There's never short of things to do in the U.S.A! This 4th of July week, we headed west to Colorado. People say you visit Colorado for the winter and stay for the summer. We've only been there in the summer, and our brief one-week visit helped us understand the second half of that saying - there's hardly an hour that passed without something scenic taking your breath away.
Named for the Colorado River, the State's diverse geography was on full display when we were there - from alpine mountains, plains, deserts, canyons, granite rock to rivers, lakes and even lush forests. We had grand plans to hike as many trails as we could, visiting rivers and wildflowers, and see as much of Colorado as we could in the week that we have. Unfortunately, both of us caught a bug on the way to Denver, the capital city, and plans were curtailed...but not scuppered!!!
Day 1: Denver, Colorado
It's such an easy journey from Midland, Michigan to Denver, Colorado. A short hour plus flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul, then another hour plus from MSP to Denver. Collecting our rental car though, was a different experience at this airport. The rental stations are located off-site. Instructions on where to hop on the shuttle that takes you to the cars are posted at the rental counters in the airport.
We stayed a block from the 16th Street Mall and spent the first afternoon walking the mall, answering craving for good Vietnamese food and figuring out if our bodies liked the higher altitude the city sits on - 5,280 feet above sea level versus Midland's 640 feet and Singapore's 50 feet (actually, try Googling "Singapore altitude" and you get bars and restaurants in the results...). We were fine.
Day 2: Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountain National Park was c r o w d e d!!!! It was exciting to see so many people visit the mountains on a Sunday, driving around enjoying the view. This meant though, that pull-offs were crowded. We also arrived later which meant we had only about 3 to 4 hours on the mountain before we had to head back to Denver. So we told Ranger Jack at the visitor center that we want animals and we want scenery - he recommended a drive route and off we went.
We got scenery aplenty and on the tundra, saw BULL ELKS!!! OMG. Seeing those animals up close made the trip. Period.
I was hoping to meet Bighorn sheep too but they were nowhere to be seen = unfinished business #1.
Day 3: Get it out of the System Day
You can take the Singaporean out of Singapore but you cannot take Singapore out of the Singaporean. Our next stop was Manitou Springs, an hour's drive away, and between Denver and Manitou Springs sits the Castle Rock factory outlet. Yup...this was shopping day. Not that we needed to or bought many things, but we enjoy walking around and looking at different stuff. We bought stuff for the trip - water bottles, and a shirt and bermudas for Leon.
We arrived in Manitou Springs and checked into our room at The Cliff House at Pike's Peak. It's a historic building from the late 1800s and probably the most luxurious hotel in the area. However, please don't expect luxury as you know it. It's stately, clean and full of history. It's a place that commands your respect and you stay gently as one of its modern day guests. Service was very good, and its location a street away from the main street, Manitou Avenue, was very convenient.
Now as you might be aware, Colorado made recreational pot legal in January 2014. We were reminded of that fact when we walked past The Hemp Store, proudly family-owned since 2000. The distinctive sweet smell hits us first and then of course, there was a plant sitting pretty in the window.
The week we were there marked 6 months into legal weed. TV stations and papers did specials on the "Rocky Mountain High" and what that has meant. While they acknowledged that it might be early days yet, they were noting that crime rate was down, purchase of weed was orderly, weed trafficking at the borders, like tax dollars, were at a high. I want to say "to each his own" but I've seen what pot/drug addiction can do to families, and I do have a strong opinion about legalizing such ventures - STUPID IDEA. Let's see what happens after money on hand is used up. Lets see what happens after users 'graduate' from recreational pot into stronger stuff.
Anyway, Manitou Springs is also set up as a sort of artist enclave. Leon fell for a linoleum print at an artist cooperative shop and we decided to bring it home. What a treat that the cashier on duty is the artist of the print that Leon bought, and we got some insight on her inspiration for the piece. For me, I feel lucky to be with someone who would buy art!
