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May 29, 2018May 28, 2020

Most Instagramable Places in Denver

Did you even visit Colorado if you didn’t get a sweet Instagram photo?

Denver is full of iconic landmarks. The Mile High City has many places to snap a photo that screams, “DENVER.”

Below are a few places that I’d recommend if you’re looking for good Instagramable photo opportunities. If you want a great shot of the city, check out one of my latest blogs Where To Go For The Best Views Of Denver’s Skyline.

Articulated Wall

The Articulated Wall is visible by more than the neighboring buildings within the Denver Design Center complex at 595 South Broadway. The sculpture transforms a driver’s view heading northbound on I-25. Visitors gawk at the bright yellow sculpture, which looks especially eye-catching against a bright blue sky.

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Schedule a private tour of the Broncos stadium or go on a group tour of Sports Authority Field at Mile High. For an Instagramable photo opportunity like this — call (720) 258-3000.

Sports Authority engagement — Photo courtesy of Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Colorado Wall

This is a hidden gem along East Colfax in Denver near Tattered Cover Book Store. Stop by and take a photo that literally says, “Colorado,” no Instagram caption needed.

Coors Field

You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a great photo from Coors Field. I took this picture after paying for $4 seat tickets and heading up to Coors Field rooftop bar. The beer is great and the views are spectacular.

16th Street Mall

Taken from the 3rd floor of the Denver Pavilions, this photo captures the 16th Street Mall when it’s at its most magical — nighttime. Insider tip: Parking at the Denver Pavilions is free when you see a movie at UA Denver Pavilions Stadium 15. Park in the parking garage below and validate your parking stub in the theatre.

Punch Bowl Social

An Instagramable spot on South Broadway is Punch Bowl Social, a large bar featuring lawn games, arcade games and a bowling alley. As you round the corner to head upstairs, you’ll come across this sweet mural and bright red chair. Search “Punch Bowl Social” on Instagram and you’ll find others who have snapped a shot at this iconic spot. Read more about the new location in Stapleton here.

Colorado Convention Center

Arguably one of the most iconic spots in downtown Denver, The Big Blue Bear is a must-see for Instagramable moments because of it’s enormous stature. Located outside of the Colorado Convention Center on 14th Street between California and Stout, the blue bear has hundreds of visitors a day. Read more about the bear here.

International Church of Cannabis

You wouldn’t think a church would be Instagramable, but this one definitely is. The International Church of Cannabis consists of a group of people known as Elevationists. 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. Learn more here.

Little Man Ice Cream

Little Man Ice Cream feels like summer. As a result, the place is always packed with a line wrapped around the building. Stop by for an ice cream cone and stay for the atmosphere and photo opportunities. Many nights, a live band will play on the Little Man Ice Cream patio while visitors dance the night away. Read more here.

RiNo District Street Art

Denver’s RiNo District is known for their incredible street murals and literally thousands of Instagramable spots. Wander up and down the district alleys to see beautiful works of art that change each year during the Crush event. Check out a full list of street art (locations included) on my post, Where To Find Denver’s Best Street Art.

Stanley Marketplace

One of the newest (and cutest) attractions in Denver is Stanley Marketplace. A photo outside of here says, “I visited one of Denver’s greatest hidden gems.” Stanley Marketplace is still somewhat unknown to out-of-state visitors, so you will probably be ahead of the curve when you post a photo to your feed.

Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Arguably the most noteworthy place near Denver, Red Rocks is visited by millions every year and is consequently a bucket list item for the majority of Coloradans. A visit to Red Rocks is a must, and a photo that documents your visit is practically required.

Union Station

Union Station may be the most iconic Denver landmark, as Denver visitors are sure to see it while exploring the LoDo area. A picture outside of Union Station from Blake and 17th is always a big hit, as is a photo inside of Union Station under the terminal sign.

As a Colorado native, I’m kind of obsessed with the Big Blue Bear. So obsessed, in fact, that I’m planning on buying this bear statue for my new office in California, just so I can have a piece of the city with me.

