Wind Cave national park bison south dakota

Amazing Places To Visit On A Wisconsin to Utah Road Trip

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I’ve done the drive from Wisconsin to Utah a lot. Like, so many times. We counted the other day and since moving to Utah in 2016, we’ve driven across the US 19 times. 19!

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stanley hotel ghost tour

Experience The Shining And Take A Stanley Hotel Ghost Tour Next Time You’re In Estes Park, Colorado

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For Halloween, I decided to share a post all about my spooky Stanley Hotel Ghost Tour.  I mean, what better time for this?  The first time I visited Estes Park we stopped in to see the Stanley Hotel but that was it.  Then, knowing we were going to be close for a couple nights, I decided to check and see if they did ghost tours.  They did and happened to have one ticket left for the next day so of course, I booked it.

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

7 Reasons Why Visiting Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park Is Worth It

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This was my third trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and I was hoping for a little sun this time.  The first two trips were cold, rainy, and windy, but still totally worth it. 

This time it was warmer but still not quite sunny.  It was just a quick visit with some spare time we had in Grand Junction. And it’s just as amazing with and without any fog.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado

My Outdoor Colorado Bucket List

This winter instead of making a yearly state to-do list, I decided to just make a bigger state bucket list.  Then I decided to turn this into a little series.  I wanted to do specific states that I spend a lot of time in, want to spend a lot of time in, or am close to a lot. 

I also wanted to do more general regional bucket lists for all the other things I want to do, which is a lot.  They are all pretty outdoor focused with a few non-outdoorsy things, too.

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Trail through time fruita colorado

Go Back In Time On The Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time In Colorado

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Before I get into this, there are a few things you should know about me relating to this:

  1. I LOVE dinosaurs.  All things dinosaur, I love.
  2. I own two Jurassic Park shirts and wear them when I see dinosaur things. (Update 2020: I’m updating this a bit and am wearing a Jurassic Park shirt right now.)
  3. I’ve made it a goal to see as many dinosaur things in Utah as I can this summer.  Bones, tracks, you name it.
  4. I love dinosaurs.
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Colorado national monument coke ovens

Coke Ovens And The Devils Kitchen In Colorado National Monument

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Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colorado is a hidden gem.  I had heard of it my first summer working in Bullfrog, but I knew literally nothing about it until maybe a week before I went.

Turns out, I love it!  I won’t lie, I don’t really like Grand Junction.  I don’t hate it, but I certainly don’t love it, either.  The food options aren’t great (Pablo’s Pizza is the best though).  It doesn’t really have charm. 

There is a cute downtown area, but the rest of it is rather unimpressive.  And whoever named its streets did a horrible job.  Here are some examples: E Road.  24 3/8 Road.  G.2 Road.  and E 1/2 Road.  Like, what is that?  (Update 2020: I still can’t get over the road names.)

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devils backbone hike loveland colorado

Devils Backbone In Loveland, Colorado: An Easy Hike With Great Views

While I wouldn’t say it’s the best hike in Colorado, Devils Backbone in Loveland is a nice way to do a little hiking without straying too far from a city.  It’s not to be confused with the Hell’s Backbone drive in Utah.  This hike is easy, conveniently located, and has a good view of the surrounding area.  Whether you are looking for a nice after work walk or a quick stop on your way through town, this is a good option.

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Bottom Of The River At Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

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Last year I went to Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado for the first time.  I hadn’t even heard of it until last year and now I’ve made two trips to see the canyon.  Last time it was cold and windy and we just drove on the South Rim Road.  This year it was cold rainy, and foggy and we drove down to the river, which I would highly recommend.

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mesa verde colorado

Underwhelmed At Mesa Verde National Park

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That title is just the start of a glowing review, right?  Ehh, not really.  But, I keep things real here and that means I’m here to tell you I didn’t love Mesa Verde.  That’s not to say it’s not cool at all, I just enjoyed it less than other places.  I will say though, there’s quite a bit to do here.  Long House, Balcony House, and Cliff Palace all require tours, but there are some dwellings you can see on your own, like Spruce Tree House (if it’s open, check at the visitors center) or Step House.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado

Hiking Great Sand Dunes National Park In Colorado

This was one of the most difficult physical things I’ve done.  Sound ridiculous, right?  I mean, I climbed a volcano, I’ve hiked to Delicate Arch, I’ve snowshoed on the side of a mountain, and I couldn’t make it to the top of one of these dunes.  Well, I need to get in shape.  Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is extremely cool, and probably underrated.

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Return to Rocky Mountain National Park

I went back to Rocky Mountain National Park!  And this time I knew what to expect.  It was the end of November, and we were on our way back to Utah, then Wyoming for the winter.  The Rockies were our last exciting stop before starting work again.  We set off from Fort Collins with mountains on our mind.

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