Avenue Hotel B & B

I recently enjoyed a visit to Manitou Springs, just west of Colorado Springs. My Mom was in town and I wanted to splurge on a nice bed and breakfast for the two of us. I came across Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast. We stayed for one night in the upper part of the Carriage House. The innkeepers were very friendly and have done a great job tending to the place. I was impressed with the fresh paint and trim work, cleanliness, and the fancy wallpaper inside the main house among other things. There is also a cool fireplace in the living room of the main house made of Manitou greenstone; a unique stone of the area.The Carriage House was furnished with everything that we needed and more. Very cute and quaint! I especially loved that the Avenue Hotel sits right on the main street so you can literally step out the door and explore Manitou's stores and restaurants. Gwen puts a lot of time and thought into each meal!
 So, if you are looking for a cute place to stay while exploring Manitou Springs, Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, Cog Railroad, Cave of the Winds or any of the other dozens of sites in the Colorado Springs area here's the place for you! And the breakfast.....decadent and scrumptious!

Eleven Mile State Park

I recently camped at Eleven Mile State Park. This was my first time visiting the park. It is very picturesque seeing such a huge lake set amidst the backdrop of snow-capped peaks! There are over 300 campsites and it is very ideal for fishing and boating. I really enjoyed being near the water and it definitely met my desire to find a wide open space! However, there were some rules that put a slight damper on the trip: no swimming, only 3.2% alcohol allowed (though I'm not sure how well this is followed), and there was currently a fire ban. So, definitely check ahead if you absolutely have to have the campfire experience! Despite these minor setbacks, I really enjoyed my time here...gorgeous sunsets!!

Colorado Waterfalls

Below is an abbreviated list of random waterfalls around Colorado. I tried to organize them according to their distance from Denver, starting with the closest. It may not be 100% accurate as far as distance but close enough I think.

1) Maxwell Falls
Located in Evergreen, one of the closest to Denver.

2) Boulder Falls
Obviously located just west of Boulder. Another quick stop along the road kind of adventure. Very short hike but very pretty and close to town.

3) Rainbow Falls
Located in Manitou Springs, just west of town. A very interesting short hike that is surrounded by colorful graffiti. Definitely a contrast of urban living versus natural water flow. This is a waterfall that is under a highway bridge.

4) Seven Falls
Located in Colorado Springs. This is a commercialized tourist attraction, as opposed to the others listed here that are free. Several falls. Pretty but "touristy."

5) Helen Hunt Falls
Located in Colorado Springs, the entrance is right next to Seven Falls but this site is FREE. This is a nice picnic spot.

6)Hanging Lake (probably THE most popular, and picturesque waterfall hike in Colorado!)
Located near Glenwood Springs. An ascending hike but SO worth it at the end!!

7) Agnes Vaille Falls
Located near Mt. Princeton and Buena Vista. A short and at times bumpy hike to a spectacular waterfall. Many campgrounds nearby.
 (Updated on 7/8/16: This trail is closed for now due to a fatal rockslide that occurred in 2013. Not sure if/when this will reopen. They have blocked the parking lot and posted no trespassing signs).

8) Zapata Falls
Located in between Crestone and the Sand Dunes National Park. A short hike and nice stop if you are in the area.

9) Rifle Falls
Located at Rifle Falls State Park near Rifle, CO. These you can actually hike to.

10) Treasure Falls
Located along Wolf Creek Pass down in southern Colorado near Pagosa Springs. This is more of a stop along the way kind of location but pretty.

11) Box Canyon Falls
Located in Ouray, CO. A really cool trail that meanders through some rock walls and waterfalls!

12) Bridal Veil Falls
Located near Telluride, CO. A very beautiful sight to behold! Not so much a hike...more of a remember-to-look-up when at the far end of town.

Mueller State Park

Tucked away in the Pike's Peak region of Colorado, this lovely Colorado State Park is a beautiful spot for picnicking, hiking, and camping. There are over 50 miles of trails leading through evergreen and aspen meadows. Plenty of wildlife (including black bears) to observe and photograph. I was impressed by the practical facilities (visitor center, vault toilets, laundry and showers),ranger-led talks, cleanliness, and beauty of this park.

There are also alot of places nearby for activities...such as Florissant Fossil Beds , Woodland Park, Pike National Forest, Manitou Springs, and Colorado Springs.

My Favorite Colorado Towns...and Why

Well, I have revised my list of favorite Colorado towns and will also expound more on WHY these towns are my favorite.

