On Friday, I awoke to a gorgeous, warm morning in Boulder. I laced up my sneakers for a run on the Boulder Creek Path while Paul fished in the creek. This was one of the most beautiful trails I have ever run!
We didn't spend a long time in Boulder that morning because we had to head to Estes Park for our next adventure! The town of Estes Park is called the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains". It was about a 45 minute drive from Boulder and it was gorgeous the whole way.
When we saw our first snow capped mountain, I grabbed Paul's hand and started singing America the Beautiful. I know, I am cheesy like that!
The first thing on our agenda was to get Paul a fishing license! We grabbed that at the marina and then headed to the Lumpy Ridge trailhead. Our plan was to hike to Gem Lake and back. It would be about 3.5 miles round trip. I thought this would be a quick and easy hike.
Um, no. I was wrong. It was steep, hot, and hard on our Pennsylvania lungs. It was however, REALLY FREAKING GORGEOUS...
Gem Lake took our breath away...
Cardio wise, it was easier on the way back down, but it was harder on our old ass knees. Honestly, I would have rather climbed up again. The fun part about going down is you get to see all the wonderful scenery that was behind you on the way up!
We got done hiking at 2pm- the exact time we could check in to the place we were staying- Nicky's Resort. It was right on the Big Thompson River and was very cute! We were pretty tired, but we vacation hard and had more things on our schedule. There was no time to rest. Just shower and GO!
We headed to The Stanley Hotel for a history tour of the property and grounds. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. The original movie was not filmed at The Stanley but the ABC miniseries was filmed there. The Stanley way also used in Dumb and Dumber. I am sure you will remember these scenes...
The tour actually started out on the boring side and I got scared that I wasn't going to like it. But it did get interesting and I am actually motivated to learn more about the hotel and the couple that built and ran it.
Even though it wasn't a ghost tour, the guide talked a lot about the ghosts of the hotel. It was kind of annoying to me because I do not believe in ghosts AT ALL. I think it is a bunch of malarkey, and it annoys me when people talk about ghosts as if it is a fact that they are real. Okay, I will get off my high horse now!
You see the yellow glow on the stripes? Supposedly it's a ghost because it wasn't there when they framed the flag. Hmmmm couldn't it just be the flag discolored a bit?
The Stanley was beautiful and when I was planning this trip, I actually considered staying there. But then decided against it because it was so expensive and we go to Colorado to be OUTDOORS, not to be in a hotel. After taking the tour, I am so glad we did not stay there. There was construction going on everywhere outside, so it was loud and the grounds did not look as pristine as they do in pictures. It was also loud and crowded inside. I just envision that a fancy hotel like that would be less... bustling and crowded.
After our tour were starving, so we headed to the cute little downtown area of Estes Park and had dinner at an Italian place. Paul got lasagna and it was delish. (I had a bite so I know this.) I got salmon and it was horrible! It was dry and not marinated or anything. I was disappointed but drowned my sorrows in the yummy garlic bread.
High on carbs and wine, we shopped in the cute little stores and spent some of my hard earned piano lesson money!
As the night wore on, I got so tired and a pounding headache. (Altitude problems!?) I don't think I drank enough during the day. I crashed in bed feeling pretty shitty. It was okay though. We had a big day! I should have trained harder for vacation!
Have you ever been to Estes Park?
Do you like the movie Dumb and Dumber? It is one of my favorite movies!
They say The Stanley is very haunted. Do you believe in ghosts??? Would you stay there?
Do you like the movie Dumb and Dumber? It is one of my favorite movies!
They say The Stanley is very haunted. Do you believe in ghosts??? Would you stay there?
It looks like you had a wonderful day (except for the crappy salmon and ending the day with a headache, but that was just because you were so busy and active). I love the things you bought, especially the coasters and the hoodie! Dumb and Dumber is hilarious and I recognized that scene right away, it's neat you got to visit the hotel where part of it was filmed. But I don't blame you not to stay there because if I were in Colorado I'd want to "rough it" a little too.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read more about the trip!
I didn't even know Dumb and Dumber was filmed there until I took the tour! It was such a nice surprise because I love that movie so much. :)
DeleteMan, what an ugly state! I am not jealous at all. We were in Harrisburg eating half price sushi, which was totally just as much fun. (It's Bree by the way)
ReplyDeleteOh Bree you make me laugh! That is precisely what we will be doing this Sunday I bet! Because now that we went on vaycay, the only sushi we will be able to get for the next couple weeks is the half priced kind!
DeleteI love being able to read about other bloggers vacations. I don't get to go anywhere for much longer than just a couple days so I live vicariously through others. I seriously need to make it a point to go to Colorado now though. Holy moly it is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh it is sooooo beautiful! I did not know how beautiful CO was until I went there.
DeleteI am so enjoying seeing all your photos from vacation! I don't tire of Colorado. Yes, I have been to Estes more times than I can count. Rick and I love to take his Harley up there to try new restaurants (mostly looking for good buffalo burgers). I think I have seen Dumb and Dumber almost as many times as I have been to Estes (plus it's one of our most quoted movies!). I will say I do believe in ghosts. I just feel like if we are made up of energy and energy can't be created or destroyed, then our energy stays around after our body dies away. Sorry to geek out on you. #nerd
ReplyDeleteWe quote Dumb and Dumber a lot too! I hope I never stop liking that movie. :) Now I haven't seen Dumb and Dumber Too, have you?
DeleteNo, I haven't because I feel like it would spoil it. How can you top the original?! I am funny that way. Dumb and Dumber & Seinfeld quotes fly in our house every day and something tells me that is in your house too.
