DIY Wands

These DIY wands are so easy to make. All you need is:

-Chopsticks

-Glue guns

-Glue for your glue guns

We also had foam blocks to be able to stick the chopsticks in while cooling off.

All you have to do is draw a cool design on the big end of the chopstick with a glue gun to form the wand's handle. Then, after the wand dries, you can either paint or color the wands. We used crayons when coloring because it wasn't as messy as paint or markers.

However, the first time we saw this done was at an event where they let the kids paint their wands and that was fun, too. Paint definitely covers the wand better, but having that kind of mess is not always doable.

Our favorite designs were small dots, spirals, tear-drop shapes, etc.

This is great for a fairy party, Harry Potter party, magic party, etc.

Guide to visiting Cripple Creek, Colorado

This post is part of our Pikes Peak/Colorado Springs area guide. If you haven't read the other posts in our guide, start at this post. Or visit http://asweuseit.blogspot.com/2018/07/guide-to-visiting-pikes-peak-and.html 

Cripple Creek, Colorado was a great addition to our trip. It's a small, old mining town. Honestly, I loved how much history was just seeping out of every corner of this place. Small, abandoned (meaning: do not go explore!) houses from a long-gone era dotted the landscape, and many old buildings have been kept up to house current businesses.

Cripple Creek is still greatly a gambling town. However, if gambling isn't your thing, there are plenty of family things to do as well. Including a cute little candy shop with the yummiest pumpkin turtles and another shop with super tall ice cream cones. There are a couple of museums and a chance to mine (but we only got to visit one museum, and that is the one I will share with you today).

The Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum was very interesting. However, it was hard to find. We kept asking people and no one knew where to find it. To our chagrin, it is way up the hill from the main casinos/train area. And, to our greater chagrin, we found out after we walked all the way up the hill that the bus goes right past there. Oh well, now you know at least.

We got to see the men's cells downstairs and then the women and children's area upstairs. There are pictures and stories of past inmates all over that we loved to read as well, and we took our mug shots. They had a little shop downstairs (where we found a better deal on a stuffed donkey than we had found at the train shop). If visitors wanted, they could dress up in prisoner garb to take awesome pictures.

By the way, this town is known apparently for their roaming donkeys. Unfortunately, we missed them and so we can't comment on that. However, there were places to buy food for them, and we still took home a cute, stuffed donkey.

My favorite part of Cripple Creek was the rail road. I'll warn you, its pricy. We did find a coupon on their website, but it was still so worth it. However, we are a family that loves history and looking at old buildings and claims and rocks. I think this ride will be something that I remember when I look back on this years from now. However, if cool train rides and history isn't your thing, then don't. For us, it was very worth it.

Tip: Take a grocery bag with you on this train ride. Because someone gave us a hint that if you asked nicely the conductor would let you pull the whistle and choose a piece of coal. Thus the grocery bag for the piece of coal. Also bring wipes for the little ones to wipe their hands on, because coal is dirty.

Ralf's Break Room, where we ate lunch, was so yummy! I wasn't sure when we first walked in, because the table was sticky and it was obviously an older, bar-type establishment. However, the area in the front was more of a family area and the food was so good! Our group ordered hamburgers and pizza, and both were extremely good. However, the hamburgers were unspeakingly yummy. As soon as I picked up the burger and all of the drippings started pooling on my plate/basket, I knew I was in for a treat. The pizza was yummy too, and the waitress said that they make their own dough.

 

I would suggest going through the visitor's center that you'll reach before driving down into Cripple Creek. You can learn about the history of the mining area (which is still being mined, by the way), see some art and taxidermy, etc. 

Lots of things close early around here, so after we were done we ended up just driving around the city to see the old buildings and houses. Which was nice because we could be in our air conditioned car for that point. 

Have you been to Cripple Creek? What is your favorite part?

Guide to visiting Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs

Interested in visiting the Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs area? Our family took a vacation there recently, and absolutely loved it. We decided that we would definitely be interested in going back some day. Along the trip we learned some things that we thought we'd share with you to make your trip easier.

I'll go in to more detail in other posts about the following places, so this blog post is just a general overview of what we found in the area.

To start, visit an awesome website: https://www.pikes-peak.com/   This website has some great suggestions, sample itineraries that were very helpful, coupons, and an offer to join the 14K club for more savings (but compare this club to the other coupons to see if there is anything different you would also want. The coupons they have available have changed in the last couple of weeks, so we didn't just have those available to us when we went.

We ended up joining the 14K club, and it was worth it for us because of the discounts we got from being members. However, join at your own risk. We had multiple places that either wouldn't give the discount it said they were supposed to or did it grudgingly. And almost 100% of the places we tried to use the membership at had to call a manager to know what the membership was and be able to use it. A lot of just normal employees had no idea. For example, we got the discount for the Cripple Creek train, but the gal there refused to give us the merchandise discount. Which was lame.

Still, it ended up being worth it in the end as here and there we got little discounts on things like entrance fees and meals. BUT, make sure you have access to the app and to the website, and also possibly printed off, so that you can show the coupon to the different attractions.

Here is a list of the different attractions we went to in the Pikes Peak/ Colorado Springs area. Check back throughout the next couple of weeks as I add individual posts for each attraction. Note: There are a lot more things to do in this area, but this is a list of what we were able to go see.

1. Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek is a fun, old mining town. Ride the train, visit old buildings, and learn a bit about the area's mining past. Click here to learn more: http://asweuseit.blogspot.com/2018/07/guide-to-visiting-cripple-creek-colorado.html.

2. Santa's North Pole Workshop

A Christmas themed amusement park, this is like nothing you have ever experienced. Click here to see our experience: LINK COMING SOON

3. Garden of the Gods

Beautiful scenery, and a photographer's dream. Click here for our recommendations: LINK COMING SOON

4. Pikes Peak

They say on a clear day you can see multiple states from here. To read about our tips, click on this link: LINK COMING SOON

5. Manitou Cliff Dwellings

For a chance to step in to the past and literally get your hands on a cliff dwelling, this is the place to go. For our review, click here: LINK COMING SOON

6. Cave of the Winds

The Cave of the Winds, in addition to a beautiful view, offers activities like cave exploration, gem mining, and the chance to soar like a bat. For our findings, click here: LINK COMING SOON.

7. Florrisant Fossil Bed National Park

From fossils to petrified red wood trees (you read that right), Florrisant shows them all. To read our account, click here: LINK COMING SOON

8. Florrisant Fossil Quarry

This was a fun place where you can hunt for your own fossils to take home. For our experience, click here: LINK COMING SOON

9. Broadmoor Seven Falls

One of our favorite water fall experiences ever. For more information, click here: LINK COMING SOON.

10. Downtown Manitou Springs

A taste-testing experience you aren't likely to forget. For more info, click here: LINK COMING SOON.

11. Old Ghost Town Museum

Take a walk through an old west town at the museum and search for real gold. Click here to read our experience: LINK COMING SOON.

Of course there are multiple hotels to stay in, but we stayed in the brand new Best Western Plus Executive Residency Fillmore Inn. Too read our review, click here: LINK COMING SOON.

Have you gone to Pikes Peak or Colorado Springs? Comment below with your favorite part of the experience.