Tag Archives: Colorado

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

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We are so lucky to have 4 seasons in Colorado – The Life Bus looks forward to each and every one!   The images below represent 2 things, 1) The most significant season for Colorado – the Winter, and 2) My favorite time of the year to dust off my camera – late Spring.

Check out other amazing entries Via the Word Press Weekly Photo Challenge!

This image below was taken on the Gore Creek Trail in Vail, CO in Late November. This was one of the first snow falls of the 2012 season.

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I spend hours and hours at the Denver Botanic Gardens in the late Spring months! After a long winter, I crave the color of the gardens.

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Red Rocks, Blue Skies, Gorgeous Scenery, and Solitude …. Gateway, Colorado

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[slideshow]Even though we Life Busers definitely like visiting far-flung corners of the globe, we often say that there is still so much yet to discover just in our own Colorado backyard.  This was the motivation behind a recent getaway trip Todd and I took to the western slope of Colorado.  We set out to put a little gravel in our travel and discover a lesser known part of Colorado (at least to most of us on the Front Range.)  The destination of this road trip was a four day getaway to the Gateway Canyon Resort in Gateway, CO.  Gateway Canyons

When this was presented to me as my birthday present, I had never heard of Gateway, CO or of the resort.  I quickly got on line to do some research.  The resort looked like Todd had done well in choosing this place.  The secluded location, the soaring canyon scenery, and the fact that you have to drive along the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway to get to the resort all really peaked my interest to explore this part of our state.  The byway is a 140 mile route that cuts through some of the oldest rock on the planet (1 billion year old pre-Cambrian to be exact) and runs from just north of Delta to Ridgeway.  Unaweep and Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway

We arrived at night so didn’t have a chance to see our surroundings until the morning.  When we woke up we had a beautiful view of the Palisade right outside our window.  For those seriously ambitious folk, the Palisade is a narrow fin of sandstone surrounded on all sides by vertical walls and can be climbed.  The leaves on the cottonwoods were still a vibrant golden yellow in the sunlight.  The sky was a beautiful, intense, Colorado blue.   I would, however, suggest going in early to mid-October to experience peak seasonal colors.  This area does have quite a bit of scrub oak which is one of the few plants in Colorado which has that deep fall red color.  Unfortunately, all of the scrub oak leaves were already off by the time we were here.

On our first day we went for one of those drives that we call “discover your world.”  We headed out onto a dirt, canyon-hugging, road towards an area called Sinbad Valley.  On the map, at the Adventure Center, Sinbad valley looked like a  really cool depression in the surrounding, unrelenting walls of red rock.  We had been told there was a good 4×4 road there and a few years ago Gateway Resort had actually held a trail marathon on this dirt road.  The drive in was beautiful vertical canyon walls with a salt wash along the side of the road the entire way.  We finally arrived at the turn off (with only one misstep) and pulled over to try our mountain bikes on this road.  Of course, Todd had no problems.  I found it somewhat challenging as it was misleadingly steep and had very rocky, technical washes one after the other.  After going about 3 miles up and back, we headed out to check out the Hanging Flume Historic Site.

The Hanging Flume is perhaps one of the most risky and lofty plans in mining history.  The Flume, built on the side of a cliff over the San Miguel RiverIt, is now on the National Historic Register and slated for renovation.  It is quite an engineering feat, especially given that it was built between 1889-1891.  Even if you’re not a history nerd like I am, visiting the Flume is an effortless pit stop worth making while you’re on the Unaweep Tabeguache Byway.  It will truly make you wonder how did they do that!!  The Hanging Flume 

Given that the Canyons has such beautiful horse stables, we decided to take advantage of this and go horseback riding … even if only for a good laugh.  Our guides, Amy Wilkinson Equestrian Manager and her side-kick Cheyenne, were AMAZING!!  To call Amy the horse whisperer would be an understatement.  She had a wonderful way with both horses and clients.  You can see she is a woman who is passionate about her horses and, in turn, they ensure her clients have a great time.  Our horses were gentle and yet did show us some spunk as well.  Todd’s horse, Frog, got a little feisty which caused my horse and another to get a little feisty and the next thing I knew my horse was up and running … albeit for a short distance.  Amy was great at assuring everything was always copacetic!!  We rode the horses on some sweet single track trails through scrub oak and cottonwood groves.  Cheyenne is a great young girl who helps out at the ranch.  Her horse-handling skills were so impressive for someone of her age.  Gateway Canyon Stables

