Weekend Guide to Colorado

Between family vacations, previous jobs, and general travel I'm lucky to say I've spent many months of my life in Colorado. 

It's no secret this state is brimming with some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world, so naturally it's a popular destination for travelers from all over. I'm frequently asked by those planning trips of their own what they should do. Should be an easy question to answer about someplace that I love so much, right? Wrong. 

You see, every time that I come back to this glorious state, I somehow manage to find new and wonderful things (in addition to trying to see and do everything else that I already love). There is absolutely no shortage of entertainment here, which makes travel time management incredibly daunting to prioritize.  

But since I've come to find that the majority of people who are planning trips and ask me for recommendations are coming for a long weekend, I've managed to whittle my recos down to my absolute top favorites that you can accomplish within a few short days. 

DENVER

Denver is an amazing city with dozens of unique neighborhoods to explore. If you want to experience it at it's best, give yourself more than just a weekend. But even if you only have a few short days, you can still get a taste of my favorite mile-high highlights. 

STAY

Selecting a place to stay is important, and there are lots of details to consider! For that reason, I put together a separate blog post specifically dedicated to the best hotels in Denver. 

EAT

LINGER

Linger is the former site of Denver's historic Olinger Mortuary (where the body of Buffalo Bill supposedly was kept for six months) . Slightly creepy? Perhaps. But you'll quickly get over it when you see the view (it's no wonder Linger was included in Travel + Leisure's "Coolest Rooftop Bars in America"). The team has embraced it's history by intentionally darkening the first letter of Olinger's bright neon sign, and also changing the word "mortuaries" to "eatuaries." Whether you visit for brunch, lunch, dinner or simply drinks, you won't be disappointed. 

2030 W 30th Ave Denver, CO 80211

BISTRO VENDOME

Named after the renowned historic square in the heart of Paris, Bistro Vendôme offers an exceptional dining experience in a charming neighborhood setting. Take a break from strolling under the twinkle lights in Larimer Square (which one of my favorite spots in all of Denver) and pop into this quaint bistro for a quintessential French experience. Everything I tried was wonderful, but don't leave without tasting the crème brûlée. 

1420 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80202

RIOJA

Also on Larimer, and owned by Bistro Vendôme, you'll finde Rioja- a Mediterranean inspired menu that's locally sourced and imaginative. Excutive Chef/Owner Jennifer Jasinski also happens to be a 2016 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef (so you it's good). Try the Truffle Tremor goat cheese to start and for a unique dessert option, indulge in the sweet goat cheese and black mission fig filled beignets with a ruby port wine reduction.

1431 Larimer St. Denver, CO 80202

OLD MAJOR

If you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere with high-quality ingredients, look no further than Old Major. They pride themselves on being friends with their farmers and fishermen, and focus on heritage-raised meats from Colorado farms they know and respect. They cure meat in-house and make the most of the meat with their nose-to-tail butchery program. Don't miss their delicious charcuterie and signature cocktails (that Oaxacan Breeze is everything). 

2216 Tejon St Denver, CO 80211

BOULDER

Ahhhhh, Boulder. I could get all sorts of sentimental and sappy about this place. I moved here for a month for a new job where I knew no one, and spent lots of time exploring solo. Work brought me back for a week every month for over a year. Needless to say, we became great friends (and over time, I made many wonderful human friends too). But I cherish the time I spent here and the fact that I was able to discover so many places that created so many memories. Even without all the sentimental ties I have, I'm confident you'll still find it to be an incredibly special place. 

 

STAY

ST. JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

The moment you set foot in St. Julien Hotel & Spa, you can't deny that it's an oasis of tranquility. It offers stunning views of the Flatiron Mountains and has doorstep access to the famous Pearl Street Mall (another reco I call out below). Whether you stay at the hotel, or simply stop for a drink at Jill's Restaurant, you're guaranteed to love every second of your experience. 

900 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302

HOTEL BOULDERADO

I've called Hotel Boulderado home for the week many a time while visiting Boulder. This historic boutique is also near Pearl Street Mall, and offers modern amenities with a charming Victorian ambiance. The gourmet on-site dining is fantastic (I adore Spruce) and the guest rooms are all elegantly furnished. Regardless of whether you stay here or simply dine with them, be sure to look up when you walk into the lobby, because the stained-glass ceiling will take your breath away. 

2115 13th St Boulder, CO 80302

EAT

THE KITCHEN

The Kitchen is actually a family of restaurants across Colorado (and now Chicago too) but the original location is along Pearl Street in Boulder. The Kitchen restaurants are built by a community of craftsman, serving food & drink from local farmers, ranchers and purveyors for the sustainable enjoyment of the whole community. They are committed to environmentally friendly practices, including composting, wind power, eco-friendly packaging and recycling. But above all, they believe in the power of good food and good drink to connect people as family, friends and a community. They're my favorite place to eat in the state of Colorado, and I promise you won't be disappointed with whatever location you visit. 

