COLORADO VACAY Part 1: Denver
After 18+ hours in the car with three adults, three kids, and two seasons worth of clothes, we finally arrived in Denver! Here are some of our favorite nuggets in our four days there...
1.) Denver is very gluten free: There are a lot of good gluten-free options for Judah in the Lansing area and at grocery stores, but they all get boring after a while. We see the same food, the same snacks, the same mixes, and sample the same pizza crust (no matter what restaurant we buy from- thin crust, small, flat). Denver opened up a new window for us because restaurants, in particular, had SO many more options. Muffins, cookies, DETROIT-STYLE pizza, cheesy breadsticks, etc. At one coffee shop, Josh asked where the gluten-free choices were thinking the barista would point to a small window or a few choices on a shelf. Instead, he said, "Everything in here is gluten free except that small little area right there." We had arrived at gluten free heaven.
2.) The Denver Zoo was amazing: We've only done a couple of zoos in our life and sorry, Potter Park, but this zoo kicked your butt. We saw mountain sheep actually climbing on a huge mountainish habitat. We saw giraffes, multiple giraffes right up close! There were also elephants and an incredible underwater display to compliment the "normal" things you might see at a zoo like tigers, otters, camels, etc. Plus, for whatever reason, we went on a day that was completely deserted so we essentially had this ENORMOUS zoo all to ourselves.
3.) Red Rocks rocked: Even though the actual amphitheater was closed for a race, the paths around it were stunning. It was also easy walking with little people and they loved how red their butts got when they inevitably took a spill.
4.) Food was great: Did I mention the Detroit-style gluten free pizza already?! Denver Biscuit Company did not disappoint, and we had a great Italian meal at Tratoria .
5.) Amy's wedding was worth the drive: There would never have been a Colorado vacation without Amy Sparling getting married! The bride was gorgeous, wedding was intimate, personal, and at a beautiful location over 7,000 feet in the air. The food was even wonderful! Also, I have become a semi-professional wedding reader so please inquire about your future wedding reader needs ;)
6.) Seeing my aunt and uncle was a special added bonus: We've always wanted to travel to Denver to see my Aunt Doreen, Uncle Paul, and cousin Kaity and finally got to see their stomping grounds. It was wonderful spending time with them.
7.) Weather was crazy and we dug it: Saturday and Sunday it was beautifully sunny and in the 70s only to be followed by a winter storm warning on Monday bring several inches of snow. While the packing for the trip was ridiculous to accommodate all that, experiencing lots of kinds of weather brought a new adventure each day!
8.) Apparently my boys do not adjust to time change: Yes, friends, that meant my children were sometimes awake in the 4s. There's not much to do at 4:30 in the morning to keep people occupied. Josh and I made sure to be in bed by 9pm to have any chance to keep up with them without being zombies.
9.) Traveling with my mom: I've decided that when traveling with small children, there needs to be AS MANY HELPFUL ADULTS AS POSSIBLE ;) From making up a game to play in the car, to insisting Josh and I have a dinner out alone to babysitting the boys so we could go to Amy's wedding, she did NOT disappoint. I have no idea why she agreed to be in the car with us for 18 hours, and hang out with us while we were there, but we are SO grateful she traveled with our circus. We were ALL hurting when we dropped her off at my aunt's to fly home. THANK YOU THANK YOU!
10.) Denver was a great city for kids: There are many things to do and explore. People are nice. The city is walkable, safe, and clean. I've already mentioned how great the zoo was, but they also had an awesome children's museum we went to the day it snowed, several parks, playgrounds, cute neighborhoods, and other activities we did not partake in like the botanical gardens, an aquarium, and amusement park right in the city.
1.) Denver is very gluten free: There are a lot of good gluten-free options for Judah in the Lansing area and at grocery stores, but they all get boring after a while. We see the same food, the same snacks, the same mixes, and sample the same pizza crust (no matter what restaurant we buy from- thin crust, small, flat). Denver opened up a new window for us because restaurants, in particular, had SO many more options. Muffins, cookies, DETROIT-STYLE pizza, cheesy breadsticks, etc. At one coffee shop, Josh asked where the gluten-free choices were thinking the barista would point to a small window or a few choices on a shelf. Instead, he said, "Everything in here is gluten free except that small little area right there." We had arrived at gluten free heaven.
2.) The Denver Zoo was amazing: We've only done a couple of zoos in our life and sorry, Potter Park, but this zoo kicked your butt. We saw mountain sheep actually climbing on a huge mountainish habitat. We saw giraffes, multiple giraffes right up close! There were also elephants and an incredible underwater display to compliment the "normal" things you might see at a zoo like tigers, otters, camels, etc. Plus, for whatever reason, we went on a day that was completely deserted so we essentially had this ENORMOUS zoo all to ourselves.
3.) Red Rocks rocked: Even though the actual amphitheater was closed for a race, the paths around it were stunning. It was also easy walking with little people and they loved how red their butts got when they inevitably took a spill.
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| This is a cinnamon roll. It was everything. |
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| Awesome pasta, awesome bread, awesome Italian beer |
7.) Weather was crazy and we dug it: Saturday and Sunday it was beautifully sunny and in the 70s only to be followed by a winter storm warning on Monday bring several inches of snow. While the packing for the trip was ridiculous to accommodate all that, experiencing lots of kinds of weather brought a new adventure each day!
8.) Apparently my boys do not adjust to time change: Yes, friends, that meant my children were sometimes awake in the 4s. There's not much to do at 4:30 in the morning to keep people occupied. Josh and I made sure to be in bed by 9pm to have any chance to keep up with them without being zombies.
9.) Traveling with my mom: I've decided that when traveling with small children, there needs to be AS MANY HELPFUL ADULTS AS POSSIBLE ;) From making up a game to play in the car, to insisting Josh and I have a dinner out alone to babysitting the boys so we could go to Amy's wedding, she did NOT disappoint. I have no idea why she agreed to be in the car with us for 18 hours, and hang out with us while we were there, but we are SO grateful she traveled with our circus. We were ALL hurting when we dropped her off at my aunt's to fly home. THANK YOU THANK YOU!
10.) Denver was a great city for kids: There are many things to do and explore. People are nice. The city is walkable, safe, and clean. I've already mentioned how great the zoo was, but they also had an awesome children's museum we went to the day it snowed, several parks, playgrounds, cute neighborhoods, and other activities we did not partake in like the botanical gardens, an aquarium, and amusement park right in the city.
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