Still Thinking About Colorado

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Colorado on my mind

Yes, I’m still thinking about a Colorado Vacation. I’m one step closer since I got my first vaccine shot last week. 2nd dose is scheduled for April 22. But I have a confession. I miss seeing the sights but I don’t miss the effort it takes to get there. Planes, TSA lines, layovers…my body gets tired just thinking about it. Too bad travel couldn’t be like the Enterprise. Beam me up Scotty and I’d be wherever I wanted to be. I always tell my traveling companions they need to embrace the journey, not just the destination. Half the adventure is getting there but my body is starting to get weary. 

Mesa, Colorado

 

Well enough complaining lets see what Mesa, Colorado has to offer for vacation. 
If you like to ski Goldenwoods Condominiums is located right on the slopes of Powderhorn, and the ski lifts are within walking distance of the resort. 

But what if like me you don’t ski and the old knees make hiking and climbing mountains difficult. What can you do in Mesa? 

Summer activities in Mesa

Maybe I need to get that knee replaced because the hiking sounds really fine. There are tons of trails and it’s reported that there are no crowds! You can hike through dense pine forests while others trails  trek along high ridgelines with unobstructed views in all directions. Camping is another attraction. Large sites (and a rumor says you can go car camping)  allow you to enjoy the mild evening temperatures to fall asleep under the stars.

If your joints are getting a bit creaky and camping and hiking aren’t your thing there are over 300 lakes in the region for your boating, paddle boarding and fishing pleasure. 

Last but not least is the Scenic Byway 65 (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway). The Grand Mesa leads through old-growth forests, aspens, meadows and so many lakes you’ll lose track. That’s Grand Mesa in a nutshell. Allow at least  2 hours to travel the full 63 miles. This drive is definitely best in summer as  parts of the road  may be closed in winter.

Winter Park Colorado

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Winter Park Colorado

I’m still counting down the resort options I have for  Colorado. Next up is Winter Park Colorado. Just by the name I’m betting it’s another ski resort. It’s a pretty familiar name too. I think It’s been in my choice list for awhile. Lets see what I can find out about a Winter Park Vacation. 

 

 

 

 

Summer In Winter Park, Colorado

It sounds like Winter Park is one ski town that has decided to embrace summer. The list seems endless. Toping the list is, of course, hiking. That seems to be a number one recreation at most of the resorts.  And why not?    Colorado is known for it’s beauty and majestic mountains.  But there sure seems to be more   than just hiking.  For example you could go flight seeing.  Aerial flight tours depart daily from Granby airport. Fly high above the valley floor to see the majestic Rocky Mountains, Continental Divide and numerous high alpine lakes.      

Maybe Ballooning?

Maybe small planes make you nervous? How about a scenic balloon ride. These look pretty popular. https://www.grandadventureballoon.com/  And the scenery looks breathtaking don’t you think?

 

 

 

Enjoy a taste of the West

Summer in the Rocky Mountains is Rodeo time and Winter Park carries on that tradition. Get a unique perspective on Western history and culture in the Rocky Mountains, and attend one of Winter Park’s signature Western events.

Whether your group includes young children or older adults, there’s plenty of fun and excitement to be had at the High Country Stampede Rodeo and the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo!

 

For the full experience, start in the late afternoon with mutton busting (little-want-to-be-cowboys kids riding sheep till they slip off), and then grab a delicious BBQ dinner before the main event. Roping cowboys, rodeo queens, bucking broncos and clowns—you won’t want to miss a thing.

Scenic drives

If the “Old West” doesn’t interest you maybe a scenic drive or two . You are only 37 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park where you can find  359 miles of trails, 150 high-alpine lakes, 60 species of mammals, more than 750 camping spots. Oh I wish I’d started traveling when I was younger! 

A Virtual visit to Avon Colorado

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Carnac the Magnificent- Johnny Carson Show

Avon Colorado

Still working down my list I come to Avon Colorado. Since we still aren’t cleared for travel we’ll have to do another virtual excursion. Traveling to Avon will put you back in Vail country in the northeast corner of Colorado.  If we take a road trip it’s 106 miles by car west of Denver. Avon and Vail are only 15 minutes apart by car, about 8 miles. Before I go any further I can see skiing as a top activity for Avon, can’t you? 

What to do in Avon in Summer?

Rainbow Trout Benchmark Lake

A quick google search confirmed that Skiing is the sport of choice in winter  in Avon. Big Surprise there but what about a summer trip? Well being so close to Vail I could just repeat my post about Vail. There’s hiking and rafting but there’s also Benchmark Lake Reservoir. Benchmark Lake Reservoir and dam are just a few minutes from downtown Avon and are big draws for swimmers, kayakers, and sunbathers during the summer months.

The reservoir is also home to a variety of gamefish like bass, trout, and perch that make it a big attraction for regional anglers. Though the lake is often most crowded when it’s sunny and warm, fishing can be best when wind, clouds, and falling temperatures are present. So fishing anyone?

Warm weather suggestions for Avon, Co.

