December 2017 - Emma Heirendt

December 28, 2017May 8, 2025

Colorado Hikes For People Who Get Bored Easily

If you’re like me, you appreciate the exercise from a good hike, but you want a big pay-off at the end for all of your hard work.

I expect my hikes to end with a BANG! Let’s go on a hike that allows me to hike along dinosaur tracks, leap over craters, swim through waterfalls and get a sweeping view of mountains.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one hike that offers all of that, but you can see all that and more, right here in The Centennial State.

Dotsero Crater

This is one of my favorite type of hikes: short with a cool ending. Located on the Dotsero-Ute Trail just before Glenwood Canyon on I-70 (exit 133) is the Dotsero Crater and volcano. If you want to hike to the top of the crater, it’s 1.25 miles round trip. You can also hike to the bottom of the crater, which is a longer trek. The nearby volcano last erupted some 4,000 years ago, but it’s still hot, and could technically erupt at any moment. However, the United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program and the Global Volcanism Program do not have this volcano on their watch list -which is super comforting. This hike is 2.5 hours from Denver.

Gold Camp Road

1555488_10153711414445338_52200972_n — Photo credit: Emma Heirendt

Yeah, it’s haunted… but this hike is perfect for those that get bored easily! Around every corner is a pitch black tunnel perfect for freaking out your hiking partner. If you’re looking to park closest to the collapsed tunnel, use the upper lot past Helen Hunt Falls on Cheyenne Canyon Road and head northwest down Upper Gold Camp Road. This hike is a little dangerous due to the loose rock and ghosties. It’s located 2 hours and 15 min from Denver.

Purgatoire River Track Site

Dinosaur tracks! This 17.6 mile round trip hike is worth the trek. You’ll literally be walking the same path as the dinosaurs. The Purgatoire River Track Site is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. If you get bored, try to jump from track to track while you ogle at the view of Picketwire Canyon. This hike is 3.5 hours from Denver.

Paint Mines

Totally an off-the-beaten-path attraction in Calhan, Colorado. A hike at the colorful Paint Mines in unlike anything you’ve done before. Get your hands dirty with the chalk from the rock and explore deep into the caverns. Read my tips for hiking the Paint Mines here. This hike is 1.5 hours from Denver.

The Incline

Get ready to sweat. This verticle mile staircase in Manitou Springs is not for the faint of heart! The view at the top is worth it, but boy, this is a tough one! I’d recommend The Incline to someone who gets bored with level trails and is looking for a fun, unique-to-Colorado challenge. This hike is 2 hours and 15 minutes from Denver.

This photo of Manitou Springs Incline is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Hanging Lake

Considered one of the most beautiful hikes in Colorado, Hanging Lake has become a popular tourist attraction in the state. Recently, the White River Forest Service has limited the amount of people who hike to Hanging Lake everyday to preserve the land. The hike is short and fairly steep and the view at the end is beyond worth it. This hike is 2.5 hours from Denver.

Mesa Verde National Park

See a piece of history at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. Visit the Pueblo people’s dwellings under the overhanging cliff. Tickets sell out very quickly, I recommend purchasing online two days in advance. This hike is 7 hours and 15 minutes from Denver.

Paradise Cove

This place is a real life Casa Bonita! Paradise Cove (or Guffey Cove, as some call it), is a mile hike that finishes with a little cliff jumping. Water levels vary, jump at your own risk (or watch someone else take the jump, first)! This hike is located in Cripple Creek, about 2 hours south of Denver.

Garden of the Gods

I’d consider this one of the top attractions in Colorado Springs and one of the most interesting hikes in the state. There’s always something to look at as you meander through the bright red rocks. Garden of the Gods offers many different hikes, all of varying lengths and difficulty levels. Read more about Colorado Springs here. This hike is 1 hour from Denver.

Great Sand Dunes

18739140_10158823106480338_8848113042433643585_o — Photo credit: Emma Heirendt

You can’t beat a giant sand box for adults. Grab your sleds and get out to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Mosca, Colorado. The dunes are deceivingly difficult to hike up, you will definitely get a good work out in! See more photos from my trip here. This hike is about 4 hours from Denver.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is located at 6550 Gateway Rd in Commerce City and offers many easy walking trails. There are over 330 species of wildlife here, perfect for the human who is easily distracted. Read more about my trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal here. This hike is only 20 minutes from Denver.

I’m interested to hear, which hike would you choose? Remember to share this post with your friends by clicking on one of the social media buttons below!

Thanks for reading,

Emma

December 26, 2017September 22, 2025

The Story Behind “The French Fry Statue” In Denver

It’s a pile of french fries! It’s a stack of Post-It notes! No… it’s the Articulated Wall.

Articulated Wall in Denver Standing at a striking 85 feet, the Articulated Wall is one of Denver’s most recognizable landmarks. However, when a Denver resident is asked what it is or where it is located, they seldom know the answer.

The Articulated Wall was originally designed as a 25 foot statue to welcome people to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Denver liked it so much, they asked for their own; Denver even went a step further, requesting a sculpture over twice the size of the original. You know what they say, everything is bigger in Tex..Colorado.