Day 4: Up Pike's Peak
The morning was cloudy and chilly, and I wasn't holding out much for good sight-seeing in our ascent to Pikes Peak, one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners - mountains that rises above 14,000 feet above average sea level. We could hike up and that would take about 8 to 10 hours (the record was a 2 hour run up the mountain by a marathoner named Matt Carpenter) but we decided to waltz up on the Pike's Peak Cog Railway instead.
Just over an hour later and above the treeline at 14,115 feet, the only effect of the thin air on us was a mild headache for Leon, and slower movements (sudden turns of my head made me a little light-headed) for me. And nothing much could be seen beyond the train because a thick thick fog had descended upon the peak. No shrub, no rocks, no sheep.
Also, we were told that the donuts at the peak is world famous and not to be missed, but the machine is broken and there was also no donuts. I wasn't as miffed as some of our train mates...it was amusing to see.
The fog lifted as we began our descent and while there was still no sign of any sheep, we did spy a marmot.
By this time, we were both sniffing hard and feeling crappy. But the afternoon sun warmed us up a little, and we proceeded to the Garden of The Gods. It's where you can learn a lot about the history of the area, and unfortunately for us, the exhibit area was under maintenance. The Garden is free entry, and it's a beautiful place with rock formations and a nice walk...but we were expecting Gods to like flowers a lot more than stones. Plus the sense of malaise we were both feeling, I don't think we did justice to the park.
Day 5: Crested Butte (say "beaut", not "butt")
The three-plus hour drive to Crested Butte the next day was tough. We were still not feeling good and by the time we reached our lodging (flash sale half price), all we wanted to do was crash. First, we needed food. The main drag of town was a short drive away at Elk Avenue. Good options, not cheap, but you can always find some trusty Chinese restaurant somewhere to whip up almost-familiar comfort food inexpensively.
The main reason Crested Butte was planned into the itinerary was the wildflower trail behind the hotel. With a few more days to go on this trip, we decided to rest well instead of pushing ourselves. So we had to skip the hike = unfinished business #2.
Day 6: Hot Springs
This was meant to be the "rest day" after all the hiking we would have done. But because we had been resting, we were actually feeling pretty good and energetic by the time we made our way to Moffat and to Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa...Other than rooms, you could also park your RV, or sleep in a tipi, or a yurt.
This place is IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. It's the first time we had to punch in "County Road 58ee" type of address into the GPS. And while the area was wide open and "free", it made me feel just a little trapped. As far as the eye could see, 360degrees all around, were mountain ranges. It was again a cloudy day and so above us was a thick grey cap. It just felt like we were part of a giant snow-globe toy...if you know what I mean.
But WE LOVE IT! After checking in, we grabbed our cameras and started exploring the compound, found a little trail, and got a little hiking out of our system. We also drove around the area, and found a decent size pottery studio that was supplying over 130 shops around the U.S. with pottery souvenirs. I don't normally buy pottery, but because the potter was so friendly and told us his life story, and hung around the shop with us, we both bought something. Then came an hour of soaking in the three hot spring pools, before we headed out again for dinner at one of two diners in town, the Steel Horse Grill, open only between May and October of the year. Pretty good burger! Like!
Day 7: Bison Hunt
I had three goals coming to Colorado and all three involved animals - I wanted to see elks, bighorn sheep and bison. I read about them while researching the trip, and I wanted to see these in person. Saw the elks on day 2, and haven't met the other two creatures at all.
Just 30 minutes outside of Denver is the Rocky Mountain Arsenal wildlife refuge. We were headed back to Denver anyway so to try to meet another of my goals, Leon went along with my suggestion of visiting this refuge even though it was the 4th of July, the visitor center was closed, and we would have no guidance from any ranger.
It took us 3 hour 45 minutes to get from Moffat to Commerce City where the wildlife refuge was. The area was once used as a cold war weapons production and demilitarization site, and is located just outside the city. It was very hard to imagine there would be herds of bison at the site - and maybe they were also on vacation because they were nowhere to be found = unfinished business #3. We drove round and round the refuge a few times - it was an easy 9 mile loop and we were not supposed to get out of the car anyway because of the potential of charging bisons.
We did see many prairie dogs up close though, and that was fun.