**(I would ask for a drum roll here but that seems a bit pretentious for such a tiny blog as this.)

My Favorite Colorado Towns:

1) Telluride
This town sits perched amidst some of the most breathtaking mountain peaks in all of Colorado. I felt like I was in the bottom of a bowl looking up... The downtown area is cute, rustic, quaint, and caters to the wealthy but also can accommodate those on a budget. I picked this town as number one because of the ambiance of the town...the feel...the vistas...the western, rustic charm...it really seemed to epitomize the Colorado experience.

2) Ouray
Of course, since I picked Telluride for the number one spot then I had to pick Ouray for the number 2 spot...since they share the same mountainous backyard basically. Ouray also is surrounded by majestic peaks on all sides it seems...has a western, rustic charm...and offers several main attractions besides the views. For instance, there is Box Canyon, Ouray ice fields (in winter), and hot springs.Ouray is nicknamed "Colorado's Little Switzerland". When you drive in you will see why...There is something for everyone in this cozy hideaway.

3)Estes Park
You can't visit Colorado and not go to Estes Park. Its just the thing to do really. Estes Park is probably one of the most visited towns in Colorado, if not THE most popular tourist town in Colorado. Mostly in part because it is the main thoroughfare for Rocky Mountain National Park. There are a ton of places to stay, eat, and play in this nature-lover's paradise.

4)Steamboat Springs
This town has it all with a little less of the ritz that perhaps Telluride may have. Steamboat Springs offers fabulous skiing and snow activities during the winter. As well as, a myriad of activities during the other seasons....such as; hiking, biking, fishing, shopping, dining, sightseeing, etc. Steamboat, like most other towns in Colorado, is absolutely beautiful and charming. It is also home to my favorite hot springs in all of Colorado; Strawberry Hot Springs.

5)Salida
This little, cozy, artsy town is a precious gem. It is quite small but it is hugely popular among Colorado fans..especially among kayakers, campers, and artists. It sits upon Colorado's most popular area for rafting...the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. It is close to some of the best four-wheeling, hiking, and outdoorsy activities around. There is so much to do in and around this town if you do your research. There are 2 hot springs less than an hour away, one old ghost town, atleast one waterfall hike nearby, and obviously tons of open space to hike or go 4x4ing. The area between Salida and Buena Vista is my favorite place during the summer...I have written about this in other blog entries.

6)Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a great summer and winter destination. The ski slopes are directly in this towns backyard...as well as the breckenridge brewery. This town is quaint, cute, and makes a great day trip from Denver. There is a main strip of shops, restaurants, and a new historical museum that rests along a rushing river that winds through downtown.

7)Colorado Springs
This town is home to Garden of the Gods and several other popular attractions. There are alot of sites to see in this town...several waterfall destinations nearby, hiking and shopping. What else I enjoy about Colorado Springs is that two other cute cities are adjacent to it...Old Colorado City (which takes about 5 minutes to drive through but has several cute, rustic shops) and Manitou Springs (a VERY cute and tiny town...alot of excellent shopping and eating...kinda has a hippie feel at times).

8)Ft. Collins
A mountain college town that has an adorable downtown strip...the town has a cute, peaceful, old-school feel about it...It feels very relaxed. It is home to the popular New Belgium Brewery; voted one of the best companies to work for in the Unites States. It is also home to the Horsetooth Reservoir; a winding lake that lies beside a rock canyon. This western-feeling town is great for summer activities and shopping.

9)Grand Lake
This secluded mountain town is basically the backdoor of Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park would be considered the front door...of course depending on where you are coming from...but Grand Lake is typically the less popular entrance...but don't take that to mean that it is not full during the summer...because it definitely gets filled up!). Grand Lake is great for summer kayaking, hiking around Rocky Mountain National Park or surrounding area, boating, fishing, shopping, etc. A beautiful drive along the way as well. Also, the Hot Sulphur Springs in Grandby is not far either.

10)Durango
This would be a great town to live in if you preferred the southwest part of Colorado. Durango feels like a family town surrounded my mountains...kinda spread out...yet not too big. It has a historical, western type of downtown section...very cute. Alot to see and do. It also is part home to the Durango-Silverton Railroad. Also, Mesa Verde National Park is not too far from Durango.

(I did not include Aspen in this list because it felt too posh for my style. But I'd say it is an interesting place to drive through if you have never been there.)

Cliff Dwellings; Manitou Springs

I finally got a chance to check out the Cliff Dwellings Museum in Manitou Springs, CO.

