The Shull family just came back from a road trip. I could have named this post The Longest Post Shay Has Ever Written, but I didn’t. Nevertheless, I apologize for the length…I wanted to fit the entire trip into this one post :).
We decided it was time to load the kids up and head out for beautiful Colorado. We made a full circle…leaving Dallas and heading to Amarillo for the night, then cutting through New Mexico until we arrived in Breckenridge, Colorado. When we came home, we went through Denver and then down through Kansas and Oklahoma until we were back to Dallas. Both legs of the trip took about 15 hours.
It was your typical road trip…there was scenery, lots of yummy food, a little puking, some site seeing, car sickness and a fender bender. You know, we did it Griswold style.
As a side note (this will come into play at the end of the trip), back on May 5, the kids and I were in a car accident that totaled my car. Since my car was only a year old, I wanted to replace it with the exact same car…but there is a huge waiting list for this car now, so I was told by every dealership that would take 4 months to replace my car…and I chose to wait it out. The first two months of the summer, I drove Andrew’s wrapped car that has his face all over it (lucky me) and then the last two months, the dealership was able to provide me with a loaner car. We drove the loaner car on this trip. Keep this in mind ;).
Monday afternoon, we headed out to Amarillo to spend the night. It’s about a 6 hour drive from Dallas to Amarillo, TX.
My kids are so good in the car. I did a post here about traveling in the car with kids…but I really think it just takes a lot of practice. Smith did this most of the way…watch movies. (Several of you have asked me where we found the iPad holders and they’re from the Apple Store.)
And Kensington did this…play with her toys :).
We were so bored and desperate on the way to Amarillo that we stopped for Dairy Queen. Andrew and I remembered that the last time we had a Blizzard was almost 9 years ago on the day we closed on our first house. Very random Shull fact :).
The next morning, I put on my car traveling uniform of leggings and my blardigan…Sheaffer and Andrea were so jealous of the cold weather and comfy clothes :).
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel (a road trip requirement, no?). Smith was roaring.
Back in the car we go. It was 8 hours from Amarillo to Breckenridge, Colorado.
About an hour from Amarillo, we found a baby cow in the middle of the road…luckily, my hubby grew up on a working farm with cattle, so he knew how to run it back through the fence to its mama. #cowproblems
We made it to Breckenridge around 3:00 pm! Woohoo!
My peeps enjoying beautiful Breckenridge!
I love my girl!
(And listen, several of you have already asked about my cross body bag…unfortunately, it is several years old. I did a post on cross body bags here if you want to read it!)
After dinner at a brewery, the kids played and played by the water. Not a bad view.
Everyone said we should eat at Crepes a la Cart (this outdoor crepe stand) but it started raining really hard, so Andrew stood in the rain to get our crepes and we ate them in the car. Listen, these crepes were the best I’ve ever had…and I’m pretty much a crepe eating expert. We ended up having them 3 nights in a row for dessert…sooooo good!
My kiddos said they were still hungry after dinner and crepes and they wanted a pizza. Side note…the Shull gets don’t eat much. They can pretty much eat two bites and call it good until the next day. They just never have been big eaters and they don’t snack between meals…so, when they said they were hungry and wanted more to eat, we happily got them a little pizza to share.
Big mistake.
So….we were staying in the Beaver Run Resort (which was okay but not fabulous) and they upgraded us to a suite with a separate bedroom…the only catch is that there was only one king sized bed…so we decided that was fine and we would all four sleep together. Fast forward to this evening and around 10:30, Kensington threw up everywhere. In the bed. Where we were all sleeping. And by everywhere, I mean e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.
Sigh.
We’re pretty sure it was a mixture of too much pizza and altitude sickness. As soon as it was over, she was good to go. Smith slept through the entire ordeal. We literally picked him up and moved him around to clean up and remove all the bedding and he never even opened an eyelid.
The view from our room the next morning.
Breakfast at a local cafe.
After breakfast, we headed up to the top of Peak 8 for the fun! My kids loved riding these gondolas!!
My kids had the BEST time at the top of Peak 8. They love, love, loved everything about it!
On the ski lift about to do the Alpine Slide!
