Colorado - Loveland and Colorado Springs

On September 14 we arrived in Riverview RV Park outside of Loveland.  I had stayed in this area frequently when visiting our State Farm Greeley office, but did not get around to see many sites.  I had lots of people I wanted to see and lots of sights, so I only spent one day having lunch with a couple of people I worked with in the Greeley area.

On Friday, our first full day we headed up through Estes Park to the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We drove the Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in North America, throughout the park, going to the highest elevation of 12,183 feet and then onto Lake Granby.  We saw elk as we were driving along the road and into the various parking lots.

Glaciers

Taken at Irene Lake parking area

Aspen starting to turn color

Grand Lake

Elk on side of road. 

We went into Estes park to get a bite to eat, and this was our view from the outside restaurant seating.  

We then went back into the park around 5 pm, as we were visiting at the beginning of the elk mating season.  We only saw one bull elk and his herd and heard the bull elk bugling.  We visited two different evenings, but since we were at the beginning of the mating season, we did not see other bulls competing for herds.  

We went to the Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday, which was one of the nicest city parks that I have ever been too.  The property began as a homestead for the Benson family and then a portion of the homestead was later donated to the city to use as a wetlands and refuge for birds.  In 1985 the sculpture garden was created.  Currently there are 154 sculptures on display throughout the park.

Driving around town we saw a field of prairie dogs.  Of course most of them went into their holes as soon as Craig got out of the car.  This was right next to a busy shopping area.  

On our way back to camp, we stopped at the Sweetheart City Winery, a newer winery that gets most of their grapes right now from California.  Our favorite wines were the Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Tempranillo.  

Loveland is such a great little town and is known for being the Sweetheart City.  It has sculptures and hearts all over town.

On Tuesday we went to Boulder to Pearl Street Mall.  In 1917, Pearl Street between 11th and 17th street was the first part of town with paved streets.  It's been through many renovations throughout the years, but it's a great place to see some of the old building architecture and many shops, breweries and restaurants.

Court House on the Estes Park Mall 

We then went to Chautauqua Park, just outside of Boulder and hiked part way up the trail to get a better view of the Flatirons rock formations.  Elevation of Boulder is over 5,400 feet and I can quickly feel the elevation as we walked on trails.

Flatirons

Town of Boulder from Chautauqua Park

From Boulder, we drove back to Estes Park and walked around town and drove by the Stanley Hotel.  The Stanley Hotel is best known as the hotel that inspired Stephen King's book "The Shining".  He was staying in room 217 and it is now the most booked room of the hotel.  We then went back into the Rocky Mountain National Park to see if the elk were more active.  We saw the same herd from the other night and a couple of bull elks nearby just laying in the fields, so we headed back to the campground.

On Sept 21, we headed to Colorado Springs for the week.  We did encounter cooler weather than normal with lots of rain.  But, since there was so much to see, we just chose our activities based on weather forecasts and dug our raincoats out of the back of the closet.

Miramont Castle - constructed in 1894 by a French Roman Catholic priest out of Manitou greenstone.    The priest and his mother lived there until 1899, sold the property to The Sisters of Mercy who opened a sanitarium from 1904 - 1928.  In 1946 the castle was converted into apartments and then in 1976 the Manitou Springs Historical Society purchased the castle and it was placed on the National Register in 1977.

Pikes Peak COG railway which goes up the mountain at up to 25% grades in places.  In 1889, the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway Company was founded and track construction began.  On the afternoon of June 30th, 1891, the first passenger train made it to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Train station - started at 6570'

Momument at top of Pikes Peak

Chile and Frijoles Festival in Pueblo with cousins Gaylen and DeeDee:

Pueblo River Walk

Thunderbirds were in town for an air show and they flew right over our campground:

Glen Eyrie Castle, homesteaded in 1871 and finished in 1904 by William Palmer, Civil War General and owner of the Denver Rio Grande Railroad and founder of Colorado Springs.  Located on 723 acres with 97 lodging rooms, now owned by the Navigators.  Beautiful castle to tour.

Carriage House

Broadmoor Hotel & Seven Falls

Hotel:  Originally started as a dairy farm, the land was bought and developed into The Broadmoor Casino, which opened in 1891 by a Prussian Count.  Eventually forced into receivership, the property was bought by Philadelphia entrepreneur, Spencer Penrose in 1916, and opened the hotel in 1918.

Spencer Penrose - bought Cog Railway and
 Broadmoor Hotel 

181' foot waterfalls

Garden of the Gods:

Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center - training center for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.  Training includes;  boxing, cycling, figure skating, volleyball, gymnastics, Paralympic judo, pentathlon, shooting, swimming and wresting.

                                            

Weight room and track

Boxing ring

Shooting Range 

Olympic swimming pool - location where Phelps beat
first world record, but not recorded

Ice Skating Facility - off of the main campus

Next time through Colorado Springs:  Cripple Creek, Cave of the Winds, Walk around Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City, Royal Gorge Bridge, and Canon City

Southwest part of Colorado, we would like to spend time around Durango;  Mesa Verde Natl Park, Chimney Rock Natl Monument and drive at least part of the San Juan Skyway (232 miles), one of the most scenic drives in America with elevations spanning from 6200 to 11075 feet.  Also spend time to visit the wineries in Grand Junction and Palisades and hot springs near Alamosa.

Next place to visit is Raton, New Mexico.