Location

French Fry Wall in Denver Located within the Denver Design Center complex at 595 South Broadway, the Articulated Wall is visible by more than the neighboring buildings. The sculpture transforms a driver’s view heading northbound on I-25. Out-of-towners gawk at the bright yellow sculpture, which looks especially eye-catching against a bright blue sky. Some have said that the piece should be moved to the Denver Art Museum, because DAM owns the piece. To do so would be against the artist’s wishes. Bayer wrote (in his typical typographic style) in 1968: “i have long considered the highway an issue worth the attention of the artist…up to this point we have only known how to disgrace a highway with advertising.”

Design

Standing at 85 feet and weighing over 2 million pounds, the Articulated Wall demands attention. The sculpture is designed with gravity in mind, featuring a steel mast in the middle and horizontal bars situated one on top of the other, relying on the weight of one another to stay still. No wonder climbing is prohibited!

About the artist

Herbert Bayer was a painter, photographer, architect, graphic designer, and typographer. He attended the Bauhaus, an influential German art school at the age of 21 and went on to create stylized posters to aid the American war effort of the 1940s. Unfortunately, Bayer was too ill to attend the erection of the Articulated Wall in 1985. He was in California as aircraft carrier’s assembled the statue, piece by piece. He passed away later that year. Over 8,000 of Bayer’s pieces are inside the Denver Art Museum for visitors to enjoy.

Have you ever seen this sculpture in Denver? It’s so iconic, I’m using it for my cousin’s daughter’s Flat Stanley Project. Now her 1st grade classmates will know all about this sculpture and why it is considered a Denver landmark.

Share this story with your friends using the social media buttons below.

Thanks for reading,

Emma

December 21, 2017May 28, 2020

Best Breweries In Denver’s RiNo District

With hundreds of breweries popping up all over Colorado, it can be difficult to know which ones to visit or where to bring your out of state guests. Thankfully, Denver’s RiNo District offers eight breweries all within a 19 minute walking distance that are perfect for an afternoon of beer tasting.

The RiNo District also offers ample street parking, making this excursion all the more simple. Below is a suggested brewery crawl, as well as a description of each brewery on the list. Enjoy!

The Perfect RiNo Brewery Crawl

A couple of weeks ago, my husband, father, and I did a modified version of this list. From 3-6:30 p.m., we visited Bierstadt Lagerhaus, C Squared Ciders, Ratio Beerworks, Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company, 14er Brewing Company and 10 Barrel Brewing Company Denver. We appreciated a “well deserved” dinner at 10 Barrel after our 14 minutes of walking and 3 hours of drinking. For an extended version of our day, add in 3 more breweries and 5 more minutes of walking. See a map of your crawl below.

About the River North (RiNo) District

The River North or “RiNo” District is known for a few things: street art, jazz bars and microbreweries. Keep an eye out for rhino designs in the wall murals throughout town, as the rhino has become the official logo of the RiNo District. Lonely Planet even listed the RiNo District on their Hot ‘hoods in the US: 10 neighborhoods you need to visit. For more information on the RiNo District, click here.

Beryl’s Beer Co.

Located at 3120 Blake St in Denver, Beryl’s Beer Co. ages many of their hand-crafted brews in, you guessed it, barrels! They are especially proud of their 1876 Ale which is their take on an American style ale with 100% Colorado grown ingredients. Open 7 days a week, Beryl’s Beer Co. offers a range of theme nights and specials including $3 beers on Mondays with adult coloring to unwind after a day at the office.

Epic Brewing Company

Epic Brewing Company is just a hop, skip and jump away from Beryl’s Beer Co (3001 Walnut St in Denver) which is why it is recommend second on the RiNo District brewery crawl. Inspired by microbreweries in their home state of California, entrepreneurs David Cole and Peter Erickson opened Epic Brewing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. The beer makers expanded to the RiNo District to distribute a larger quantity of beer, penetrate a new market and experiment with new brews such as a line of sours. Welcome to CO, boys.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus/C Squared Ciders

Once upon a time, a small-batch cider tasting room (C Squared Ciders) and a traditional German style brewery and taproom (Bierstadt Lagerhaus) decided to join forces at 875 Blake St in Denver’s RiNo District. The result? A perfect opportunity for cider and lager lovers to coexist harmoniously.

Side note: They offer workout classes on Wednesday evenings at 5:45 p.m. All fitness levels are welcome, and a drink afterwards is encouraged. Obviously.

Our Mutual Friend Brewing

Located at 2810 Larimer St, Our Mutual Friend Brewing is a must see on this list. With a colorful exterior, amazing patio and excellent beer selection, this was one of our favorite stops on our LoHi brewery crawl. This brewery got its start in 2012 with just one head brewer and a 31 gallon system. Boy, how things have changed. They now operate on a seven-barrel brew system and have won several awards for their brews.

