For our annual family vacation this year we traveled to Colorado to visit Paul's sister, Cheryl. We stayed at our timeshare in Estes Park for 4 nights and then spent the next 2 nights at her place in Colorado Springs.
Estes Park is so awesome. It's near Rocky Mountain National Park, so the scenery is very mountainous with trees, lakes and streams. The town is really cute with a plaza and boardwalk along a creek (or maybe it's a small river) and cute shops and restaurants.
On day one we just settled into our room and went swimming and the girls played on the playground that was right outside our room and near a creek.
On day two we took them to this family fun center place with bumper cars, go-karts, huge slides and what-not. Then we walked around the town along the above-mentioned boardwalk and checked out some of the shops. The girls of course got bored shopping so I dropped them off at the condo and they all went swimming while I went back to town and explored the shops. Paul's sister came that evening to stay with us there for a few days until we all went to her place.
Day three was a beautiful horseback ride in RMNP. It was the girls' first time riding a horse by themselves and they did great!
After lunch we went to check out the historic Stanley Hotel. It has something to do with the Stanley Steamer guy, and it served as the inspiration for Steven King's The Shining. Apparently, Mr. King had stayed there (in room 217) with his family as a child and stuff happened that inspired the book. Also, scenes from Dumb and Dumber were filmed there.
Then we went on a gondola ride to the top of some mountain and we bought peanuts for the girls to feed the chipmunks. They LOVED that! The chipmunks are so used to people and being fed that some will come right up to you and eat out of your hand. So fun for the girls.
On day 4 we went for a hike in the park from Bear Lake to Dream Lake. It was probably the most gorgeous hike I've ever been on.
On day 5 we checked out of Estes Park and headed South to Idaho Springs were we went river rafting. Again, the girls did great and everyone had fun. We had dinner at a great pizza place in the cute little historic mining town, then drove to our final destination, Colorado Springs.
On day 6 we went to Garden of the Gods and hiked around. Another beautiful place with lots of amazing red rock formations. That evening we had a potluck dinner at Cheryl's with some of her friends and the next morning we flew home.
Estes Park is so awesome. It's near Rocky Mountain National Park, so the scenery is very mountainous with trees, lakes and streams. The town is really cute with a plaza and boardwalk along a creek (or maybe it's a small river) and cute shops and restaurants.
On day one we just settled into our room and went swimming and the girls played on the playground that was right outside our room and near a creek.
Pretty creek and walking path right behind our condo
On day two we took them to this family fun center place with bumper cars, go-karts, huge slides and what-not. Then we walked around the town along the above-mentioned boardwalk and checked out some of the shops. The girls of course got bored shopping so I dropped them off at the condo and they all went swimming while I went back to town and explored the shops. Paul's sister came that evening to stay with us there for a few days until we all went to her place.
We didn't really have time to stop and pose but here's the girls on their horses
The whole gang
After lunch we went to check out the historic Stanley Hotel. It has something to do with the Stanley Steamer guy, and it served as the inspiration for Steven King's The Shining. Apparently, Mr. King had stayed there (in room 217) with his family as a child and stuff happened that inspired the book. Also, scenes from Dumb and Dumber were filmed there.
I love the look on Olivia's face, and Kayley always has to be weird.
Then we went on a gondola ride to the top of some mountain and we bought peanuts for the girls to feed the chipmunks. They LOVED that! The chipmunks are so used to people and being fed that some will come right up to you and eat out of your hand. So fun for the girls.
On day 4 we went for a hike in the park from Bear Lake to Dream Lake. It was probably the most gorgeous hike I've ever been on.
Look how close we were able to get!
Feeding a chipmunk
On day 5 we checked out of Estes Park and headed South to Idaho Springs were we went river rafting. Again, the girls did great and everyone had fun. We had dinner at a great pizza place in the cute little historic mining town, then drove to our final destination, Colorado Springs.
On day 6 we went to Garden of the Gods and hiked around. Another beautiful place with lots of amazing red rock formations. That evening we had a potluck dinner at Cheryl's with some of her friends and the next morning we flew home.
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