Monthly Archives: August 2012

Beachfront Oasis in Tulum, Mexico

4 Replies

[slideshow]

The first time I vacationed in the Cancun area was in 1990 and I had just broken up with a boyfriend. I knew back then I was not a fan of Cancun – not really sure why, as I had not been anywhere interesting at that stage in my life. Then again, it could have been influenced by the break-up – it totally sucked.

Back then, Tulum felt like a VERY long drive away from Cancun and seemed way beyond my reach. I was too chicken to rent a car and drive South on a solo expedition – if only I knew then what I think I know now. Fast forward many, many years and Greg and I pay a visit to Playa Del Carmen.

We thoroughly enjoyed Playa, but in typical Life Bus fashion, we were in search of an adventure. We took off in our rental car and headed South to Tulum to find one of the famous Cenotes to explore and see some ruins. I had nothing with me except my phone camera, a towel and a bathing suit. We drove for a couple of hours without incident and found ourselves in downtown Tulum. I could not for the life of me figure out what was so exciting about this town. I knew there was something else around the corner – I could smell it.

After circling around some back roads of the downtown area and discovering an amazing old cemetery, we found a sign that pointed to ‘la playa’. We took the turn and headed along the coastline. OMG – the experience was night and day. All of the lodging along the Boca Paila Rd. towards Punta Allen consists of small, interesting non-chain bungalows and 98% are located on the beach front. The range included all the way from very basic to the very posh.

We came across an obscure lodging option called the Encantada Beachfront Boutique Hotel, fairly close to the end of the road prior to reaching the Punta Allen State Park. You cannot see anything particularly special from the road, but, the signage for the hotel was lovely and seemed to be very upscale. I convinced Greg to stop and take a tour of one of the open palapa style rooms. It was love at first sight. Next thing I knew, we booked a night at the hotel, ordered up some margaritas and enjoyed a cool beach breeze on our private deck.

The hotel is one of my all-time faves. The details the San Francisco based owners put into this resort are UNBELIEVABLE, all the way from the fresh water jug in the room, to the shower tiles, deck chairs, beach lounge chairs, bedding, and the outdoor lights in the trees around the property. An added bonus provided by Mother Nature is the sand on the beach – white and as fine as powdered sugar. The water temperature and the waves are completely enjoyable and oh so addicting. Any time I feel stressed I imagine my experience in this little oasis – a lot of sunshine, soft sand and pure relaxation.

To top it off, the food at Encantada is de-lish and is served in very large portions – easily shared between 2 people. The room rate comes with a great breakfast of fresh local fruit, pastries and yogurt – the good stuff, not yoplait.

There are a total of 8 rooms with 4 directly on the beach front. I would do my best to secure the beach front rooms as you are nearly guaranteed to have a lovely ocean breeze to keep you cool. Warning: This is an eco-friendly hotel so they do not have A/C. It could be hot and humid in the dead of summer so take that into consideration when booking a room.

Some how I managed to live without a toothbrush and in a wet bathing suit for about 24 hours. It was worth the fuzzy teeth and butt crickets. I absolutely cannot wait to go back and enjoy some tasty food, margs, waves and a fine sand beach.

Slot Canyons in Page, AZ

Leave a reply

[slideshow]

At first glance, Page, AZ looks like an old washed up desert town with bad diners and cheap motels (this part is true in my opinion). Then you start digging a little deeper and you realize it is one of the most fascinating vacation spots in the United States. Page is home to the infamous Antelope Canyon. What is so fascinating about Antelope Canyon? It is one of the most gorgeous slot canyons in Utah and is located on land owned and managed by the Navajo Nation.

The Canyon itself is made up of Navajo Sandstone and over time has been eroded and formed by wind and flash flooding. There are 2 parts to Antelope Canyon – the Upper and the Lower. I would recommend the Lower Canyon simply because it can be a little more difficult to get into, therefore, the crowds are potentially smaller. You have to climb down and out on a solid ladder system and some of the pathways can be a little tight. The total distance underground is about .25 miles.

If you are a photographer or interested in geological formations, this is akin to heaven on earth. Since 1997, you are no longer allowed to enter the canyon without a Navajo Guide. Eleven tourists were trapped when a rain shower blew through the area and flooded the canyon. You can guess what happened next – it was quite tragic.