The boys
The girls 🙂
Andrew and I agreed that our favorite part of the trip was the scenic ski lift to the top where we were able to hike around. This ski lift took about 30 minutes and we were all 4 able to ride together…it was so peaceful and beautiful.
I looked down when we were hiking and laughed…I apparently hike like a city girl in my Toms, Kendra Scott necklace and Caramel Macchiato.
Smith loved our time at the very top.
Mom selfie to end the day :). We were waiting for Andrew to order our crepes…we all ordered the S’mores Crepe this time…goodness, it was so yummy!
The next morning, we were ready for a big day of horseback riding and fishing!
We took a 90 minute trail ride and oh goodness, it was so much fun! We went up the mountain to the top of Peak 10 and back down.
After our morning of horseback riding, we stopped for BBQ and a great view :).
Andrew grew up fishing, so the kids wanted to fish too. We brought the kids rod and reels from home so they could fish. This is how Smith fished…cookie in hand, rod on leg.
It was so peaceful.
The only thing K caught was seaweed but boy, she was really, really proud of it :).
We ended the day with another crepe. Listen people, they were that good.
On our last full day, the kids wanted to head back up to Peak 8 before we left. Hubby and me on the gondola.
Back at the top of Peak 8 for more Alpine Sliding! After a morning at the top, we drove the 45 minutes to Vail.
Everywhere we go, he always wants to hold my hand.
We had THE BEST German food in Vail. You know me, I love German food. German food is my very, very, very favorite kind of food!! Woohoo!
It was such a fun day in Vail!
Kensington wanted to take our picture. With all of those selfies, I forget that I’m only 5’3″ compared to my 6’5″ husband!
After Vail, we headed out…first stopping in Denver at Casa Bonita. If you know what this is, I’m pretty sure you’re laughing right now. Andrew grew up eating here on every family trip to Colorado. It’s a Mexican restaurant like you’ve never seen…there is cliff diving. Yes, cliff diving inside the Mexican restaurant. My kids loved it!
Big fans of Casa Bonita!
We left Denver and drove to Salina, Kansas where we arrived at 2:00 am and stayed the night. We got up at 7:30 and drove the rest of the way back to Dallas.
And in Oklahoma City, we were rear ended…in the loaner car we are driving because we were in a car accident. That folks, is irony.
Thankfully, it was minor and we were able to drive off and head back to Texas (and thankfully, my new car arrives on Monday!). In our 10 years of marriage, we have only had two car accident situations…both within a four month period.
Here we are just after crossing back into Texas. We live about an hour from the Texas/Oklahoma border, so at this point, we thought we were in the clear.
And then I got car sick.
Road trip fun.
I’m so thankful for this little 6 day journey with my family! Nothing like over 30 hours of car time to really bring a family together.
The entire trip, we kept saying that it was all so perfect…except for one thing…there is a little girl on the other side of the world who wasn’t with us. The next Shull adventure…the four of us are packing up and heading there to bring her home. We are so ready to be a family of five.
On my foodie blog today…
…a little party trick for serving puddings and trifles.
And don’t forget, you have one more day to win one of these fabulous necklaces…
…click here for your chance to win!
XO
Jami says
Loved the post and that last but was a doozer. So sweet 🙂 wishing you so much luck on your next family adventure!
Cathy and Marshall says
Such a small world that you stayed in Salina! Much of my husband's family is from Kansas (and graduated from K-State), and his cousins live in Salina. We went out there for a wedding five years ago. I remember thinking Salina was going to be a tiny town out in the middle of nowhere, but there were actually some really cute shops downtown!
Anonymous says
Just an FYI regarding car sickness..have you ever tried car sickness wrist bands? My mom and I have used them for years and they never fail for airplane & car rides! You can get them at Walgreens and they are called "Sea-Band Wristband." They really work:)
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Loved everything about this post. So many good pics of your family! The story of K puking is still so sad and yet still so funny to me. 😉 I can just picture all of you being awakened from a peaceful sleep. And OF COURSE Smith slept through it all!
And now I want a crepe.
