A QUICK SUMMER GETAWAY TO ESTES PARK, COLORADO

Sometimes the mountains call, and I was hearing them loud and clear last spring, as I found myself under a mountain of photo and video editing! So Seth and I found a window between weddings when we’d be able to be away this summer and planned a trip to Estes Park, one of my favorite places. We asked my parents to come along, and this was a great getaway for the four of us to share.

And of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t return home with a ton of documentation!

08.15.19: Arriving in Estes Park

Stopping along I-70 for a photo with the Colorado sign:

We had someone waiting to welcome us when we arrived at our condo:

Then we all had hamburgers for dinner at Latitude 105:

And a walk in the mountain air to end the evening:

08.16.19: Seeing Estes from above

We started the day as the first people in line at the Estes Park Aerial Tramway:

Estes Park from the top of Prospect Mountain:

In the middle of the frame is a patch of snow in the shape of a ghost:

Casper up close:

Longs Peak:

They happened to buy the same hiking shoes:

Setting out on our afternoon hike in Rocky Mountain National Park:

This hike gave us views of Estes Park from opposite the perspective we’d had that morning (and more great views of Longs Peak too): 

An artsy take on Longs Peak (if I do say so myself!):

Paul Bunyan’s Boot:

A family photo at Gem Lake before heading back down the mountain:

One of my all-time favorites — us in front of Longs Peak:

He asked if I’d gotten a picture of his new hiking socks and then proceeded to strike this pose: 

Dinner on Elkhorn Avenue:

08.17.19: Surprised by a hail storm

We started the day with views of Twin Owls and two elk:

And set out on our second hike in Rocky Mountain National Park:

In front of Alberta Falls:

We’d planned to hike a few more miles to Loch Vale, but a sudden rain and hail storm called for a change in plans:

Bear Lake made for a nice alternate destination, and we even had a break from the rain for a bit:

Another evening on Elkhorn Avenue:

The tallest mountain in the area under a mountain of clouds:

And of course, it’s not a vacation without two kinds of ice cream:

08.18.19: An alpine adventure

On the last full day of our trip, we opted to venture above the tree line to the Alpine Visitor Center (after first making a breakfast stop!):

A look at the Alluvial Fan on our way to Old Fall River Road:

Making a stop along Old Fall River Road to see Chasm Falls:

The Alpine Visitor Center in the distance:

And a steep, windy climb to Marmot Point:

A yellow-bellied marmot sunning on a rock:

Seth’s travel camera with crazy zoom capabilities was able to capture elk in the valley below the visitor center:

On the drive down Trail Ridge Road:

Somehow, my hair managed to match the mountain behind me at Forest Canyon Overlook:

And I managed to keep my hat despite the 50 mph winds (Special thanks to the fellow tourist who braved standing on a bench to get this family photo that I’ll always treasure!): 

That afternoon, our deck made a nice office for some photo editing:

And some apple eating:

One last evening on Elkhorn Avenue:

One last sunset over our condo:

And one last ice cream combo:

08.19.19: Fueling up for the long drive home

This donut shop was high on my dad’s list for this vacation, so of course we had to stop on our way out of Estes Park (so early the moon was still on display!):

And finally, a mountain goat gave us one last wildlife sighting before it had to be on its way as well:

– motion pictures –

See below for a slideshow of our adventure!

https://vimeo.com/390852473