Colorado Summer Vacations

Just in the past week and a half I’ve camped in Pingree Park, gone whitewater rafting for the first time, spent some time at Horsetooth Reservoir, attended my first Taste of Fort Collins, and went on my first boating trip on Boulder Reservoir. So here’s what I’ve been doing.

My first adventure this Colorado summer was a spur of the moment, one night camping trip in Pingree Park (two hours west of Fort Collins) with my boyfriend and my dog Amos. I like Pingree Park because there is enough space there to make me feel like I’m completely away from everything and everyone.

On this trip we camped near Twin Lakes Reservoir. There’s a gate that prevents any cars from getting near the lake, and because we took a lot of gear we decided to camp by the car just a short distance from the road. It was still a nice spot with beautiful scenery.

Once the tent was up and the fire was going, we hiked down to what we thought was a waterfall. When we got closer we could see that it was only a steep creek with fast flowing water. There were patches of snow at the bottom and we collected a few bags for our cooler. It’s always strange to see snow in the mountains and feel warm at the same time.

I didn’t know how cold it would be during the night so I came prepared with ski clothing and tons of blankets. The weather was so nice that I was more than warm in jeans and a light sweater. A night in the mountains was an easy trip out of town that was affordable, relaxing, and overall a fun time. In my opinion, the best Colorado summer vacations would have to include camping.

As soon as we got back into town from camping we dropped Amos at my home and headed back up the mountain for my first whitewater rafting experience. A friend who is a rafting guide took us out on a 12-mile trip that started about four miles up from the Mishawaka Amphitheater. I was a little nervous, but having an experienced guide who knows the river, as well as a wetsuit, helmet, and life jacket eased my worries.

I think the trip was about three or four hours but it only felt like a few minutes. I had a good time and I'm happy that I went, but I prefer more relaxing activities as I get older. The times when we were slowly floating and soaking up the sunshine were my favorite parts of the whole day.

I was exhausted by the time I got myself to dry land. Between the camping and rafting I had gotten a good workout, both mentally and physically.

I would recommend whitewater rafting to anyone interested in Colorado adventure vacations.

During the next week I went to Horsetooth Reservoir a couple times. It is a great place for me to go when I just want to get out of the house because it’s a quick 5 or 10-minute drive from my place. I can actually see Horsetooth Rock from the end of my driveway. On both trips to Horsetooth we hiked down to a swim beach. I had Amos with me both times, and since he doesn't care much for the water, we just enjoyed the hike and the scenery.

The area is pretty this time of year with all sorts of plants, including my favorites, sage and cacti. The views from the mountain are gorgeous. The only drawback for me at Horsetooth is having to pay $6 for parking. It's worth it though. There are plenty of activities. It's a great place for biking, hiking, picnicking, swimming, and rock climbing

The Taste of Fort Collins Food and Music Festival took place during the next weekend on June 11th and 12th. This was my first year to attend. The festival showcased 25 local restaurants as well as various art and craft vendors, musical performances, and children’s activities. Entry cost was $5/before 3 P.M. and $10/after 3 P.M. I was able to look at all the vendor booths and eat within about an hour. I had a good time, but I would have chosen some of my favorite restaurants to represent Fort Collins.

The next day I went boating on the Boulder Reservoir. The area was a lot smaller than what we have in Fort Collins, but it was still a good spot to cool off. I was surprised at how many boaters were on the water-- I guess there’s more water in Fort Collins for everyone to have their own space. Everyone took turns wakeboarding except me-- I opted out this time. I was content with enjoying the views of the mountains and working on my tan.

New! Comments