Hi, I’m back!!! Last week we road-tripped to Colorado for our annual family ski trip and it was such a blast!
This is the last trip we took last year right before the world shut down, so it was kind of surreal to be back. We rented a car and drove this time, mostly because it was safest, but also because Ovi isn’t allowed to fly with us anymore due to the changes in ESA rules. Even though we were in the car for quite awhile (it’s about 15 and a half hours without traffic and stops), it’s my absolute favorite drive! I’ve done it three times now and the scenery is just stunning.
We listened to audiobooks almost the entire time, stopped in Utah for the night on the way there, pulled off on the side of the road to admire the rock formations, and stopped in a little town in CO called Grand Junction for awesome tacos. The first few days of our time once we were in Breckenridge, I mostly just worked, but also made sure to take my lunch break out on the mountain because why not take advantage! It was also unbelievably wonderful to be with my parents again, and their cutie pups. Ovi absolutely loved them, and he also loved playing in the snow!
This year was, of course, a bit different because of the pandemic, but still super fun. We cooked more instead of dining out (I share more of my favorite spots in Breckenridge this post and this post!), but were able to grab takeout from our favorite spots like Giampietro’s for pizza, Mi Casa for Mexican, and Clint’s for coffee! I was also super impressed with the way the resort handled everything – we had to have appointments for the hot tub to be socially distanced and even the mountain requires reservations in advance. That was the case with the gym as well, but we didn’t use it this time!
For reference, we stay up on the mountain, and have ever since I was little. This year we stayed on Peak 8, which was stunning, but we used to stay at Peak 7, which is also amazing! Our favorite hike/path to go with Ovi is just off Peak 7, in case you find yourself over there with a dog, too.
The highlight of the trip, though, was when Alex surprised me up at the top of the mountain (I braved the t-bar lift on my board!) and tricked me into “taking a photo” when really, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It. Was. Perfect.
I shared a video on Instagram, as well, but it was the cutest thing! And well worth the wait. He proposed just a few days after our 5-year anniversary and 2 days before his birthday. It was so, so nice to have my parents there, too! We spent the rest of the afternoon skiing, face-timing with our other family members, and celebrating. Such a happy moment and the perfect end to our time in Colorado!
Though it was bittersweet to leave (the week went by too quickly and it’s my favorite place), we planned our stop on the way home to be in Vegas instead of Utah so we could do some exploring. We stayed way off the strip and went to Red Rock Canyon, which I never even knew existed! It’s absolutely beautiful and a 13 mile loop you can drive though, but there are also a ton of hikes along it, as well. I’m not sure if this is the case when we’re not in a pandemic, but we had to buy “tickets” online in advance and choose a specific time!
We did the Calico Tanks trail, which I couldn’t recommend more! It’s obviously dog friendly, and not too hard, but there is a bit of bouldering towards the end. The views are EPIC. It was a lovely way to spend Alex’s birthday and so nice to be outdoors before the final stretch of our trip.
All in all, this trip was one for the books!! I just wish my brother and sister-in-law could’ve been there too, but hopefully next year. And if you’re thinking of taking a roadtrip soon, I highly recommend the route between Colorado and Los Angeles!
Stay tuned for more recipes and fun things coming soon – I’m finally getting a better grasp on life and work, and am looking forward to getting back to my creative outlet!
xo Jordan