Key Tip: I would not recommend going during the monsoon season (July through September) which is in the summer time. It is hotter than hades and the chance of a flash flood occurring is high. Please, please, please check the weather before you venture into any slot canyon. Do not attempt if there is a chance of a flash flood unless you have a death wish. I cannot stress this enough.

How do you get there? Drive a few miles miles outside of Page and search for ‘the signs’. If iI remember correctly, it was not well marked and Greg and I seemed to miss the turn off a few times (that made for some fun car conversation). Double check with folks at the hotel for specific directions as markers and signage may have changed since we were there. Once you find the correct turnoff, you will quickly see a shack where you pay and hire the first available guide for the tour. Here is a pretty good link to describe hours of operation, etc. Antelope Canyon Logistics.

After walking just a few hundred yards, you will come upon a mysterious crack in the ground and descend a ladder about 25 feet under the surface of the earth. The scenery is one of the most stunning I have ever seen in my life. A combination of orange, red, pink and violet swirls adorn the walls of the Canyon and are significantly highlighted when the sunlight seeps through the cracks from above.

If you have an exceptional guide, he or she will take you through the canyon at your own pace and share the rich history and major landmarks. You have a 2 hour limit in the canyon, maximize it – it is truly an unbelievable experience and one you may never have the chance to see again. Who knows, the Navajos may get sick of the tourist industry and shut the whole thing down or you could violate the rules of the Life Bus and hoard your vacation until you are on your deathbed (not recommended).

Key Tip: Bring a good SLR camera with a wide angle lens, a tripod, a remote control release, a very large memory card, and a backpack with water and snacks. If you come across a particular spot where the sun is shining directly down to the bottom of the canyon, have your travel partner or guide throw a fistful of sand into the air. I missed out on this tip and therefore was not able to experience one of the most unbelievable photographic moments of my life. This just means I have to go again. If you are a photographer, go in the early hours and late afternoon in order to maximize your chances of a National Geographic moment.

How do you get to Page? You can fly into the local Page airport on Great Lakes Air, Las Vegas International Airport, or the Phoenix International Airport. I had the fortunate experience of a solo road trip from Denver – Greg met me in Page. It was a lovely, peaceful drive and one I will never forget.

Where does one stay in Page? There are not a whole lot of options – we stayed at the Best Western – pretty unremarkable really, but cheap and I got frequent traveler points. One guy actually had the audacity to gripe out the hotel manager because the breakfast was not to his liking. I figure, what do you expect from a Best Western? You will get a load of sugar and carbs and like it.

This experience was everything and more for me. All of the images you see in magazines, books, and websites are true to form and even more stunning in person. If you are an amateur photographer, it is really difficult not to get at least one good shot – you will feel like a pro. For you couch potatoes, this is not a physically challenging adventure, but is definitely Life Bus worthy – get out there and give it a go.

Aspen Golden Leaf Half Trail Marathon

Leave a reply

Every person who loves beautiful fall foliage, gorgeous mountain views, a fun personal challenge, and an epic ski town has to do this race at least once!!!!  Aspen Golden Leaf Half   This race was recently rated by Trail Runner Magazine as one of America’s Top 14 Most Scenic Races.  This is my fifth year running this race and I will probably be running it for as long as they continue to host the event.  The Aspen Golden Leaf Half trail race is a spectacular run that takes you from Snowmass into the town of Aspen on the Government Trail’s sweet singletrack. The date of this event is perfect for peak fall foliage viewing.  It is always the 3rd weekend in September.  The event is extremely well-coordinated and sponsored by Ute Mountaineering in Aspen.  Your entry fee gets you a technical tee, a pair of Smartwool socks, and typically some Clif Blocks or some other similar schwag.  Start time is a nice 8:30ish (depending on your time wave).  [slideshow]

So, let’s talk about what the race itself is actually like.  I won’t lie, for the average trail runner like myself, the first 1.5 miles is a real humdinger, lung-burner.  It’s 1000 feet of elevation straight up a forest service road.  At this point you’re at about 9600 elevation.  Once you’ve gotten past this first challenge (where you swear will you never, ever think of doing this race again), the trail is an undulating gorgeous run through aspen groves, pine forests, and across open fields that are ski runs in the winter.  The views of the surrounding mountains are gorgeous and the color of the aspens across all of the hillsides is breath-taking.  There is another 300 feet of climbing at about the 5 mile mark.  At about mile 8, you begin a bomber downhill run for a few miles.  For the last 2 -3 miles, you’re on the flats into Little Cloud park in Aspen proper.