From here, we continued the pursuit for gravel and backroads up and over John Brown’s canyon on to the La Sal Mountain Forest Area.  We stopped where the dirt road met the paved road.  If you continue on, it’s only about another 30 miles to Moab.  This back road option to Moab is a much shorter route than driving back up to Grand Junction and on into Moab via 1-70.  A nice way to fit some really epic mountain biking in if you’re staying at the resort.  At the location where we stopped, there are some magnificent dinosaur prints pretty much right off the road.  This area also has some gorgeous scenic overlooks.  The edge of these overlooks is not for the faint of heart.  The drop is a good several thousand feet down.

The last day I got in a great 8 mile trail run and Todd road mountain bike on the BLM trails a hundred yards or so from the resort grounds.  Some beautiful views to be had while running or riding.

On the way home, we drove over the Grand Mesa.  There will definitely be posts on the Mesa this coming year.  At the bottom of the Mesa we wanted to continue with our backroad theme and wound up on 40 miles of beautiful, uninhabited Colorado wilderness area!!

Oh Colorado, you still have so much for the Life Bus to explore … how are we going to fit it all in?

Fall Color and Cathedral Lake, Aspen, CO

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Fall in Colorado is hands-down my favorite time of the year.   The air is crisp, aspen leaves are changing and it is the start of sweater and boot season.  There is nothing better than driving up to the mountains in mid to late September to witness the colorful change of the season.  My favorite place to go is Aspen, CO one of the most stunning mountain towns in Colorado.

My preference is to find a great hiking trail and soak it all in on foot.  One of the best fall hikes in the area is Cathedral Lake.   It is a difficult 6.4 round-trip hike as noted in the link, but the views are pretty gorgeous all the way up to the emerald green lake. Once you get to the lake, views of the ragged edges of the surrounding majestic peaks are abundant. The trek down, provides amazing views of the aspen covered valley below.  If the lake doesn’t interest you, the first mile or so will take you through a rather large aspen grove where the photo opportunities are endless.

The drive to the trailhead takes you through the pristine Castle Creek Valley which, by itself, is well worth it. The gently winding road is lined with aspen grove after aspen grove.  If you decide the hike is too much, you MUST do the drive at a minimum.  An added bonus:  You will pass by the ghost town of Ashcroft which was once home to 2,000 silver miners back in the day (specifically 1883).  It is a pretty well preserved historical site if you are into such things.

Key tips:  Start out early in the morning to find good parking and if you do so, wear warm layers as it will be cold up there. Be prepared for a potentially warm decent. Bring plenty of food and water – it is a strenuous hike so you might as well be hydrated and well fed.  Consider kicking back at the lake with a picnic and a good book.  Enjoy!

Hut Trippin’ in the Colorado Rockies

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One of my favorite things to do in Colorado in the winter is to ‘do a hut trip’.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, there is a backcountry hut system that includes 30 huts scattered about the Rocky Mountains.  These rustic cabins are located at about 10,000+ feet and have been built with love and care by the 10th Mountain Division Association.  Many have been built in honor of fallen heroes or deceased lovers of the outdoors. There is typically a write-up in the hut about how it was named – touching indeed.

What are the huts like?

The huts are log cabins (1,500 to 3,000 sq ft) and sleep anywhere from 6 to 20 people which means you are going to share the joint with many folks you don’t know.  Yes, sometimes you will find a person who wants to sing Puff the Magic Dragon after dinner – practice emotional intelligence skills and ignore.  There are typically a few rooms that sleep 4 to 6 at a pop and a shared common space where you put the kids or your friends who snore.

If you stay in one of the larger huts, there is a common area on the first floor where everyone congregates.  The common area includes bench type seating along the windows that show off the CRAZY beauty of the Rocky Mountains.  This is also where the kitchen ‘lives’.  The kitchen is equipped with everything you need from plates, coffee mugs, cookware, and utensils.  There is a fireplace as well. This multi-functional object serves as a way to heat the cabin, dry wet clothes and melt snow for cooking.

