/ 202 spotlight / summer travel guide
By Marette Mendoza
Destination : Fun
Break the family-travel mold this summer by choosing something different yet entertaining for all ages . The familiar cities of Denver , Vegas , Palm Springs and San Diego are all brimming with out-of-the-ordinary ideas for fun this summer . So go ahead , beat the heat and get out of town !
Explore Nature in Denver
Escape to mile-high Denver , where lower temps create ideal conditions for outdoor play . Marvel at the discoveries you ’ ll make along the 1.5-mile Dinosaur Ridge trail at Dinosaur Ridge ( dinoridge . org ). It has dinosaur tracks and bones , overlooks , and rock sites that give insight into Colorado ’ s prehistoric past . Then , get the family ’ s adrenaline pumping on whitewater-rafting trips at Clear Creek , just 30 minutes from the city . A free photo CD lets you relive the experience , and trips are available for ages 7 and older with Clear Creek Rafting Co . ( clearcreekrafting . com ).
If you ’ re a sports junkie , you ’ ll want to catch a ballgame at Coors Field ( colorado . rockies . mlb . com ), where the Colorado Rockies play . There ’ s a playground in the left-field concourse and Dinger , the dinosaur mascot , takes photos with kids during the first part of the game . If you ’ re in the higher sections , be on the lookout for a row of purple seats , which are marked because they are exactly one mile above sea level .
You ’ ll reach new heights on a scenic drive up the 14,260-foot Mount Evans on the highest paved road in North America . Stop to snap photos of the wildflowers at M . Walter Pesman Trail on the way up . Be one with nature at Rocky Mountain National Park ’ s waterfalls , trails and lakes ( nps . gov / romo / index . htm ) where you ’ re sure to spot wildlife .
Relax in Palm Springs
Palm Springs ’ world-class spas and resorts beckon visitors . At Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa ( rancholaspalmas . com ), everything you could want in a vacation is on the grounds : a water park , Azure Pool for adults , restaurants and a hip bar , 25 tennis courts , and a 27-hole championship golf course . The Palm Springs Visitors Bureau also lists fabulous vacation rentals , some luxurious retreats and other more affordable apartmentlike units , at visitpalmsprings . com / stay .
When rested up , families can get their fill of excitement thanks to Desert Adventures ( red-jeep . com ), a company that takes visitors on nighttime Jeep rides and hikes . Kids will relish staying up late to encounter nocturnal wildlife as you trek through ancient canyons and rock formations and the San Andreas Fault . During the day , splash around at Knott ’ s Soak City Water Park ( soakcityps . com ) or explore VillageFest ( villagefest . org ), a free weekly event on Palm Canyon Drive that features music , food , arts and crafts vendors , a farmers market and more .
Relax in the great outdoors at the Big Morongo Wildlife Reserve and Covington Park , a wildlife sanctuary with a picnic area and hiking trails . Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to absorb the views of the mountain wilderness of Mt . San Jacinto State Park . The world ’ s largest rotating tramcar takes you to 8,500 feet , where it ’ s about 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor and you ’ ll have access to hiking trails and nature walks .
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202 MAGAZINE \ JULY 2013 \ 202magazine . com