Estes Park

We've had a great time visiting our family in Boulder.  My brother has adjusted very well to Boulder and has been a tremendously gracious host.  My kids are also having such a great time hanging out with their cousins.  In hindsight, I'm even more glad we opted for the full size, 12 passenger van because it has allowed us all to ride together wherever we go.  Today, it was Estes Park, CO.

Estes Park is a short 45 minute drive from Boulder.  It is one of the primary entry points to the Rocky Mountain National Park, so it is very touristy with candy and ice cream shops lining the streets.  We started at the visitor center which is a good vantage point for the iconic hotel featured in the Shining.  The national park serves as the backdrop.

One very cool feature of this town is the river walk.  It was a big highlight today.  The fun was started by skipping rocks in the stream at the visitor center followed by a walk toward Main Street.

We came to a long tunnel under the highway . . . 

followed by musical stations . . .

We took a narrow alley between 2 buildings to get to Main Street from the river walk.

After lunch and some shopping, we walked to the tram station to catch a gondola ride up a mountain. As we progressed toward the front of the long line, we learned that much of the town had just lost electricity.  Although disappointed that we couldn't take the gondola ride, we were thankful we weren't stuck halfway up the mountain.

Because of the lack of power in town, we decided to head back to Boulder.  Since we were not tight on time, we took a longer scenic route back which took us into some higher elevations with majestic views.

After our return, George took the younger kids to the local pool to swim, and Donna and I stayed behind with Elizabeth and Runcie.  Boulder is a very carefully planned town, and most of the lots are fairly small to allow for a greater residential density.  However, George has a larger lot with a fabulous side yard and a custom swing with a long, arching path that actually can get pretty high off the ground.  Even Donna joined in on the fun.

After a fun-filled 2 days in Boulder complete with lots of outdoor activities, the kids one-by-one began turning in a little earlier than usual.  We will sleep well tonight and be hitting the road in the morning for Moab, Utah.  From this point forward, we will be heading into uncharted territory for the Clements crew.