There is no running water, so you will not have a hot shower, bath or flushing toilet. You have a method to melt water via the fireplace as mentioned above and have to boil it on the gas stove in the kitchen to make it drinkable.

How do you make a reservation?  There are several ways to accomplish this sometimes challenging task:

    1. Go to the following link and go through the lottery process
    2. Go to the following link for reservations outside of the lottery
    3. Go to the following link to search the community posts for people who are looking to sell their spots

What mode of transportation is used to access a hut?

You have the option of  back country skiing or snowshoeing to get to the front door.  If you cross country ski, I would suggest your skill level be considered intermediate or above.  Routes are typically about 6 to 7 miles in duration and can include undulating terrain.  Many folks sign up for a ‘hut to hut’ trip and backcountry ski from one to the other.  That looks pretty cool to me, however, I am not a great cross country skier and I fear snowshoeing would not be nearly as enjoyable.

What do you do when you get to a hut?

    1. Ponder Life Bus activities
    2. Hang with friends and play games or chat about your favorite blogs
    3. Backcountry ski or snowshoe in the surrounding area
    4. Dig out a racetrack on one of the hills and sled like there is no tomorrow
    5. Read
    6. Nap

What do you bring to a hut?

    1. Sleeping bag and a pillow case unless you are ok with using the case that is currently on the pillow and used by hundreds prior to washing.
    2. Good food.  I have seen people make cupcakes using a clever backpacking recipe. If you go with multiple couples, you can plan who cooks what meal and lighten the load a little.
    3. Sleds!  Bring at least 2, there are plenty of hills around!
    4. Beer or wine is a must if you are so inclined.
    5. Trash bags as you have to pack out your trash.
    6. Appropriate cold weather clothing – don’t forget you are in the mountains where the weather can change in an instant.
    7. Toiletries you can’t live without.  Keep in mind, your backpack can get heavy QUICKLY if you don’t watch it.

It’s an interesting study of social behavior….people JUST KNOW what to do when they get to a hut.  Groups sort of magically disperse and respect other’s privacy and space. Depending on the experience of the attendees, rarely do you have to coordinate much with other groups.

Overall, this is one of the best ways to spend time with good friends in Colorado.  It’s cheap, physically challenging and a perfect way to spend a few days in the Rocky Mountains in the winter.  It doesn’t get much better than this!

The Perfect Honeymoon – Hiking the Aspen Four Pass Loop

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[slideshow]If you’re looking for a honeymoon idea, let me suggest the Aspen Four Pass Loop as an option.  Of course, you should throw in your dear friend and her husband and a sister-in-law to boot.  Fellow Life Busers Pam and Greg and Cinda joined us for this adventure.  What honeymoon is complete without a sister-in-law in the tent with you? All joking aside, hiking the Aspen Four Pass Loop with this crew was the icing on a perfect mountain-cabin wedding the weekend before.

Much has been written about this 26 mile stunning hiking loop with very good reason so I won’t bore you with all of the logistical details.  That information can be found on numerous other websites.  What I want to share are some reasons why this hike merits honeymoon and / or bucket list status.  See 50 Places to Hike Before you Die by Chris Santella.

Our plans were to hike this loop over Labor Day and to spend 3 nights doing so.  I know, I know it can be done by ultra-runners in a day but we wanted the opportunity to soak in all of the scenery and solitude.  I would highly recommend the Labor Day timeframe.  We had beautiful weather with a proverbial afternoon shower here and there.  In true Colorado style, the storms left as soon as they came.  You do have to time your hiking with these showers as there are vast expanses of exposed, treeless basins where you don’t want to be when it’s storming.

So, what did I love about this trip?  Where should I begin.  If you like to challenge yourself and work on your fitness, this route will do it for you.  You cross four passes that will definitely get your ticker pumping and lungs burning.  They are all higher than 12,000 feet with steep ascents and descents out of the wetland meadows below.  In fact, except for the beginning and the very end, the loop never descends below 10,000 feet.

