Each July, the inhabitants of Cheyenne Wyoming and neighboring towns gather together to celebrate their Frontier roots and traditions. Many towns in Wyoming (and the West in general) have a version of Frontier Days, but none do it up as extravagantly as Cheyenne!

The 2012 lineup for Cheyenne Frontier Days will blow your mind. From July 20th through the 29th, there is an ENORMOUS schedule of events with everything you could possibly think of to entertain yourself and your family: concerts, rodeos, demonstrations, exhibitions, museums, rides, carnival games, and lots and LOTS of food. The FREE pancake breakfast comes highly recommended by the vast network of my husband’s cousins that live in Cheyenne and Laramie. They tell me it is the town of Cheyenne’s chance to practice their emergency response and disaster recovery skills, by feeding a vast amount of people in record time.

The concert lineup includes the Zac Brown Band, Journey, Hank Williams Jr., Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley. Make sure you buy your tickets early!

If you’re coming in from out of town, I recommend the Little America Cheyenne or the Hampton Inn – they’re elegant yet reasonably priced. And if the whole frontier/western/cowboy thing isn’t for you… well, first visit during some other time – they’re ALL FRONTIER ALL THE TIME during this stretch of July. Second, check out the Historic Governor’s Mansion, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, or the Wyoming State Museum.

Photo by Tiffany Joyce.

There’s nowhere better to visit in the summer than Vermont.  With gorgeous weather, beautiful scenery, and loads of things to do, it’s perfect for a family vacation.  Last month, my family visited Stowe, Vermont for the first time, and we had a great time.

Things to Do in Stowe

There are loads of things to do in the summer in Stowe, including an alpine slide, zip lining, miniature golf, and shopping.  You can also visit some of the factory tours in nearby Waterbury, Vermont (including Ben and Jerry’s).  The whole area is so relaxing and beautiful, and you could easily spend a long weekend there in the summer.

Places to Eat in Stowe

Just about every restaurant in the Stowe area is kid-friendly.  My favorites include the Dutch Pancake Cafe (for breakfast) in the Grey Fox Inn, Gracie’s, and Piecasso for gourmet pizzas.

Places to Stay in Stowe

There are so many hotels, resorts, and inns located right in Stowe.  We stayed at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, which offers a kid’s playground, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools, games, and the best spa I’ve ever visited!  It’s centrally located, and would be good for a ski vacation also.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: I received a complimentary two-night stay at Stoweflake, including a dinner, spa treatment, and breakfast.

Now that I live in California (again) I have big plans to make a dream a reality. I want to learn how to surf. I’m not sure why I haven’t done it in the past. A lot of my friends consider it to be the only thing that keeps them (relatively) sane.

There are surfing schools and day lessons available all along the coast, and I plan on visiting one of them — as soon as Living Social emails the right deal. A family coupon would be nice.

I’d love to get my boys up on some boards. We had thought that skiing might be our family activity, but it turns out that everyone hates the cold, so now we’re thinking surfing might be the answer. We shall see.

Destination surf vacations sound really awesome.

Do you surf? Do you have kids that surf?

This post is part of our Friday Family Series.

Photo: Luis Alves via Flickr

There’s still time to squeeze a family vacation in before the end of summer. (Yes, we’re already talking about the end of summer. Yes, it was like yesterday that we were talking about school finally being out.) If you’re on the East Coast, pack up the car and take a drive to one of these 3 family-friendly cities for a low-key vacation that’s sure to please.

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

This underrated little city is a great place for a family on a budget. The downtown area offers free museums and inexpensive children’s programs all summer long. Hop on a bike or go for a walk to explore the historical residential neighborhoods that surround the business district. You can also catch a play or checkout the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in August.

While you’re in town, make a point of seeking out one of the many restaurants that serve dishes made with local ingredients. For dessert, head to the nearest Locopops for a truly unique after-dinner treat.

2. Baltimore, Maryland

Often overlooked because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore is a city worth visiting all on its own. Catch a baseball game at Camden Yards, visit the visually stunning aquarium at the Inner Harbor, or checkout one of the world’s most impressive comic book collections at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum.

If you like to squeeze a little learning into your trips, be sure to make a stop at the B&O  Railroad Museum. The entire city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011 through 2014, and you’ll find an extensive display at the museum that goes far beyond really cool trains (although there’s plenty of that!)

3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Leave the books at home and head out for a vacation of pure fun on the Carolina coast. You can spend your time visiting aquariums and playing mini-golf on some of the crazy put-put courses you’ll ever see, or just hit the beach for sand castles and body surfing. For a special night on the town, grab tickets to the Carolina Opry, a show that will make kids from 6 to 96 laugh out loud.

While you’re in Myrtle Beach, head south for a day or two to Murrells Inlet. You’ll find fish shacks, dynamite seafood, and a state park with a home that looks more like a castle than a house.