Friday, June 19, 2015

Manitou Springs, Colorado

The hubs and I have not had a break in parenting for a long bit (which, I guess you sign up for when having kids, but after the months we have had, we needed a tiny b.r.e.a.k.!) so I got a sitter for 24 hours, so we could clock out and go have some fun!  We decided to head south from Golden (as we most often head west) and decided on Manitou Springs. Here's a small photo dump of some treasures I captured on my phone on our short sneak away. 

We didn't take the highway that leads from Denver to Colorado Springs, instead we left Golden and drove mountain roads the whole way down.  It was great.  We had no timeline, so it didn't matter that this was not the most direct route (but actually, now that I think about it, the drive time was probably about the same, as we didn't encounter the traffic the highway brings). Along the way we went through several little towns, one of which reminded me of Big Bear in California, so I instantly called my brother, as we went skiing in Big Bear when he was living in LA and I went to visit him for my spring break. It was super nostalgic.

 After two hours of scenic driving through the moutains, we arrived in
 Manitou Springs.  What a quirky town. I can only describe it as 
1 part mountain town, 1 part eclectic artist paradise,
1 part Atlantic coast boardwalk town (see photo above)
 and 2 parts hippie haven!  Definitely a town where deoderant often
goes to die.

 Really cool sculptures throughout the little bustling historic town 
at the base of Pikes Peak.

My husband tried to school me a bit and shared
that Mr. Pike (clearly I was only half listening as
I have forgotten his name a week later) was the
explorer who named the Beaver Islands in 
St. Cloud, Minnesota (our hometown).
How cool is that!

I am always excited to find old Episcopal 
churches in cool little towns!  
 
This vintage Coke machine, built in!

 Fountains are scattered throughout the little town, kicking up the 
spring water that is rushing below. Historically people would flock to
these natural flowing springs for the springs healing powers.

Another fountain


 We cut across the springs to walk through a park and was excited to 
notice the little treasure stone mosaic goat, which of course
reminded me of the story of Billy Goats Gruff.

Someday I will own this very impractical light.  Those Edison bulbs 
sure don't produce a great light source, but this ridiculously cute lamp
(notice the water faucet handle for turning it on?) was made local and
 needs to be seen local, on my front table. I took the picture so Zac would 
be able to buy it for me. I am so good to him, I don't mess around
 with hints, just call me a straight shooter.  Haaaa.

Darn it, was too full from dinner for ice cream, but 
looooved the signage!

 I can't wait for the snow to clear, so we can go back 
with the kids to ride the rail up Pikes Peak.  Benny will
be in heaven!

How cool are structures, supported over the springs below. 

We explored Manitou Springs late into the evening and then
headed to downtown Colorado Springs for our hotel.  Of
course I took a totally rando pic of the wall of our room 
because I get a case of the shakes over old exposed brick.

The hotel was called the Mining Exchange and was gorgeous.  
It was a 10 minute drive from Manitou Springs, and then gave us a
 chance to check out downtown Colorado Springs at night.

 Two doors down from the hotel was a great little ice cream
shop called Josh & John's with a line out the door. Overpriced 
but delicious. Thankfully at this late hour we had room in 
our bellies to try some of the tasty flavors.

After a good sleep in sesh, we checked out of the hotel and 
was excited to see a Dutch Bros. Coffee 2 blocks from our hotel.  
We had this shop in our town in Oregon and I am so excited
 they are clearly moving east! 
I have missed this goodness in my life.

 On our way out of town we explored Garden of the God's. 
Breathtaking!

 When I was snapping this pic there were tourists from all over the 
country surrounding me and I felt like I was in a scene from the 80s
classic film,  National Lampoons Vacation.  Clearly didn't remember
that it is high time for tourists!

We left Garden of the Gods and back tracked through 
the mountains to home.  We stopped for lunch in Pine, CO
and had the most legit burgers EVER at Zoka!  We sat
on the big wrap around porch and enjoyed the lovely 
mountain breeze and ate burgers. The pic above is Kobe beef
burger on ciabatta topped with carmelized onions, sweet
bacon and melty brie.  It was outrageous.  Z ordered
a burger topped with a bacon and rhubarb jam that
was equally out of this world.  Who really thinks to go
crazy over burgers, but these were seriously the two 
best I have ever tried.
 
I told Z we shouldbuy a cabin in Pine for 
a) mountain biking and b) burgers
 
Serious!
 
 
 Pine was hosting the town's Rhubarb Festival, so after burgers
we popped over to see and THIS WAS THE ONLY RHUBARB
WE SAW...on the sign! What the heck?  Rhubarb is our jam 
(and now bacon rhubarb jam is for reals our jam) and they had nothing
 rhubarb. Crazy.  It was fun to see a weird little cover band, and 
search for rhubarb...but I won't put the festival on my list for next year

Well, it was a great 24 hours, and I guess we parents (who don't have 
family around that sporadically take kids for the weekend) need
to remember that a 24 hour babysitter is worth every single penny!

Now, get to Manitou Springs.  
xo





Monday, June 8, 2015

In the Backyard

Our house backs up to a park.  It has been such a big blessing as we walk down there throughout the day for biking, monkey bars, soccer in the field, yada yada.  The park as provided even more excitement in the last couple of weeks as we have had some exciting visitors.


First we were excited to welcome this old lady to the hood. 
 I was extra excited to see her because Logi and I saw a moose 
last summer in town and Zac asked me at least 50 times,  
are you sure it wasn't an elk?  
 Really, a moose looks nothing like an elk.  Cow, maybe?


Then tonight, I was bringing things into the kitchen from dinner, while
the kids were still out on the deck and Logi and Benny started yelling
for me to grab the camera.  I thought maybe ol' lady moose was back,
but instead we were excited to wave at a paraglider overhead.  

We quickly realized he was circling the park, for a land.  
Benny was screaming in excitement. 

 North Table Mountain as a backdrop.  
Seriously, this looks fake, right?

 Coming in for a landing!

Logi was so very excited to go talk to him, as
she really wants to learn to paraglide when she 
is bigger.  She made me promise to ask him
if he could land for her birthday party in August.
Love her.

Happy Summer!  May the exciting visitors out back continue!
xo