1039 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302

BLACKBELLY

Blackbelly started as catering, and soon thereafter became Blackbelly Farm. The idea was to create food from the source to the plate without a middleman, and embrace the food of the seasons. It's now their mission to not only know where the food comes from, but to serve their customers with the very best product they can find. The menu items are inventive, fresh, but most importantly- delicious. Be sure to order a cocktail with your meal, because every single one I've had has been incredible. 

1606 Conestoga St. Boulder, CO 80301

RIO GRANDE

If the weather is nice and you're craving a delicious margarita from scratch, head to the rooftop of Rio Grande as fast as you possibly can. While they have seven Colorado locations, I'm biased to the one in Boulder (you just can't beat the view of the foothills). Their mission is simple: treat people well and deliver wholesome food. I think they do a pretty incredible job at both. 

1101 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302

BLACK CAT

Black Cat is unique because every single menu item comes directly from their very own 130 acre, Certified Organic farm located just outside the city. They also supply a bounty of restaurants, CSA's and booths at both the Boulder and Denver Union Station Farmer's Markets. Not only do all the ingredients come from the farm, but they are harvested every single day.  Because of this, the menu changes daily and always has a sense of discovery and delight (and as you can imagine, everything has a freshness you can truly taste). 

1964 13th Street Boulder, CO 80302

DO

CHAUTAUQUA

One of my favorite Boulder memories was waking up early before work or spending an entire afternoon on the weekend to hike at Chautauqua. There's no place better to get a view of the Flatirons, so be sure to put it at the top of your list. There are tons of easy loops to choose from, but if you're up for a bit more of a challenge, I highly recommend hiking Royal Arch. It's a 3.2 hike round trip with a 1,400 foot elevation gain. The view from the top is incredible (and there are lots of spots to stop and rest - so don't let the incline intimidate you). 

900 Baseline Rd. Boulder, CO 80302

PEARL STREET MALL

Pearl Street Mall is one of Boulder's most well-known attractions. This four block pedestrian stretch (and surrounding side streets) is filled with amazing stores that you can spend hours browsing. My favorites? Peppercorn (home to beautiful imports, gourmet and imported foods, kitchen gadgets and many other gems that make for incredible gifts) and Cedar & Hyde (a modern day mercantile filled with home goods, apparel, and market items).  

rocky mountain national PARK

No matter if you decide to stay in Denver or Boulder, you're only a short drive to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you plan to stay in Colorado for more than a few days, look into staying in a cabin or chalet in Estes Park (which will put you conveniently between town and the National Park). But either way, be sure you pay the park a visit to experience some great hikes with amazing views. 

TRAILS

GEM LAKE

Head to Lumpy Ridge Trailhead to hike Gem Lake if  want something short but challenging (3.5 miles roundtrip with a 1,000 foot elevation gain). The views are breathtaking (and there are lots of them along the way to the top). 

DEER MOUNTAIN

Once you head into Rocky Mountain National Park, you can hike Deer Mountain- one of the more popular trails. It's known for it's panoramic views and is moderate in difficulty (6.2 miles round trip with a 1,210 foot elevation gain). 

EMERALD LAKE

If you start at the Bear Lake trailhead and head towards Emerald Lake, you're in for a treat. Not only will you see Bear Lake at the start and Emerald Lake at the top, but you'll also see Nymph Lake and Dream Lake along the way (and each one offers wonderful views). The entire hike is only 3.5 miles roundtrip, and the total elevation gain is only about 650 feet. In summary? It's pretty perfect for anyone who wants to hike (no matter what skill level) and see beautiful scenery. 

HALLETT PEAK

While this hike offers outstanding views- be warned: it's not for the faint of heart.  The roundtrip length is about 10.5 miles with an elevation gain of 3,240 feet. Get there early (we arrived around 7am-they'll start to turn people away once the parking lot fills up) and plan on having at least 6 or 7 hours to spare. But more importantly, pack appropriately. I was sweating in a tank top around the base of the trail, but freezing cold at the summit in multiple layers- so bring items you can easily add or shred as needed. And of course, bring plenty of food and water- you'll need it. You'll also summit Flattop Mountain on your way, which is a good place to break for food and soak in the views. While I was definitely exhausted, it wasn't as challenging as I had imagined it would be, and I felt like a badass when it was all said and done. If you have the time and energy, I highly recommend it. 

Whether you do everything on this list or nothing at all, I know you'll love the time you spend in Colorado. It's one of the most beautiful places on the planet and will forever hold a special place in my heart. It won't take you long before you understand why. 

5 Things I’ve Learned Planning A Long Term Trip to Europe

I announced last week that I’m moving to Europe for a few months at the beginning of August. A common response I've heard (many) people ask is: “How do you even begin to plan that?"

