Yesterday we spent the day with Kevin’s cousin Mark and his wife Dolly, who have lived in the Denver area for 28 years. They were gracious enough to act as tour guides in the Boulder area.
On our way, I couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful snow capped Rocky Mountains. The scenery makes me feel so peaceful and serene.
We started out by meeting them at Anderson Farms for Fall Fest. What an awesome place, especially for kids. They had many different activities including a 30 acre corn maze, wagon rides, pumpkin picking, pony rides and lots of other fun stuff.
Lunch was at the Avery Brewing Company in Boulder. Some excellent beers were tasted along with delicious lunch entrees. We had plenty to talk about as we caught up with each other’s lives and reminisced about the past.
The next stop was the Celestial Seasonings factory tour and tasting room. What a great place to visit. The tour was free and quite interesting. Before the tour we were able to sample several hot and cold teas. The company was started in 1969 by four hippies who picked herbs and berries in the hillsides surrounding Boulder and started experimenting with different tea blends.
The company has always been located in Boulder and now employs about 400 people, selling tea worldwide. They also work with farmers around the globe to purchase the various teas and herbs they put into their products. We bought some boxes of tea in the gift shop and were ready to move on. I would definitely recommend this tour if anyone is visiting the Boulder area.
Our next stop was the Bald Mountain Scenic Area for a 1.5 mile hike. There were some beautiful views at the summit of the trail. That’s Denver in the hazy background.
More snow capped mountains.
We saw some magnificent homes nestled in the valley below us. A remote but gorgeous setting. I’m sure you need a few dollars to live in those mansions. We also saw many burnt trees. A human caused forest fire burnt over 6,000 acres in this valley in 2010. A stark reminder of the devastation careless people can cause.
Our last stop of the day was at Upslope Brewing Company for a little happy hour. More tasty brews were consumed.
Thanks to Mark and Dolly for the excellent suggestions of places to see and the great company!!
Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!
