We Came, We Saw, We Explored 

Ever wonder what life would be like if you left everything behind and threw caution to the wind. When we decided to trek out on this adventure we never imagined we would be exploring Colorado.

Let Me Give You A Little Back Story 

6 weeks ago my husband, 3 boys, dog and I decided to start out on a new adventure. He quit his job to stay home with the boys and I took a job as a travel nurse. We left our apartment and bought an RV, then set sail. Life in a small space is not always easy, but we are certainly enjoying life and seeing all this great country has to offer. 

Let’s Talk Colorado 

Coming from NH, Colorado is a big state. I wasn’t sure we would be able to cover all the ground I wanted in the 8 weeks we were here. I  come from a state where you can drive across the entire place in less then 3 hours, which is definitely not the case here.

The nice part about being a nurse is the work schedule. I can work 3 – 12 hour days and be done for the week. I found myself scheduling these 3 day “stretches” or 3 days in a row to allow us to adventure out on my days off.

We would often take a 2-4 hour drive la Ross the state to see a new part for a few days. Then head back to civilization before work began. This allowed us to see all this beautiful state had to offer.

What Did We See

Saint Mary’s Glacier – Idaho Springs, CO

A nice easy hike for the kids (though straight up hill and rocky) this trial was less than a mile to the top. At the top you can see the glacier and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by gorgeous scenery. You may even catch a glance of a snowboarder headed down the glaciers snowy trek.

MT Evans Scenic Byway – Idaho Springs, CO

This highway offers gorgeous views of many of the fourteeners (14,000 foot mountains) in Colorado. The byway is open year round but unfortunately due to health concerns you could not drive to the top of the mountain while we were here. But there are plenty of pull offs along the drive to grab some gorgeous views 

West Magnolia Trails – Nederland, CO

When your are looking to explore the trials and get off the beaten path this stop is worth it: with lots of trails for different ranges of expertise this stop gives you what you’re looking for no matter the experience. We often caught excellent views of the sunset and mountains from the trails.

Boulder Falls – Boulder, CO

This fall is a short and easy hike to the end. Many people often enjoy lunch by the falls and enjoy the rushing water. A beautiful fall to see up close. If you follow the falls into Boulder there are pent of places to dip your feet in the start or take a tube down the river. Boulder was one of our favorite towns to explore and we met some of the nicest people there.

Fort Collins, CO

A quaint little town great to explore for the day. We even found a park the boys loved all in the theme of dinosaurs.

Estes Park, CO

Bordering Rocky Mountain National Forest this town had plenty of spots to take beautiful pictures. We especially loved Lily Lake. This stroll is just a mile round trip (around the lake), but is filled with hiking paths for those without little ones.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs, CO

Home to the most giraffes I’ve ever seen, this is a must for little ones and big kiddos alike. We saw lots of animals and even fed giraffes. I couldn’t believe how many hours my boys were entertained here.

Garden of the Gods – Colorado Springs, Colorado

An easy walk around some beautiful landscape formed by the mountains. An easy stop while in the city.

The Great Sand Dunes 

This requires a drive south almost to the New Mexico border, but totally worth the view. A landscape filled with snowy mountains and piles upon piles of sand. I here in early June you can see a river running through the sand from the mountains snow melting.

Zapata Falls

While visiting the sand dunes take this short drive over the the falls. A beautiful waterfall awaits. Warning this requires a rocky car drive and you’ll need to either dip your feet in the freezing water or come packed with water shoes to make it to the viewing spot.

Red Rocks Amphitheater 

Nestled right outside Denver this concert hall made completely out of natural red rock is worth the exploration to see up close. The only thing better would be grabbing tickets to a concert there.

Black Canyon of Gunnison, Colorado

A 4 hour drive west from Denver will get you to the least visited state park. Definitely not due to the views this park has gorgeous scenery and a canyon primarily made of black rock. Having scene the Grand Canyon, this canton is still worth the drive.

Idaho Springs, Colorado

The start of the gold rush they say. This little home is town to some good eats and some amazing old mines. See where they originally dug for gold.

We visited many state parks on our adventure. We loved swimming in the warm reservoirs and seeing the boats go by. They were a favorite of the boys and an easy place to hook up the RV. If given the chance I would definitely come visit this beautiful place again. 

Have you scene Colorado up close ? What was your favorite part? Let me know in the comments below.