Last minute weekend trips are the best kind! Last year, for my 24th birthday, I headed to Colorado for around $100 on Southwest. Thankfully they always have great sales, and I have friends that love last minute adventures. While there, we explored Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, and Golden, Colorado.
Colorado Day 1
We landed at midnight in Denver, in the middle of a snow storm. First stop was the 24 hour donut shop downtown, VooDoo Doughnuts. Then we braved the mountain roads driving to Estes Park, and our Air BnB. For the benefit of everyone in the car, this Texas girl did not drive. We slept in a little and woke up to this snowy view!
Estes Park, Colorado 
Rocky Mountain National Park
After a quick snowball fight and our morning coffee, we headed out to Rocky Mountain National Park! We drove up Trail Ridge Road as far as we could, to Many Parks Curve. Walking a bit further up the road, we explored what was supposed to be the great views along the mountain side. Snowy conditions don’t provide those great views, but we still had a great time! Go here for a map of RMNP.
Snow anyone? 
Views form Many Parks Curve, RMNP
Sprague Lake
Next we headed back down the mountain and started with a quick hike around Sprague Lake. The hike was easy, flat, and had lots of wildlife. Additionally, it did not require microspikes like our other hikes.
Turkey Anyone? 
Sprague Lake 
Sprague Lake with the Group! RMNP Colorado
Two members of the group headed back to Sprague Lake at night to do some night photography of the Milky Way and the Lyrid Meteor Shower. Check out the astro-photography from the trip, and more, on Sergio’s Facebook page and website!
Bear Lake
We headed a little further up the road to the Bear Lake Trail Head next. First, we donned our microspikes, then we took a short walk to Bear Lake. The lake was completely frozen over, unlike Sprague Lake! We had a little photo shoot and then headed out on the trail to Nymph Lake and Dream Lake.
Bear Lake 
Bear Lake Trail Head
Nymph Lake and Dream Lake
With all the snow and ice, the 2.5 mile hike was slow going. But we made the best of it and really had a great time! We even had a little Stellar’s Blue Jay follow us for about half a mile. The mountain views were worth the more difficult hike, especially for all the photos we got!
Nymph Lake 
Dream Lake 
Nymph Lake
Colorado Day 2
The second day in Colorado was like an entirely different trip. There was no snow, and the temperatures were in the 60s! We headed over to Golden, Colorado to explore the Red Rocks Amphitheater and tour Coors Brewery. Both of which I highly recommend doing if you are in the area, I mean who could pass up free beer?
Red Rocks 
Red Rocks 
Coors Brewery 
After the day in Golden the trip ended for me, darn work. But fear not, I will be going back to Colorado soon because I didn’t even scratch the surface of all there is to do.
Check out more of my travel blogs here!
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