I love exercise as much as the next person but that wouldn’t be enough for this trip to merit the bucket list ranking if it didn’t have stunning scenery to complement the physical challenge.   From the very start of the trek, you are treated with iconic imagery starting with the Maroon Bells and Crater Lake.  Don’t be deterred by the number of people visiting this landmark.  Once you head out towards West Maroon Pass you quickly leave people behind and, once you go up and over this first pass, the crowd thins out to almost nothing …. if not nothing.  In fact, once we got over West Maroon until we descended Buckskin (the final pass), we saw only 2 other people the entire time.  This route routinely gets rated one of the most scenic routes in Colorado for a reason.  The views of the Maroon Bells and the rest of the Elk Mountains are breath-taking.  The route takes you all the way around the Bells and Elk Mountains for virtually a 360 degree view of the rugged peaks.  After each pass you descend into beautiful, lush, green wetland basins with excellent camping locations.  The rugged beauty of Snowmass Lake was an unexpected jewel of this hike.

Another unexpected treat was the greeting we got from a family of mountain goats as we reached the top of Buckskin Pass.  We were privileged enough to see these guys, even the baby, successfully navigate a steep snowfield.

The effort this trek requires is so worth every step.  It is heart-warming to know that there is still such peace, solitude, and unspoiled beauty out there if you just go beyond the beaten path.

Yes, I think our marriage is stronger for having shared such a great honeymoon adventure with loved ones.

What’s Not to Love about Pearl Street – Boulder, CO

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Sometimes I think Boulder, CO gets a bad wrap….people think it’s full of liberals, trustafarians,  and hard ass rules like “no sofas allowed on your front porch.”  All of these things are true, but if you venture to this cool, funky college town without having a good time – we need to talk.

Pearl Street  (Pearl) is one of the main shopping and dining areas in this city of ~100,000.  I am unsure of how many (if any) of the ~30,000 college students at Colorado University (CU) are included in the population count.  As a side note – It kills me when I see freshman students in a Sushi restaurant.  Good lord, all I could afford in college was a $2.00 burger and fries combo at the Dixie Chicken and if I was lucky, a sliver of beef jerky.

If you find yourself in Boulder on a weekend, and I highly recommend you do, spend a luxurious night at the St Julien, a modern hotel with great views of the famous Flatirons if you get the right room.  Not to mention, it is located just a steps away from Pearl.

After you rise and shine, head to the West end of Pearl for breakfast at Spruce Confections where they serve up some tasty mouth watering scratch-made muffins, scones, croissants, danishes, etc.   There is a little open courtyard next to the main storefront where they occasionally have live Jazz music in the summer to help kick start the day.  Bring your pooch if little Fifi or Daisy has separation anxiety.

Plan on spending the rest of your day slowly meandering up and down Pearl where you will find a plethora of shops and restaurants.  Shops typically open at 10:00 am on Saturday and 11:00 on Sunday so plan accordingly.

I have SO many favorites it is hard to narrow them down but I managed to list a few. Note, these are all locally owned shops, but certainly there are chains such as Chipotle, Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory, etc.

Shopping: Women’s

Knit Wit – If you are looking for one of a kind pieces, this is the place to go.  Keep in mind, the owners do really well so they have the option of closing on Sundays.  This small, quaint store is slightly off the beaten path on Broadway.

Outdoor Divas – Those obsessed with outdoor gear and clothing will greatly appreciate this little gem.  You will find modern mountain chick options that will have you feeling cute and charming whilst traipsing about the outdoors.

Holiday & Company – Looking for affordable, chic clothing?  Look no further than H&C.  I don’t always find something to buy here, but when I do, I am happy as a clam as the quality is good and the price is right.

Shopping: Specialty

University Cycles – This bicycle shop has 100’s of bikes for sale from cruisers to high-end road bikes.  If you are looking to rent bikes, shop for a new jersey or buy the perfect sumo wrestler bell, this is the place to go.  (I personally go in to drool all over the cruisers.)

Peppercorn – If you are a self described gourmand, Peppercorn will have your head spinning.  This store has everything you need to whip up a special meal and then serve it up on a gorgeous platter.

Boulder Bookstore – Avid readers will find a wide selection of books, many of which are used.  It’s cozy atmosphere and book organization makes it WAY more interesting than Barnes and Noble.

Art & Soul – Art enthusiasts and jewelry aficionados will love this store full of high-end art and bright, shiny objects to pine over.  If you are familiar with Anne Sportun and Me & Ro, you understand my obsession.

