Several weeks ago we were in Central Colorado. So many of you asked for pictures, I’m going to give you a tour! Okay, Wordless Wednesday. Take a hike. Our readers’ personal tour of Central Colorado is taking over.
I encourage you all to click on the pictures to see a larger version. They really do look better bigger. Plus, be sure to visit the last couple of Wordless Wednesdays to see more cowboy country pics:
Colorado is usually a dry, arid state, particularly in Central Colorado. However, it had been raining the two previous weeks. The grasses were growing like crazy, and the mountains were covered in small flowering weeds, plants and bushes. The yellow flowers you see are Chimisa, and boy did they do a job on our allergies. They were pretty, but achoo!
The state of Colorado is gorgeous. Each region has its own personality. Central Colorado has real cowboys, pick-up trucks covered in dust and mountain views everywhere you turn.
If you pay attention you may see some pretty amazing animals, from coyotes to elk and moose to owls.
Cowboy boots aren’t just for dressing up. They’re a must in certain parts of the state. With all of the bushes and plants with thorns and burrs, you’ll be scratched alive if you don’t wear higher boots. (Although I do wear my hiking boots on day hikes.) If you’re staying near town, however, you can wear your normal shoes and be fine. But I’m not chancing it when it comes to the snakes either.
Central Colorado used to be a large mining area. The hillsides are littered with abandoned mines (although there are some active mines in the area). We went pan handling for gold but didn’t find any. However, the water still carries minerals out of the mountains so you never know what you’re going to find.
Speaking of minerals, the different kinds of minerals and rocks one can find is staggering. From basic quartz to petrified wood, the boys went on rock hunts daily. They were hoping to bring these all home with us in the suitcases; however, the weight limits on bags forced them to select a choice few (thank goodness).
Want to go back in time? South Park City is an impressive recreation of a historic town. And we happened to be visiting on Living History Day when volunteers from all over the state get into costume and teach you about the time period. We took in a train robbery as well as visited the one-room school house. I think it will be the only time the kids will absolutely love going to school.
And for those of you wondering… yes, this is the famous town of Fairplay, which the show South Park is based on and the creators are from.
Fishing in the region is a must. There are lots of streams, creeks and small ponds created by beavers feed into the Arkansas River. You may not catch big fish, but there are trout waiting to bite.
What vacation to Colorado is complete without a campfire? (And Blue Moon beer if you ask my husband.) We cooked hotdogs on the open fire and made ‘smores. Of course, we were very responsible in managing the campfire.
Don’t know how to put out a campfire? Ask Smokey the Bear.
I just loved the cowboy swagger my kids picked up while in Colorado. We went Jeeping up an old, unused road to pick wild raspberries, which made amazing pies later. Although you can’t tell by the greenery, the edge of the road on the right drops off down a steep cliff. If you fell down there, or the Jeep toppled down, it would be game over.
Did you think I forgot the selfies? Hubby and I just can’t resist taking ridiculous pictures of ourselves. Guess we’re still kids are heart. See you next year, Colorado!
And now I’m going to be quiet. It’s time for Wordless Wednesday!
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What a great tour – looks like you had loads of fun!
It was a terrific vacation. Thanks for taking the tour with me.
You captured some really beautiful photos. But the last one takes the cake. 🙂
Diana — Ah yes. Classy, right 😉 We always take some obnoxious and fun photos on our trips. Can’t take ourselves too seriously, right?
Sure glad you were safe and no over the cliff experiences!! Beautiful photos!!
Thanks for hosting
Oh My Heartsie Girl
Karren
Karren — The countryside is FILLED with roads like that. After a while you get used to it (which sounds crazy but is true!)
It looks like you had a wonderful trip. I would like to try mining. I really like the pic with the boots. It is beautiful. Thanks for linking.
Sophia
twentyfiveseasons.com
Mining is pretty interesting. But it can be boring if you’re sitting there for a long time. We didn’t find gold… but you never know next time 😉
Stunning photos, I love all those boots lined up!
Thanks. People are really loving the boots picture. I think I may have my Christmas card!
I almost feel like I too a tour with you…awesome photos!
Thanks, Tiffany. I was hoping people would feel like they were on a real tour 🙂
Love the pictures of the country. Happy WW
Thanks. It really is amazing country out there!
Colorado is beautiful!! I miss living there…a little, not enough to make me move back, but loved it there.
Oh, I love it there. I went to school in Boulder and miss the mountains.
hmmm…. «Louis» was going to join your Linky but it was already closed at 21h25m PST.
Anyway, his WW is HERE.
Yep. That’s what I get for trying to do things when the kids are around! Thanks for the heads up.
Same here, tried to leave my link (here) but Linky is closed already 🙁
Yep. I made a mistake in the dates. That’s what I get for trying to do things when the kids are around!
I don´t know why the linky is already closed.
Ah, I’m just human and goofed on the dates. Thanks for the heads up.
Leaving my Link here , as Linky is closed for some reason
http://simonesnatur.blogspot.de/2013/09/wordlessphoto-wednesday-september-4th.html
Yeah, I goofed! But I did get it fixed Wednesday morning. Thanks for the heads up.
Gorgeous photos, thanks for the tour, the countryside is spectacular!
Glad you liked it. I just HAD to share it’s so beautiful out there.
Love the cowboy boots!
Thanks. I think I may have my next Christmas card!
Lovely! I used to live in Colorado and would love to get back. You’ve made me wistful. 🙂 That living history day looks so fun.