Day 8: Back to Midland
All vacations are fun. Vacations are also time to reconnect with each other, and also to reflect, and take perspective again. I needed this break and I'm glad we took it. And it's always a good feeling to go home again...
Named for the Colorado River, the State's diverse geography was on full display when we were there - from alpine mountains, plains, deserts, canyons, granite rock to rivers, lakes and even lush forests. We had grand plans to hike as many trails as we could, visiting rivers and wildflowers, and see as much of Colorado as we could in the week that we have. Unfortunately, both of us caught a bug on the way to Denver, the capital city, and plans were curtailed...but not scuppered!!!
Day 1: Denver, Colorado
It's such an easy journey from Midland, Michigan to Denver, Colorado. A short hour plus flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul, then another hour plus from MSP to Denver. Collecting our rental car though, was a different experience at this airport. The rental stations are located off-site. Instructions on where to hop on the shuttle that takes you to the cars are posted at the rental counters in the airport.
We stayed a block from the 16th Street Mall and spent the first afternoon walking the mall, answering craving for good Vietnamese food and figuring out if our bodies liked the higher altitude the city sits on - 5,280 feet above sea level versus Midland's 640 feet and Singapore's 50 feet (actually, try Googling "Singapore altitude" and you get bars and restaurants in the results...). We were fine.
Day 2: Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountain National Park was c r o w d e d!!!! It was exciting to see so many people visit the mountains on a Sunday, driving around enjoying the view. This meant though, that pull-offs were crowded. We also arrived later which meant we had only about 3 to 4 hours on the mountain before we had to head back to Denver. So we told Ranger Jack at the visitor center that we want animals and we want scenery - he recommended a drive route and off we went.
We got scenery aplenty and on the tundra, saw BULL ELKS!!! OMG. Seeing those animals up close made the trip. Period.
I was hoping to meet Bighorn sheep too but they were nowhere to be seen = unfinished business #1.
Day 3: Get it out of the System Day
You can take the Singaporean out of Singapore but you cannot take Singapore out of the Singaporean. Our next stop was Manitou Springs, an hour's drive away, and between Denver and Manitou Springs sits the Castle Rock factory outlet. Yup...this was shopping day. Not that we needed to or bought many things, but we enjoy walking around and looking at different stuff. We bought stuff for the trip - water bottles, and a shirt and bermudas for Leon.
We arrived in Manitou Springs and checked into our room at The Cliff House at Pike's Peak. It's a historic building from the late 1800s and probably the most luxurious hotel in the area. However, please don't expect luxury as you know it. It's stately, clean and full of history. It's a place that commands your respect and you stay gently as one of its modern day guests. Service was very good, and its location a street away from the main street, Manitou Avenue, was very convenient.
Now as you might be aware, Colorado made recreational pot legal in January 2014. We were reminded of that fact when we walked past The Hemp Store, proudly family-owned since 2000. The distinctive sweet smell hits us first and then of course, there was a plant sitting pretty in the window.
The week we were there marked 6 months into legal weed. TV stations and papers did specials on the "Rocky Mountain High" and what that has meant. While they acknowledged that it might be early days yet, they were noting that crime rate was down, purchase of weed was orderly, weed trafficking at the borders, like tax dollars, were at a high. I want to say "to each his own" but I've seen what pot/drug addiction can do to families, and I do have a strong opinion about legalizing such ventures - STUPID IDEA. Let's see what happens after money on hand is used up. Lets see what happens after users 'graduate' from recreational pot into stronger stuff.
Anyway, Manitou Springs is also set up as a sort of artist enclave. Leon fell for a linoleum print at an artist cooperative shop and we decided to bring it home. What a treat that the cashier on duty is the artist of the print that Leon bought, and we got some insight on her inspiration for the piece. For me, I feel lucky to be with someone who would buy art!
Day 4: Up Pike's Peak
The morning was cloudy and chilly, and I wasn't holding out much for good sight-seeing in our ascent to Pikes Peak, one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners - mountains that rises above 14,000 feet above average sea level. We could hike up and that would take about 8 to 10 hours (the record was a 2 hour run up the mountain by a marathoner named Matt Carpenter) but we decided to waltz up on the Pike's Peak Cog Railway instead.
