Big Sky Resort, Montana
Rafting near Yellowstone is the Dip portion of the Zip & Dip adventure! (Photo: Geyser Whitewater Expeditions).
One thing you probably wouldn’t do at a ski resort in the winter is take a dip in a river, but that’s exactly what you’ll want to do this summer at Big Sky Resort, home of the Zip & Dip whitewater raft and zip line adventure. Two hours of adrenaline pumping zipping on the Nature Zipline Tour, followed by a half-day raft trip just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Vacation adventure doesn’t get much bigger than that! (Big Sky Resort is also known as Yellowstone Base Camp for families looking for adventure in and out of the park.)
Want more fly time? Take the Adventure Zipline Tour, which starts with a leisurely chair lift ascent before swooping down four high speed lines with spans up to 1500 feet as high as 150 feet above the forest. Since it is built for speed, this course includes a twin zipline where you can race your fellow adrenaline junkies – think of it as a drag race on a wire. Big Sky Resort has several zipline options, starting at $59. Zip & Dip is $117/adult, $107/12 & under.
S’Mores & More
Resorts are doing more than ever to attract families on vacation with a wide range of activities, from summertime staples like golf, tennis and swimming, to new twists like Mountain Boarding, and summer camp throwbacks like archery. You can find rock concerts and symphonies under the stars, or choose to relax indoors with world class spa treatments.
Sometimes the greatest pleasures are the simplest.
The options continue to grow with some cool new offerings. Try mushing with sled dogs on a scooter in Breckenridge, hot air balloon tours at Steamboat, or trekking with llamas at Smugglers’. And, of course, there are festivals of every type, from art and antiques, to classic cars, to music and wine, all summer long. In spite of all that, though, perhaps the most enjoyable activities are still the beloved old favorites: strolling through the shops in town and enjoying fireside s’mores with the family.
Have you ever spent summer on the slopes? We’d love to hear your stories or plans for summer travel in the comments below!
Awesome idea. I haven’t ever thought about Ski resorts as a summer destination. The rodeo sounds fun too (especially for families with young children). Thanks for posting. #WeekendWanderlust
Hi Allison – thanks for stopping by the blog! I grew up in the southwest, where summers were really hot, so we used to go up into the mountains for summer vacation a lot. Turns out those ski slopes are great for hiking and biking, but the resorts have added so much more over the years! Now it really is like summer camp for the whole family! I’ll have to keep checking your blog to see where you guys go and all the fun you’ll have! 🙂