Our Texas daughter, Emilie, and grandkids Vincent and Maddie, have been coming to see us in New Mexico for the past 10 summers. That’s right – 10 summers. We pack in the fishing, swimming, shopping, summer tubing, zip-lining, go-karting, and hiking. They do like to repeat all the old stuff, but trying something new is always fun.
So, back to the same question: What to do when they have already done everything?
Our first newbie for this summer was the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. They were up for the adventure. We piled in the truck and headed north. The Great Sand Dunes Oasis Sporting Goods and Campground is the place to rent the sleds for zooming down the dunes. The rental charge is $20 for the day. (8 a.m. to 7p.m.) The Oasis also has a souvenir shop, restaurant and a small grocery store. I knew from the get-go that I would not need a sled. I brought my knitting, and I was planning on sitting in the shade and being a spectator. My daughter and grandkids were up for the adventure. They rented their sleds, and were pumped. We entered the park. (If you have an older person in the car, you can get in the park for a reduced rate). I knew I was going to be an asset to this trip.
Upon arriving at the dunes, everyone had to put on lots of sunscreen and make sure they had a bottle of water and their sled, of course. Vincent was the first to crash and burn. Then it was Emilie’s turn. You remember they had slathered on the sunscreen prior to sledding. So, when they crash-landed, the sand stuck to every inch of their exposed bodies. They were covered in hot, scratchy sand. Unbelievably, Maddie hardly had any sand on her. She got the hang of how to stay upright from the very beginning. Who knew? Maddie, the sand sledder!! Thankfully, there were outdoor showers that were available. Showering helped get some of the sand off before riding back to Red River. They all said they had a blast, but that this would probably be a one-time adventure. They could check this off their bucket list.
The second newbie was Zapata Falls. The falls are a 30-foot waterfall located a few miles south of the Great Sand Dunes. It is a hidden gem. There is a parking lot at the trailhead. The good news was that it was only about a half-mile hike to the falls. The trail was very rocky, but very doable, even for me. I opted to relax on a nearby bench while Emilie, Maddie, and Vincent forged the stream to get a better view of the falls, which are tucked away inside a cave.
The third newbie was the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron. One of the highlights of the ranch is the Villa Philmonte. Reservations are required, so we had called ahead. A scout was our tour guide, and he was as delightful as the villa itself. He knew his stuff and loved telling us about all the nooks and crannies of the establishment. The villa was built around 1926 as a vacation home for a couple and their two children. It is in the Spanish Mediterranean style. Living space is over 28,000 square feet, with electricity, steam heat, a seven-headed shower, and a four-car garage. It still has some of the original furnishings and fine art, which include a wonderful player piano. My husband, David, actually sat down and played us a tune. We walked around the grounds after the tour of the villa. The place was crawling with scouts and leaders. Our guide said that it was jam-packed all summer with seminars and various learning activities for leaders. For lunch, we headed back to Cimarron to Kathleen’s Burrito Banquet. The food was delicious, but the highlight was the green chili lemonade.
Wonderfully refreshing, with a slight afterburn. Kathleen was definitely the star of the show. A People Person extraordinaire!
What to do when they have already done everything???
Do your research.
Talk to People.
Look in the News.
Northern New Mexico is full of adventures around every corner. I’m already thinking about next summer!