What is your favorite Denver landmark or Instagramable location? Let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends planning a trip to Colorado!

Thanks for reading,

Emma

December 28, 2017June 11, 2020

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

dino tracks — Purgatoire River Track Site by U.S. Forest Service

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

25299889_10212605567266907_7889814216995348451_o — Photo credit: Janelle Devores

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

brqvkj90qtipzmnk5dhe — Photo credit: Mark Donoher

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

25157981_10214928044175962_6388083017338814408_n — Photo credit: Kara Pannulla

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

Deer in Denver — Photo credit: Emma Heirendt

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

September 21, 2017May 28, 2020

How I Stopped Biting My Nails In 3 Easy Steps

I have been a life-long nail biter. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t bite my nails. This made it all the more difficult to quit. Fortunately, I found a way to kick the habit four months ago and I’ve never looked back.

Here are 3 easy steps to follow to quit biting your nails.

Identify an upcoming event

I chose my family reunion. I talk with my hands and I didn’t want my aunts, uncles, cousins etc. to see my gross fingernails. I had a month until the event and I decided to stop biting my nails so they would look semi-normal when I saw everyone. Every time I was tempted to bite I would remind myself of the upcoming reunion and how embarrassed I would be if my nails were a mess for it.

Acknowledge your weaknesses

I most frequently bit my nails while watching TV in the evening. I would be thinking about the next day, what I was nervous or stressed about and I would just go to town on my nails. I knew I needed something else to help my evening stress so I bought a fidget spinner. I soon realized that I just needed to keep my hands busy and as long as my fingers never touched my mouth, I was able to make it through the evening.

Keep your nails painted

I hated to wear nail colorful nail polish on my fingers because it made my bitten nails look SO OBVIOUS (see old photo of my bitten, painted nails to the right). Instead, I started to put a clear coat of nail polish on them. They looked so shiny and beautiful and I wasn’t nearly as tempted to bite them off as I usually was. I also kept them filed and trimmed because another one of my weaknesses was uneven nails, if my nails felt uneven I would try to even them out by biting them.

Kicking a lifelong bad habit is hard. If you need additional support, ask a family member or friend to remind you of your goal when they catch you biting.

Give these 3 easy steps a try and see if they work out for you. I’m thrilled with the results!

December 27, 2016May 28, 2020

3 Days In Pagosa Springs, Colorado

For the past two years, my husband and I have taken turns choosing a weekend getaway for our birthday. Last year we went to Steamboat Springs, CO for my birthday and this year he requested that we go to Pagosa Springs, CO (notice a theme developing). We spent a total of three days and two overnights in Pagosa Springs and I would say it was one of the best trips we have ever been on. Please take a look at our trip tips and photos and feel free to leave questions or comments below!

About Pagosa Springs

Pagosa Springs is home to approximately 1,800 people and boasts the title of the “World’s Deepest Hot Springs.” Pagosa Springs sits about an hour outside of Durango, CO and 5 hours southwest of Denver. The town is alongside the San Juan River, which is great for tubing during the warmer months. There are also many non-commercialized natural hot springs on the river that you can take advantage of, if you don’t mind sitting on the side of the road in a bikini, that is.

The drive from Denver to Pagosa Springs

We left from Denver on Friday morning and knew that a storm was on its way so instead of taking the scenic US-285 S we stuck with I-25 S and US 160 W to avoid the many mountain passes. Due to the blowing snow, the drive took about 6 hours instead of 5. We were worried about needing chains and driving our Toyota Corolla rather than a 4WD or AWD vehicle but we did just fine. We headed back to Denver on Sunday afternoon and took the scenic US-285 N and it was a beautiful drive with clear skies the whole way.