Just over an hour later and above the treeline at 14,115 feet, the only effect of the thin air on us was a mild headache for Leon, and slower movements (sudden turns of my head made me a little light-headed) for me. And nothing much could be seen beyond the train because a thick thick fog had descended upon the peak. No shrub, no rocks, no sheep.
Also, we were told that the donuts at the peak is world famous and not to be missed, but the machine is broken and there was also no donuts. I wasn't as miffed as some of our train mates...it was amusing to see.
The fog lifted as we began our descent and while there was still no sign of any sheep, we did spy a marmot.
By this time, we were both sniffing hard and feeling crappy. But the afternoon sun warmed us up a little, and we proceeded to the Garden of The Gods. It's where you can learn a lot about the history of the area, and unfortunately for us, the exhibit area was under maintenance. The Garden is free entry, and it's a beautiful place with rock formations and a nice walk...but we were expecting Gods to like flowers a lot more than stones. Plus the sense of malaise we were both feeling, I don't think we did justice to the park.
Day 5: Crested Butte (say "beaut", not "butt")
The three-plus hour drive to Crested Butte the next day was tough. We were still not feeling good and by the time we reached our lodging (flash sale half price), all we wanted to do was crash. First, we needed food. The main drag of town was a short drive away at Elk Avenue. Good options, not cheap, but you can always find some trusty Chinese restaurant somewhere to whip up almost-familiar comfort food inexpensively.
The main reason Crested Butte was planned into the itinerary was the wildflower trail behind the hotel. With a few more days to go on this trip, we decided to rest well instead of pushing ourselves. So we had to skip the hike = unfinished business #2.
Day 6: Hot Springs
This was meant to be the "rest day" after all the hiking we would have done. But because we had been resting, we were actually feeling pretty good and energetic by the time we made our way to Moffat and to Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa...Other than rooms, you could also park your RV, or sleep in a tipi, or a yurt.
This place is IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. It's the first time we had to punch in "County Road 58ee" type of address into the GPS. And while the area was wide open and "free", it made me feel just a little trapped. As far as the eye could see, 360degrees all around, were mountain ranges. It was again a cloudy day and so above us was a thick grey cap. It just felt like we were part of a giant snow-globe toy...if you know what I mean.
But WE LOVE IT! After checking in, we grabbed our cameras and started exploring the compound, found a little trail, and got a little hiking out of our system. We also drove around the area, and found a decent size pottery studio that was supplying over 130 shops around the U.S. with pottery souvenirs. I don't normally buy pottery, but because the potter was so friendly and told us his life story, and hung around the shop with us, we both bought something. Then came an hour of soaking in the three hot spring pools, before we headed out again for dinner at one of two diners in town, the Steel Horse Grill, open only between May and October of the year. Pretty good burger! Like!
Day 7: Bison Hunt
I had three goals coming to Colorado and all three involved animals - I wanted to see elks, bighorn sheep and bison. I read about them while researching the trip, and I wanted to see these in person. Saw the elks on day 2, and haven't met the other two creatures at all.
Just 30 minutes outside of Denver is the Rocky Mountain Arsenal wildlife refuge. We were headed back to Denver anyway so to try to meet another of my goals, Leon went along with my suggestion of visiting this refuge even though it was the 4th of July, the visitor center was closed, and we would have no guidance from any ranger.
It took us 3 hour 45 minutes to get from Moffat to Commerce City where the wildlife refuge was. The area was once used as a cold war weapons production and demilitarization site, and is located just outside the city. It was very hard to imagine there would be herds of bison at the site - and maybe they were also on vacation because they were nowhere to be found = unfinished business #3. We drove round and round the refuge a few times - it was an easy 9 mile loop and we were not supposed to get out of the car anyway because of the potential of charging bisons.
We did see many prairie dogs up close though, and that was fun.
Day 8: Back to Midland
All vacations are fun. Vacations are also time to reconnect with each other, and also to reflect, and take perspective again. I needed this break and I'm glad we took it. And it's always a good feeling to go home again...
Comments
Post a Comment