The cool part of this event doesn’t end once you reach the finish line.  This is one post-race expo for which it is definitely worth sticking around.  The food is always quite good and the post-race raffle is probably the best in the country.  Thanks to Ute Mountaineering’s vendor relationships, there is a seemingly endless amount of raffle items for runners to win.  These are no mere raffle prizes.  In the past, raffle items have included BD trekking poles, Smith sunglasses, Vasque trail-runners, Chacos, Patagonia windstopper jackets, restaurant vouchers, Aspen Sky hotel vouchers, etc.  Todd has won items in the raffle the last two years:  one Timex watch and one Patagonia technical long-sleeve shirt.  As a runner you are automatically entered with your bib number into this raffle.  Just make sure you listen carefully for your number.  I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss out on a new backpack!  One other note, this race generally fills up quickly so if you’re up for the challenge make sure you register early.

Trust me on this one, you won’t regret it!!  Have fun!!

Red Rocks Trail Race in Colorado’s National Monument

Leave a reply

 

[slideshow]

Despite the fact that in this 25 mile trail run there is about 4,000 feet of elevation gain and even in April it can be pretty toasty out on this exposed trail, The Desert Rats Fruita 25 mile event is a must race for the avid trail runner.  When I first signed up for this event I naively thought it looked like a beautiful course winding through the Colorado National Monument.  My brain read the 4000 feet of elevation but it didn’t really register in my mind what that was going to look or feel like on race day.  Now obviously, I’m not an elite ultra-runner or anything but I do fancy myself to be a decent trail runner with some grit and fortitude.  For the elite runners this course is a walk in the park. For the average trail runner, it is a beautiful, challenging course.  The 4000 feet of elevation definitely got my attention on race day.  The primary challenges for me were Within the first few miles, you are climbing up a mountain on a trail called Moore Fun.  Depending on your mindset, this may or may not actually be more fun.  The hurdle that almost brought me to my knees, however, is at mile 18 where you climb up a seemingly endless dirt road with lots of false-summits thrown in for good measure.  Once you’re past that little treat, the rest is a beautiful run along the top of the ridge with great views and a downhill decent for the last 4 -5 miles.

The reason this race is one of my favorites is for the reason that even though you are running up and down rollers and hills constantly, the scenery is so breathtaking and inspiring that it can help but lull you into a runner’s high.  This isn’t the race with throngs of spectators lining the course with cowbells and horns.  This is a race where runners begin to spread out and it’s just you, the rhythm of your footsteps, scenery that you actually want to slow down and take in, and you are inspired by nature and her beauty.

I also like that the Desert Rats coordinators have taken on an environmental angle and do not have paper cups for beverages at the aide stations. The runners must bring their own water bottles or collapsible cups.  Despite not having cups, the aide stations are well supported with chips, coke, orange slices, watermelon (my personal favorite), and lots of other well appreciated snacks.

Bhutan: The Chomolhari Trek

Leave a reply

[slideshow]

Have you ever wanted to experience the Himalayas without the fear of crime, funky food, crowds and pollution? Look no further  than Bhutan (minus the funky food) right next door to India and Tibet in central Asia.   Greg and I did the 8 day Chomolhari trek through this amazing mountain range with REI Adventures.  Bhutan is a pretty cool place – however it can be an expensive destination.  They do not have an appreciation for backpackers so don’t even think about it – they have no desire to mimic Nepal.   The culture here is as thick as molasses – they are Buddhist through and through and have a strong desire to keep it that way.

We started our adventure on a crisp day in November.  It was one of the most challenging treks we have ever done – the average hiking distance was about 10 miles per day. We hiked on rocky terrain and over steep mountain passes, there was nothing easy about it.  When it was all said and done, we logged approximately 80 miles and crossed over 3 mountain passes, one reaching ~16,000 feet.   All 7 of our nights were spent in a tent – in a cold, cold (did I say cold?) tent.   Our guide swore a snow leopard passed through our campsite – only the shadow knows if that was a true statement – I think it could have been a Yeti.  REI does a great job, but there isn’t much they can do when it is below 30 degrees at night and first thing in the morning.  I learned my lesson and now have a -20 degree sleeping bag for trips like this.

