The In-Between Years

If you’ve read my About section – the trip we’ve just returned from – was AMAZING!

My husband and I have always believed that you don’t stop travelling when you have children. In fact, kids are often more adaptable than we are. Taking them to new places fuels their imaginations and opens up their world. So, we try to take one big trip a year – somewhere new, somewhere different.

This year, our daughter inspired the destination. She is obsessed with the Ninja Kids – a family who have a YouTube channel full of high-energy martial arts and gymnastics. A lot of the stuff can be silly, but they are incredibly talented, and she watches them religiously. So we thought: why not visit their home turf? That’s how Salt Lake City, home of the first Ninja Kids Park, landed on our itinerary.

We began the journey by flying into Denver, spending a few easy days adjusting to the time difference and the altitude (hello, Mile High City!). At 5,000 feet, it does take a little getting used to. But Denver itself is such a treat—charming architecture, friendly people, and great food. It was the perfect low-key start before our road trip kicked off and we left looking forward to returning at the end of our trip.

First stop – Breckenridge

Skiing in the US was something we really wanted the kids to experience, and though lift passes have gotten seriously pricey, it was worth every penny. The kids absolutely loved it. Breckenridge is a picture-perfect mountain town. Unlike the Alps with their steep drops, the slopes here are wide and tree-lined—absolutely stunning.

We stayed at Gravity Haus, which made things so easy. Ski lockers just 200m from the lift? Yes, please. And the rental shop they work with is right across the street—such a win when you’re hauling gear for the whole family.

Next up – Moab

None of us knew what to expect from this little town. But after a bit of research (and seeing it listed as a great place to stay between Denver and Salt Lake), we thought we would give it a shot.

Side note: the drive between Breckenridge and Moab was 4 hours, so we made a pit stop at Glenwood Hot Springs – a treat for everyone! With pools of all different temperatures, waterslides, and even a diving board, it was the perfect way to break up the trip. The kids were thrilled… and more importantly, they forgave us for the three hours that followed in the car.

Arriving into Moab, you could be forgiven for thinking that there’s not much to the town. It feels like a rugged little dessert outpost – but it really surprised us.

We stayed in a small lodge, at MOAB HTC, which was perfect for what we needed. We weren’t planning to spend much time indoors, so it made a great base for all our adventures.

And wow – what a couple of days. We explored Arches National Park (absolutely breathtaking), went zip lining, rode bikes through the desert, and ran up giant sand hills (harder than it sounds, trust me). If you ever find yourself in that part of the US, I’d highly recommend carving out a couple of days for Moab. It was awesome—totally exceeded our expectations.

I could go on, but I don’t want to drone for too long, so I’ll save the rest for next time. Stay tuned for more if you find it interesting 🙂