For Valentine’s Day weekend, the entire Johnson clan got together for a grand vacation. YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park generously offered us one of their 8-bedroom reunion cabins for the three day weekend and we had a blast hanging out together while exploring the area. Estes Park is bordered by three sides of Rocky Mountain National Park, which makes YMCA of the Rockies the perfect family vacation with affordable cabins, lodge rooms, meals and family activities.
Read my official trip report at Mile High Mamas with details on our amazing cabin that was larger than many hotels! (Ignore my shaky camerawork).
My family has been to this location several times in the summer but never in winter so I was excited to try out snowshoeing and fat tire biking. It didn’t happen. There was very little snow and the bane to my existence: wind. I went for daily treks around the property but that was it. The weather even kept me from doing one of the most gorgeous hikes in Colorado that is located on property: a quick (but steep) trek up Bible Point, a 1.5-mile round-trip hike with stunning views.
Fortunately, the weather can rage and you can still find plenty of fun; the great thing about YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park is there is something for everyone. We spent Friday afternoon touring Estes Parks’ multiple candy shops (I’ve declared this town the Taffy Capital of Colorado), playing brain-bender games at Frames, Games & Things Unnamed and watching a fascinating demonstration on how to blow glass at Mountain Blown Glass.
Once back at YMCA of the Rockies, we spent hours in the craft center. 
We headed over to the Longhouse Building where we roller-skated and played pickleball.
We tried our hand at volleyball. Basketball. Shuffleboard.
We became animal detectives and learned about their tracks. We did a craft to create our spirit animals.
Animal Detectives
On Sunday, we planned to drive to nearby Rocky Mountain National Park but it started snowing and blowing so we watched movies in our cabin, played games and completed a 1,000-piece puzzle. The other grown-ups did, that is. Though I made several attempts, I did not contribute even one puzzle piece.
Puzzle from hell
We had meaningful family time as well. Jamie’s dad did a presentation on our family tree and genealogy.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a fondue dinner and decorated cookies.
And the twins and I (who were born on my birthday) were thrown a cute little surprise party. 
Please excuse my birthday hat; the only way to fit it on my gargantuan cranium is to wear it like a unicorn horn.
We had the perfect, low-key and fun family reunion. The funny thing is my very first family reunion with the Johnsons was at YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center about 10 years ago. It has taken us this long to do it again. Here’s for hoping we’ll do it again. Much sooner.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 