The short answer is that it involves a lot of preparation. I've spent way more time and energy into planning than I ever anticipated. But as a result, there's been so much I've learned about this process already.

It goes without saying that the trip I plan will look different than the one anyone else does- because everyone is going to have different interests in mind, time frames that they plan to be gone, and budgets to work with. But there a few “one size fits all” tips I’ve learned so far that I believe everyone planning a trip to Europe can benefit from. 

1. You Can Stay For A While Without A Visa

Depending on where you want to go, you can stay in most parts of Europe for up to 90 days without needing any sort of visa (the only exception I’ve come across is needing to submit a $20 electronic authorization form for my trip to Turkey- found here). Those 90 days only apply to your time in the Schengen Zone. If you’re like I was, you’re wondering what the #@*! the Schengen zone is, so let me break it down for you. 

Separate from the EU, the Schengen zone has no political or economic affiliation and is strictly a geographical term. The area is comprised of 25 European countries who have done away with border control.

So in a nutshell, as long as you don’t spend more than 90 days (within a 180 day period) you can hop around as freely as you wish in this area without any kind of visa. If you’d like to stay in Europe a little longer, spend some time in non-Schengen countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom (to name a few). But it’s very important to note that the 90 day clock doesn’t start back every time you re-enter the zone within that same 90 day period. It only starts back 180 days after your first entry. 

Confusing as it may be, knowing this helpful trick allows you to strategically move through Europe for extended periods of time without ever needing to hassle with any visa details. 

2. You Can Avoid Outrageous International Phone Plans. 

In today’s world of having our phones practically glued to our hands, feeling limited to when we have data or service can feel suffocating. And while that comment may make me sound like a millennial you want roll your eyes at, I’m not just talking about being able to post on Instagram or Snapchat. You try navigating a foreign country without maps or Google, and then let’s talk. 

While most restaurants and public establishments overseas have wi-fi, it’s leaps and bounds easier to have international data on your phone whenever you need it. Depending on your phone plan and provider, these rates can be astronomical- but there are other options. Check to see if your device is unlocked (aka- able to read other SIM cards). T-mobile offers pay-as-you-go plans (assuming you pass their credit check) for as low as $50 a month that include unlimited data and texting (if you bring your own device). Simply purchase the sim card (~$20) and pay for each month you’ll be abroad. Voila. 

3. Bank Smart

No matter how long you’ll be abroad, take the time to educate yourself on the best banking strategy for you.

I highly recommend bringing a credit card with no foreign transaction fees (I am a huge fan of my United Mileage Plus Explorer Card). Even if it they are teeny-tiny little baby fees, they will add up. 

If you’re going longer than a few weeks, it may even be worth opening a bank account with no ATM or conversion fees (I went with Charles Schwab). This way, you can take cash out as often as you like without paying individual fees each time or needing to carry more cash than you feel comfortable with. 

Regardless of which cards (credit or debit) you bring, be sure to make a note in your phone or with your travel documents that has the 1-800 number on the back of each card (just in case any are lost or stolen). And speaking of that number, be sure to call prior to your trip to notify your bank or credit establishment of your upcoming travel dates (nothing like having your card frozen due to suspicious activity and having to make international phone calls to sort it out). 

4. Invest In Electronics.

While it’s easy to buy an international converter for your electronics (like these), I’ve experience my fair share of epic fails in this department (for example, when my converter made my curling iron 100x hotter than usual and burned a huge chunk of my friends hair off in Paris… yikes). While a converter will usually get the job done just fine, it’s worth investing in a few essentials (like a curling iron or your iPhone charger) with European plugs to simplify and eliminate any mishaps. This also frees up your converter for any other devices (e-readers, laptops, etc.)

5. Plan For More.

It’s been my experience that everything usually ends up being more than you think it will: more money than you budgeted for, more time to take that train from Seville to Granada, more flights of stairs you have to climb with your suitcase to get to your Airbnb (elevators are scarce)… the list goes on. So be sure to leave room for margin in all of your planning, because chances are you'll need it. 

But with that said, I believe that you'll also experience more than you anticipate in all of the best ways: more strokes of luck like stumbling upon the best gelato stand in Rome you didn't even mean to find. Or more people you end up befriending and staying in touch with. That croissant in Paris will be even more delicious than everyone says it will. And that sunset in Cinque Terre will make you way more sappy and emo than you even knew was possible. 

This process has already taught me so much, and I haven’t even left the states yet. I'm so excited to see what else I learn... I'll be sure to share it with you as I do!

Adventurous AF

Two years ago, I wrote a prayer in my journal asking God for a big adventure- and I've been repeating it ever since. Today, my life is about to look way more adventurous than I ever imagined it to be (hold on tight-because this is going deeper than my typical kind of blog post). 