Marju V says
I once semi-accidentally ended up hiking up a mountain in Norway holding a large purse, in jeans. It was a bit embarrassing when people kept passing 😀
Erica Gammon says
Great post!! What are the deets in some of your outfits….navy striped shirt, the tank underneath, the lovely pink scarf, and that oatmeal top in the pic of you & Kensington eating breakfast? Thanks
K says
I really enjoyed reading this! I love road trips as long as they aren't too long. The scenery looked beautiful. Sorry about your fender bender.
Mimi says
Andrew isn't alone with his childhood memories of Casa Bonita. We went there as kids and I took my own kiddos there when they were little, too. It's a Midwest rite of passage! 😉 Ha!
Rachel Embery says
Shay,
So glad you loved my state. And yes, been there done that at Casa Bonita! Such yucky food but the kids love it:-) We do the Crepes every time we are in Brek! We get season ski passes so we get crepes like 10-15 times during ski season:-) Come back in the winter, Brek is just as gorgeous then!
Tab & Erika says
Yay!!! Loved this post!! Looks like you guys had so much fun!!! One thing…can you explain to me what cliff diving is in a restaurant?? I'm so confused!!!
Kim R @ 1200 Miles Away says
I'm surprised you didn't sneak away to the Silverthorne outlets while you were here! I love all the great deals to be had and there's even a Gap outlet, but I guess you can always venture down to San Marcos when you feel frisky! Glad you guys had fun in our neck of the woods! You should make the trek for skiing next time!
kimm atwood says
Glad the car accident was minor and y'all are ok. And I'm sorry but I was hysterically laughing about the puking incident in bed with everyone! Enjoy your last days of summer before Kensington is off to kindergarten. Sniff sniff. Happy Tuesday
SarahN says
This might be my favorite post of yours as we did this same vacation back in June! Loved recognizing your scenes in every pic, and I'm soooo glad you tried the Crepes! And loved them! You didn't mention shopping and Breck has the cutest boutiques!! Did you buy anything fun?
Someday, you need to return when your kiddos are a little older and go white water rafting and ziplining!
Jen says
Oh, the DQ. The Cracker Barrel. It's just road trip perfection.
Also, your long sleeves and scarves had me longing for cooler temps here in Texas! I just feel like I look better in Fall clothes. Move along, Summer!
Narci says
Oh what fun!! I think that family car trips are my favorite! Glad you guys got to do that! Can't wait to see our sweet Ashby in the vacation pics!!
Charla Liedahl says
Road trips are the best! I LOVE Breckenridge and haven't been there in years. You have inspired me to remedy that and plan a trip to CO soon! Sorry about the puking and the fender bender. Boo!
Anonymous says
Hi. Is your Kendra Scott necklace white or white pearl? Thank you!
Blue-Eyed Bride says
Love this post! And we love road trips. So many of my childhood memories are of road trips to colorado. We're heading to vail and beaver creek for thanksgiving (too far to drive from South Carolina) and we cannot wait!
melissabunny100 says
Great Post! Great Pics!
hillary says
LOVE it! There's no better place for a Texas bird to fly in August than Colorado! I love the city girl hiking, ha! And oh my goodness – getting so excited for sweet Ashby to come HOME!!
Jersey Love says
Looks like ya'll had a wonderful time! I was at that very same resort back in 1993ish with my family for a British car rally! I loved everything about Breckenridge. 🙂
Charity says
I laughed so hard when I read the story of K puking, because I have a similar story!
On a road trip thru the mountains of TN, I ate ALL of the easter candy in the backseat of our van. That night my brother and I were sleeping on the pull out in our hotel room and I proceeded to wake up and puke all over him, the bed, myself and my butt length hair.
I still shiver a bit when someone mentions Chattanooga, TN.
Queen In Between says
What a fun trip! Can definitely relate to the hotel puking story..two times this past year that happened to us..yuck! Your little family is adorable
Allie says
We left Breckenridge the day before you all arrived! It was our family's first time there and we loved it! Looks like you guys had just as much fun! Breck is awesome because it has so many different activities to experience!!
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
I've always wanted to visit colorado!!
the Pic of Smith holding your hand.. priceless!!!!
and I totally have a lump in My throat… a few months.. and she will b with her 4ever familyx
Sarah Kuykendall says
Oh man, 15 hours in the car! You are troopers. The story about K being sick and Smith sleeping through it all-terrible at the time, but will make for a great story for a long time. I am so excited for you all to meet your new daughter!!
