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Showing posts from 2016

Rocky Mountain National Forest and Boulder, Colorado- Hotel Boulderado

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Rocky Mountain National Park For the grand finale of our Colorado trip we made the drive from Breckenridge, north to Rocky Mountain National Park . Along the drive, we made a quick stop at Grand Lake, which commences the start of the park’s west entrance. The drive through the park itself took us about a half day, making many stops to take in scenic vistas of the Rockies. Be sure to check out the Alpine visitor center which sits up around 12,000 feet. Grand Lake The drive was highlighted by a giant elk that started walking along the side of our car as we got closer to the exit of the park. As we drove the last leg of the drive to Boulder, we made a pit stop in Nederland to grab lunch at the Wild Mountain Smokehouse . When we finally arrived in Boulder, we spent the night at the historic Hotel Boulderado . Located right in the center of town, Hotel Boulderado was built in 1909 and has been a staple of the city ever since. We particularly enjoyed taking a

Breckenridge, Colorado- The Lodge at Breckenridge

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While we had a great time in Denver, it wasn't long before the allure of the Rocky Mountains had us driving west en route for Breckenridge. The drive itself was a great time as we soaked in the beautiful mountain views. For a stopping off point, we visited Loveland Pass which runs along the Continental Divide and resides at an impressive 11,990 feet above sea level. We were winded just walking up to the sign. After that we stopped at the Dillion reservoir—a little further on the way to Breckenridge. The lake had stunning views of its own and it was interesting to see a lake at such a high of altitude. When we arrived in Breckenridge, it was everything we expected from an iconic ski town, aside from the snow. It had a beautiful main street that with plenty of shops, restaurants, and vendors all overlooking the mountains. We stayed at The Lodge At Breckenridge . It was a beautiful boutique hotel featuring an up-scale mount

The Mile High City- Denver, Colorado

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To finish off the summer we decided to make a trip to Colorado, starting with the mile high city of Denver. We stayed at the Embassy Suites Downtown Denver  which featured luxurious rooms in a great location. Be sure to check out the complimentary happy hour in the evening, as well as complimentary breakfast in the morning. Both had extensive offerings of delicious food and spirits!  We also dined at the on-site restaurant and bar, Elements, and were very satisfied ( again ) by the service and great servings. Aside from the food, t here are many areas in the hotel to gather and lounge, most of which have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Denver. And the hotel's indoor saline pool is the perfect place to relax after a long day of exploring Denver.    For a daytime activity we took a short drive out to Golden, Colorado and walked through the main streets of town. Next we drove up Lookout Mountain , which is at the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. The nam

Adventures in St. Lucia- Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa

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Whenever we get the opportunity, it always feels nice to go somewhere really far away, outside of the country.  Recently we made the trip to St. Lucia, which is one of the southernmost Caribbean islands. St. Lucia has a rainforest climate and is more mountainous than many of the other Caribbean islands. We stayed with the Coconut Bay Resort for 4 nights. Coconut bay is located in the Vieux Fort area of the island, which is the southern tip by the airport. The location couldn't have been better after a long flight. The resort is split into two sections—the adults-only Harmony side and a kids and family area. The Harmony side features a more intimate and private setting with 2 pools and multiple bars. The kids and family section was loaded with fun activities including  a waterpark with three water slides, pool volleyball, water polo, and a lazy river—to name a few. If you're looking for a more active day, this was the place to be. We had a great time par