Pagosa Hot Springs Hotel and Spa

The Springs Resort and Spa is located in downtown Pagosa Springs, right next to the San Juan River. The spa includes hot springs and lodging. You do not have the stay at the resort to have access to the hot springs. Rooms range from $199-$619 a night with the cheapest being a 216 sq ft room with 2 double beds and the most expensive being a spacious 2-bed 2-bath suite. The perk of staying at the resort is 24 hour access to the hot springs, the close proximity to the pools and the complimentary water bottles and adorable robes. Keep in mind that if you do not stay at the resort, you have access to the pools from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. in the winter and 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. in the summer. The prices range from $26-$53 (adult) and $14-$30 (child) depending on how many amenities you’d like to take advantage of (locker rooms, towels, etc.)

The Springs Resort and Spa pools

The Springs Resort and Spa has 23 mineral hot springs varying from 83-114 degrees fahrenheit. Each pool offers a unique experience, my husband and I tried the majority of them and found that during the day we preferred 95 degree springs while at night the 102 degree springs were ideal. Our favorite pools were The Cliffs, Serendipity, Sunset Social Club and Top O’ the Morning. The Burg was also a unique experience, being right on the river with your toes in the gravel, but it was a little too hot at 104 degrees. You don’t realize how much a 2 degree difference makes until you go between a couple of pools.

When to visit Pagosa Springs

Keep in mind that my husband and I have only been to Pagosa Springs once, so I am speaking with very limited experience. However, I would say that fall or winter is the ideal time to visit because I often find it unbearable to sit in hot springs during a warm spring or summer day. We visited during the first week in December and there was snow on the ground, it was a brisk 35 degrees during the day and 15 degrees at night. During the day, most of the hot springs were too warm and we found ourselves sitting on the edge with our feet in the pool. At night, almost all of the pools felt perfect and the only difficult part was walking from pool to pool in a swimsuit. We loved being in the pool from 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.; the steam rising off of the pools with the Christmas lights shimmering in the background was quite a sight to see.

The Spa in Pagosa Springs

The Spa offers a variety of treatments including massages, aromatherapy, facials, tanning and waxing. I found the prices to be very reasonable, with an hour full body massage at $105 whereas most places charge $150 per hour. I did not visit the spa so I cannot attest to the quality of the services.

What to bring to Pagosa Springs

If you are staying at the resort you will be given a towel and a robe as well as a complimentary water bottle and toiletry kit. If you are not staying at the resort, you may pay extra for a towel and robe as well as access to a locker room. Besides the aforementioned items, I recommend bringing flip flops because the ground between pools is rough, cold and sprinkled with pebbles to keep it from getting too slick. Warning: keep an eye on your belongings. My flip flops and robe were stolen within 2 hours of being in the pools, all while I was less than 20 ft away from them.

The food in Pagosa Springs

While we were walking along the river we met a woman who had moved to Pagosa Springs from San Diego a few years back. We asked for a lunch recommendation and she insisted that we go to Kip’s Grill which I knew was a popular choice from my research on Pinterest. My husband ordered some spicy tacos and I ordered the nachos. Everything was beyond delicious! The nachos were humongous; they were so big, in fact, that I had them for lunch and we split the rest for dinner. That’s three meals from one plate of nachos! We also went to Pagosa Springs Brewing Company for dinner one night and The Rose for our final breakfast in town. The food was great at both, but I can’t rant or rave over anything in particular.

Treasure Falls in Pagosa Springs

On our way out of town, we stopped at Treasure Falls to see the frozen waterfall. You can see the falls from the parking lot or hike about ¼ mile to the bottom of the falls. The hike wasn’t long but I wouldn’t say that it’s easy. That being said, it should be noted that 1. It had just snowed, so the trail was packed with ice and powder 2. I was carrying a large camera and was wasn’t wearing athletic clothes or shoes 3. I’m outdoorsy in the sense that I enjoy drinking wine on patios. The truth is that I’m just not a big fan of hiking, but the view was breathtaking.

I can’t wait to start planning my birthday weekend getaway for fall 2017. I think we may be running out of Colorado towns with the word “springs” in it, but we are open to recommendations.

Thanks for reading,

Emma

Products listed above are from Amazon Associates which means I get some cash if you buy any of my suggested items. Thanks in advance! – Emma