One of my biggest pet peeves is to read about an incredible event that occurred in town that I somehow missed, which partially explains why I took the path to becoming a family travel writer. I figured that if I could get myself known as the key person to contact when something interesting was going on for families, I would never have to be in the dark ever again.

In addition, I have teamed up with Aspen Shines, a locally owned and operated website that offers a downloadable Aspen iPhone Application. Now we all can be keyed into their social calendar that gives the most current and up to date information on “Aspen Hot Spots,” Restaurants and Bars.

May Selby, the Author of the Aspen Times Column “Mountain Mayhem,” also writes the “Aspen Today” column for Aspen Shines and she, unlike me, is very good at keeping her finger on the pulse.

The thing is that the fun never stops in Aspen and we don’t always need to wait for events to come our way to provide entertainment. Aspen Shines will be the first to let you know that while it is true that Aspen has some of the most remarkable skiing in the world there is so much more of an adventure to be had in the Roaring Fork Valley for families that is not just slope specific.

Who needs Disney World when fun activities and adventures abound directly outside your front door?

This past March Aspen Shines kids enjoyed themselves in and around Aspen. Below are the photos to remind us that it takes so little to bring on the fun.

So be sure to follow suit and don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen, bring a coat for the mountain weather that can change in a heartbeat and bring your BPA free water bottle.

• Ride the RFTA bus around town or take advantage of Aspen’s free shuttle buses. Either one will fulfill your child’s love for rides.

• Be guaranteed a fun ride on a fire truck if you visit the fire station.

• Go to The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and ride the Canyon Flyer, the first alpine coaster in the United States. Your kids will love being in control of their speed as you careen around the tight turns.

• Snowmobile above Lenado with Western Adventures.   

• When it’s open again, ride the Gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain and race down the Nastar course. Your kids will love it when they win an award for fastest speed in their age group.

• Take a walk around town. You never know what celebrity you may run into.

• Of course, there is always the adventure of going out to eat. There are so many kid friendly restaurants around that it is tough to choose from. For the best wraps in town go to The Big Wrap. For pizza go to Domino’s, New York Pizza, Highlands Pizza Company, Mezzaluna or Brunelleschi’s to make your own. For smoothies and cookies go to Peach’s, Victoria’s or Poppycock’s. For buffet style delicious food on the go, go to Jour de Fete. For deli meat and sandwiches go to The Butcher’s Block or Johnny McGuire’s. For sit down go to LuLu Wilson’s, Krabloonik’s, Main Street Bakery or The Woody Creek Tavern. For dessert, go to the Dark Horse Alley, Boogie’s Diner or Paradise Bakery.

• For parks visit the Yellow Brick Schoolhouse park or the John Denver Rock Park.

• Make mini me snowmen.

• Visit the ARC and meander down the lazy river pool or test their skills on the climbing wall, ice skating rink and the Whoa Nelly sledding hill.

When the day is coming to a close you can now enjoy some quiet time while your children collapse in complete happy exhaustion!

Pack of Terrain boys on Buttermilk

Well, I made it through the first day of spring break with Bono’s lyrics stuck in my head, like a skipping record, “Some days are better than others.”

The day began when I awoke from a dream where a reporter from the New York Times was interviewing me and asking me about my success as a writer. “How did you do it,” he asked me. “How did you become such a successful writer with three kids in tow?” And I answered, “Not very well.”

I mean really! They say if you multi-task none of your jobs will be done 100% efficiently but I learned early that being a dreamer does not coincide with being a perfectionist and I thrive off of chaos.

This morning I shuffled to my office and began reading and typing with my eyelashes still woven together, my body still warm from slumber. After inhaling a cup of java, which I try not to drink anymore because I become a bundle of dynamite ready to blow, I made a business phone call where I faked professionalism, not very well.

I hung up the phone completely confused and looked at my watch realizing that I was way behind schedule. I would now have to face an angry Brevitt who truly needs to see an enormous paycheck in my hand to better understand why my computer is my ball and chain. He cut me a bit of slack knowing that Tucker was contributing to my lateness and that I can only be as on time as Tucker will allow.

He is quite the adorable little boy, that Tucker, singing and dancing around the house with that sweet  little  voice, but he tests my patience. It’s not his fault really, he is only five, and absolutely unable to finish a task without getting distracted and turning it into a game.

The trick is, when I need him to get something done so that we can get out of the door I must stay near him, nudging him to stay on course. “Tucker,” I sing as I see him sliding across the floor naked, all but his ski socks, “Did you forget that you were putting your ski clothes on?”

Tucker is not our only challenge. When we got to the slopes we realized that Brevitt’s skis were missing and we had to drive an extra forty minutes to retrieve them, which was quite frustrating, and irritating, until I realized that I too had forgotten something very important, my wallet.

Axel got the giggles in the car as I tried to retain some semblance of sanity by doing some deep breathing. “You sound like Darth Vader,” he said and I began to daydream about slipping over to the dark and evil side.

We got on to the slopes by 12:30, along with the other crack of noon club, and I prayed for deliverance as Tucker whined and the boys sucked down the free coffee loaded with artificial creamer and as many sugar packets as they could open, before I discovered them.

Axel’s ski broke on our first run and I thought that I might very well just become the next “Crazy Heart.”

At lunch, Tucker’s pizza slice flipped face side down on to my ski pants and I told Bono to shut the hell up. Hearing the cashier ask the cute women in front of me how her day was going, I warned him not to ask me that same question. With a smile, he told me that nobody should have a bad day today, being that it was so beautiful outside, and he comped me the slice of pizza. That was all I needed, a great big adorable southern smile and a tiny offering of sympathy.

After skiing we raced to teacher conferences where I soaked in all that the teacher’s were saying about my children who apparently push the rules and think differently than the others.

When we got home I let out my pack to run with the car and  I now have uncorked a bottle of Pinot Noir so that I can taste that deliciously dark and warm essence of cherry on my palate and unhinge the day on paper, so to speak.

Hopefully, tomorrow will bring a different tune when I take my posse up to the Glenwood Caverns for some laser tag and alpine sledding.

LYRICS TO SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

Some days are dry, some days are leaky
Some days come clean, other days are sneaky.
Some days take less, but most days take more
Some slip through your fingers and on to the floor.
Some days you’re quick, but most days you’re speedy
Some days you use more force than is necessary.
Some days just drop in on us.
Some days are better than others.
Some days it all adds up
And what you’ve got is enough.
Some days are better than others.

Some days are slippy, other days are sloppy;
Some days you can’t stand the sight of a puppy.
Your skin is white, but you think you’re a brother.
Some days are better than others.
Some days you wake up with her complaining.
Some sunny days you wish it was raining.
Some days are sulky, some days have a grin;
And some days have bouncers and won’t let you in.
Some days you hear a voice
Taking you to another place.
Some days are better than others.

Some days are honest, some days are not;
Some days you’re thankful for what you’ve got.
Some days you wake up in the army
And some days it’s the enemy.
Some days are work, most days you’re lazy;
Some days you feel like a bit of a baby
Lookin’ for Jesus and his mother.
Some days are better than others.
Some days you feel ahead;
You’re making sense of what she said.
Some days are better than others.

Some days I hear a voice taking me to another place.
Some days are better then others.