Mini-Adventures
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Mini Adventures: Rifle Falls State Park
Rifle, Colorado gets a bad rap for various reasons, but believe me when I tell you it’s worth a second look! We were at Rifle Gap State Park recently for a group campout, and decided to spend a morning at Rifle Falls. We’d heard it was beautiful, and that part is definitely true. Rifle Falls State Park is tiny. After entering the gate, drive past 8-10 campsites and park to walk to the falls. It’s about a 50 meter walk, so make sure you bring all your gear (just kidding!). If you’re traveling with little ones or anyone who is mobility-impaired, this could be a great hike. The path is…
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Mountain Biking The 18 Road in Fruita, Colorado
The 18 Road in the North Fruita Desert of Colorado is our favorite family mountain biking area. Most of the trails aren’t super long, and difficulty ranges from fairly simple to fairly intense. It’s great for anyone from little guys on balance bikes all the way to their hard-charging moms and dads. When you go, you’ll want to camp at the North Fruita Desert Campground, which is 11 miles outside of town and easy to find. It’s an easy-going place, and it’s right in the center of the action, staying there is ideal for some. The campground is first-come first-serve, so get there early if you think it might be…
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Mini-Adventures: Winter Night Hikes
Confession time: When I hear the word “adventure”, it sometimes stresses me out. Earlier in life, as a single person, I could just hop in the car and go do whatever caught my fancy. As a wife and mother, that is SO NOT TRUE anymore! All of a sudden, “adventure” means prepping and packing food, making sure everyone has layers of clean clothing appropriate for whatever climate we’re going to encounter, making sure we have equipment to sleep, cook, hydrate, and participate in whatever activity we’re pursuing that day (rafting/hiking/running/biking/climbing/skiing/etc), stocking the car with snacks and water, and feeding everyone before we go. (Do I have too much focus on…