So if any of you have ever driven on I-80 (that turns into I-76) west through Nebraska and into Colorado the sign that greets you at the border is "Welcome to Colorful Colorado". Except it's hilarious because it's the least colorful part of the state and kind of brown and really boring.
But only if you've driven it before. If you plan on visiting us and you need to take this road it's so beautiful and scenic and the sign just doesn't do the state justice.
Anyways, one of our New Year's resolutions was to make it up to the mountains at least once a month. Because they're mountains, we live here, and they are beautiful.
Especially in fall.
We drove this scenic route.
We only thought we were lost for half of the drive. And I was kind of freaking out because that's what I do best. And it turns out this road takes you over quite a few mountains, including taking you over Independence Pass which was thankfully still open.
After discovering we most likely weren't lost and would indeed actually make it to Aspen before the week was over we enjoyed our drive tremendously. It was slightly cloudly yesterday but it made the yellows and oranges of the Aspen trees even more brilliant.
Eventually I just stopped taking pictures because it was impossible to catch the gorgeous trees in front of my face and the snow capped mountains peaking out behind them. It was a drive we never wanted to end.
Everything about it was relaxing [except for the momentary moments when we thought we maybe were driving to the Netherlands] and it was a great day-cation.
We briefly stopped in Aspen for a bite to eat (no celebrity sightings unfortunately). I then proceeded to spend our entire checking account on a pair of shoes.
Just joking. But can you imagine?
P.S. If you can imagine, and are looking for a personal assistant or would like to give career advice because your company is hiring please contact me using the tab above. Mmmkay? Thanks.
View from our lunch table.
We decided to go back the 'easy' way and took I-70 through Glenwood Springs and back to Denver. Still breathtaking views but we were glad we took the scenic route up. Pretty soon it will be skiiing season and all of these sleepy towns with the hoppin'.
Can't wait to go back!
Oh hey nieces and nephews! Cale had the most fabulous time in Michigan with his nieces and nephews (and siblings of course). I think he secretly would love to be Martha or Erin's live-in nanny but won't say it to my face.
Smart man... smart man.
The camera died after day 2 and in the scurry and hurry the charger was forgotten in Colorado. In two days Cale still managed to snap 147 pictures so I couldn't imagine how many pictures would have been taken in 6 days... It would have been epic. Cale also said Renae warmed up to him later; she was still a little shy after day 2 but from what I hear she's talking up a storm. I was really hoping for a video of this because last time I saw her she was barely walking.
So cute.. sigh. I'm loving all those big baby blues! Martha and Ryan, thanks for letting Cale crash your house party for 6 days. But thank you even more for forcing his butt back on the plane to Colorado.
He would have stayed indefinitely.
Wish I could have been there!
We just had the best weekend ever!
It started off by procrastinating over whether or not we really had the time or money to spend a weekend skiing. We decided be probably really had neither but in the spirit of our New Year's resolution to go up into the mountains at least once a month and because my husband loves skiing and because I'm the most horrible gift giver ever and because we never really take a day off when we're at home because we have 583,263,198 we should be doing at home we decided to go for it.
The nice thing about procrastinators is that they have things called Last Chance deals that makes staying up in the mountains practically affordable. And they have things called, if you live in Colorado you can probably find a buy one get one free lift ticket somewhere.
Yesss.
Anyways, we stayed in the actual ski village itself which was the most awesome thing ever because you could sleep in and your car was right there so if you're super clumsy when wearing ski boots and when getting on and off the free transport bus and staying upright without impaling someone with your poles or skis makes you more than a little bit nervous. Or if you only go skiing for half the day because you freeze and you want to give your husband a fair chance at skiing something other than greens. Just saying.
This was the view of the lift from the deck of our hotel. We were that close. Amazing!
Anyways, we had the best of times. We got up without the alarm on Monday and still had plenty of time to get our buy one get one free lift tickets and make it up on one of the first lifts.
There was a fresh 6 inches of powder (which I never knew I even liked but I love) on almost every run.
We had hot [expensive] food for lunch from the friendly ski lodge.
And I found a sweet coffee shop where I could read and watch my husband ski down every 30 minutes.
It. Was. So. Relaxing.
And I didn't die.
Bonus!
We also figured out it only takes 1.5 hours to get to ski lodges from our house. You can stay with us if you want. We have 2 spare bedrooms and bathrooms.
But we decided it was still more relaxing to stay for a night. It felt like so much like a vacation even though we were only gone for 27 hours total.
Not that I was counting.
P.S. We want to go again. Like tomorrow.
Oh, and we got Beau Jo's for dinner. You order pizza by the pound.
Heck yes.
Bahaha! I did not know I was getting photo-bombed. I was just trying to secretly take of picture of my hot pizza and husband. Not necessarily in that order.
*Please note that 90% of all vacations we embark on focus on food. At least for me. My husband probably has much more noble intentions. Not I.
For instance, sometime in February we're planning on skiing for a weekend. (Well we were, then Cale's got job got crazy. Boo hiss.)
That's great. I'm planning on what coffee shop we're hitting on our way out of town, what I'll eat to warm up while waiting for Cale to finish skiing (aka- after I wimp out half way through the day from being cold), and how to time the drive back to the city so we can either get Beau Jo's or Morrison Inn for dinner.
It's just how my brain works. As soon as I'm done eating breakfast, I'm thinking about lunch (and usually dinner). Wednesday's are some of my favorite days because grocery ads come out and I can dream about food for the next week. Please tell me this is normal.
Actually I don't really care. I just love food.
Sooo.. back to Santa Fe. They have really good 'Santa Fe-an' food (for a novice food liker such as myself it kind of reminds me of refined Tex-Mex food). Green chile, red chili, maragaritas, burritos, churros, pizza. Okay so pizza doesn't fit the theme but they have pizza with green chili on it. Delicious.
Anyways, about the city. It happens to be the oldest capital city in America. Hard to believe until you remember (or don't remember, but read it on a sign) that the Spanish came up from the South before the East was colonized. It also has art museums... I've heard. Never been, don't worry. We'll be back.
Major selling points:
- Only 5.5 hrs straight south of Denver
- A brief detour will take you to the Colorado sand dunes
- You pass Las Vegas (No, the first time we went we didn't look at a map to make sure it wasn't Las Vegas Las Vegas. Our geography skills are excellent.)
- Beautiful adobe houses and buildings surrounded by mountains
- Have I mentioned the food?
- It's not home, therefore I cannot be cooking, cleaning, or doing laundry
- Wonderful hiking trails
- Intricate churches and basilicas
- Food.. omgosh.
- Short train ride from Albuquerque. You know, in case you're ever there.
RSS Feed