A few things to note:

  • Do not be shocked if you happen to see a penis painted on every house you pass.
  • In order for you and the rest of your group to enjoy this trip, you must be in good physical condition.  No one likes a whiner or someone who holds the rest of the group back.
  • Please make sure you bring the right gear and test it before you go on this trip.
  • REI has a packing list for a reason – pay attention and don’t think you know more than the masters of the outdoors.
  • If you wear new hiking boots for the first time on this trip – well, I don’t really know what to say.
  • Don’t over pack – those tents get small, REAL quick and if you have a roommate you don’t know (or can’t stand), it could be a heinous experience.
  • If you like meat – don’t expect a big juicy steak here. It is a Buddhist country after all and they get most of their meats from India (and you know how they feel about the bovine species).
  • Hydration is key – altitude sickness is not pleasant.  I had a rager of a headache after one day of hiking and wanted to shoot myself.
  • Bring your meds – as usual, there is is always one person who contracts montezuma’s revenge and suffers horribly for several days.
  • No matter how tempting it is, do not attempt to share any beetle root with the guides, your teeth are sure to turn a nice cherry Kool-aid color.
  • Be flexible and kind to your fellow travelers – do not, under any circumstances, ask the group to sing the ever popular, “Puff the Magic Dragon” at the dinner table.

I think my pictures speak louder than my words for Bhutan – hope you enjoy.  If you are interested in a challenging trip that will push your physical limits, I highly recommend it.  REI is my travel company of choice – I have been on 4 trips with them and have loved every single one of them.  I plan 98% of my trips, but when a guide is necessary, it’s REI all the way.

Jump on the Life Bus and visit Bhutan which is rich in culture, scenery and some of the most incredibly wonderful, kind, gentle people you will ever meet in your life.

My Mullet & Me

Leave a reply

Are you a product of the 80’s? Was taffeta or lace your material of choice? Did you love big hair bands? Did you have a mullet in High School or College?  I did.  It took me about 25 years to admit it to myself, but I did. I didn’t fully realize it until I went to an 80’s Prom Night extravaganza at a friend’s work function this past weekend. Lexi’s hubby Todd lent me a mullet wig for the event and when I put it on, I realized I was reliving my years at Texas A&M University. I almost shed a tear – then I laughed hysterically.  What a ridiculous haircut. What made us think that was ever a good idea?

The Life Bus moment here is the fact that I have not dressed up in costume since I was about 11.  I don’t typically do Halloween – though I love to see others in costume and am in awe of those who go all out.  Given I need to walk the talk with this whole Life Bus thing and stretch myself out of my comfort zone, I gave it a go. I donned the wig and a full length sequin dress, and walked into a room of 150 people where I  knew 1 person.  I felt like a douche but I did it and got a good laugh out of it.

I posted this same photo on Face Book and my favorite quote was from my best friend in high school, Beth. “Makes me want to watch Joe Dirt.”  Joe Dirt happens to be one of my all time favorite movies. Perhaps we are brother and sister from another mother.

Jump on the Life Bus – it’s a great place to be.

Home Stays and Rice Paddies in Vietnam

Leave a reply

[slideshow]

After many years of traveling around Europe, I began to feel the need to venture into Asia.  Asia has become one of my favorite places to explore.  Why? Because it is so authentic and original. Many Asian countries don’t spend money on infrastructure or pretty buildings – what you see is what you get and I love it. Not to mention the fact the food is outrageous and cheap.

I was always fascinated by the thought of visiting Vietnam – this mythical country where my dad spent several years away from the family.  Greg was totally on board with the adventure so I started digging for ideas.  I did my homework and found 2 words in the guide books that intrigued me – Home Stay.   One thing I found during my research is that YouTube can be used as a phenomenal source of information – I know – everyone else knew this years ago – I am clearly slow on the uptake. There are several videos that illustrate what it is like to stay in a Vietnamese home – once my eyes digested the experience, I was all over it like white on rice.

The best place for a home stay experience is in Northwestern Nam in a place called Sapa which is situated very close to the Chinese border.  You can find more great information about Sapa via the Sapa Wikitravel Guide.  One thing to know is that you cannot do a home stay without a guide – for your safety and the safety of the families. Besides, they typically don’t speak a lick of English so unless you speak Vietnamese, communication can be entertaining. I came across a tour company called Handspan Travel.  To be honest, I picked it because it was cheap and the website looked nice – what can I say, I am easy.

