“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.” – Lewis Carroll
Facebook isn’t always my favorite, but there is something I absolutely love about it – the memories that show up each year. Eight years ago yesterday, I posted on Facebook that “vacation proved to be much more exciting than I expected” with a picture of my new engagement ring. Seven years ago yesterday, I posted that there were less than 24 hours before I got to marry my best friend.
Today, Zac and I celebrate seven years of marriage. “What are you doing for your anniversary?” some might ask. Well, traditionally, the gift of choice for a seven-year anniversary is copper. The modern gift of choice is a gift set or brass (Source: EternityRose.com). What I can assure everyone asking is that we will not be buying each other desk sets or copper.
Today, we both worked as normal. Buzz had a vet appointment this afternoon to make sure everything is up-to-date before vacation. We hung out and watched a new-to-us TV show on Netflix for a while and had tacos for dinner. Today was a pretty typical Monday for us.
The people that know us well know that our gift to each other, year after year, is our anniversary trip to Colorado. This year, we got ourselves some extra gifts prior to vacation and loaded up the truck with some new gear, got some new camping stuff, and even got Zac some new hiking boots (apparently, next year will be my year for new hiking boots) – we cannot wait to use all of our new stuff for our trip!
We will be heading out Friday afternoon for a bit over a week to our favorite place, our home away from home. Until then, it is business as usual sprinkled with packing and preparing for our trip. I’ve been working on some research for different things for us to do, but most know that when we go to Colorado, we pretty much fly by the seat of our pants.
As of right now, we have an idea of which fourteener we will be conquering (stay tuned to find out – I’m not going to spill those beans until it happens – because it might actually still change!) and a bit of an idea of the areas we want to explore. Aside from that, though, we just go with the flow when we are there. We will for sure spend some time in Summit and Park Counties, and make sure to visit a good friend in Littleton while we are there, but past that – our plans are pretty much going to be a surprise even to us!
Instead of sharing the places we for sure will be going, I figured I’d share some general touristy, fun ideas for places others could visit. I hate to let my research go to waste, so I feel better about sharing it with others. The list includes things I’ve found that would be fun, things we have already done, and others – but is definitely not all inclusive. Colorado has so much to offer. It would take multiple books to share the true vastness of the opportunities for adventure there.
Denver + Surrounding Areas
Get some amazing ice cream at Milkroll Creamery
Take a look at Meow Wolf Denver, fun, interesting, and immersive art
Stand on the Mile-High Step at the Colorado State Capitol
Visit the Denver Art Museum
Visit Sloan’s Lake
Go to the Denver Museum Of Nature & Science
Eat at the dog-inspired The Brutal Poodle
Look at fish in the Downtown Aquarium
Have some fun with air and space at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum
Check out some nature in town at the Denver Botanic Gardens
If feeling really adventurous – check out Linger Eatuary, which is housed in what used to be a mortuary
Go back in time at the History Colorado Center
If traveling with the kids – visit the Children's Museum of Denver
Get special deals on multiple museums in Denver with a Denver CityPASS
Summit + Park Counties
Take a ride on the Breckenridge Gondola
Find the Breckenridge Troll
Do some shopping at Historic Main Street
Ride your bike along Peaks Trail
Hike the Blue River Recpath
Take a ride along Boreas Pass Road
Check out Peak 8 Fun Park
Learn more about the trains of Colorado at the High Line Railroad Park and Museum
Go rafting or ziplining with AVA Rafting & Zipline
Take a step back in time with the Country Boy Mine
Visit one of the most popular fourteeners around, Quandary Peak
Take a Historic Walking Tour through Fairplay
Check out the South Park City Museum
Spend some time with horses, ATVs, and other fun things at American Safari Ranch
Telluride + Ouray
Wind down with The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodging
Check out the Box Canyon Waterfall & Park
If more mines are needed, take a look at the Bachelor of Syracuse Mine
Let the good times roll at the Ouray Alchemist Museum
Hike Baby Bath Tubs Trail (I have been obsessed with the name of this trail ever since we stumbled across it, but we have never had time to hike it)
Get a little grouchy at Mr. Grumpy Pants Brewing Company
Set out on a Telluride Tirade Scavenger Hunt
Hike the popular Bear Creek Trail
Hike or ATV along Bridal Veil Falls OHV Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park + Estes Park
Tour the Historic Stanley Hotel at Night
Take a ride on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway
Take a Jeep tour with Wildside 4x4 Tours
Visit Open Air Adventure Park for ziplining and other adventures
If up for a big challenge, hike Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route
A portion of this route is a Class 3 (this is not a beginner fourteener)
The hike has a less than 50% completion rate
Be mindful and understand your personal limitations, especially when hiking in high elevation with loose rock
Make sure to take the scenic route if going through the park
Learn more about Estes Park here
Find all hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park here
Again, the list above shares just a small snippet of the things to do in a few of our favorite areas of Colorado. However, there is truly so much more to explore – not only just in the places that I shared (there are so many other fun hiking spots and things to do in each of the four general locations noted) – but also everywhere else. Colorado is one giant endless adventure. In order to truly appreciate it, one must just go out there and explore.
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