Tanya Raedeke

Big Cedar has been a family favorite of ours for the past 15 years. When we lived in Kansas City, we vacationed here at least once a year in the summer, and often for a long fall weekend as well. We rarely ever left the resort, because there is simply so much to do at Big Cedar. Our kids loved the fishing derbies, free putt putt, tubing on Table Rock Lake, and all of the beautiful swimming pools. We moved to Colorado Springs 9 years ago, but our kids have been begging to go back to Big Cedar ever since. This summer, we finally made it and we can’t wait to go back!

Colorado Springs has been our home for eight years now and we are still exploring this active city sitting under Pikes Peak, our famous Colorado 14er! Skip Denver and head here for adrenaline rushes in the outdoors, fabulous food and fabulous views. Did we mention we receive 300 days of sunshine? Plus, day trips for great hikes, the Royal Gorge, and more while skipping the drive on hectic Interstate 70.

We visit Phoenix often, since three of our big kids attend university or work there. And while we love to check out different hotels each time we visit from Colorado, the Omni Tempe at ASU blew our minds — and just might be our go-to moving forward.
This hotel's vibe is warm and modern, with a nod to the southwest. Plus, the fantastic amenities and perks are tough to beat at this four-star hotel great for families, potential Sun Devils, girls getaways and golfers.

Our family of six loved spending a week in Cozumel so much so that we repeated the vacation four years later -- and we weren't disappointed. Did you know that Cozumel has some of the best snorkeling spots on Earth? Sadly, most people only visit Cozumel for a day, either from a cruise ship or via ferry from Playa del Carmen. Pack your snorkel gear and plan to stay for seven days on Cozumel. Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. We know the best beaches and the best spots for snorkeling in Mexico.