Our lives are filled with hectic schedules and constant technology, we needed a change of scenery, a change of pace, and an opportunity to marvel at God’s creation. This past weekend I traded the coast for the mountains of Colorado, breathing life into me.
I was in awe as we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park. I think all I kept saying was “Isn’t this so beautiful” and “LOOK”, as if something AMAZING was in front of me, and it was God’s creation standing out in all His glory.
The change of pace was invigorating and rejuvenating at the same time. The crisp, cool mountain air gave me a profound sense of peace and relief from the scorching 100℉ temperatures of South Texas even in September. Every peak, tree (I thought they all would make the perfect Christmas tree), and lake left me in AWE!
This weekend I realized that I need to step away from the chaos and get out in God’s creation more, it’s wonderfully beautiful. I left Colorado feeling peaceful and thankful for the opportunity to witness such majestic beauty.
With only two days to explore I made sure to do only what I could and not overdo it trying to fit in too much. I didn’t want to come home feeling like I needed a vacation from my vacation, my goal was to recharge and see the mountains and that is what we did. Join me on this brief journey as I share the highlights of my unforgettable weekend.
Day 1: Morning:We didn’t wake up too early. We had a late flight the night before so we slept in and took our time getting ready.
Afternoon:After exploring and driving around downtown Denver, we had a late lunch at the cutest spot with an outdoor patio and fabulous menu, Happy Camper. They have fire pits to sit around, lawn chairs that reminded me of camping with my Gran, long wooden benches and tables, and disco balls. We ordered the Tony Pizza and the Hummus Plate leaving me with a desire to return to try more of their menu.
After lunch, we made our way to Morrison to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, one of the most iconic concert venues in the world. While we didn’t see a live performance, the view of the amphitheater against the Colorado sky was a sight to behold.
Evening: We went back to the hotel, Gaylord Rockies, for dinner, s’mores, and live music on the lawn watching the sunset.
Day 2: Morning:This was an early morning wake-up, 6 a.m. We left the hotel before 7 a.m. so we could get to the gate of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 a.m. You don’t have to have a timed entry pass if you get there before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. It was $30/vehicle for admission to the park. Remember to take snacks and water with you. Don’t worry if you forget (like I did) Estes Park is a great place to stop to fuel up on gas and snacks. We started out with a drive to the top of Trail Ridge Road, stopping several times along the way to take in the breathtaking views and scenery. It took us about 1.5 hours to drive to the top, once at the top we walked to the peak, which is 12,005 feet above sea level. Instead of coming back down the way we came, we drove towards Grand Lake, which is the cutest and quaintest little town. In Grand Lake, we found Adams Falls which was absolutely beautiful and an easy hike.
Afternoon:After stopping by Grand Lake’s Mountain Market for more snacks we drove to Winter Park, having another small late lunch on the outdoor sidewalk patio at Deno’s Mountain Bistro. We had filled up on meats, cheeses, and breads from Mountain Market so we just had soup and appetizers which were more than filling, delicious, and full of flavor. As we descended back down the mountains, we saw cars pulled over on the side of the road, what we thought was them looking at beautiful scenery was actually two moose on the edge of a small body of water. This was the ideal ending to a perfect day in the mountains.
Evening:We made it back to the hotel in time to get in the hot tub and relax our muscles before watching the sunset on the lawn and a late dinner at Monte Jade, Gaylord Rockies Asian-inspired restaurant. No complaints here on the wide array of food we sampled, Beef Lo-Mein, Edamame, Veggie Spring Rolls, Bronco Roll, and Tuna Tataki.
While my two days in Colorado may have been short, it was long enough for me to fall in love with the state’s natural beauty in a way I had
not experienced before. This has been on my bucket list for almost 5 years and this weekend I was able to cross it off and feel stronger than before with a newfound sense of strength and renewal.
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