Southwest

Attention dinosaur fans young and old, near and far! You have a friend in Denver, Colorado - a whole hotel full of 'em, in fact.

The enterprising couple at the helm of the Best Western Denver Southwest recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, transforming from a "perfectly nice hotel" into a veritable natural history museum. Drawing inspiration from the nearby geological and paleontological goldmine at the junction of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, they transformed their lodgings into a hotspot for dino-lovers. From the exhibits of fossils and casts throughout the hotel to the "dig site" sandboxes for up-and-coming paleontologists to the heated pool featuring a mosaic of the Cretaceous Sea (take a dip with a Tylosaurus, anyone?), this BW is chock-full of dinotastic touches.

 Is a visit on my list? Absolutely! How about you? 

P.S.
Looking  for some additional family fun in Denver? Check out my Thrifty Travel Fun post on the area!

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Thrifty Travel Fun: Boulder, CO

Thrifty Travel Fun: Boulder, CO Read Post

Colorado

Thrifty Travel Fun: Boulder, CO

Fun Pearl Street Mall photo via Colorado4Two

1. Take a stroll down the Pearl Street Mall. This four-block pedestrian strip of shops and restaurants clearly has kids in mind: there's a sandbox, play areas, and the beloved pop-jet fountain at 14th street. Be on the lookout for street performers and live music, too.

2. Go on a free tour at NCAR, The National Center for Atmospheric Research. Their visitor center offers guided tours and lots of fun ways for kids to learn about things related to the weather - which hopefully will be good, so you can go on the short "weather hike" outside, and then enjoy a picnic on the NCAR grounds. (There's a cafeteria, as well.)

3. Would you care for a cup of tea? Take a tour of the Celestial Seasonings Factory! Learn all about how tea is made, and yes, there a many free samples: don't forget to lift your pinkey and put on a fancy accent when you take a sip! (Note: children under 5 are not permitted on the factory floor portion of the tour.)

Accommodation Tip: the conveniently-situated Best Western Plus Boulder Inn has a pool with a mountain view. Enough said. 

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Thrifty Travel Fun: Denver, CO

Thrifty Travel Fun: Denver, CO Read Post

Colorado

Thrifty Travel Fun: Denver, CO

A very American dino at Dinosaur Ridge.

  Photo by Jon's Pics / Flickr

The Mile High City has lots to offer for a family vacation. Set against the Rocky Mountains and featuring a very lovely 300 days of sun per year, Denver combines the bustle of a big city with lots of family-friendly fun. Read on for ideas!

1. Calling all paleontologists (and other girls and boys who just think dinosaurs are really cool)! Visit Dinosaur Ridge to explore ancient Colorado and the creatures who once inhabited it. Check out hundreds of dino tracks and a quarry of bones on the 1.5 mile Dinosaur Ridge trail (sites are marked along the way), and for extra credit, visit the Exhibit Hall, too (admission is $2). 

2. The 16th Street Pedestrian Mall stretches 15 blocks long, and is lined with shops, restaurants, and lots of street entertainment, form jugglers to mimes to musicians). Tired legs - or kids who love big city buses? Hop on the free shuttle bus to get from end to end in a snap.

3. Do your little ones have a carefully curated piggy bank at home? Show them how money is made! The United States Mint of Denver offers free daily tours; see the creation of money form start to finish (so much work for one penny!). In preparation for your visit, see if the kids can find a small "D" on any of the coins in your pocket: that means it was produced in Denver!

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