Ratio Beerworks

Currently one of my favorite microbreweries in the RiNo District, Ratio Beerworks offers exceptional brews and an equally impressive tasting room and dog-friendly courtyard. Located at 2920 Larimer St, Ratio Beerworks is conveniently located in the middle of the other RiNo breweries making it an easy stop on your crawl. My favorite is the Hold Steady with Novo Coffee (pictured below), a twist on their Hold Steady scotch ale.

Stem Ciders

After getting a taste at C Squared Ciders, cider enthusiasts can look forward to another fantastic assortment of ciders and live music at Stem Ciders, located at 2811 Walnut St #150. With unique brews such as Coffee Apple Cider, Stem Ciders in certainly not afraid to think outside of the box, but their goal is to deliver a product made with very few ingredients, keeping the taste as authentic as possible.

14er Brewing Company

Another winner on Walnut! Located at 2801 Walnut St, 14er Brewing Company is located in an unassuming building. Don’t let that fool you, 14er holds their own amongst the greats. Founded by Colorado natives, Andrew Kaczmarek and Nato Francescato of Wheat Ridge, 14er Brewing Company is an example of how a couple of beer lovers can take their passion and turn it into a growing success.

10 Barrel Brewing Company

A great place to finish your brewery crawl is 10 Barrel Brewing Company at 2620 Walnut St. With a spacious venue, full menu and 24 beers on tap, this brewery is a perfect spot to unwind and rate your previous stops. I’d also recommend this place for a large crowd. We once invited 20 friends out for drinks and comfortably sat the whole pack at a table in the lower dining area.

Crooked Stave

As a bonus, I’m mentioning Crooked Stave in the list of RiNo District breweries. While it is quite a walk away from the others, it is considered one of the best in the RiNo District. If you’d like to add this to your brewery crawl, it would be a great first stop. Then, you can drive closer to the others and find street parking. Crooked Stave is located in The Source at 3350 Brighton Blvd, one of Denver’s hip new dining warehouses. They are known for their Artisan beer selection.

Do you enjoy a good brewery crawl? Share this post with your friends by using the social media buttons below.

Tip: Drink plenty of water, and stop for snacks in between. Remember, Colorado is at a higher elevation so you will be feeling it a lot quicker.

Cheers,

Emma

December 7, 2017June 11, 2020

Inside The International Church Of Cannabis In Denver

That’s so Denver.

Here’s another great find from Atlas Obscura. Seriously, if you’re looking for something fun and unique in your area, look no further than Atlas Obscura.

A few weeks ago my husband and I visited the International Church of Cannabis. The “tour” was really more of just an opportunity to sit in the chapel and admire the murals and take a quick look inside of their meeting room.

I couldn’t believe that this place really existed. Apparently, the government can’t either. They are actively trying to shut down the church. So if this place tickles your fancy, come quick, the International Church of Cannabis may not be open for much longer.

Now buckle your seat belt, I’m about to drop some knowledge about the International Church of Cannabis and what it means to be an Elevationist.

What is the International Church of Cannabis?

The International Church of Cannabis consists of a group of people known as Elevationists. Elevationists believe that it is their religious right to reach the greatest versions of themselves without political scrutiny or prosecution. Members join together in the church to smoke marijuana in a safe environment. No one under the age of 21 is permitted in the building.

What’s with the funky murals?

Artists Okuda San Miguel and Kenny Scharf designed the interior and exterior of the building. The church is colorful with vibrant mural across the ceiling. The murals have no meaning, but members claim that they discover their own meaning while smoking marijuana. The meeting room (pictured below) is adorned with quirky decorations, furniture, board games and a small gift shop.

Where is the International Church of Cannabis?

The church is located at 400 S Logan St, Denver, CO 80209 and is open for tours Thursday through Sunday 1:00-3:00 p.m. There is a $5.00 suggested donation. Marijuana consumption is not allowed in the church when it is open to the public.

Can I smoke inside of the church?

You must become a member to smoke inside of the church as smoking is not allowed during tour hours.

The History of Elevationism

Elevationism began in Denver, Colorado by a group of people who were tired of the restrictive nature of most religions. Some Elevationists believe in God but more generally they refer to a Universal Creative Force and allow members to decide what they believe. Elevationism did not begin as a replacement to faith. Instead, it was created to support the consumption of a plant that has positively influenced the minds of the individuals.

Members

Members of the church are known as Elevationists. During their service, they smoke weed and strive to reveal the best version of themselves and discover a creative voice. Elevationists claim that they do not attempt to convert visitors to Elevationism. According to their website, “[Elevationism] claims no divine law, no questionable doctrine, and no authoritarian structure.” People who believe that cannabis can and should be used in the one’s personal journey and search for meaning are encouraged to join.

People are always very curious about marijuana when they find out I live in Colorado. Yes, marijuana is legal in Colorado. All you need is a valid ID and you can purchase marijuana at one of the many shops across the state. There is literally a shop on almost every corner (similar to liquor stores, if not more prevalent). Colorado residents receive a slight discount. You must be 21 years or older to purchase marijuana.

What do you think about the legalization of marijuana? What about the International Church of Cannabis? How would you feel if one popped up in your neighborhood?

Thanks for reading,

Emma