Perhaps my “tour” will get you back to Colorado 🙂
Awesome pics, Jennifer! We could never have an open campfire when we were out in Colorado. The fire danger was too high at the time. We did, however, visit the Coors factory where they make Blue Moon. 🙂
Jennifer, it had been raining for two weeks straight before we got there so we could actually have a campfire. The other years we just couldn’t.
And hubby would be jealous about the Coors tour. I did that when I was in college out in Boulder. I need to go when I’m legal!
p.s. The linky is closed!
Yeah. Totally goofed on the timing. But I got it fixed Wednesday morning.
Would love to be there! 🙂 Danica
It was a gorgeous vaca. Hope you make it out to Colorado soon.
What a great trip , got to lov ethe boots and school room. What happened to the linky could not post mine.
http://spudsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/balloon-over-fforest.html
Bill, I goofed on the html programming but did get it up Wednesday morning. Hope you got my updated email blast. See you next week!
alas it seems the linky is closed ….
Sorry, Daryl. Thanks for the heads up. I’ve fixed it!
Looks like this was a wonderful trip!
It was a gorgeous trip. Thanks for taking my tour.
What a peaceful place to be.
It was fabulous and very peaceful. Well, when the kids weren’t up so shenanigans. Ha!
Wonderful, cool and great photo series!!!
Thanks, Birgitta. Glad you took my Colorado tour.
That looks like so much fun! Love all the pictures. The boot one is my fav!
Thanks! A lot of people are loving the boot pic. Perhaps I have the cover for my Christmas card!
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Colorado!! These pics kinda make me jealous… 🙂
Colorado is so amazing, no matter where you go in the state. I hope you make it out there some day.
Wow. Gorgeous pictures. Such beauty in scenery and people. I especially like the boots all lined up in a row.
I really liked the boots too. Perhaps I have my Christmas card pic.
Gorgeous photos! Thanks for the lovely post & for hosting & God bless!
Thanks. I’m glad you liked the Colorado tour.
Wow, what a wonderful tour. Looks like a wonderful place to visit. I love the scenic pictures. And to visit a one room schoolhouse would be such fun. Thanks for sharing!
The kids absolutely loved the school room — probably the only time they’ll volunteer to go to school!
Looks like you had an amazing time! Lovely photos!
It really was a terrific vacation! Thanks for taking my photo tour with me 🙂
Wow that looks amazing!
Thanks. It really was a beautiful vacation.
love the boots picture!
Thanks! I think I may have my Christmas card pic.
The photos are amazing and it appears as if you had a great time. I’ve never been to that part of Colorado. My favorite place there is Garden of the Gods. Thanks, as usual, for hosting WW. Janet
Some day I will FINALLY make it out to Garden of the Gods… when the kiddos are older. I highly recommend a side jaunt to the Central part of the state to take it all in.
Thanks for hosting a great party. Love the blog, keep up the great work. Please stop by our Brag About It Tuesday Party. Have a great day!
~~ Thanks, Sharon & Denise http://bebetsy.com/
Thanks, BeBetsy. I’m enjoying your blog too 🙂
I love Colorado!
Colorado is one of my favorite places in the whole world 🙂
Thanks for hosting, looks like you had a wonderful vacation!
It was a wonderful vacation. And always glad to host 🙂
Great pics. Looks like you had a great vacation and thanks for sharing the knowledge.
We really did have a great vacation. I hope you make it out to that part of the country some time.
I have a friend who lives in Colorado, I love seeing all her pics on Facebook. Just a beautiful landscape.
I love living through other people’s pictures, too. A couple of my friends travel all the time and I love living through their pics.
This looks like an amazing trip. I love the line-up of boots!
Mollyxxx
The boot shot was my sister-in-laws idea. She’s the photographer in the family for sure!
You were in my neighborhood. No snakes at high altitude, for which I’m grateful and very few people wear cowboy boots (except tourists and working cowboys). We’ve had so much rain in Summit County – good for our forests and streams. Glad you enjoyed the visit and that your little gold miners did, too. Come back again!
Barb, We actually wear cowboy boots on the ranch. Too many burrs that get through jeans. Now if we were on the Texas ranch, we’d need to be careful of the snakes!
Visiting from Our World Tuesday …I moved from NYC to Colorado this year, and I love it here! I’m in the greater Denver area. There is so much to see and do in CO, and the beauty of this state is stupendous! Hoping the weather will now stay nice so all the flood victims from the disastrous storms we just had can clean up and rebuild. All the best!
I actually went to college in Boulder and have a long-standing love affair with Colorado. Thanks for joining!
Jenny
This was an awesome post! I did a quickie WW this week and linked at only 1 hop, so I never made it over here to check out your CO trip! Found you at FTFri and clicked over! Looks like a blast!
we, too, travelled to CO this summer! Imagine if our paths crossed and we didn’t even know it! I’ve a ton of pics here at:
http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.com/2013/07/forever-west-our-cross-country-trip-by.html (In case you haven’t seen ENOUGH pics of the West! There’s only so much time though, right!?)
Thx for sharing.
next week, I hope to get over here and link a WW post. Time was short this week!
be well
Wow — 19 days in the car is a LONG trip but it looks like you had fun 🙂 I really do just adore Colorado! See you next WW. Jennifer
What amazing photos! Wow! I hope that someday I can visit there and bring my children. Thanks for linking up with Field Trip Friday. I hope you will be able to join us again this week.
What a great place to visit! Your pictures are wonderful!