Lindsay D. says
So glad you had fun in Colorado!! I love living here…just wish the winters were a bit shorter!!
I grew up going to Casa Bonita on ski trips. Now that we live in Colorado we take our girls there once a year. Food isn't even edible but such a fun place!!
Lindsay D. says
Cannot WAIT to hear about your little girl that will soon be home!!
Sara Laverty says
I'd be tempted to blame your car sickness on Casa Bonita. 🙂 Any time I go there, I use it as my excuse for anything and everything that goes wrong for the next week or so. Ha! 🙂 Glad y'all had fun up here in Colorado! 🙂
Lindsay says
Next time you're in Breck, stay at the Grand Lodge on Peak 7. It's beautiful and has a lot of fun things for both kids and adults, 🙂
Jenny says
We go to Vail during the summer every other year and we always visit Breckenridge one day and eat a crepe from Crepes a la Carte…..love the Strawberry Shortcake! I had to laugh once you pointed out your hiking outfit….hey, at least you looked cute doing it!
Elizabeth {Chasin' Mason} says
Sounds like such a fabulous time! Minus the puking and the car accident. But still… sounds like you guys had the best time together! I will have to remember that crepe place if I go to Colorado! Yum!
Erica says
I'm a faithful reader from Denver, so this was so so so fun to read! I'm thrilled for your baby girl to be coming home soon!
Marty says
A few summers ago, one of my sisters rented two houses in Breck for our entire family…parents, 4 kids,their spouses,all the grand-kids…and a few extra friends thrown in there just because it wasn't crazy enough. We did the Alpine Slide and everyone loved it (well, except my 72 year old dad…he's afraid of heights). We ate at Casa Bonita one night, my husband took some of the boys to Denver to see where the Broncos play. And doesn't everyone stay in Salina at some point on the drive to CO? From Salina to our home in Arkansas is the.longest.part.of.the.trip.ever. Or it seems that way. My favorite pic was Smith fishing…sign me up for that kind of fishing, and hand me a cookie! And my other favorite part is that on your next adventure, you are bringing home your little girl! Love your blog.
Melissa says
Bless your heart for getting so sick!! I get terribly motion sick on everything from cars to planes and boats too. My family could regale you with tales of my episodes but that all changed last year when my doctor prescribed the transderm patch. If you haven't heard about it, ask your doctor. We have been on a cruise, 2 plane flights and spent several hours in the car since then and I haven't had any issues. I can honestly say these changed my life!!!
Catherine Hansen Peart says
Not to appear shallow or anything but, MY GOODNESS, you are a good looking family. I can't even dislike you for it because you are so nice and lovely as well! :))
Darcy says
Looks like you had a great trip! ….minus the puking part – darn it. And I have to give you husband kuddos on his horse riding form….heels down and all. 🙂 We live on a cattle ranch, so while some might notice the bag you're carrying, I notice posture on a horse, lol.
Lana says
What a fun trip! Road trips with my family are my favorites. I've never been to Colorado, but it looks beautiful.
Angela Ellingson says
Loved when I read that this was going to be a long post! I'm always a little sad when I get to the end of your blog. haha Great trip!!!
Anonymous says
What is the new lipstick color you're wearing? I love it, thanks!!!
The Wiscott's says
We leave for Vail on Friday my husband is riding his motorcycle for the tour de Colorado as a safety rider. Lucky for us its 6 hours & we are use to altitude 🙂
Sorry about kids getting sick that is a bummer.
audra wray says
A summer Colorado trip is on my list with my kids!
Sandy P says
My dad has places in Breck, so we go once a year or every other year. But, we have never taken the kids in the summer. I can not wait to do it. Can you believe we have never had crepes from the stand? The line is always crazy long.
Mollie says
This looks like so fun! I think Colorado is much more fun to visit in the summer rather than the cold, snowy winter- ha! My mother-in-law is German and an awesome cook. I might need to send you a few of her yummy recipes!!
