The Buffalo Bill Village Resort consists of not only a Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn, but an historic boardwalk, saloon, gift shop, and fun cabins. The cabins are not authentic by any means, but resemble a log house on the outside and a standard motel room on the inside. They're set close together, but if you reserve one, request one near the grassy areas for room for kids to play. We found them perfectly comfortable, and you can use the Holiday Inn pool, so you get that perk as well.

There is no complimentary breakfast if you're staying in the cabins, but you do get to enjoy a nightly reception with soda, cheese, fruit, and other snacks. The staff here is very friendly, and the gift shop is vast: expect to lose track of time looking through everything! You're close enough to downtown Cody to walk around, and only a few minutes by car from the Stampede grounds.

The Center of the West is really five museums in one, all for one admission. The price is a bit steep for a whole family to get in, but WELL worth it. Inside, plan to spend at least the bulk of one day here, learning about Buffalo Bill Cody, natural history of the greater Yellowstone area, historic firearms, Western art, and Plains Indians. Once we were inside, we understood why this place is called the 'Smithsonian of the West'.

Keep an eye on the reader board at the entrance hub that lists the day's special events and programs. We enjoyed the Birds of Prey show, though bear in mind that it IS a bit graphic: squeamish kids may not like seeing a Golden Eagle eat a chick! It's very informative, however. There was also a living history demonstration of a chuck wagon meal during our visit, and we loved sampling the biscuits and beans. Also on the grounds are a cabin and Buffalo Bill's childhood home.

Truly, this is a first class museum complex. Spend a day here in Cody!

What a pleasant surprise! We booked a cabin here at the campground instead of paying for a run of the mill motel room outside of Boise, and we're so glad! The cabins are a bit hard to find--in the day use area--but once we were there, we were in love. They're right on the Snake River, and you have electricity, water, and bathrooms nearby (the bathrooms were under repair, however, in June 2013).

The best part of the state park is the interpretive center. This museum opens at 9 am every day but Mon-Tues, and is very well done. It tells kids the history behind this site: the Oregon Trail Snake River crossing. The history is told in equal parts from the point of view of the Euro Americans and Native Americans, and includes lots of interactive exhibits for kids. The museum is free, though you'll have to pay a day use fee to get into the state park. A great deal! I'd stop here as a pit stop if we weren't staying the night!

Eagle Crest Resort is one of many golf-oriented resorts in Central Oregon. Unless several located nearby, however, it's generally more affordable, with a lower-key air and very friendly staff. Located in Redmond, Eagle Crest is only minutes from Bend, where families can river raft and mountain bike in summer and ski in winter. And if you're a golfing family, you'll be in heaven with three 18-hole courses on-site.

The resort is comprised of private homes, vacation rentals, condos, and lodge rooms, all situated between the Deschutes River on one side and golf fairways throughout. The rugged Central Oregon high desert sets a dramatic background, and the winding residential streets are peaceful and bike-friendly.

RECREATION:
You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy Eagle Crest, though it certainly helps. During our visit, it was clear that golf is the main draw. As mentioned, the resort is very casual and friendly, and this extends to the courses. Kids are welcome, and nine holes are available to play instead of 18 on at least one course. A great way to get started is a visit to the putting course. 18 well-designed holes on the course include sand traps, water hazards, and beautiful landscaping. It looks just like a little version of the real thing, and kids can practice chipping and putting. The course took us about 1.5 hours.

In addition to golf, there are no fewer than three sports and recreation centers in the resort. The Resort Sports Center has an outdoor pool and hot tub, tennis and racquetball courts, and ample bike rentals (for an extra fee), and the Ridge Sports Center on the opposite side of the resort offers the only indoor pool, indoor basketball court, and full spa. The third center--Westview--is located well away from the others near the stables, and includes a children's spray park and outdoor pool. All centers have exercise rooms and classes.

Bike rentals start at $8/hour for kids' bikes to $20/hour for specialty bikes, and yes, you'll want to rent some (or bring your own). There are many bike paths throughout the resort, including a fun and long loop that circles the entire property (there are hills!). Shorter routes take bikers past several playgrounds and skirt golf courses. If you want to explore mountain biking, you can access single track trails adjacent to the resort (and rent mountain bikes at the Resort sports center).

Horseback riding at Ikiutan Stables is one of the most enjoyable resort riding we've tried. We loved that our guide listened to our description of our ability level and let us trot our horses and have more freedom than usual. Our hour ride took us across high desert without a house in sight.

LODGING:
We stayed at the Lodge at Eagle Crest, which is located on the Resort side of the property between the two main sports centers. This lodge is now a Holiday Inn Resort, and it's very well appointed. Rooms are standard, but beds are very comfortable with ample pillows and new duvets. Rooms include a mini fridge, and suites with kitchens are available. For our family of five, we had a standard room adjoining with a one-bedroom suite, which was perfect for preparing meals and spreading out. Lodging guests can access the sports centers with day passes. (There is also an outdoor pool and hot tub, as well as playground, right at the lodge, and kids eat dinner and breakfast free at Aerie when staying with an adult.)

DINING:
Dining is a bit limited at Eagle Crest, likely due to how many homes and vacation homes are on property (reducing need for multiple restaurants). We ate most our meals at Aerie, located in the lodge lobby. This small casual service restaurant has good basic meals (think sandwiches, salads, pizzas, omelets and waffles) during breakfast and dinner hours. A few seats are available outside on the patio overlooking the Resort course. Prices are reasonable. Equally casual dining is found at the Ridge course, and for finer dining, Niblick and Greene's serves steak, seafood, and pasta.


THE DOWNSIDE:
Unless you have your own golf cart that you bring with you, be prepared to shuttle to and fro in your car a lot. Eagle Crest is big, and you'll need to drive to the various sports centers and golf courses. While the very short drives are not a big deal, I do prefer a resort where I can park once and leave my car put.

Disclaimer: We were guests of Eagle Crest for the purpose of review.

We had a blast at Craters of the Moon exploring the caves. I was a little surprised that these are self-guided (though maps can be picked up and you need a permit from the visitor center first), because they are quite extensive and run very deep underground. More alarming to parents are the smaller lava tubes that kids can disappear in if they're adventurous and don't stay near you. For all the reasons that the caves made me nervous, my kids LOVED them.

Bring flashlights or better yet, headlamps and sturdy shoes. The Boy Scout Cave involves some scrambling and even crawling, and there is lots of ice inside. We loved the experience, but anyone under age 6 would probably need a lot of help.

Other than the caves, there's a cinder cone to explore and trails. We had a blast!