Colorful Colorado Day 5 and 6 - Canon City/Royal Gorge/ Garden of the Gods

On Day 5 we were supposed to go to the Great Sand Dunes, and we did, but it was so stormy that we couldn't even see any of them.  We were going to go Sand Sledding and we were looking forward to it, but a snow storm moved in and so we stopped at the museum but then continued onto Canon (canyon) city.  We stopped for the night and this was the first and last hotel with a hot tub.  The next day we toured the royal gorge by helicopter and by train.

Beautiful canyon and river on our way to Canon City

That night Ethan and I were hungry, not Shawn and Jace so we found a Village Inn and this was what
Ethan ordered.  I didn't think he could put his mouth around it, but I was wrong!!! 

Shawn found a helicopter tour company that was reasonably priced so we all got our first
ride and it was pretty nice.  The boys thought it was great!!

Jace is pretty excited.

Shawn and Jace all set to go.

An eagles view of the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge. We couldn't actually visit the park as there was a huge
 fire last year and almost everything but the bridge got burnt.  So this was the next best thing.

Ethan and I in the helicopter.

 Later in the day we took a train up the gorge and saw it all from the bottom of the canyon.  We were on a 1930's diesel train, in the dinning car.  It was supposed to have a glass top as well, and it sort of did, but sort of didn't.  It was nice, and the food was excellent, but I still enjoyed Durango's better.

A view of the bridge from the train.

Shawn and Jace on the train

A selfie of Ethan and I

A view of the gorge

This was one of the coolest things in the gorge.  There is no easy way into the gorge and yet someone and sometime has built this house along the river, and this was about the only spot that was wide enough for a house.  It has to have been a terrible place to get into and out of, but I guess you had a ready water source which would have been important.

On our way back home we decided to stop off at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs since we didn't make it last time we were down.  I am so glad we did.  It was spectacular.  Just a little park, but it was stunning, and free.

Colorful Colorado - day 4 Durango/ steam train

We got tickets to ride the Durango/Silverton train.  It was great.  I think it was my favorite part of the whole trip.  We were in the Night Car so the top was all glass and you could see all around you.  It also came with water, treats, a man that provided information and free bags.  It cost a little extra but it was the way to go.

Ethan, me and Jace outside the train station.

Jace, me and Ethan on the train

A beautiful shot of the train going up the mountain.  We were in one of the back cars so we had a great view of the engine.

This narrow gauge  railway didn't bother me in the least.  Ethan was a little iffy about it.
I loved the scenery, even the drop offs, I wasn't worried about jumping the rails at all.

Blowing out the steam on the river bridge.

Since it was "winter" (spring) the pass wasn't open all the way to Silverton, which was okay.  We stopped in this little grove where we had lunch and had a chance to walk around and enjoy nature.  It was quite nice.

Just to show you how close we were to the mountain.  The other side was a sheer drop off.

Ethan eating a cheeto

The river where we stopped.  

Shawn

 Later that night after the train we headed out for out next hotel.  We passed Treasure Falls, it also has a nice little hike, and my cousin, Edi, suggested it, but after looking at the trail we decided we could enjoy it's beauty from the bottom.  We travelled a lot of country that looked like this.  Durango was definitely a beautiful little area.  Loved the town and the nature of it.  So much diversity in such a small area.

Colorful Colorado day 3 - Mesa Verde

On day 3 we headed to Mesa Verde and the 4 corners.   We were really impressed with the indian ruins and how well they were preserved.  We spent a lot of time here.  More than the boys wanted.  At the end Shawn and I were looking at all the ruins and Ethan and Jace were sleeping in the car.

Juniper House

This isn't really one house, it is a little community.  This is the only one we really went into.  The others were closed for the season, though we did see them from a distance.  The amount of work and detail was amazing.  I loved how the ceiling of the overhang is still covered with soot from all that time ago.

Shawn and the boys

Then we asked the boys if they wanted to go to the 4 corners.  They did.  We made it about 1 hour before it closed.  They had indian crafts all around the outside of the area where you could buy jewelry and crafts.  Some were inexpensive, and some were really expensive.  We let the boys choose some things for them and for their siblings.  The kids also had a good time on the 4 corners.  It actually was a really fun little outing.

Ethan in three states, Jace in two.

Ethan in 4 state, Jace in Two

Me trying to stand in all four, dang boys!! ;>

Shawn in all 4, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

On our way back we could see Shiprock really well from the road.
This picture doesn't do it justice, it was pretty amazing as well.  

Colorful Colorado - March 2014 vacation day 1 and 2

Since we are moving this coming June we decided that it was best to see Colorado before we moved.  It does have some pretty spectacular scenery and fun stuff to do.  Cade had to work, and Makae got back together with Toni and decided not to come.  So Jace, Ethan and Shawn and I took off.  Ethan wasn't to thrilled at first.  He really wanted to spend the week with his friends, but by the end of the trip I think he enjoyed it.

Our first stop was Hanging lake.  This is a beautiful 1 mile in hike to a lake that seems like it is hanging.  It is along 1-70 on the way to Grand Junction.  Ethan decided he was too sick ( upset at not being able to be with girls, and a little bit of a cold) to join us.  So the three of us took off.  Jace was great and didn't complain in the least.  He was a good trooper.

A look over the river back at the highway.

The trail to begin  with

This picture is a little mistaken.  It lies.  Doesn't it look like a nice spring hike.  About 1/4 of the way up the canyon it doesn't get much sunlight an the trail turned into slush and ice.  We fought out way up the mile and did pretty good.

at the lake, resting just a bit.

The lake

The colors were amazing.

On the way down we decided that the lake wasn't as pretty as it looked.  It got uglier every time we fell on our butts.  The way down was treacherous. At least on the way up we were pushing against gravity, on the way down it was pushing us and boy we went down a lot.  In a couple of places we just gave up and slid down on our butt.  This little hike of only 1 mile took us about 3 hours to complete.  My suggestion..... Go in June, but not March.

Jace at the bottom.

Looking down the canyon.

We continued on to Parachute that night where we stopped for the evening.  We were pretty tired. We couldn't wait to get in the hot tubs, and of course they were out of order.  The next day we travelled to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  This was spectacular.  It was such a deep canyon completely cut by water.  The pressure at the river through this area was spectacular.  They had a nice museum and a bunch of info on the history of the area.  It wasn't until about the 40's that this area was finally able to be used for the water in it, before that no one had been able to make it through as the river is so wild. One of the amazing things is that when we drove up to the area we couldn't believe that there was a canyon anywhere because you certainly couldn't see one.  We were on top of the mesa's and then all of the sudden there it was.  It was pretty amazing.

May not look like much but that river is moving really fast.

Ethan was much better this day and actually enjoyed himself quite a bit.

I loved the color variation in the rock formations.

After that we headed to Durango for the evening.   We passed through some beautiful country.  One of he prettiest places we passed was this little community.  It is called the alps of America, and when you see the mountains to the south of this picture you know why.  It was the prettiest little town.  It was one Shawn and I said we would have to go back to. This place was called Ourray.