Like to play golf? EagleVail Golf Course was established in the ’70s and now features both a traditional 18-hole course as well as a 9-hole par three. The 9-hole course is perfect for those with limited time, because it’s common to finish a round in just a few hours, whereas the full-length course often takes more than four.

A suggestion for days when the weather isn’t cooperating is the Walking Mountains Science Center. The science center’s exhibits and programs are appropriate for toddlers and senior citizens; in addition to being entertaining and engaging, they’re also educational. From looking at the web page there seems to be a Nature Center included

Another  Rocky Mountain Lake is Nottingham Lake & Beach. For its convenience and plentiful activity options, Nottingham Lake & Beach are in a league of their own for outdoorsy types with limited time and modest vacation budgets. I love the budget minded part. 

The facility’s premier activities are swimming, fishing, sunbathing, and picnicking, but for those interested in getting more active and burning a few extra calories, there are pedal boats, kayaks, and paddleboards available to rent on-site.

If Avon is our choice

We’ll stay at Falcon Point Resort. Looks pretty nice. We can sit on the balcony and watch the Rocky Mountain sunset (or rise).

Falcon Point Resort, Avon Colorado

Up Next- Steamboat Springs Colorado

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Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is next on the list of locations. This was actually the vacation I had scheduled when COVID hit.   Let’s see how it stacks up now that the resort list has expanded. When I chose Steamboat Springs it was because choices were very limited but I really wanted to visit Colorado and check that state off my list. As I researched my options back then I played John Denver‘s  Rocky Mountain High  for inspiration.

What’s Google have to say?

When researching these trips I rely heavily on Google searches. So what did I find about Steamboat springs? “Steamboat Springs is a city in northern Colorado’s Yampa Valley. It’s home to the Howelsen Hill ski area and the Steamboat ski resort. The latter has 6 peaks including Mount Werner. The city’s geothermal hot springs are said to have therapeutic properties. Near the city center, the long-standing Old Town Hot Springs is equipped with swimming and soaking pools, plus water slides”.

Plus when I hear the snow and ski reports Steamboat Springs is always mentioned – “Steamboat Springs got 27 inches of snow last night” The avalanche risk is….” No, skiing Steamboat Springs or anywhere in Colorado  is not on my bucket list although I will admit that those hot springs in winter fascinate me . What would it be like outside in freezing temps in a bathing suit and soaking in steaming water?

Up Next- Steamboat Springs Colorado

Unknown Photographer- downloaded from the web

Let’s go to a Rodeo

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Photo Downloaded from Publicity Material 2020

If we plan our vacation between mid-June and Mid-August we can go to a real pro rodeo. I’ve been to rodeo’s but is a real Western Rodeo the same as one of our eastern imitations? I’d love to see a “real” rodeo so I had planned that canceled vacation so that I could attend one. I’ll have to keep it in mind if Steamboat Springs is my choice this time. 

Unknown Photographer

What else is there to do in Summer?

If hot springs and rodeos aren’t your cup of tea other activities around Colorado Springs are hiking and Mountain biking. They say the scenery is breathtaking. You can go horseback riding and paddleboard on the lakes. Like waterfalls? You can take a picture of Fish Creek Falls.  
And that, my friends about sums up Summer in Steamboat Springs.

Durango Colorado

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Where’s Durango Colorado?

Durango’s on my places to visit in Colorado but where is it? 

Durango is a small city in southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border.

In Durango you can hop a ride on the 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train that passes mountains and canyons.  Nothing like a ride on a federally designated National Historic Landmark! The train from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881, although it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, it is one of the few places in the US which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives.

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Already I’m liking this. I love taking rides on vintage trains. Sandy and I had a great time taking an 1880’s train ride through the Black Mountains of South Dakota. 

Mesa Verde National Park

If taking a scenic and historic train ride doesn’t get you excited maybe exploring ancient ruins in Mesa Verde National Park will catch your interest. The entrance to Mesa Verde National Park is located about 35 miles west of Durango. Once you enter the park, the first view of a cliff dwelling is 21 miles along a steep, narrow, and winding road.  Ranger led tours  are recommended for some of the ruins. You can purchase tickets in person  at the Durango Welcome Center as well as in the park.  Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

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download from Web- no photographer ID’d

Rafting on the Animas

Maybe a rafting trip down the Animus river would be more to our liking. I went white water rafting in Canada on the Rive Rouge (Red River) when I was much younger. It was great fun but these days I’d be afraid of getting my camera wet. Even if we didn’t flip a raft the water splashing in the rapids would make it hard to keep equipment dry. Still maybe the rafting company provides souvenir photos? 

The Animus River offers class 3 rapids so they aren’t too bad. Maybe I’ll give this some more thought.

 

Wild West?

I also ran across a tour that might be interesting. Horsefly History Tours tells the tales of the Wild West and the characters and events that have shaped this town since it was founded in 1880. You’ll hear stories of gunfights, ghosts, “soiled doves” and madams, outlaws, and the town’s one and only legal hanging. That sounds like fun. After all, why go to the west if you don’t learn about the history?