Rocky Mountain National Park

What better way to spend a birthday than a weekend trip to Colorado? My birthday lies on December 30th, a blessing and a curse, not only because of the surrounding holidays but I have always wished for a Summer birthday because I love the outdoors and thought the most magical thing would be to spend my birthday in the mountains surrounded by wildflowers and clear blue lakes. Colorado is one of my favorite places I have visited, it makes me feel right at home and has endless beauty. I was lucky enough to be able to fly to Denver with my boyfriend and be able to fulfill my birthday dream, just a little differently than I had imagined. If you ever want to plan a quick or last minute trip to Denver and the Rocky’s, here are my recomendations for places to eat and things to do.

We decided to do this vacation pretty last minute, we arrived on a Friday morning, picked up our rental car and headed straight to breakfast. We went to Fox Run Cafe and it was an ideal place to start the trip. In the past, breakfast was the meal I typically skipped. Once I started traveling more it became a must, it just feels right to start the day with some good food and relaxing time to plan future activities. I got the breakfast burrito and my boyfriend, a chicken sandwich connoisseur, got the fried chicken sandwich which apparently was a 10/10. After enjoying breakfast we headed to an outdoor store, Feral, I had found online to rent some poles and spikes for our hike the following day. This place was an adventure enthusiast’s dream! The best part is they offer used gear, as well as new. Outdoor clothing and supplies can be expensive so creating a place like this was a genius idea. We walked the street checking out the other stores and resturants and absolutely loved the area. We had beers at The Emporium Brewing Company then decided it was time for some food and found a lunch spot called Hops and Pie. I love pizza, it is my all time favorite food. When I tell you the sourdough detroit style pizza was the best I have ever had, I mean it!

Moraine Park

The next day was my birthday, we woke up at 5 am and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park. This was our first time here and it was somewhere I had always wanted to go. It was still dark when we started on the journey but the sun started to rise when we reached Estes Park, it was magical. The mountains hug the sides of the town with twinkly lights covering the trees. Once we reached RMNP, the first thing on the agenda was seeing sunrise at Sprague Lake. We made it just in time to watch the sun light up the mountain range, it was exactly how I wanted to start the day. Sprague Lake is a short and easy trail, which is why it’s great for sunrise or sunset because the colder temps of the night sky can be avoided. After leaving the lake we headed back into town but stopped at Moraine Park near the beginning of the park. Moraine Park was another place I would recommend for sunrise, it gives another gorgeous view of the Rocky’s and meadow below, I believe there is a lodge in this area as well. We got coffee from Coffee on the Rocks back in Estes Park before heading to the next trail, it was a very nice little cabin-turned coffee shop right on a little pond where you can watch rabbits and ducks wander.

Sprague Lake

Driving back into the park we saw magnificent elk taking in the morning sun, these creatures are unlike most, they are elegant but monstrous, such a beautiful sight to see. The tourists on the other hand, were not. People were getting out of their cars going right up to the Elk to get photos next to them, parking in the middle of the road on the wrong side, it was not a good look for humanity. Moving on, we headed to Emerald Lake. Arriving at around 10 AM the parking lot was full but we still found a spot. The trail starts on Bear Lake trailhead, on the way to Emerald Lake you also pass Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Being able to see 3 beautiful alpine lakes on one hike is pretty great, which is why this trail is so popular. It is not a difficult trail so kids and people not so fond of elevation would do well, it is around 4 miles out and back. We didn’t end up using the hiking poles but the spikes came in handy, they always make snowy trails a bit easier. Once we reached Emerald Lake I was in awe, it was even better than I had expected. As I approached the beaming mountains, the frozen lake came into view and created such a rewarding scene. The wind was intense between the mountains but it was well worth it, the ice was shining and some parts seemed as you could see through it to the water below. Colorado is something else, especially the Rocky Mountains.

Emerald Lake

After our hike we got back to the parking lot and the line to park lasted for what seemed like miles, so I would recommend getting there a bit early. Driving back through the park was bittersweet, the sun was bright and sparkled onto the snowy fields and mountain tops. We saw deer grazing in the forests and once again saw the herd of elk, I won’t even talk about the tourists at this point… but we did see a park ranger on his way as we were leaving, hopefully to stop the elk from being so bothered. We ate at The Bird’s Nest, the atmosphere was really nice with huge windows welcoming the sun and wooden accents. After finishing a snack and beer, we headed back to Denver. That evening we returned our spikes and admired the store once more before deciding that instead of the fancy dinner I had planned for my birthday, we would go back to Hops and Pie to enjoy the delicious sourdough pizza.

On New Years Eve we went to the Broncos football game! The Broncos are my favorite team and it was my first NFL game, we had the greatest time. The stadium was full of cheers and people filled with excitement. One of the best parts of it was actually the view, beyond Denver the sun set perfectly behind the surrounding mountains! To top it all off, they won the game. Once we got back to the hotel, hardly making it to midnight, we watched the fireworks from the balcony lighting up the city and it was truly beautiful, I could not have imagined a better way to end the year.

The last day was sad, as always. We went to Snooze at the Union Station location for breakfast, which was another place worth visiting. This whole area of Denver was such a treat, afterwards we walked around a bit admiring the city’s artwork and unique shops. Denver is unlike any other city I have visited, it is probably the only city I would be genuinely happy to reside in. After googling, I found out that Denver is sunny 300 days of the year. Even in the dead of Winter it was still pleasant to be walking around outside. I absolutely love Washington, but I would be glad to trade in some clouds for sun. Overall, ‘twas an amazing trip and experience I will be forever grateful for.