Oregon: Wallowas, northeast Oregon
A popular place for family backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, the Wallowas offer beautiful mountain scenery. For accommodations, the wing-ridge huts are considered an ideal place to lodge for day trips into the Wallowas. They contain two sleeping tents, a cook tent, sauna and latrine. It is advised to make reservations in advance, which require a 50 percent deposit. The prices range from $30 to $45 per night, per person, depending on the season. For more information, contact 800-646-9050 or [email protected].
Idaho: Grand Targhee Resort
A great ski resort for the family with great snow and moderate terrain, the Grand Targhee Resort has a spa, fine dining, shopping and nightlife activities. Full-day lift tickets are $69 for adults ages 13 to 64 years old and $39 for juniors ages 6 to 12 years old. Half-day rates are approximately $10 less. Snow-tubing, snowshoeing and dinners in horse-drawn sleighs are also offered at the resort. The Targhee Lodge, which has 16 standard hotel rooms, offers amenities such as free high-speed wireless internet, outdoor heated pool and hot tub, indoor hot tub, fitness cabin, spa services and free equipment storage for skis and snowboards. Rates may be found on the Web site at www.grandtarghee.com.
Utah: Moab
Moab has some great mountain biking trails available ranging from Bar-M Loop, an eight-mile easy trail, to Killer B, a one-mile trail full of slickrock and cliff edges, so people with many different levels of biking experience can be satisfied. More information on mountain biking and other activities, such as cross-country skiing, sledding and snowmobiling, can be found at www.discovermoab.com.
Another activity available in the Moab area is canoeing. Tex’s Riverways, a professional canoe and kayak outfitting service, provides all you need for a self-guided tour down the Colorado and Green Rivers, which flow into the heart of Canyonlands National Park. The rates vary, since the cost is dependent upon the amount of rented equipment. Tex’s Riverways will drop you off at Ruby Ranch, south of the town of Green River, and pick you up about 100 miles downriver. They provide everything necessary for an enjoyable trip down the rivers. For more information, contact 1-435-259-5101.
Texas: Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
If you and your family want to climb some great rocks in the dead of winter in the sun, then this is the place to go. At Hueco Tanks State Historic Site, located 32 miles northeast of El Paso in El Paso County, you can see pictographs left by the prehistoric Jornada Mogollon culture and ‘huecos,’ which are natural rock basins that trapped rain water for thirsty travelers for over 1000 years. Other activities include picnicking, camping, hiking, rock climbing, birding, stargazing and guided tours. More information is available at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Washington: San Juan Islands, just off the coast of Anacortes, Wash.
There are a variety of activities available for every member of the family in the San Juans. The islands are considered ideal feeding grounds for large marine mammals, but they also boast a wide variety of bird species which change season to season. If you’re staying overnight, there are some great bed-and-breakfasts and campsites in the area. The little stores by the ferry dock are fun places to shop and browse.
Although they are most commonly a vacation spot during the summer, the San Juans have cheaper prices during the off-season, so visitors can still go whale watching and sea kayaking, but for a lower cost. Whale watching, a popular attraction to see the potentially endangered Orca whale, is scheduled on a contact basis, so those who wish to participate must contact Western Prince Whale and Wildlife Tours at 1-800-757-6722. Prices are $70 per adult and $50 per child ages 2 to 12. Group discounts are available.
Sea kayaking is another activity to do in the off-season. The bird life, seals and sea-lions are in abundance. With Discovery Sea Kayaks, the price is $90 per person for 4 to 4 ½ hours. Their shop is in downtown Friday Harbor on the top floor of the red building next to the ferry dock. For more information, contact 1-866-461-2559.