Restaurants:

Pasta Jays – YUM.  This great little home-town Italian joint, has open air seating and serves up some pretty good pasta and pizza.   If you dig garlic, I would suggest the House Salad – the dressing is to die for – make sure your partner orders one as well, else there will be no kissing for about 24 hours.

Frasca – This is a MUST try if you are celebrating a special occasion or have $100 bills flowing freely as it is quite expensive.  Frasca is an award winning Italian restaurant on the East end of Pearl.  The food here is some of the best in Colorado and the reservation list shows.  It can be difficult to get in, so call way in advance or plan on an early dinner.

The Rio Grande (the Rio) – Admittedly, Colorado is not known for it’s Mexican food, but the Rio delivers some pretty good Tex-Mex.  My favorite things about the Rio are the margaritas and the roof top patio.  They have water misters to keep you cool on a hot summer day and the views of the Flatirons are fabulous.  I always feel as though I am on vacation when I am hangin’ at the Rio.

Best Place to grab a cuppa Joe:

The Cup Espresso Cafe (The Cup) – This cool little East end coffee shop prides itself on serving Fair Trade, Organic coffee, homemade pastries and coffee cakes and other snacks like salads and sandwiches.  It makes for a nice break before you head back West to the St. Julien.

In case what I described above does not resonate with you, never fear.  An excellent website that provides more information on other stuff you may find interesting is Boulder Downtown.  I always love my days spent on Pearl in Boulder, CO and I hope you do as well.

Bears and the Gore Creek Trail, Vail, Colorado

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One good thing about being a consultant is the fact that there are occasions when you have a little bit of down time in between gigs.  Earlier this year in June, I had one long, luscious week to catch up on errands and doctor’s appointments and more importantly, to get outside and explore.  I chose to spend a few days solo in Vail, Colorado and hike a trail I had never done before.  The trail I picked was the Gore Creek Trail (GCT).   The GCT is located in the pristine Eagles Nest Wilderness in the Vail Valley area.

Many trail guides I found on the GCT mention an approximate 6.2 mile hike – please keep in mind, this means 1 WAY to Gore Lake.  They don’t seem to be consistent with distance measurements.  The best trail guide I found on the topic is the ProTrail Review which gives an in depth review of mileage points, and a detailed description of the trail and what to expect when.

The ProTrail review rates this hike strenuous and I have to agree, it is not for the faint of heart or couch potatoes. The trail is steep and rocky in some areas so if it is raining, it can be slick.  In summary, it is about a 3,200 foot elevation gain up to the lake.  Of course you don’t have to go that far. Even if you hiked a mile or so in, it would still be enjoyable as the trail loosely follows the Gore Creek for about 4 miles and much of that 4 miles takes you through dense forest.   If you decide to make it to the lake, I understand the opportunity for trout fishing is outstanding.  The challenge I had getting to the lake was there were several fallen trees I had to maneuver around.  If you are not careful, you can easily get off trail and lost, so stay aware and alert.

Overall, this is one of my favorite hikes in the Vail area.   It is gorgeous, challenging and the chance of seeing wildlife is fairly high. The day I hiked the GCT, I saw a total of 8 people and one bear, a very large cinnamon colored bear.  As I was approaching a small ridge, about 15 feet away, I saw the beautiful, fluffy creature scouring the ground for food, smack dab in the middle of the trail.  I completely froze in my tracks.  I could either jump into the river that was about 20 feet below on my left, turn around and head back in the other direction, or hike up the steep hill on my right.  Either way, I was toast if this bear was female with a few cubs in tow.  Thankfully, no babies were involved and as soon as the bear saw me, he (assumption on my part) high tailed it out of there.  Although I nearly crapped my pants, it was by far one of the BEST days of the summer.

Key Tips:  Wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring a lot of water and snacks and carry hiking poles if you have a tendency to lose your footing or need to fend off attacking wild animals.

Last but not least, if you are hiking alone, please make sure you let someone know where you are going.  We don’t need any Aron Ralston stories on the GCT.

Aspen Golden Leaf Half Trail Marathon

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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

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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.

The Golden Farmer’s Market

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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)!