Completely coincidental, I ended up in Colorado twice this summer. I had not been to Colorado before, but it has always been a dream destination for me. Trip 1 was Colorado Springs based and Trip 2 was Denver based. There was a little overlap, but I was happy that I got to experience new things each visit. Also Trip 1 was end of May (off season) and Trip 2 was end of June (busy season), so there were several differences with availability and crowds.

Rocky Mountain National Park From Denver, we made the drive to Estes Park. Be prepared for little to no cell service. We got lost and had to go into the Stanley Hotel for a map Trip 1. Before going into the park, we made quick stop at Rocky Mountain Chocolate (also public bathrooms), Safeway for water and snacks, and the Pharmacy for Boost oxygen. Once we got all our gear, we headed to the park entrance. Turns out we were supposed to get Reservations for Trip 2. Check ahead of time if reservations are required for your trip. We ended up killing time by hiking Lily Mt Trail and shopping at the the park gift shop.

I highly recommended starting with Trail Ridge Road, but be prepared for the high elevation. The road leads up the mountain and offers several vistas. Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve were my favorites. We made it to about 11,500 ft. elevation before turning back.

Honestly we just winged it and drove around exploring. The rangers at the park entrance have park maps and specific trail maps so be sure to ask for some. We chose Bear Lake area which was gorgeous. Our goal was Emerald Lake. We started the 1.8 mile hike at 6pm. It was more uphill than we were expecting and we were cutting it close with sunset, but it was worth it! It is considered an “easy” trail. But personally, the mix of elevation, bad cardio, and sunset made the hike challenging. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, continue to Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, before arriving at Emerald Lake. This was a there-and-back trail, not a loop.

I’ll say it now: be on the look out for animals! Trip 1, we saw 2 moose grazing in the valley. Trip 2, we saw a pack of elk on the side of the road.

Red Rocks

I loved hiking around the area and checking out the music history. We did the 1.5 mile Trading Post trail around the rock formations. We also checked out view of Denver from the Amphitheatre. Underneath there was Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with music history and all the artist that have performed. There was also a separate building below the amphitheater with gift shop and more music exhibits. We were there on a nonevent day, but you can check out who’s playing during your visit. They also do Drive-In movies. The rock formations were my favorite though and they reminded me of Garden of the Gods.

Mt Evans

Mt Evans is the highest drivable peak in the Rocky Mountains. It’s comparable to Pike’s Peak. This was a super fun experience. Make sure you’re comfortable driving with sharp turns and steep drop offs. Altitude sickness will also effect you. For me, it’s mostly headaches and hyperventilating. We also had to get reservations for a designated time so be sure to research that ahead of time. On the mountain road, there are pull off stops for pictures. We drove straight up and hit the stops on the way down. Echo Lake marks the start of the difficult driving. There’s also the Nature Center, Summit Lake, and Crest House Ruins. Unfortunately for us, the clouds blocked most of the view, but there were some gaps where we could snap a quick picture. We parked in the lot at 14,130 ft. There is a short trail to the summit 14,260 ft., but we chose not to do it. I wanted to make it down the mountain while I was still able to drive.

Idaho Springs

This was honestly our favorite place, so we went back twice. For dinner, we went to Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery. Also everyone plays Cornhole on Monday’s? That was fun. Most of the shops were closed so we went to the Yeti Saloon for drinks. We loved the vibe there. When we went back during the morning hours, we window shopped. Two Brothers Deli and One Door Down are a weird but fun combination of deli, café, bar, and bookstore. The Spice & Tea Exchange was by far my favorite, but I’m really into the tea blends. I also got a guacamole spice blend. I didn’t get the names, but there was an antique store that was so much fun to explore and a standard gift shop where we got souvenirs. We went to Pickaxe Pizza for lunch.

Downtown Denver

For Trip 2, our Airbnb was at the intersection of 70 and 25, so we were close to Coors Field and the Zoo. We found this random diner that had amazing cinnamon rolls. Check out Butcher Block Café if your in the area. Before going to an evening Rockies baseball game at Coors Field, we explored Larimer Square. I spent more money at vintage and souvenir stores. Garage Sale Vintage and Rocket Fizz were my favorite. On the other side of the city, I recommend Ash’Kara for a nice sit down dinner. There are a ton of restaurant and bars in this area if you just want to wander and explore. There were also some table top bars on my bucket list that we didn’t get around to – The Denver Game Lounge. For the Denver Zoo, we had to have reservations for timed entry. We got in at 2pm and made it to the exit just before closing at 7pm. The elephants were a highlight. I also enjoyed the ice cream and cotton candy.

