As my first post, I would like to share with you how I start building my itinerary. I choose activities/locations that answer the following questions:
What is unique about this area? What can I do here that I cannot do anywhere else?
What is the root of this place? City design, history, cuisines, and its people
Last but not the least, if I lived here, which activity would make this place feel like home?
If I am traveling with someone, I also make sure that the activities are appealing to them so that everyone is engaged and ready for fun!
Colorado
Colorado has always been kind of a mystery to me. This lack of familiarity was the very inspiration for my visit. What do the Rocky Mountains look like? Does it snow there all the time? Is the Hotel from The Shining real?
HOME VIBES
Stanley Hotel Tour
Have you ever watched a film where the location became a character and made you say to yourself, “Damn- I want to go there”? That is exactly what happened after my partner Marc introduced me to Stanley Kubrick and showed me The Shining. I loved the movie so much that it immediately sent me on a research deep dive. Yes, the movie was not filmed at this hotel but this is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write his book.
The Stanley Hotel is located in Estes Park. The drive from Denver to the Stanley Hotel was breathtaking and gave me that ‘Toto, we’re not in NY anymore’ feel. Every turn on the highway made you think about the unbelievable efforts made to produce a road there. Mountain cliffs surround your every view.
The tour covers much more than the film references. We learned more about Estes Park, a mountainside village that was a natural refuge for the Stanley Family who also introduced this part of Colorado to their affluent friends and family that made it a popular destination. They highlighted features of the hotel that inspired Stephen King from the interiors to the ghost stories affiliated with it.
For more information on its history:
https://www.stanleyhotel.com/about.html
THE UNIQUE
Rocky Mountain National Park
Deer Mountain Loop
What can you do in Colorado that you cannot do anywhere else? Hike the Rocky Mountains! Full disclosure here, I am not an avid hiker by any means. I simply enjoy walking like anyone else raised in a city environment. However, after moving to Buffalo, I have grown more fond of hiking or should I say, regular walking with random rocks in the way. Plus, my best friend Brett has shown me the joy of the great outdoors.
Mishaps
What is a vacation without mishaps? My partner and I are just leisure hikers. We committed several amateur mistakes and here are some tips so that you can avoid them when you decide to visit.
- Go early! The popular trails fill up quickly. Each trail has a parking lot assigned to it, and once that lot is full, park rangers will shut it down and send you off to other trails.
- Choose a couple of trails before you head there, or else you will be pulling over on the side of the road with a giant Park map straight out of a National Lampoon Vacation scene. Our chosen trail was full, and we were forced to choose a random one.
- Stay hydrated! Elevation sickness is real- I felt a bit light-headed and had to take several breaks. But don’t worry, you can use your breaks as an opportunity to take photos. We surely did.
Leaf Peepin at Peak to Peak Scenic Byway from Ester Park to Nederland
While driving around Denver, we noticed that there were highway signs with the term “Leaf Peepers”. Apparently, this is a regional term for folks who travel to see and photograph foliage at the change of seasons. Since our Rocky Mountains experience was more hardcore than we anticipated, we decided to “leaf-peep” by car. The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is a great option to experience Fall and have a front-row seat to nature’s spectacle!
THE HISTORY
Georgetown
I love traveling so much that I try to savor it… sip it slowly like a fine wine. However, my favorite tradition that we have started is watching a movie that was filmed there on our first night. This is a great way to find the most beautiful spots in the area and imagine what it’s like being a location scout (dream job).
Georgetown Colorado was the setting for a classic Christmas Movie, “John Denver’s The Christmas Gift”.
It was the perfect sunny Fall day 
Nothing but blue skies
This town absolutely embraces everything that we associate with Colorado. Beautiful mountain views, coal mining towns, and the warmest hospitality. Historic towns and museums do such a wonderful job giving us a snapshot of the lifestyle of everyday people. The Georgetown Loop Railroad takes you through real tunnels where men labored and reenact actual mining techniques. The train ride is just the cherry on the cake!