The option I chose was an adventure 3 day, 4 nighter where you take an overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa, hike down (very steeply) into the valley and spend 2 nights with 2 different families, then take an overnight train back to Hanoi.  I recently checked the Handspan website and it doesn’t look like they offer this option anymore.  I would suggest calling them to see if there is chance they can create a special package for you.  My feeling is that one night in a home stay is just not enough.

What was the trip like?  Magnificent.

The Train:  The overnight train ride was interesting  – unless there are 4 of you, you will share a train car with other people so you will have to get over that fact. The beds are a little short too, so if you are over 5’8″, you may find yourself in the fetal position whilst sleeping.  Bring earplugs – the sound of the training cruising along the tracks is loud enough to keep you up at night.  The tour operator should ensure you get to the train safely and they should have a representative to greet you when you arrive to Sapa.

Sapa:  Sapa itself is a cool little town with an abundance of shopping and eating opportunities.   You will see many of the ethnic minorities in full on traditional dress wandering around selling their wares – it sort of feels a little like a Mexican border town but it is not something you should miss.   The Black Hmong is one of the most prevalent minorities you will see – from what our guide told us, they are a little further down the totem pole as far as social/wealth status and are ‘not to be trusted’. We totally enjoyed them and found them to be very sweet and entertaining.

The Trek:  The guide will take you down into the valley where you will see some amazing scenery – rice paddies, people working the fields with their water buffalo, rustic farms, lean-to-sheds where people live (and you will stay at some point).  The trail is pretty steep and was not smooth single track, at least when we were there.  If you go during the rainy season, the trail will be very slick – I would avoid it like the plague.   Here is the somewhat annoying part…the Black Hmong women will follow you the entire way to keep you from cracking your skull (and with an ulterior motive of course).  At the end of the road, they expect you to buy the stuff they are selling – purses, jewelry, etc. Being the sap that I am, I loaded up with a bunch of ‘hand made’ purses for friends. How could I say no?  One had a baby on her back and 2 others held my hand on the sketchy parts of the trail.

The Home Stays:  This is the BEST part of the whole trip.  Many of the homes are wood frames built on concrete with tin roofs.  The beds we slept in were thin mattresses on the ground with mosquito netting.  Of course they do not have indoor plumbing (don’t expect a hot shower) and I can tell you, they certainly do not have granite counter tops in their kitchens.  In fact, the kitchens include 2 holes in the ground and are fueled by wood.

The meals they cooked for us were unbelievable – 5 courses, all sorts of meat and veggies – some from their own gardens – and all from the 2 holes in the ground located conveniently in the corner of their home.  The hosts were all very lovely and inviting and were more than willing to share their daily lives with us.  The one consistent luxury we saw was a rice cooker and one house had a TV – other than that, they are living off the land, wearing flimsy plastic flip flops and are happy as clams. Oh when will I be willing to give up my Frye boots?  Probably never (just being honest).

Key tips:  Make sure you do some research on the vaccinations you need for this part of the world.  The CDC has some recommendations on this topic. Make sure you also stock up on Cipro and you should be good to go.  We didn’t get sick on this trip, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Obviously do a weather check – we were hotter than a pig on a spit because we packed for cooler temps.  Have an amazing time exploring Vietnam – it is an incredible country with some fascinating history.  Please go in with an open mind and be patient – things don’t operate like they do in Amarillo, TX or Pueblo, CO.

Gettin’ Crazy at D Land

1 Reply

For those of you who are not Disney Land/World fans, I just don’t understand it.   Is it kind of cheesy?  Yes.  Is the food bad?  Yes.  Should you be afraid to touch anything?  Yes. Despite all of those unfortunate attributes, the place is pure entertainment.  Where else can you act like a kid and no-one notices or gives a crap?

Greg and I had the most priceless Life Bus moment at D Land this week. Since I am a HUGE fan, I took advantage of some down time at the office and dragged Greg to the Happiest Place on Earth.  Once we arrived, we ran straight to the Pirates of the Caribbean and on to the Haunted Mansion.   I don’t love those rides nearly as much as I did when I was 10 (or even 20), but I still do thoroughly enjoy them.   Clearly others feel the same way – we had zero wait time on both rides.

Since it was a little warm outside and we were in need of some excitement, we decided to take the plunge on Splash Mountain.  You know the ride – you pile into a fake plastic log and float on a ‘raging river’ through a forest rife with rodents.   At some point, you just know you will be drenched with the filthy ‘river’  water.   I was so overwhelmed with concern about how wet I was going to get, I couldn’t tell you what we saw in the forest – sorry folks I know that was the nugget you were dying to hear about.

