Teatime in Boulder

Hairnets for the Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour.

The carful of kids spent approximately a month on the road exploring the wonders of the Rocky Mountains. With stops at Scotts Bluff and Devils Tower national monuments and excursions into Glacier and Banff national parks, we spent the majority of our time wandering through Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world.

The carful of kids are ready to sleep in their own beds so we are homeward bound. After a quick stop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a picture under the antler arches in town square; we are on the highway headed for Colorado.

The carful of kids love Colorado so after a day of mostly driving, we want to explore Boulder for a few hours. When I plan our trips sometimes I schedule a quick stopover to see if I want to incorporate an area into a future trip.

Boulder, Colorado, is 25 miles northwest of Denver and the home to the largest university in the state, University of Colorado. After a quick drive through the campus on a unofficial campus tour, we head over to a fun tour for Moms.

The carful of kids sample tea after the factory tour.

The Celestial Seasonings factory tour (4600 Sleepytime Drive) is a great stop for tea-loving Moms and their kids, 5 and older. The tours run every day, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the factory is closed most major holidays. The tour is FREE.

There is a cafe with lots of samples and you will be given a sample pack of tea to take home. If you are a tea addict like myself, there is a gift shop with varieties you can't find in the grocery store back home.

Due to food safety regulations, you and your children will be required to wear hairnets. Children under 5 are not allowed on the factory tour. The tour guide walks us along the production line giving us insight into what ingredients make up their herbal teas. The highlight of the tour is the Mint Room.

Mint is so strong that it is stored in its own room. If you have ever been on the fence about mint, you will know after this. Some people can't even walk into the Mint Room. While other devoted fans, like my daughter and myself, can't get enough of the sinus-clearing aroma.

After a stop in the gift shop for tea and tea accessories, the carful of kids are on the road to our next stop, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (1850 Table Mesa Drive). It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it is FREE.

Making and playing with clouds. How cool is that?

This is a great stop for school-age kids who are interested in weather. There are tons of cool interactive displays demonstrating the effects of our atmosphere on our weather.

Wind and sand experiments for the whole family.

After several hours getting a taste of Boulder, the carful of kids need to get back on the interstate headed to Texas. I have one last stop planned that's a family favorite.

Up Next: Palo Duro Canyon State Park