Parents Weekend Lodging

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Blueblood1

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Mar 23, 2015
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Hi Everyone -- just making some plans for Parents' Weekend. Hotels are looking a little scarce. I went on VRBO and there are several nice looking places that are 5-6 bedrooms that would be cheaper than hotels, if shared. I assume our DD will want a room of her own -- if only for a night. Would be interested in splitting with another family looking to come in on 9/3 and depart 9/8.

Feel free to private message me if you want.
 
FYI: Some hotel rooms will open up as there are people who make multiple reservations at several hotels and then cancel all but one as it gets closer to the date. Also, some people book more rooms than they may actually need as they are still figuring how much family will attend. There are a number of hotels who have a prepay policy because of these antics. Some hotels don't advertise the prepay rooms until it gets closer to parents weekend. This all drove me nuts last year when I was looking to make reservations for our first parent's weekend. Good luck!
 
Also, before I forget. If it is scheduled the same way this year as last year, you should be able to have your daughter with you from Friday night through Monday. You will have to get her back to the academy early on Saturday for the tailgate and Football game if she stays with you Friday night. They have a nice tailgate party that everyone in the family can attend before the actual game.
 
And lots of kids like to get as far away as they can. So a lot of parents do Thursday and Friday night in the springs, then Saturday and Sunday nights somewhere else.
 
Do you think it's better to get away or stay in town? My parents are looking at hotels in town and I can tell them to look farther away if it's better.
 
That's up to you. Last year, we stayed close at the Residence Inn because DD wanted us to bring her dog and switching hotels would have been a pain with the dog and the whole family. This year, it will just be me flying out so I have two nights in the Springs, then two nights farther away and one more night by the airport.
 
You have to be at the game on Saturday so they will want a room in the Springs Friday night at least. Then you can go up to 150 miles away. But you may not want to do anything but sleep so it may not matter and you have to stay in uniform when out of your room no matter how far from the academy you are.
 
Cannonball said:
Do you think it's better to get away or stay in town? My parents are looking at hotels in town and I can tell them to look farther away if it's better.
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Knowing my daughter, I think she will want to 1) Sleep; 2) Chill; 3) Nap; 4) Repeat. I was thinking about a house as all the hotels are full of Cadets and their families, and Cadets are in uniform, so she might want something a little more removed. Also want to stay somewhere close so do not have to spend time driving, when she would rather be sleeping.
 
I know its an old thread but topic still relevant every year. Where would one stay as an alternative to Springs for 3rd and 4th night? Denver? Boulder?
 
Our first Parents Weekend we stayed local. We had multiple family arrivals/departures so being local was handy. Since then, it's usually just the two of us parents. We stay local for the game, then blast out to explore. We've gone south to the Royal Gorge, Canon City, Cripple Creek (the Donkeys!). We've also headed into the ski areas, exploring the back roads. This year, we went to Winter Park, then took the back road to Estes Park. Take the back roads, avoid the interstates, and just enjoy the views. Stop at vista points, get out, hike, stretch. We love it. Stay flexible, use GPS and see where you end up. The weather is usually good for this type of exploration, and it helps that I enjoy driving. We would rent a comfortable car for the first two years, then used our DS' SUV the last two years. Have to say Estes Park and Cripple Creek were my favorites!
 
It is beautiful in Colorado that time of year. It is also off-season in the mountains so getting away but not too far is usually not too expensive. Vail has some condos on the river. Breckenridge is quaint and nice. Glenwood Springs has a great hot springs pool and finally there is a little town outside of Aspen called Redstone that has a neat hotel that is beautiful. All of these are within a 3 hour drive of the Academy.
 
We love Glenwood and Aspen but technically both of these places are outside of the 150 mile limit.
We like to stay reasonably close to Denver/Boulder so we can shop, eat, hike, whatever.
 
We are in Denver/Aurora. I suggest looking/staying on the south side of Denver (I-25 and Lincoln Ave, Lone Tree area or DTC area). It is about 45min. to Co. Springs, 15min. to downtown Denver. There are many good hotels and restaurants. Big shopping Malls (Park Meadows Malls). Just 10 minutes south is Castle Rock town and a nice Outlet Malls to shop/eat off I-25. In this area, you will be close to interstate I-25 going/passing Downtown, to I-470E (non-toll if going West) to Golden to visit Coors Brewery and mountain resorts, and I-225 going East to Denver Airport. Traffic is only during peak hours.
 
