Sorry for the blogging delay, it’s been a whirlwind of a week!

My final post from Colorado is all about the pretty, pretty goodness that was found there.  This was my third trip to Colorado and while I have seen a bit of things there generally my trips have been coming or going for one reason and leaving again so it was nice to meander around a bit more than the past.  Plus I knew that my husband would LOVE it and he did!  In between Tyler’s Party and Jill’s portrait session we were able to see a lot more of Colorado than I ever have in the past and I look forward to visiting again someday when it isn’t winter (all of my trips have been in the winter, which is hilarious since I’m allergic to the cold and do NOT ski).

 

The first place we went on our first day of exploring was to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  It was a chilly day but wasn’t too bad until we were on our way back to the car and the wind started whipping.  Then it got very cold, very fast.  I believe the windchill was somewhere around 10 degrees?  Brr!

On my first trip to Colorado before Jill took me to the airport we drove through the park and I vividly remember this rock.  I took a few quick shots from the car but wasn’t able to get out and wander due to time restraints.  I’m glad that I was able to get a few shots of this awesome formation this time around (and the light was MUCH better this time!).

I drove by here back in 2003 also but this time we got to do the tour!  I love all old homes but beyond that I also love a good ghost story and Miramont Castle delivers on both.  I actually did not know it was haunted until I happened to be watching one of the “Most Haunted” shows around Halloween one year and swore that I’d been there because the place looked familiar and sure enough, it was here.  However the tour does not speak of any of the ghost stories so you will need to look up that information yourself prior to going.

The home was built by a priest for him and his mother in 1895 but they didn’t live here very long before moving back home to France in 1900.  After moving he left the home to a group of nuns to use as a Sanatorium.  In the 50’s it was used as apartments for soldiers returning from the war and it was eventually abandoned.  However the historical society purchased it and started making renovations and turned it into a museum.  I definitely recommend the tour if you like older homes.  Another neat tidbit about this house is that while it is 4 stories tall the top level is ground level at the back of the home!  That’s how you exit the tour is through the gift shop on the 4th floor and walk around the house.  Crazy!

Our next stop was somewhere new to me, Seven Falls.  I had never been but someone had recommended the place to us.  Looking back I don’t know that I’d go again in the winter as much of the park is closed and it isn’t cheap to get in.  The falls were frozen which is pretty neat but overall I think it was kind of a ehhh experience.  In the summer they light the falls in different colors which I think would be neat to see.

The location where we did Jill’s portraits (behind the stage) can be seen here but the views are what are spectacular here.  Can you see Denver way off in the distance on the left?  I can only imagine how cool it would be to see a concert here.

En route to Idaho Springs we were on I70 (which runs through Ohio so it was quite bizarre to be on the same road many miles away!) we came through a bridge and saw this view.  Chris started yelling at me to take a picture but I was already on it.  What you can’t see is to my left there is an area called Buffalo Ridge and there was a ton of buffalo lazing about (on our way home elk had joined in the fun too).  I’m still a bit transfixed on this view though.

Where the end of Jill’s portrait shoot was taken was here on Echo Lake on Echo Mountain.  Less than a week later this location would receive 55 INCHES of snow in a snowstorm.  When we were driving out, Chris and I noticed lots of signs for chains on tires and pull of stations and the like.  NOW we get it.  At the time we were there there was maybe 5 inches of snow on the ground at most.  Crazy to see what a difference a week makes!

On our trip back to Idaho Springs (we had to go wander that adorable town a bit more) I took pictures of the gorgeous views while Chris managed to not have our rental Volvo fly off the road.  While there wasn’t a lot of snow on the road, there was enough in patches to make our rental slip and slide.  Glad he was driving!

We were almost back to our hotel and I start madly snapping pictures out the side window.  Chris thought I was utterly mad because he said there was NO way any would turn out as fast as he was going and he also didn’t see anything to understand what I was so furiously trying to capture.  I was very excited to see at least one of the images turned out!  The clouds all had these amazing fuchsia pink tips and I was so intent on capturing them but wasn’t sure either if they’d turn out either but I am SO happy that at least one did!

I was heartbroken to find out that the Molly Brown House Museum was closed on Mondays.  However I made do by taking a few quick pictures of the house itself before wandering off to other locations in Denver.  Someday I will return as you may know I’m a Titanic buff and I have always admired Margaret Brown.  FYI: Margaret Brown was NEVER called Molly while she was living, her name was changed to Molly by Hollywood to make her name rhyme in a musical about the Titanic.  Since then she’s been referred to as Molly Brown on screen instead of Margaret.