We did not take a long Summer vacation this year, so we kept things low key and only visited one state. Since we usually jam-pack our trips, it was actually nice to take things a little easier. This was also the first time we flew first class as a family. The only thing we would have done differently was avoid the first row. It is extremely limiting.
We expected Colorado to have a bit more, to be honest, but staying at Union Station turned out to be a great choice. It was so convenient being in the central hub with shops and food right downstairs. On our first day, our plan was to wake up early and head straight to Red Rocks, but we ended up sleeping in and spending the day exploring Denver instead. We checked out historic buildings, visited the art museum, and then capped it off with welded bracelets for us girls. That evening we saw a local play, Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song.
The next day we finally made it to Red Rocks. Seeing it in person showed us exactly why it is so special. One day it would be incredible to experience a live show there. From there we drove toward the Rockies. Since we did not get the early pass, we had to wait until noon to get in. We thought, no problem, we will just grab food and souvenirs and then head back. What we did not realize was that the line to the national park is like Costco first thing in the morning. It was insanely busy. Thankfully someone let us cut in, but it was not fun.
Once inside the park, we drove for a bit and then found a spot to park so we could explore on foot. We took a short hike and were blown away by the beauty. We had hoped to see some wildlife but did not get the chance. Many of the more popular areas are pre-ticket only, which we will remember for next time. On our way out, we stopped at a cherry farm and had the most delicious hand pie. Well worth it.
On our final day, we wanted to get a feel for Boulder, so we spent the day walking through the main street. It was relaxing and fun to take it all in. Since our flight was out of Denver, we did not linger too long before heading back to drop off the car. From Union Station, we took the train to the airport. That turned into a small adventure on its own, but it was worth it for the experience and the ease of avoiding the car drop-off at the airport.