First, let's rewind a bit. I wrote a blog about an epiphany I had while traveling through Cinque Terre last summer after months of really disappointing life events.

To sum it up, I shared how I began to realize that while I wouldn't have chosen any of these circumstances for myself, exciting possibilities were being born because of them all. I recount all sorts of feelings that would overcome me before the terrible things happened: How I wondered if I would ever try living in Europe like I always said I wanted to. If I would travel to the countless places that I wanted to see. If my life would be the series of big, beautiful adventures like I hoped it would be. When life still felt like it was going according to plan, I often felt anxious and far away from all these bigger dreams- but suddenly, any of it seemed possible. 

I’ve come to mark that day in Cinque Terre as the day that I really started to believe that sometimes our small plans fall apart so that bigger dreams can prevail.

I’ve never found this to be more true in my life than I have in the last year. God has continued to shut doors, open new ones, and teach me that life with him isn’t about following a safe and predictable roadmap. I’ve learned what it means to let him romance me: following him to new places that seem uncharted or scary, and letting him blow my mind- and I'm ready for more of it.

So I'm moving to Europe for a few months.  I have a one way ticket to head there at the beginning of August, and I technically don’t know when I’m coming home yet. 

Even typing this, it still doesn’t feel real. It's the kind of thing “other people” do- something I’ve seen in movies. It sounds too wild or too crazy to be happening in my own life- but it is.

Let's start with a little context: every single time I've gone abroad, I’ve never felt ready to come home (even after going 3 times this year for over 10 days at a time). I’ve also had some incredible work opportunities arise recently that are allowing me to go back. And so with all the twists and turns that life's thrown at me to lead me where I am today, I honestly can’t think of a legitimate reason to not stay for a while. So I’m leaning into my own curiosity to see what happens: what places I find that I didn’t even know I wanted to see, what adventures are in store, and to see what life looks like when you throw the rulebook out the window and do the crazy thing you’ve always dreamed about.  

As romantic as this all may sound, there’s a lot about life come August that is totally uncertain- and I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I had zero reservations about it. Between some weeks that are going to be glamorous and seamlessly planned out, there are going to be days and weeks where I have no idea where I’ll be, or who I’ll be with whatsoever. And trust me when I say I'm not at the point in life where I can just casually check into a 5 star hotel for weeks at a time on my own dime... 

But I’ve learned to leave room in life for that kind of uncertainty, even when it’s terrifying. It’s there where beautiful things happen. And uncertainty for the sake of our heart’s desires is the very best kind- because I believe that God isn’t offended by us chasing after those incredibly wild dreams- he’s offended by us settling for anything less.

My point of writing this post isn’t just to dish my diary on the internet or to brag about any of the places I'm excited to go- it’s to be real with you. In the world of social media, it would be easy to just give you the highlight reel of my trip: all the pictures of the countries I visit as I hop across the globe. 

But I believe this isn’t happening because I’m some crazy successful businesswoman or because I’m the luckiest SOB on the planet. It’s happening because I've prayed long and hard for adventure the last two years, and because I decided to say “yes” in spite of uncertainty- trusting God will show up to fill in all those other details. Because he always does. 

So I don’t know everything to promise that's coming on the blog when August rolls around, but I can promise it will be full of surprises. I’ll obviously be sharing my travel adventures, creating city guides and recommendations for every place I visit (which is a lot of different places), and I'd love to invite you to follow along on that journey. But I’d also like to invite you to be involved in a greater capacity.

I believe in the power of community and human connection, and one of my greatest desires for this adventure is to make new friends everywhere I go. I’m excited at the thought of all the people in the world I haven’t met yet and who I’ll know in the months to come. So if you know anyone abroad (doesn't matter where) that I should meet: a friend, relative, colleague- whoever, I’d love to be connected. Not because I need people to babysit me, but because I don’t just want to see the world, I want to know the people in it. I'm seeking photographers to help me capture some of my travel content for the blog, locals to share their favorite places with me, and anyone who is a generally good person that enjoys a glass (ahem-bottle) of wine and good conversation. If you have someone in mind, give me a shout at: theblondeatlas@gmail.com

My hope is that this time in Europe will allow me to tell a greater story with my life, and inspire others to do the same. Because all those clichés are true: Life is short. You only get one. If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough... you've heard them before.

So you can either roll your eyes to all of that and proceed with the monotonous routine you call life, or you can actually start living the life you truly desire- the one God created you to live. I know which of the two I choose. 

I have a few more domestic trips between now and August that I'll still be creating travel posts for.  I'll also be using a lot of this time to prepare for the months ahead (there's a lot to do) so you can expect to hear about what that process looks like as well. And I have a couple other things up my sleeve that I'm excited to share before I go.

So hold on tight- it's going to be a wild ride. But I'm a big fan of wild these days.