Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater
by Karon -

Days Like This in Colorado

While I was in Rockport, Texas, I joked that my condo was a geographical oddity because everything seemed to be four minutes away—the beach, HEB, the arts district. Here in Colorado, I’ve found another version of that. Only now, everything seems to be about thirty minutes away—Boulder, Red Rocks, Aurora, Golden. It has made for some really great little day trips.

One morning I headed to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. When I arrived, I was literally in awe! In my mind, rocks are small. These were massive red boulders. Now to be honest, I expected big red rocks and beautiful scenery, but somehow the landscape was even more dramatic than I had imagined.

The park road winds upward through a short tunnel carved into the massive boulders before reaching the upper parking area. From there, you walk up and over the crest of the rocks before the amphitheater finally comes into view. I arrived at about 7:00 am one chilly 49-degree morning. There were several people already there walking up and down the steps at the theater. I walked about halfway down the rows of seats, sat down, and closed my eyes. I could only imagine how beautiful it would be to sit out here under the stars and listen to a concert. I imagined that the natural acoustics of the boulders would be unforgettable.

I walked around taking in the views and trying to capture the beauty all around me. The red rocks against the impossibly blue sky felt almost surreal. Off in the distance, I could see the Denver cityscape. I felt small standing among the massive boulders while the distant city skyline seemed tiny by comparison.

After driving around and stopping at different points to take more pictures, I stopped at the gift shop and hiked a little way down the Trading Post Trail. I was surprised by a mule deer crossing the path up ahead of me. I love seeing animals in their natural habitat, though at that proximity I was thankful it wasn’t the bear I’ve secretly been hoping to see. Just a few minutes later, a chipmunk darted in and out of the scruffy shrubs and disappeared behind a rock. I wasn’t quick enough to get a picture of either of these animals, but was happy to have been present in the moment.

After leaving the park, I took a little detour over to Golden, Colorado. I stopped at Mama Bear’s Diner for breakfast and then drove to the historic district. I walked through town and found myself crossing a bridge over Clear Creek—famous for gold mining during the Colorado Gold Rush. I was pleasantly surprised by the walking trail that flanked the creek on both sides. Big boulders in the creek created small rapids. I wandered down the path, crossed a couple of bridges, walked through a historic park, and eventually made my way back through town, stopping in small shops along the way. This was a perfect day, and Golden quickly got added to my list of favorite small towns!

I left Golden and drove the “about 30 minutes” back to my home base. There’s something about these little day trips—the hiking trails, mountain towns, wildlife encounters, and unexpected moments—that has made this stay in Colorado feel really special already.

by Karon -

Wandering Through Niwot

I have always loved exploring—little antique shops, small towns, the outdoors. Antique shops had a certain mystery about them because you never knew what you might find. I still have an old perfume bottle that I bought in an antique shop when I was eighteen. It was in a small lavender box with all the wording written in French. At that point in my life I dreamed of visiting Paris and that little bottle was sort of a touchstone for that dream.

Fast forward a lot of years, and I have traveled to many destinations (not Paris yet). Somewhere along the way, our dreams change and evolve, and so it went with Paris. Italy became my love. I’ve visited twice and would still love to live there. But for now, I am content with my current plan. A slow nomadic lifestyle.

I still love to explore. I have realized with this current stay in Arvada, Colorado, that much of my exploring involves being outdoors. Whether it’s walking through a new small town or visiting a state park, I love to be out in the fresh air. This week also brought a few chilly, rainy days. I happily spent a couple of days curled up with hot tea, books, movies, and a fire in the fireplace.

Even though it was overcast with a chance of rain, I ventured out one morning to the sweet little town of Niwot. It almost felt like stepping back in time. Massive Plains Cottonwood trees lined the streets, making the town feel like a place that had quietly stayed true to itself for a very long time. All throughout town were large hand-shaped chairs painted in unique designs that invited visitors to stop and sit for a while. Bronze bears and foxes peeked out from behind a bush here and there in the landscaping near businesses. Flowers trailed from baskets on streetlights and window boxes on storefronts. Niwot quickly became one of my favorite small towns!

Osmosis Art Gallery was one of my first stops in town. I loved the idea of osmosis… soaking up inspiration and creativity just by being in the presence of the art. The process seemed to begin before I even entered the gallery. There were all kinds of whimsical art pieces on the lawn, including two of the large hands that I had seen throughout town along with brightly colored whimsical birds and flowers. The gallery was full of eclectic art with everything from paintings, to pottery, to handmade soap and jewelry. Just the kind of fun, quirky gallery that I love!

As I walked into Wise Buys Antiques in the historic district, a bell chimed. I slowly walked through the shop hoping to find some little thing that I just had to have. I wanted to collect something from this little town that I had been so charmed by. I looked at the pink depression glass and thought of my Aunt Jewel. I think hers had been green. I was suddenly reminded of all of the delicious meals at her house as a kid. I love how just seeing an item can produce a sweet memory. I picked up a well-worn Nancy Drew book and flipped through it thinking of how I had loved to read these books when I was about ten. I wondered how many hands had held this particular book. I didn’t find anything that I could justify adding to the bins and suitcases I travel with and decided to wander on to the next shop.

My next stop before wandering back to my car was The Little Bird. Another great little shop! While browsing the unique clothes and gift items, I chatted with the owner about the pronunciation of Niwot and what had brought him to town. I thought about how this little town was really close to my perfect town. I found a little gift for a friend and then went back out into the cool air.

As I returned to my car, I thought about how at eighteen, exploration had looked like dreaming about faraway places and collecting little reminders of where I hoped life would take me. These days, I seem to find just as much joy wandering through small towns, noticing tiny details, and allowing myself to move a little more slowly through the world.