Breakaway

Two Sunday nights ago, Mike and I decided to go on a spontaneous mini get-away with the kids, so we packed up our stuff and headed to Estes Park for some much needed time away from home. We stayed in a nice hotel along Fall River, and as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out cold, even with the Disney Channel blaring in the background. I think it was sometime around 11 when the rest of the clan went to sleep, but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure...



In the morning we grabbed some continental breakfast and ate it outside by the river. The rush of the water and the crisp breeze rustling the trees made for a relaxing start to an otherwise busy day. From the hotel we drove straight to Lily Lake. It's just before you get to Rocky Mountain National Park, but it's not actually in the park so you don't have to pay the hefty fee to get in. We walked the trail around the lake, which ended up to be about three-quarters of a mile. It was a wide, level trail, perfect for the little ones who surprisingly tired easily, even on this relatively simple walk. While I would have enjoyed a more difficult hike, the views from the trail were simply breathtaking.


Next, we drove back down the mountain to walk the strip and get some lunch. We stopped at one of the many old-fashioned candy shoppes and got some salt water taffy for the kids. We should have gotten more. Before we headed home, we decided to catch a game of miniature golf. With 2 small children and one over-ambitious 9-year-old in tow, miniature golf is anything but a walk in the park. Nonetheless, in the end we had lots of fun.


By 3 o'clock, I was ready for bed again (:D), and it was time to wrap it up. We packed up the kids and headed back home.


It's sad that these mountains are so close to us, yet we take them for granted, and always have. I plan on taking advantage of them this summer in trying to get up there more often for excursions like these. Who knows, maybe next winter I'll even take up snowboarding.... :)