We decided, kind of last minute, to book a family trip to Colorado.
Ben grew up going to Estes Park in the summertime and really wanted to take our kids to experience it too. It ended up being the sweetest and best trip ever for our family of five.
We rented a condo right by the river that was perfect size for us and just had the most relaxing week ever.
Day 1
Our trip started off awesome with a visit to the cockpit on our SWA flight. Nicest pilot ever.
We love Southwest!
A hop in the rental car and off to our home for the week where we explored the condo, the river and walking trails.
Our condo was perfect and even had the most fun Rocky Mountain themed games that we played every day.
We had dinner in town, that we really didn't love and a walk around downtown to see the hummingbirds and have our nightly ice cream.
Day 2
We started off Day 2 at the Trout Fishing pond. It was so fun for all our kids to catch fish from this stocked pond. They had a blast and we took them home to eat for dinner.
We bought a week-long car pass into the Rocky Mountain National Park and we spent lots of days there.
Our first place to visit was Bear Lake for a small hike.
Ben says this picture is a perfect representation of all three of our kids.
Kinley, posing, Ty acting crazy howling like a wolf, and Dylan just smiling like we asked.
Now everyone doing their best bear impression.
We hiked around Bear lake and took some pictures but about half way around the lake it started to downpour!
We ran back to the car to take cover.
When the rain stopped we went to Sprague lake and hiked around it.
That night we cooked our fresh trout for dinner on the grill.
They were delicious and everyone ate every bite.
Day 3
We started out Day 3 with coffee and panning for rocks at a local store.
Then we went to town and hiked up to the Ruins.
Everytime we drove past Fun City our kids would beg to go so we made the trip on Day 3. We did mini-golf, rode the rainbow slides, and did the bungee trampoline.
Ben preferred to catch his trout in the river by the cabin.
He went every day during our rest time to fish a little.
Kids would watch a movie and I would read a book on the back patio.
So relaxing.
He caught lots of natural trout wading through river. All sizes big and small.
Every once in a while he would come across a friend in the river with him...
We had dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a view of Estes.
Day 4
After breakfast, we spent most all of Day 4 in the Rocky Mountain National Park. We started out driving around and just looking at the sights and found the best little private picnic spot for the lunch we packed.
The weather was amazing so we brought our swimsuits and explored the river.
The water was freezing but it was the best day exploring in our bare feet.
Then we went back to Sprague lake to walk around.
Kinley practiced her photographer skills while Ben went fly fishing in the lake.
That afternoon we had reservations for horseback riding.
It was so beautiful, and slighly scary, riding through the National Park.
We came back home and had dinner by the river...with a four legged visitor across the water.
And then back into town for ice cream.
Day 5
We went back to the RMNP. This was the day of the Elk. We saw tons of them. Here is one family of elk on our way into the National Park.
We decided to drive up Trail Ridge Road.
This road is the highest paved elevation road in North America.
It boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the country and takes a few hours.
We stopped lots to take pictures and it was all so worth it.
Such gorgeous views of God's creation.
We saw a huge herd of Elk on our way up
Once we reached the highest driving point.
We got out and hiked to the top.
12,005 feet above sea level.
On the way back home we saw another family of elk.
Game night and exploring back at the condo.
Day 6
On our last day we drove to the other side of Estes Park.
We had heard about a cool, historic ranch in town that was great for kids to visit and we decided to check it out.
And I really can't say enough about how cool MacGregor Ranch was.
It is a true, pioneer ranch that operates to this day as it did when it was originally settled.
The ranch was left in trust to the city of Estes Park and the trust instructs that it maintain its original intended use.
There is a museum and tours and lots of beautiful land.
It was one of the first houses ever to have electricity and running water.
Our whole family enjoyed touring MacGregor Ranch.
The original home and still tended to garden.
We had a later flight and had to be out of our condo already and we just loved visiting MacGregor Ranch.
So much quality time together as a family that is so needed for us to re-connect and stop our busy lives and just create our own fun outdoors and exploring new things together.