Unfortunately, I was under the impression that this was an authentic Anasazi heritage site. However, the Ancestral Puebloans did not live in this exact spot (as far as we know). People merely took a part a section of ruins from the Mesa Verde region and transported them to the Manitou Springs site for tourist purposes. On one hand, if you can't make it to Mesa Verde....it is cool to see what the ancient ruins looked like in person....however, after learning that this region was not an actual Ancestral Puebloan site....I am a bit disgruntled. And after visiting Mesa Verde....this tourist attraction just doesn't compare to the REAL authentic place and sites. But...if it encourages interest in Native American history and the lives of the ancestral Puebloans....then....some good perhaps can come of this site.


For more information check out the Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings website.

Excursion of the week: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

There are redwood trees in Colorado??

That was my first response when a friend invited me to come along with her to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. It turns out there are at least half a dozen PETRIFIED redwood tree stumps in a dusty little town called Florissant, Colorado.

We were told that this area used to be home to a lake many thousands of years ago. Since then, they (read: paleontologists and archaeologists) have found hundreds of fossils of insects, plants, and even a couple of dinosaur fossils.

My friend and I consider ourselves a bit on the geeky side since we actually enjoyed looking at old fossils and tree stumps for a couple of hours. Honestly, this is quite the place for naturalist-minded adventurers. So, if you are into such things as old trees, plant life and digging in the dirt or under rocks--this is the site for you!

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers ranger-guided tours and lectures, several fossil specimen trays to observe, and even a hands-on opportunity to scrape away at your own piece of rock to discover buried fossils.

Spiritual Retreats Near Denver

I have long since been fascinated with nuns and monks. I have the utmost of respect for their dedication and sacrifice. Every now and then I long to get away and to escape to such spiritually rich places as a nearby abbey or monastery. If you are looking for a personal spiritual retreat, check out one of the places listed below:


Abbey of St. Walburga
Virginia Dale, Colorado
http://www.walburga.org/


Franciscan Retreat Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://www.franciscanretreatcenter.org/


Nada Hermitage / Spiritual Life Institute
Crestone, Colorado
http://www.spirituallifeinstitute.org/Nada.html


For more of a comprehensive list, click here.

Pike National Forest

One of my favorite places to go when I want to be in the woods, away from the concrete jungle, is Pike National Forest.

Pike National Forest is southwest of Denver. If you want a scenic drive [Read: taking the long way] on your way to Colorado Springs, you can head through this sanctuary of wooded, spacious beauty.

Here are some links to check out:

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/co_pike.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_National_Forest

Interesting Name For A Park...

I don't know who I'd rather meet more; the guy who named this park...or the woman who inspired the name for this park....

An interesting and itchy discovery...

I was recently down in southeastern Colorado....As I was driving on a back road looking for highway 50, I saw up ahead of me, a black tiny creature crossing the road. As I slowed down to see what the thing was--since it was bigger than a bug and smaller than a rodent--I completely gasped! It was a freaking tarantula! I'm not kidding! I had no idea that we had tarantula's in Colorado! Thinking that this surely must be some type of isolated incident, I asked the next park ranger that I came to about this....He told me that actually in southern Colorado, Texas, and California that tarantula migration is a common phenomenon! What?! Did he say migration?? You mean there are lots of tarantulas in Colorado?! Good grief, just when I was starting to make peace with the bears and mountain lions...now I have to look out for tarantula's! Anyway, so yeah, for anyone else who might be surprised about this fact...I did some research immediately upon my return home and here are some websites I found:

http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2007/08/creepy-crawlies.html

http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?articleId=988&issueId=70

http://www.tarantulas.com/found.asp

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/3691014/detail.html

Helen Hunt Falls

(NO, the actress Helen Hunt did not trip...I am referring to a place in Colorado Springs....)

Helen Hunt Falls is a nice place to simply relax and enjoy a picnic, or take a short hike.

This day trip is more of a short excursion. This seems like a nice place to come for an hour or so to just get some fresh air. There are several trails in the area but the main waterfall area is just off the parking lot so its not much of a hike. You can walk up the stairs to the top of the waterfall and continue going past the falls onto a trail. But, in my opinion, this main area is more suited for a photo-op and a picnic. There is a shaded stream to walk along with several boulders nearby that make for excellent sitting and thinking spots.

Here is a link for more information.

Also, nearby: Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls, Manitou Springs, and downtown Colorado Springs.