Our Colorado Trip

Getting thrown back into "real" life has kept me from getting this blog post done faster.... Bryan and I took a trip to Colorado the last week of July. And immediately when we got back, life hit me with a full swing. {I'm back at school and the kids start on Tuesday!!}

Colorado was awesome! Jack took his own "vacation" and spent some time seeing both sets of Grandparents. And he pretty much had an awesome time as well. We went to Colorado with a pretty sparse itinerary. We knew were hiking one day, but the other two days were a blank slate.

After spending our first night having a few drinks with friends in Denver, we got some suggestions on cool things to do. So the next day, we headed to Boulder. We ate breakfast and then drove further north to Estes Park. We shopped, ate lunch, and then the rain hit. We decided to go to Rocky Mountain National Park (despite the rain). We drove a ways into the mountains and hiked around Bear Lake and then up to Nymph Lake. We estimated the elevation was about 10,000 feet when we started back down. And I could feel it... it made my heart race and started to give me a headache!

After our hike, we headed back to Boulder and did some shopping at the Pearl Street Mall. We also ate a cool little brewery called Mountain Sun. If you ever get to Boulder, check it out!

Estes Park - There was a cool little boardwalk behind the stores that walked past this beautiful scenery.

In the park before we started driving up.

Bear Lake

More Bear Lake

Picture we tried to take

Picture someone else took at Bear Lake

Breathtaking scenery

Nymph Lake

Cool picture Bryan took of a lily pad

Another spectacular view of the mountains

Well, hello there! This little guy was not shy.

On our way down the mountain

Day 2: We started by heading downtown to Denver's 16th Street Mall. We walked to the Denver Art Museum intending to see the King Tut Exhibit. After picking our jaws up off the floor from seeing the admission price, we declined and headed to the Colorado State Capital instead. Here are some cool pictures Bryan took while we were there.

We walked around and did more shopping and met our friends, Carrie & Tom, for some food and beer before the Cubs vs. Rockies game. We went to the Wynkoop Brewery, which is another great place to go! We proceeded to see the Cubs lose 17-2 to the Rockies. Not. a. good. game.



Day 3: More hiking! I loved hiking, by the way!! We went with our friend, Dane, and headed back to Boulder. This time it was to the base of the Flatirons at Chautauqua Park. We hiked to the Royal Arch. It was more of a serious hike and a lot of fun! It was approximately 4 miles.

The Flatirons

Bryan and Dane - Notice how rocky it is. Way different than our hike on day 1.

The Royal Arch

Looking out toward the east

Dane, myself, and Bryan

Bryan and I on top of the world!

Almost to the end of our hike... I already miss the mountains and can't wait to go back.