ParkMom said:
We've gone south to the Royal Gorge, Canon City, Cripple Creek (the Donkeys!). We've also headed into the ski areas, exploring the back roads. This year, we went to Winter Park, then took the back road to Estes Park. Take the back roads, avoid the interstates, and just enjoy the views. Stop at vista points, get out, hike, stretch. We love it. Stay flexible, use GPS and see where you end up. The weather is usually good for this type of exploration, and it helps that I enjoy driving. We would rent a comfortable car for the first two years, then used our DS' SUV the last two years. Have to say Estes Park and Cripple Creek were my favorites!
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You hit the hot spots. For our 1st Parents weekend, we stayed at a customer's massive and beautiful winter home in Beaver Creek. It was your run-of-the-mill 8000 sq foot mountain home with elevators, towering windows overlooking the mountain and was located off of the golf course. We were JUST inside of the distance limit (as the crow flies). :) We also loved Cripple Creek (one night only is fine), Royal Gorge (whitewater rafting is a plus), and Estes Park are all wonderful suggestions. For those who have an extra day, checkout the Great Sand Dunes http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/things-to-do.htm . For us, that trumped the other areas. Spend 1/2 a day hiking the sand dunes (mornings have some incredible shadowing). Then rent boards to sand "ski".

Unfortunately all of these great trips are coming to an end. We are in the final stretch.
 
Unfortunately all of these great trips are coming to an end. We are in the final stretch.

Congratulations on making it to the final stretch and graduation is the crown jewel of visits to the Academy. However, there are still many great trips ahead. Our son graduated in 2014 and we've already returned for football games in 2014 and 2015; we've had two trips to the Deep South (Columbus MS) to visit our son at his base, and included a trip to New Orleans when our son had some time off. Our next trip is this July for his winging ceremony. So the adventure can continue after you hear the magic words of "Class of 2016, you are dismissed!"
 
And as to Parents Weekend hotels for Saturday and Sunday, consider the 4 star hotels in the Westminster/Broomfield area. (Westin, Omni, etc.) They cater mostly to business travel, so rates are lower than usual. (I just checked and the Westin is $169 for a room, the 3 star Doubletree is $132.00) There is a nearby shopping mall, restaurants, and Boulder is 15 minutes away. We did that a few times for Parents Weekend and always enjoyed it.
 
DS4Duty said:
We are in Denver/Aurora. I suggest looking/staying on the south side of Denver (I-25 and Lincoln Ave, Lone Tree area or DTC area). It is about 45min. to Co. Springs, 15min. to downtown Denver. There are many good hotels and restaurants. Big shopping Malls (Park Meadows Malls). Just 10 minutes south is Castle Rock town and a nice Outlet Malls to shop/eat off I-25. In this area, you will be close to interstate I-25 going/passing Downtown, to I-470E (non-toll if going West) to Golden to visit Coors Brewery and mountain resorts, and I-225 going East to Denver Airport. Traffic is only during peak hours.
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I followed that advice and took StayBridge Suites suite in Lone Tree for 6 people for like $113 a night (2 doubles in 1 room, expandable sofa for 2) for Friday to Mon.
I believe it is a very decent price if you have 5 or 6 people in the family so hope this info helps someone.

Ironically we visited many places in Colorado but not Denver itself so hope finally to get to Denver this time:)
 
vshun said:
I followed that advice and took StayBridge Suites suite in Lone Tree for 6 people for like $113 a night (2 doubles in 1 room, expandable sofa for 2) for Friday to Mon.
I believe it is a very decent price if you have 5 or 6 people in the family so hope this info helps someone.

Ironically we visited many places in Colorado but not Denver itself so hope finally to get to Denver this time:)
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That's great! Hope you didn't get caught in the fly by blizzard :) Don't forget to try out the Crave Burger joints....one in Castle Rock and the other is in CO Springs.

My DS as accepted the appointment so hope to meet you all on I-Day and beyond.
 
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