DeleteThat's the exact reason I haven't seen it yet. :)
DeleteThe pictures of the trip look great! Colorado looks like a beautiful place!! How did Paul do with Fishing? did he have to put the fish back? I don't know how fishing works, but I'm assuming he couldn't take the fish to the hotel.
ReplyDeleteDry Salmon is the worst! that always seems to happen to Roger when we travel, once he got a half frozen salmon. But I'm sure the garlic bread made it better, now I'm craving garlic bread.
I've never seen Dumb and Dumber, but I do love Jim Carey!
What? You don't believe in ghost? I absolutely do! But I would not stay in a place that is hunted. We have thought about doing a ghost tour in Gettysburg before, just because it sounds fun.
Nope, not at all. I'm an atheist who believes when you're dead, you're DEAD, so obviously ghosts don't fall into that line of thinking. Plus there is no scientific evidence! If scientists would ever come up with compelling evidence that ghosts exists, I would have to think twice about it.
DeleteI have a friend who really believes in ghosts and has done the ghost tours at Gettysburg. She really loves those tours so I bet you would too!
Paul did not catch any fish while we were in CO, and if he had, he would have thrown it back in due to the fact that he doesn't have the stuff to take it back. Not even at home does he have that stuff!
Ja ja ! Now, I need to clarify that I do not believe on afterlife or "paradise" even thought I was raised catholic, and the idea of "going to hell or heaven" was something heavily preached to me. But I believe that when somebody dies, that is just that, they die. But I believe that part of our spirit, aura or soul stays behind. I believe on a lot of things that are unnatural, just because they sound reasonable to me... I obviously watched a lot of The Adams Family when I was little.
DeleteThanks for sharing what you believe with us, Ana! Did you believe in an afterlife when you were young and then change your mind, or did you never believe in it?
DeletePretty bird, pretty bird... And hot damn those photos are breathtaking. I never would have guessed that Colorado was THAT gorgeous. I mean, I knew it was nice but I had no idea it was like THAT. Amazing! I don't care about ghosts. I don't know if they exist or not and I couldn't give the slightest shit about them anyway. I have enough crap to deal with in real life.
ReplyDeleteIt is sooooo beautiful! And you know, we are not photographers, most of the time I just point and click. So if it looks that good in our shitty pics, just think of how good it looks in real life!
DeleteWe have been to Estes park, and hiking out there. GORGEOUS!! Loved all of the moose that were just walking around (well, maybe not - they were huge!!) As for Dumb & Dumber... it's my fav!! I have seen it so many times. Never gets old. Not sure if I liked Dumb and Dumber To. How about you?
ReplyDeleteI have not seen Dumb and Dumber Too! Part of me wants to see it then part of me doesn't want to ruin the original in case the sequel is not good.
DeleteWe saw quite a lot of Elk and one Moose- moose from far away- whew!
Omg that is such a fun fact about The Stanley! Did you enjoy staying there? We love Colorado so much. You are lucky you live in such a beautiful state. :)
ReplyDeleteOMG MEGAN. These pictures are like...total vacation porn haha. I'm so jealous. I wish I knew if we'd be taking a trip this year!!! I'm so glad you guys are having a great time and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in ghosts either at ALL, but I like going to creepy, ghostly places anyway. Does that make sense? I've never done a legit ghost tour where they talk like the ghosts really exist though. In Scotland we did a tour of an underground street where the population all died from the plague and that was super creepy. They talked about ghosts and called it a haunted street but they didn't have to go overboard to make it creepy!
Well listen, if you ever plan a trip to CO- whether it's this summer or in the future, hit me up and I will tell you the most beautiful places to go! :)
DeleteI do understand what you are saying because I have something similar... even though I don't believe in ghosts, I get SUPER CREEPED OUT by movies about paranormal happenings. Like those Paranormal Activity movies are the scariest movies I have ever seen and after I watch them, I am legit scared in my house. :)
Oh, and that tour you took in Scotland sounds like something I would enjoy! The tour I took was not labeled a ghost tour, but I figured they'd talk about it a little bit. I don't know, I just feel like I am being talked to as if I am an idiot when the tour guide is trying to tell me about ghosts. I know it is all in fun. I think I just take it too seriously. :) Character flaw of mine!
DeleteWAIT. So, are they saying that the ghost is trapped inside the frame with the flag?! Oy. I don't believe in ghosts either (except when I'm home alone at night laying in the dark), but I enjoy ghost tours; I always find the stories amusing.
ReplyDeleteYour vacation pics are seriously so amazing. I always think that Europeans have it so nice because they can easily hop around to other countries, but we have it pretty good here too!
Girl I have no clue what they were insinuating about the flag ghost. I really almost yelled out something snarky like "It's just discolored." lol.
DeletePaul says there should be a rule that Americans aren't allowed to travel to Europe until they see all the beautiful things in our country. I was like, now Paul, I don't think that is a very fair rule! Be he is just adamant that there are so many beautiful things here, which I do agree with. However, I would love to go to Europe and I'm confident we will get there before we see absolutely everything in the US!
So glad you loved our park! It's seriously one of my favorite places ever, even with all the out-of-staters coming to visit. ;) I've never done any of the Stanley tours or stayed there. It's so pricey, and we're like you -- we want to be outside! We always either camp or get a hole-in-the-wall hotel room since all we're doing there is crashing at night.
ReplyDeleteDo you guys get to the park often? What are your favorite things to do there/hikes to take?
DeleteWe stayed at Nicky's Resort which was right on the river and we loved it. The river was roaring and it was so close to the park. Less than half the price of The Stanley! Although if you are someone that enjoys tours like I do, the tour was definitely worth it- only $20! (AAA discount.)