Denver, Colorado

You will want to follow Bear Lake trail all the way down to the parking lot. This will be a couple miles. Dont fret you are going the right way as long as you’re on bear lake rd. Once you get into the parking lot you will park and head up to Bear Lake trail. You will hike up on an incline of stairs for about 30 minutes and then you will hit your first lake which is Dream Lake. Then about 15 minutes passed Dream Lake you’ll find Lake Haiyaha. This lake has waters that are crystal clear blue you’ll be shocked you didn’t make the trip there soon. It’s definitely worth the extra hike & Make sure to take pictures! Water and a thick jacket are a must on this hike by the way. Its much chillier up there even during the fall. In October it’s about 32-40 degrees in the mountains and it snows often. Also make sure to get back before dawn before wildlife starts coming out. There will be park rangers providing this reminder and definitely heed their warning. If you try climbing down the steps at night be aware it is pitch black. Pro tip #1: There’s a scenic overlook you will not want to miss about 5-10 minutes before you get to Dream Lake. I was completely awestruck by the view. Take some time to enjoy and bask in the beauty of our globe. Pro tip #2: Make sure your airbnb or hotel is close to the trail you are hiking. If the road in the middle of the mountain is closed due to maintenance, snow, or off duty workers then you will have to drive completely around. Its a few hours so don’t make this mistake! Pro tip#3: Try to visit during a week day instead of the weekend. The weather is usually better and crowding is much lower. The most important factor though is that a lot of parks are still requiring parks passes to regulate due to covid and it will slow down your entrance into the park by about 30-45 minutes. Plan ahead! Pro tip#4 The weather is completely different in Rocky Mountain National Park than Denver. It could be 82 in Denver and 34 in the mountains. I’ve provided a weather map to help you know the current weather. Estes Park is the closest weather map to the national park so utilize that. Pro tip#5 Absolutely make sure to have a four wheel drive vehicle in the mountains. When we arrived in the mountains it was 50 degrees and clear skies. When we left it was 32 and snowing and icy… and we were on switchbacks all the way home. Make sure to have chains in your car if you insist on going into snow so you don’t get stuck. It’s extremely dangerous and yes people do die when they don’t understand this.

The great thing about Garden of Gods is you can really enter from anywhere and enjoy the park from wherever you’d like. However, we looked for the services center, shopped around a bit and found the trail directly across from the center. From there youll have an easy drive up into the Garden and there will be several places to stop for pictures. Once you keep driving and you decide to hike a trail you will want to head to either the cabin canyon trail or the palmer trail. You can find parking in one of the parking lots available or some areas have side street parking. Be quick though because people will snatch those up quick just be careful of the busy traffic! Once you’re parked you’ll begin your hike with an incredibly scenic view of the mountains surrounding you and the park above you. The nice thing about hiking Garden of the Gods is it’s all flat and so its low impact for anyone with knee pain. Now that you’re on the trail youll want to follow it all the way up to the Siamese Twins. These twin boulders are iconic and an absolute must see on your trip. It gives you an elevated view of the surrounding area and a gorgeous landscape to view. This spot was one of my personal favorites and I wish I could be there every day. Be aware that some people come here to study or nap because its so peaceful and beautiful so be aware and enjoy the serenity provided by this spectacular place. Once you are done its an easy drive out of the park and back up to Denver! Pro tip#1: Denver has no humidity and no bugs. You will need lotion if you struggle with dry skin but overall Denver is an incredibly comfortable place to hike and explore. Pro tip#2: You can completely skip Colorado Springs. There is no spring its just another city with absolutely no scenic views. There may be a few hot springs worth checking out but not in that area. If you decide to check those out be aware it will still be about 30 minutes passed Colorado Springs.

Thaipot tea cafe was absolutely one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. I was skeptical about this place at first but their customer service and amazing food blew me away. We came in and the guy working there gave us the wrong drink so he let us keep it and then came back with the correct one. He also began telling us jokes about living in Denver and expensive it is. I’ve never had a waiter make me crack up so much in my life. It got even better. We asked for what kind of spicy heat we should get and he had an entire menu with quirky levels of heat with a demonstrated of what we should expect. Overall it was really fun experience and great place to go. The food was off the charts, I highly recommend the thai tea, and the service was even better. Don’t skip out on this great location!

So here’s an unpopular opinion but I want to promise complete and total transparency. As much as I loved the views and the rooftop bar this place overall was little overrated. I wanted to include this spot anyway for those who may benefit from this environment. The bar had a very apparent party vibe and it difficult to get a drink. Once you got one it’s advisable to head towards the seats in the back because well for one it’s further away from the crowd and two thats where the actual view is. As much as I felt this place was overrated I still feel like if you were on a business trip and wanted to take a colleague somewhere and you snagged one of the large chairs with view you could honestly have a great collaborative environment. For those who want to party or have a fun night out either stick to the bar or head somewhere else. This rooftop bar is in very heart of downtown and I feel like it’s okay walk around at night but park close and move fast.