Colorado

Prologue

Colorado is an outdoor lover's dream, and I feel like Denver may have personally invited me to move there after this most recent trip. This state is to travelers what the "fun aunt" or "funty" is for nieces and nephews. You feel like you're getting away with something because you get to play outside all day, eat cookies for dinner, and see some kooky stuff in her house.  Also, Aunty Colorado is so damn nice. Like really nice. She genuinely cares about you. 

I spent five days in and around Denver on a girls' trip, and the group wanted a mix of party time in the city with a healthy dose of hiking and adventure. I feel like we killed it in this department. We crammed in nature with some day trips to Red Rocks, Golden, and Boulder, sprinkling in the cringy but obligatory, matching shirt, girl-gang-thing in downtown Denver.

Transportation -  We rented an SUV from a super low-budget company. Denver uses an all-electronic toll pass system. You can pay a fee to your rental company for a reduced rate to add your rental plates to the system. We were unsure of whether to do this or not because we were only going to be there for a short time and had no idea if we'd be using toll roads or not. We took a quick peak at a map, tried a few routes on Google Maps eliminating tolls, and decided to risk it.

Although unsure at first, I'm glad we opted out because it saved us money. We were able to avoid tolls for every location we went to and didn't encounter any outrageous traffic either. 

Lyft scooters are a riot. We happened upon a row of seven of these, jumped on them to kill some time, and it was a hilarious way to see the city. Finding seven was kismet and so much fun.  They're easy to use - just download the Lyft app - start your time, and go.

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Turning Pages

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Not only is Red Rocks the most incredible events venue I've ever seen, but it has some gorgeous, simple hiking trails nearby to get a nice half-day feel for the unique terrain of this part of the country.  Red Rocks was only about 25 minutes from our Denver Airbnb, so it was a great way to start off with some breathtaking views of the famous, rusty rocks.
The Amphitheatre is open to the public for free when events are not happening. We tooled around the terraced seats and soaked up the view, and then scoped out the trail situation.
We took the Trading Post Trail which is a 1.5 mile loop that threads through the best of the scenic red rock structures.

The Flatirons, Boulder
I mean, just look at the picture above; these sandstone formations make for an impressive view when you first pull into the parking lot at the Chautauqua Park Trailhead.  We spoke to a trail guide who recommended the Wood's Quarry and Stone House Loop ending on the Enchanted Mesa. I'm so glad this guy was there because the trail was incredible. The high point was the stone chair set-up to rest your feet, have a little snack and soak in the view. Get ready for a steep uphill climb, but I assure you it's worth the sweat.

RiNo Arts District, Denver
Nestled between tons of bars and restaurants  are these eye-catching murals. There is so much to take in around this one mile district that it's a dizzying, joyful assault on the senses.

Adventure West Whitewater Tubing, Golden
If you're traveling to Colorado in the summer months, you absolutely have to try out the whitewater tubing. Adventure West does it right. Show up, get a quick safety run-down, purchase water shoes and phone/sunglasses straps (if you don't have your own), grab some tubes and head to the bus. They cart you to the drop-off spot and away you go. The rapids were fast enough to feel excitement but slow enough at times to soak in the moment and the mountains surrounding Clear Creek. There are tons of spots to grab onto some rocks and rest while watching everyone as they come through. It ends right near the Coors Factory, and you can't ask for a better way to finish off your tubing adventure.

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Menu Pages

Linger (Denver)
Make sure to get reservations for this interesting restaurant. Linger is a former mortuary, but the dark interior doesn't feel dated and dead; it's posh and perfect. The menu is grouped by global region and reminiscent of street food but with an uber, upscale twist. The bao buns are to die for (pun intended).

 



​Little Man Ice Cream (Denver)
Right next to Linger is an adorable ice cream shop. We didn't get to try it because the line was down the street and around the block. It must be amazing if people are willing to wait that long.  

 Happy Camper (Denver)
This funky pizza joint is a dizzying assault on your senses but in the best way possible. There are crazy seating arrangements, bright colors, and varied textures. This place was packed; reservations are a must. The whole vibe screams relaxed, good time.

The Sink, Boulder
Known for it's famous visitors including President Obama, Anthony Bourdain, and Guy Fieri, the Sink is an immersion experience filled with wacky artwork and graffiti ceilings. The food is superb, and it's a must-visit food stop in Boulder.

Appendix: A Hodge Podge

Denver
Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row - huge restaurant where they move all of the chairs away for late-night dancing.  I can't say it's anything special, but as a big group of girls, we had a blast here.

Hayter's & Co - sports bar and restaurant right near Coors Field with a great rooftop

Finn's Manor (RiNo) - funky cocktail bar with lots of rustic outdoor seating and food truck service. Some food was literally served out of an old, stationary, rusted truck with a grill set into it. The whole set-up is trendy and a great space for large groups.

Golden
The Golden Mill - You can see this restaurant/bar from your tube on Clear Creek right as you're getting close to the end of your whitewater trip. It's a self-service bar where you get a card upon entry and fill up your own glasses with tons of drink options. The margaritas were absolutely delicious. Order food from various different windows including tacos, BBQ, and other American classics. This is a great place to relax after a day on the water.

Shopping in Golden - There are tons of quaint general stores in Golden with adorable Colorado and Coors merchandise. I'm a sucker for an old-timey general store, so I got lost here for quite a long time.

Postscript: What I Missed

I could probably go back to Denver ten more times and not see enough. It's a special place. Here are some of the things on my list for the next time:

Rocky Mountain National Park - Obviously, this was dumb to miss, but it just wasn't that kind of a trip. We wanted shorter hikes and this national park deserves a lot of time. We also didn't plan ahead and make a reservation in enough time.  You absolutely have to go here when in Denver.
Denver Botanic Gardens - stroll through a vast expanse of different environments
Union Station - dining and shopping center located  in a working train/bus station
Coors Field  - catch a game and/or a tour of the stadium
Coors Brewery - get a reservation for an hour-long guided tour, ending in a tasting room
Larimer Square - lively section of downtown Denver filled with shopping, entertainment, and restaurants
Meow Wolf - immersive contemporary art museum that feels like it was produced by what can only be described as if a fun house, a ghost house, a carnival, and an art gallery had a baby.

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Sadie is set in Colorado!

Sadie’s story is told through the lens of a serial podcast which is a pretty cool way to start off a young adult contemporary mystery. Everyone I know, including myself, is obsessed with true crime and the podcasts that keep us all up late at night worrying about every creepy sound. Yet, we keep listening to them over and over again anyway. What is wrong with true crime junkies? What’s wrong with us? Why do we have this macabre pull to delve into the details of horrific crime? Whatever the reason, author Courtney Summers is cashing in on this twisted love of crimes and the podcasts that explore them. Sadie raises her younger sister, Mattie in a small town, trying desperately to save her from the life of drug addiction and the carousel of men that plague her absent mother’s life. Mattie goes missing and turns up dead, sending Sadie on a journey throughout Colorado to find understanding about her own trauma and to avenge her sister’s murder. West McCray hears about the sisters and starts to piece together the tragic saga of Sadie’s disappearance in hopes of also discovering what happened to Mattie. He shares his investigation in a podcast, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat, tearing off your fingernails, and skipping over pages to find out if West finds Sadie before it’s too late. 
This story is dark, and Sadie’s voice is appropriately detached and haunted. She’s been forced to forgo her childhood and take care of her sister in a small, isolated town with few resources. When her world is upended, she becomes singularly focused on making it right. The podcast setting was fascinating and a really smart move by Summers. It definitely reads like a true crime podcast, but Sadie’s narration is also key to the emotion and pull of the story.