Katelyn Sloan says
Look like such a great time!!! By the way, made your coconut bundt and everyone flipped. I mean flipped. You are famous in our house now. Xo
Jeanie says
What a wonderful trip! And almost completely without incident.
Sarah says
Looks like a great trip… I just can't stop trying to guess what car has a 4 month waiting list. Give us a hint? 😉
Anonymous says
Hi Shay,
Glad you enjoyed my state and looks like you guys had fun at 5280!Sorry for the puking incident. Come back in the winter for skiing! When you guys come back to Colorado, I think you guys should visit Glenwood Springs,too. Here are my recommendations while at Glenwood Springs:
Lodging: Hotel Denver, Hotel Colorado, Hotel Glenwood Springs, and there is a Ramada and some motels near Hotel Colorado.I personally like Hotel Denver
Restuarants: The Lost Cajun, Glenwood Canyon Brewpub(next to the Hotel Denver), Lucy Juicy Steakhouse,etc.. For Breakfast, my favorite place is Daily Bread Cafe.(It is up the street from The Lost Cajun) Really great restaurant for breakfast. There are two places that I like for ice cream! One is called Sweet Adventures and it is kind of across the street from Daily Bread Cafe, but maybe need to walk a block up the street. The other one, is a little bit far, but it is called Kaleidoscope. This one is up the street from Daily Bread Cafe, and it is near 7-11.
Activities: Glenwood Hot Spring Pool, and biking and rafting. This is one of my favorite activities. For biking, there is a shuttle that drops you off maybe 10-15 miles from Glenwood Springs, and bike your way back to Glenwood Springs. Great view of the Glenwood Canyon, mountains, and the Colorado River. Rafting is the same type of thing like biking, but on the Colorado River. The company I would recommend are Canyon Bikes and Bluesky Adventures, these are two companies together and they are located near Hotel Colorado.There is also mini golf near the pool.
These are my recommendations for Glenwood Springs. Hope you can visit Glenwood Springs someday.
Please come back to "The Centennial State" again!
CWestlake says
Cute pics!! We loved our time in Colorado this summer. You and Andrew have the same height difference as Evan and I! 🙂
Fiona says
YESS to a roadtrip to Colorado!! My mom is from Denver and I was lucky enough to go to Breckenridge for the first time last winter-skiing was awesome (or so I heard since I tore my ACL A week before heading out) ..#backluck! We thankfully got to go back and spend time in Estes park this summer for my cousins wedding ! Loved all the pics! Thanks for a trip down memory lane 🙂
Anonymous says
I live in salina, ks! I'm in highschool and love reading your blog!
Anonymous says
Weird question, but what kind of car do you drive?
Jaren says
Love seeing all of your vacation pictures! What a fun trip! I love the mountains in the summer.
Amber says
So glad you had a fun trip in our beautiful state! We have spent 6 weeks in Vail the last two summers with our job and the mountains are such a fun place to be in the summer! Beautiful weather and lots of fun things to do. So glad you found the crepe stand! My favorite crepes ever. What company did you go horseback riding with? I have an almost 3 year old and haven't ever seen a company that allows kids to ride on horses with adults. We'd love to head up to Breck for a ride! Thanks. 🙂
sayyestohappy says
My boyfriend and I have been wanting to move to Colorado for years now, but work keeps pulling us in different directions.
Thanks for sharing your family trip with your readers! Looks like you guys had a blast and the weather looked beautiful!
So excited for your family to become a family of 5 soon!
shaeken says
Ahh! I hope you have better memories of Oklahoma from sometime other than getting rear ended 🙁 I promise that's not our usual MO around here! Your vacation looked like a great time – I love Colorado year round and hope to go back soon. Yay for a new car!
Lauren says
Looks like you all had so much fun! I love that this post mentioned Amarillo, TX! Made me smile! 😉
Ashley @ Fancy Ashley says
That sounds like such a great trip!!! Poor K and the puking!!! So funny that Smith didn't even wake up! I always wish I could be that sound of a sleeper!!! The crepes looked and sounded amazing!
Anonymous says
What sunglasses do you and Andrew have?
Aubrey says
I got chills thinking about your littlest girl waiting for HER big adventure! Looks like a great trip, but I think I prefer TX to CO. 🙂