So you're visiting Colorado..

Colorado is one of the most beautifully diverse places I've traveled and lived in, by far. With it being so close to surrounding states and simply having so much to do you can truly never get bored here unless you physically try. I'm constantly getting messages from people that are going to be visiting Denver and want to know what they can do to really get the "Colorado experience", so this is me putting together a few things that I feel are a must-do while visiting Colorado for you all to enjoy.

St. Mary's Glacier

With this being a beautiful, scenic and moderately short hike with outstanding views, I feel that this is a great hike for out of towners who may not be used to the elevation enough to do a 8 mile hike their first go around, but want similar views of such. The views are beautiful at the top, a glacial lake surrounded by walls of rock, trees, a waterfall, plus the drive there is also nothing short of amazing. Taking 70 to exit 283, you climb a few switch backs that give off beautiful views of Parry Peak - a 14er just out of reach with an immaculate picture worthy view. Once you reach the top, the parking lot is actually just passed the trailhead (aka - TH) to the left where there is a $5 fee to be there for the day if you wish - *NOTE* only cash payments are accepted here so make sure you've got a crispy bill on hand. This TH is also equipped with bathrooms (porta-potties) and does have doggie bags and a trash for your convenience. Remember friends, if we're bringing our four-legged hiking buddies make sure they're kept on a leash at all times, as some dogs aren't good with others and can't have off leash dogs running up to them without the owners approval. *consent is sexy* If you're interested in having your pup go for a swim or play out in the water, I highly recommend bringing a longer leash (I have a 50 foot leash for Renni I got on Amazon for $11) or a retractable for being conveniently compact.

The trail was extremely rocky just about the entire way up, so make sure to be careful and wear the appropriate footwear for wandering around in the woods. Rolled ankles are no joke. With a steep incline just over 1,000 feet, it's no walk in the park but it doesn't last long until you reach the top and the views on the way up are just as wonderful. There is at one point a fork in the road where a HOV road continues on, so make sure to take the left route and keep heading up! Renni and I made it to the top relatively quickly and the estimated time for the entire hike is only 58 minutes round trip to give some perspective of its intensity level for those of you who aren't familiar with elevation gain in comparison to miles. Like many lake hikes, you reach the top before you even see it as a clearing opens up around some funky looking trees and gives way to a beautiful lake sitting just ahead. To the left you can climb up a rock pile for a fun photoshoot but to the right you have the opportunity to walk over a wooden bridge and find yourself a waterfall just on the other side of the lake, rushing down the side of the mountain. Just passed there you also have the option to keep climbing and get a wonderful panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountaintops. This hike can get pretty busy so try to get there early if you're looking to have the place to yourself and don't forget gloves on those cooler mornings! They definitely come in handy - take if from me, I forgot mine and it was one chilly sunrise.

I've linked the hike below for those of you that are interested and be sure to let me know what you thought! Happy hiking friends.

Click Me To Start Hiking!

Breckenridge, CO

There's no place like getting great views of the mountains while you're visiting, so what better way to get out there then to visit the small ski town of Breckenridge, or "Breck" you'll more than likely hear it referred as from the locals. Visiting Breckenridge can be perfect for a day trip with it being only an hour a half away from Denver, or make it a longer trip with staying overnight in one of Brecks beautiful resort hotels. Regardless of how long you stay, you'll enjoy just how wonderful it is to escape to the quaint little mountain town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and all of the fun that it has to offer.

There's so many things to do and explore when visiting Breckenridge and of course, I've got a few *free* things on that list for all of you. The first is a small hike, more so a walk in the park if we're being honest, to a friendly giant in the woods. The Breckenridge Troll, Isak Heartstone, is an art piece created by Thomas Dambo, an artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark, as a part of the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts. Isak was initially located in another part of Breck, but was soon relocated to a different part of town after complaints from the locals about how much traffic the attraction brought came up and posed an issue. Luckily, the new location for Isak has a convenient parking lot right next to this guy

for viewers of all ages to check out for themselves without it being too much of a hassle. The trail is extremely well groomed and the entire loop isn't even a mile, so go check out this giant troll in the woods on your next trip to Breck.

Let's go see Isak!

Another great experience while hanging out and about is to check out and ride the Gondola up Breck mountain. This free enclosed chairlift takes you up the side of the mountain making three stops along the way at shock hill, the base of peak 7 as well as the base of peak 8. As you ride up you pass right over one of the main roads in Breck, along with cross country ski lands that are luscious Greenlands filled with ponds for nearby animals to enjoy water from during the summer months - if you're lucky you might even catch a glimpse of some fury friends. Both bases of the peaks have bathrooms, food and drinks available for all, as well as a bunch of super fun outdoor games like giant chess, Jenga and cornhole. At the base of peak 8 you also have the option to down a huge slide which takes you down the side of the mountain and a fun outdoor trampoline to take turns bouncing around on. The Gondola runs year-round, with it being most popular in the snowy months as skiers and snowboarders are using the lift mainly to hike their ways up the mountain. Be aware during all times of the year about when the lift stops running for the day before heading up, as you don't want to be stuck at the top and have to walk all the way back down if you miss the cut off time. If you're unsure you can always ask one of the staff members at every stop on the lift. *NOTE* the lift is enclosed and doesn't provide a ton of airflow, so if you're heading up in the summer months make sure not to go when it's too scorching out so you aren't feeling like you're riding up a mountain in a sauna.

Gondola info here

I've included the website to the Gondola for all information as well as the main number to call if there are any other questions that might arise before you get there.

While walking around exploring the streets and gift shops around Breckenridge, keep you eyes peeled for a friend that I made while I was there, Toro. This seven foot tall sculpture of scrap metal was created by Fred Zietz as a piece of Breckenridge's public art. While there' not much of a story behind this guy, he's super neat to check out and run into while exploring a bit of the town. It's also nice to walk over to Blue River Park where families and tourists can check out the river that runs through Breck and the wildflowers that grow along its banks. Of course Breck also has amazing breweries to check out while you're there, because craft beer is always better in Colorado, and it's a great way to finish off a day of adventuring. Hope you all have a great time and be sure to let me know how you loved traveling around the town of Breckenridge!

*more fun things to do coming soon, check back for more next week!*