Colorado Springs

For Trip 1, our Airbnb was in the Northern part of town which was nice, but a lot of the attractions were closer to Manitou. For brunch, we hit up Urban Egg Eatery for strawberry cheesecake pancakes. One day we checked out the Ghost Town Museum and Colorado Mountain Brewery across the street. Both were okay, but definitely cheesy tourist destinations. I recommend Goat Patch Brewing or the ViewHouse if you’re looking for a local spot. Me and my friends are aviation nerds so we went to the Airplane Restaurant. Food was not great, but the atmosphere was cool! Definitely check out if you have kids or aviation geeks in your group. A restaurant we really enjoyed was Edelweiss with amazing German food and drinks. We also got dressed up for High Tea at Glen Eyrie Castle near Garden of the Gods.

At the end of our trip, we enjoyed a soak at SunWater Spa. It’s not technically a hot spring, but it is a mineral bath in a hot tub with a view of Pike’s Peak. Since we were traveling off season (and during COVID), some of the things on my list were closed. If you can get to it, check out the Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center, and Focus on the Family Welcome Center. For Focus on the Family (it’s a Christian company I grew up with), we were able to shop in the bible bookstore, but the Whit’s End Soda shop was closed for renovations. There’s also the Manitou Incline if you’re athletically inclined.

Paint Mines

This one is a drive out, but worth it! The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint. Brightly colored bands are found throughout the many different layers of clay. We were prepped for the walking, but unfortunately, the rain turned the ground to mud. We still really enjoyed exploring the trails and taking tons of pictures with the rocks. I can’t give you directions, but we found a cool cave tucked away in the back.

Cave of Winds

For this one, we did the morning haunted lantern tour which was a different experience. I’m from an area that has a lot of spelunking, but I always do the normal educational tours. This was literally candlelight through small spaces. The guide was cool too. She told us spooky stories about the founders, jilted brides, and missing children. They did one tourist photo that you buy for $20, but since the tour itself was pitch black, it was the only picture we ended up having. There is also the normal lighted tour if you prefer that experience. The welcome center has food, gift shop, and other attractions. There was a high ropes course that we almost did, and a Terror-dactyl drop off a 200ft cliff that we most definitely did not do.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

The replica of ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings opened to the public 100 years ago. We were able to walk through the dwellings and displays to get a feel of how life was back then. There is a two-story gift shop that we honestly spent most of our time in. Tons of local artwork: dreamcatchers, pottery, and stone work. I got an onyx marbled wine glass.

Garden of the Gods

We did a horseback riding tour through Garden of the Gods and I highly recommend it. All the trails are also open to hikers if you prefer walking. It was about an hour ride and they keep the groups small. The guide also provided some information on the rock formations and history of the area. You were allowed to take photos, so my phone was in my bra pocket a lot of the time. If your comfortable riding, you can also hold in it one hand and the reins in the other. After the riding tour, we went to the welcome center across the road to change into shorts and get more souvenirs. We then went back to Garden of the Gods for some of the walking trails and more pictures.

Red Rocks Canyon

I really enjoyed this area! It’s a less touristy version of Garden of the Gods. It’s a good place for walking and hiking. We did a loop around the rock formations and enjoyed looking at the lake. We found the trails a little complicated so research ahead of time. There is a map at the trailhead and online. There is also biking trails and a dog park.

The Broadmoor Seven Falls

To say it upfront – there are 2 sets of stairs that do not connect. Climb the ones that are actually next to the waterfall (224 steps) if you want the experience. Use the elevator for the other set (185 steps). We climbed both staircases. The ones with an elevator provide a good photo op for the falls itself. I find if you climb up next to the waterfall the view is never as good from the side or top. You don’t miss anything if you stay at the bottom 🙂 There is also a restaurant at the base at the waterfall. It’s only open weekends and you will need a reservation. We went during the day, but I heard they light up the water in rainbow colors at night.

Pike’s Peak

The road to drive up to the top was closed, but fortunately the cog railway just reopened. The top still had renovations being done, but the train provided some shelter from the cold. With any of the high elevation trips, you need to dress appropriately. It was roughly 30 degrees Fahrenheit at the summit of Pike’s. I was so happy it was a clear day. The train conductor provided facts about the train and the mountain. He pointed out Inspiration Point which inspired America the Beautiful. You can also notice the end of the tree line which I find fascinating. There’s an elevation point where trees stop growing due to lack of oxygen, and it’s like someone drew a line where to stop the forest. There’s also some critters at the top of the mountain. Marmots are the most common, but you can also spot elk or big horn sheep.