After what seemed like an hour, we finally reached the 50 foot drop.  Now 50 feet does not seem like an excessive amount of a drop, but when you are the first and second passengers, it looks and feels like 1,000 feet. Right when the log starts to descend straight down into the pool of water at the bottom, a camera takes an action shot.  THAT was the priceless Life Bus moment for Greg and me.   Once we saw the results, the giggling ensued.  We were clearly the only ones scared out of our minds – or really it was just me, everyone else appears bored and Greg is laughing hysterically.

Every time I have a bad day at work or in my day to day life, I now have something to remind me not to take life so seriously – I am pretty sure I have looked at our photo at least 100 times in the past 48 hours and have laughed just as much as I did the first time I saw it.

How did the day end? We had a blast running around like school kids.  I am not ashamed of the fact that I went to Disney Land without kids and had a wonderful time.  May I continue to act as though I am still a teenager and be grateful to have a partner who is just as goofy at heart as I am!

A Pie Worth a Trip to Otis

2 Replies

To understand just how good the pie is at the Otis Cafe and why it merits its own pilgrimage to Otis,  you have to know that you are going to Otis exclusively for the cafe.  Otis is basically an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, OR.  It is one of those places so small that it has been put up for auction with a starting bid of $3 million dollars.  Included in this fire-sale were such items as:  the gas station, mini grocery store, Pronto-pup corn dog stand, two houses, the Otis post office, the Otis Cafe, an auto-repair garage and … well you get the idea … a very small place.

Have I mentioned before that I love food … very high on that list of favorite foods is strawberry-rhubarb pie.  In fact, Todd and I make it a goal to try to find some form of this tasty treat on every trip we take.  So when we heard about the Otis Cafe and its pies there was no doubt that we would have to make our way to Otis.  The gods were smiling on us that day.  To date, this is still the best strawberry rhubarb pie we have ever experienced.  The cafe is a quintessential, quaint roadside diner that epitomizes a road trip pit stop.  There wasn’t anything we had that wasn’t amazing.  And if strawberry rhubarb isn’t quite as much your thing as it ours, never fear, there are numerous other pie options to delight your tastebuds.  So please, if you’re driving along the Oregon Coast, do yourself a favor and veer off the road to the Otis Cafe.  Enjoy!!  And, as always, if you try Otis Cafe out, let me know your thoughts.

The Golden Farmer’s Market

Leave a reply

[slideshow]

I am a firm believer in supporting local businesses and I don’t mean the Home Depot or the Starbucks down the street….absolutely love to do it…..makes me feel as though I am part of a community and that I am taking care of those who make my small town interesting and fun.

One of my favorite things to do in Golden, CO, is to visit the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.  I bought a bike 2 years ago for the sole purpose of riding to and from the market – have I ridden said bike even once?  Nope – I need to get off my rear-end and make it happen.

Admittedly, back in the day (8 or 9 years ago), I remember thinking how sad the Golden Farmer’s Market (GFM) was….a few booths with the standard fruits and veggies and Mary Kay Cosmetics.  No offense to MK, thanks to this multi-billion dollar company, pink Cadillacs can be seen all over America’s roadways – where would we be without them?

Over the years, the city of Golden has been able to attract some pretty cool vendors who are bringing excellent product and more appealing store fronts.  You can find an interesting variety of fresh pastas from Tony at Pappardelle’s, organically grown fruits and vegetables from a variety of local farmers, soft serve ice cream (breakfast of champions on a Saturday morning), and locally roasted coffees from the Table Mountain Roasters, just to name a few.   Don’t expect to find dream catchers, American Indian prints in black velvet, or cheap arts and crafts – if this is what you are looking for, the GFM is not the place for you.

The crowds here are manageable and family friendly – feel free to bring your pooches and kiddos along.  After an hour or so of picking the perfect bag of fruit, sampling unusual foods, and suffering from brain freeze from your ice cream cone, you can take a stroll along Clear Creek.  If you want to get really ballsy, rent an inner tube and float down the river.

When to go?  Every Saturday 8 am to 1 pm from the first weekend in June until the first weekend in October. Jump on the Life Bus – do something new and crazy and make the 17 mile drive to Golden (from Downtown Denver)!