If you have never been to the YMCA of the Rockies, you are in for a real treat. Although our family usually tends to stay in luxury accommodations while on vacation, we decided to give the kids a more rustic and authentic outdoor experience by taking them to the YMCA of the Rockies. (Note: You do not need to be Christian to go there; my husband is Jewish and was not the least bit uncomfortable in this setting.) Although if you are Christian, you will probably enjoy the religiously oriented activities that are offered.
Anyway, we booked a three bedroom cabin with fireplace called the Sunny Pine. It was up on a hill, and a bit of a walk to and from the main lodge. We don't mind the walking, but there are some steep slopes on the property, so if you have trouble walking, you may want to request a cabin closer to the main lodge.
Our cabin was rustic and the furnishings plain, pretty much what we expected. However, for the price of $219 a night, it certainly seemed very reasonable. Cabins in or near other national parks can be twice the price of the Y. It had 1 - 1/2 baths which was fine for our party of five. The bathrooms are small and a bit outdated and the flooring was coming up, but other than that were fine. This is a cabin after all, not a hotel room. It also had a large wood burning fireplace, and the first cord of wood is supplied by the Y. The fireplace is also a nice feature. The cabin also had a small living/dining area and a kitchen. I think our only disappointment was the kitchen, as it was not well supplied or outfitted, and lacked a lot of basic utensils and pans. It also had a small countertop microwave. However, the lack of amenities in the cabin were easily outweighed by the stunning view of the Rocky Mountains all around us. The view was just breathtaking, and the air is so clear and smells so good. It lifts your spirits just to be here. There is a beautiful outside deck with big Adirondack chairs to sit on and take in the view.
The YMCA has lots of on site activities, but you would be smart to review all these ahead of time and sign up as soon as you get there, because a lot of the activities fill up quick, even in early June. There is also a daily program for children and teens, (which we did not sign up for) and they seem to have some great activities, such as zip lining in the forest, daily trips and hikes. We had three teens with us, and they did try to join the teen get togethers at night, but then decided they preferred to hang out on their own. However, if your older kids sign up for the daily camp program, they will likely meet a lot of other kids their age and make some friends. What's nice is that there are a lot of other activities during the day that kids can sign up for such as archery, crafts, volleyball, hikes, white water rafting, etc. You can also go horseback riding (for a fee) and we did. This is one of the nicest horseback rides we have been on - we did the 2 hr. Moraine Park ride and it was fantastic. The horses are very gentle and the stable has an excellent staff. They also seem to select their horses very carefully and treat them very well.
We also signed up for a hike to a nearby mountain, and found our YMCA guide to be very knowledgeable and just a real nice person. The hike was challenging but well worth it. (Sorry I can't remember the name of the mountain we hiked to.)
Other nice things about the Y are that you can eat very cheaply there in the cafeteria. It's not the greatest food, but is plentiful and really helps to keep costs down. There is also a snack bar in the main lodge building, (the only place you can get internet and cell phone reception) and they have many quick items for breakfast or lunch there. The best deal is the coffee, you buy one of their insulated mugs and you can use it to get free refills all week long. The coffee was excellent quality and I highly recommend the mug deal if you drink at least one cup a day. The lodge is a busy place and there are lots of college age kids there using their laptops, so this would be a great meeting spot for the older teen/young adult age group.
In terms of activities, we spent most of our time visiting Rocky Mountain National Park (Trail Ridge Road is spectacular!) and also went on a number of hikes, as well as did some shopping in town. My favorite stores are 30 Below Leather (everything is below $30 and there are some great deals on purses, belts, etc.) and also the two rock and mineral stores in town, which I found fascinating because of their collections of fossils and meteorites. The town of Estes Park is rather touristy but still quaint and attractive, and there are numerous good restaurants.
I will say that the weather there in June can be quite unpredictable, and a coat is definitely needed at times. One night there was a huge windstorm, and it also snowed. So while it can be in the 60's to 70's during the day, it can also go down to the 30's and 40's at night that time of year. If you go up into the national park, the higher altitudes are very cold and windy, so dress accordingly. One night the wind was so strong it blew our heavy adirondack chairs clear across the deck. So a windbreaker type jacket would be a good idea too.
In closing, I would highly recommend the YMCA of the Rockies, for its beautiful setting, economical accommodations, multitude of activities, and wholesome atmosphere. It is a GREAT place for a family vacation or reunion, and I would love to go back.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC