The Continental US boasts one of the most diverse landscapes in the world. From the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains, to the great plains, to the deserts of the southwest and everything in between, Americans are blessed to have a plethora of opportunities to explore.

My friends and I have traveled to many places within a few hours drive from Pittsburgh. However, the all-consuming quest for bigger and better things held us captive for what to do for the next “friend’s vacation”. Weekend trips are easy, but occupying a dozen twenty-something year olds for a whole week poses a whole new challenge.

After some consideration, and very little debate, the idea of flying out to Colorado piqued everyone's interest. Few have ever been, and with our inclination towards nature-based activities, it sounded like the perfect trip.

The fateful late-August day arrives, and before the sun can peak its head above the horizon, we’re en route to the Pittsburgh airport.

Boulder, Colorado

Several hours later we land at the Denver Airport, and looking out the window, you can faintly see the Rocky Mountains looming off in the distance. Once we finish up breakfast at the Moonlight Diner, just a few minutes drive from the airport, we begin the first leg of our journey- Boulder, CO.

We drop off our stuff at our Airbnb then go on a nice bike ride near Pearl street, which reminds me of my days back at Penn State. We ask a dude walking down the street where a good bar “for people like us” might be, and he recommends Avanti rooftop bar.

It doesn’t disappoint.

It’s hot out, but the views are great. To the left, the Flat Iron rocks jut out from the mountainside, facing the vast plains head-on. We spend most of our afternoon here acquainting ourselves with the novel atmosphere, taking it all in.

Satisfied with our fill of the rooftop bar (and the heat), we move our party to a Mexican restaurant. Thoroughly recharged, we cross the street to an underground bar called the Sundown Saloon.

The vibes are immaculate, and it reminds me of Zeno’s bar in State College. Looking around, everyone knows the drill- order a PBR pitcher! Our Boulder-residing friend Bella tells us this bar sells the most PBR in the nation.

We have fun here, but by now we’re pushing 24 hours straight of being awake. We make our way back to the Airbnb and conclude a successful first day acquainting ourselves in Colorado.

I’d argue that the first day or two of a trip are the best days. Traveling is over with, the novelty of new surroundings piques your interest, and everyone is filled with a relaxed, open, radiant energy. It’s a fleeting state of emotions one can only hold for a few days, maybe even hours at a time.

To Nederland

The following morning we fetch for coffee. We had some people join the vacation after the first Airbnb was already secured, so a second Airbnb about a 10 min drive away was booked to accommodate. Team A house (as we came to designate the closer Airbnb) is located in prime location- just a few blocks away from downtown Pearl street. We start walking and meet the rest of the group at Boxcar Coffee Shop.

Pearl street features an expansive shopping area, with stores of all kind opening their doors to the public. It's only enhanced by the number of local artisans that set up shop on the street to sell their artwork, ranging from pottery, to blankets, to jewelry, postcards and more.

But shopping isn’t our priority today: we’ve got hiking in Nederland for the main event. It’s warm out, so Bella recommends it since it’ll be a few degrees cooler up in the mountains.

Driving through downtown Boulder and plunging into the Rocky Mountains is quite the scenic drive. It’s a two-lane road with chortling creeks, huge rock faces, and beautiful houses. I crane my neck out the car window, trying to see the top of the mountains from the bottom of the valley. Thirty minutes later we arrive at the trailhead, and our first hike in Colorado begins.

Features of the Rocky Mountains

Some things I’d noticed thus far is that Colorado has much less available water compared to Pennsylvania. And, as the name implies, the Rocky Mountains are pretty rocky. This environment lends itself to the growth of pine trees which dominate the landscape, giving entire mountainsides a mesmerizing visual effect. The ground is dusty, but that doesn't stop me from wearing my EarthRunner barefoot sandals everywhere we go.

Eventually we arrive at the first lake, and the scene is breathtaking…

It’s just like every aesthetic nature picture you’ve ever seen- a secluded lake, nestled in the mountains, surrounded by rocks and pine trees- except now it's here in person! We snap some pictures and move along, eager to see what else we’ll find.

The hike was moderately difficult, but it was worth every step. We found several more mountain lakes, and had plenty of energy to snap pictures and mingle amongst ourselves on the shores.

After our first hike (workout) of the trip, we quench our thirst at Knotted Root Brewery for a drink or two. But it’s not long until stomachs start grumbling. People wanna know what the dinner plan is, and fast.

My friend Cas is obsessed with Chipotle, and will gladly eat it eight days a week. Bella recommends a place called Illegal Pete’s, which is “the same thing as Chipotle, except better.”

Without further adieu, we make our way back to bustling Pearl street for dinner. We walk in, I put a GND sticker on the wall, sit down with a chicken bowl in hand, and take a big bite of the Mex-American cuisine. It’s great, and although the concept and ingredients are extremely similar to Chipotle, there’s just something about it that puts Illegal Pete’s over the top!

The icing on the cake is a gentleman our age playing guitar at the front of the restaurant, with surfing and skiing videos playing on the TVs overhead. We all look at Cas, waiting for her to admit that this place is, indeed, better than Chipotle!

With our tired legs and full bellies, we’re not looking to get too rowdy. As the sun sets, we head over to check out Team B’s house. They’ve got a front porch for us to hang out on, so that’s what we enjoy on our second night in Boulder.

More Coffee + Shopping

The following morning we walk to a bookstore/coffee shop called Trident Booksellers and Cafe. Several people in our group enjoy reading (including myself) so we spend quite some time meandering around and marveling at the wide variety of books there.

As we peruse the aisles we find some classic books we know and love, but also some never-before-seen titles. I find a book for only $12 and quickly grab it. With a new book in hand, I can relax and order a cafe au lait.

The bookstore/cafe is located at the far end of Pearl Street, which is ideal for us, because today, shopping is a priority. Patagonia, Fjallraven, the Boulder Bookstore, an art exhibit, and several other stores are subject to our meandering group.

Not only are there shops up and down Pearl Street, but the artisan pop-up tents are back, and this time in full force this beautiful Sunday morning. After making some small talk with a crystal necklace vendor about a jadestone chain I was wearing, I end up buying a rose quartz crystal chain from him. From another place, I pick up a “Boulder” sticker to add to my sticker board. I’m not looking to empty my wallet today, and I’m happy with the few items I’ve collected.

Our last stop is a thrift store (our favorite!). Inside this unique shop I find a small staircase leading up to a tiny balcony walkway. As I walk up, I discover a small yoga book on a bookshelf. Right on the front there’s a sticker that says “Free”. I smile, stash it in the bag with the other book from Trident, and conclude the shopping day a happy guy.

Swimming, Dinner, and a Sunset

We literally shopped til we dropped, so we eat lunch at the Airbnb and chill out for a while. But we didn’t come here to hang out at the Airbnb- once we’re recharged, we head to a nearby park. We wanna soak up some sun and spend time in the cold, rushing waters streaming down from the Rocky Mountains.

The squad is familiar with the occasional cold-water plunge, which is what wading in the water turned out to be, but I appreciated the contrast of the warm sun to the cold, clean water. We spend a few hours here, do some people watching (which was pretty entertaining) then pack up our stuff to go get ready for dinner.

Our third (and thankfully final!) Mexican restaurant in a row is at T/aco. Turns out, Boulder has some good options for Southern dishes, because this place proves to be just as good as the others!

As we conclude our meals, we’re hit with an unexpected dose of adrenaline- Bella tells us we need to buy tickets for Rocky Mountain National Park at 7pm sharp for tomorrow morning. Admission is based off a lottery system, and tickets are gone in literal seconds!

At 7:00:01 pm, everyone at the table gets on their phone and tries to land an 8am-10am slot for Bear Lakes area. Our squad fits in two cars, so luckily we only need to secure two tickets.

With the sheer number of people in our group and a pinch of good luck, we secure the needed tickets for the 8am-10am spot. We all breathe a sigh of relief, then quickly speed up to Galt’s Gulch Overlook to try and catch the setting sun.

The Gulch overlook is beautiful, and the layers of mountaintops hypnotize you into a humbling trance of awe and wonder. We didn’t quite catch the sun before it disappeared behind the blue mountains, but the next day’s adventure at Rocky Mountain National Park would more than make up for it.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Bright and early the next morning we wrangle the cars together in a Whole Foods parking lot, and at 7:30 am sharp we make the trek north to the Bear Lakes trailhead inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

We arrive, and the parking lot is packed. Looking around, I can’t help but think of everyone else last night on their phone at 7 pm sharp, desperately grasping for a ticket for this morning.

We convene at the trailhead and start marching. I’m told this is one of the more popular hikes at RMNP, and it would soon be obvious why.

Panoramic scenes, beautiful rock formations, cascading mountains, and rolling valleys bewilder us as we snap pictures and frolic around in the unscathed landscape.

We pass by Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Dream Lake, marveling at the landscape the whole way.

At the height of the Bear Lakes trail we reach beautiful Lake Haiyaha. It resides at the foot of the Tyndall Glacier, but being the first week of September, it’s not exactly a glacier as you’d imagine. Instead, a shaded patch of snow and ice slowly melts from the top of the mountain down into the pristine lake.

Our buddy Mayson has been itching to swim in one of these mountain-top lakes the whole trip. He can’t take the anticipation any more- he finally strips down to his underwear and jumps in. Swimming out to a rock not far from the shore, he perches up with a few other random people and makes small talk. He makes his way back, exclaiming how icy-cold the water is.

Emergency Evacuation!

We finish eating lunch by the lake and begin our descent back. But not 50 yards down the trail, my insides start churning…

We’re several miles away from the trailhead restrooms, and there’s zero pit stops along the trail. I focus on keeping my composure and deep breathing, but 20 minutes later it becomes a different story.

Judging the distance to the restrooms back at the trailhead, I make an executive decision. Frantically peering into the woods for a secluded spot, I look for a spot I can do business out of sight from other hikers.

I desperately exclaim my situation to the group, and unexpectedly, I’m saved by Skyler. Before we left the parking lot that morning, he grabbed a few lengths of toilet paper from the bathroom, which I gratefully take behind a big rock.

But my saving grace comes at a cost, as Sky takes this picture of me committing the act.

I don’t think (too many) people saw me, and I’m sure I’d get in trouble if I get caught by a park ranger, but that doesn’t matter right now. The deed is done, and I race down the trail to catch up with the rest of the group at the bottom of the trail.

Alpine Visitor Center

Rocky Mountain National Park is enormous, and we didn’t want to spend our entire day on one hike. It’s noon by now, so we plug the Alpine Visitor Center into the GPS and make way.

The drive is incredible. Just five minutes in I glimpse a female moose drinking from a pond off the side of the road, and we see herds of elk laying in the grass beside the road, watching all the tourists drive by taking pictures of them. As we started climbing in elevation, huge swaths of land amalgamate into one cohesive landscape; the peaks remained deserted of trees or animals, and the deep valleys below are just a mis-step away.

The Alpine visitor center is perched about 12,000 ft above elevation, and it’s a whole new world up there. We were way above the treeline, the wind was steady, and it’s noticeably cooler.

The gift shop was big, and I snagged a RMNP sticker for reminiscing purposes. We bought warm beverages and meandered around, reading the various infographics on display. For additional views, some of us took an extra staircase up two hundred feet or so for a complete 360 degree panorama of the landscape.

It’s been action-packed up to this point, and we’ve received our fill of Rocky Mountain National Park for the day. We hop in the car and drive an hour and a half back to Boulder. We need to get ready for our fancy dinner night.

The Kitchen

Our party is 12 deep, so reservations are essential. We tried getting reservations at Salt, the restaurant Bella initially recommended, but they didn’t have room for us. Instead we go to The Kitchen.

Pat looked at the menu ahead of time and clued me in on one of the specialty meals they had available- Steak Tartare. For those who don’t know, I enjoy consuming food in its raw form, which delivers a greater amount of nutrition and vitality as opposed to its cooked form. I’ve never consumed raw beef at a restaurant before, and I was excited to try it for the first time.

We pour some wine, share some appetizers, and have a great time all dressed up for dinner. Cas, Skyler and I synced up our black-on-black outfits, so naturally we snap a picture after dinner.

Chill Day

Day 5 of our trip is our last full day in Boulder. People are comfortable with the once-novel area, feeling good enough with the surroundings to go do their own thing. I take the opportunity to go back to the Trident bookstore to organize my notes and thoughts for this article. It’s about a 20 minute walk down the other side of Pearl street, and it’s a beautiful morning.

I walk in, order a cafe au lait, sit down at a table, and break out the foldable keyboard I brought with me. It’s not long however before I notice a door to my right, leading to another area of the cafe. My curiosity gets the best of me and I pack up to see what new scene awaits me.

I walk out the door and find myself in a roomy, sunny, and beautiful courtyard area. I hadn’t noticed this outdoor space the first time we visited, and I’m glad I came back to relax, write, and drink in this ambiance.

After my solo adventure, I make it back to the house just in time to make it on a bike ride through town.

We ride the creekside trail like we did our first day, but this time we go a little further. Suddenly we stumble upon the park we were at before, which I hadn't realized was so close to us. We loop around and head back from our leisurely ride to re-group at the house. Our buddy Jake just landed in Denver, and we’re eager to meet up and go on a hike together.

The Flat Irons

The Flat Irons are a huge, prominent rock formation overlooking Boulder- giant shields reinforcing the division between the vast plains and the Rocky Mountains. We’ve been looking at them all week, but haven’t seen them up close yet. Jake decides it’s the perfect hike for us.

Everyone meets at the bottom of the trailhead, and we start marching up a gravel road. Only a few minutes into the hike however, people start lagging behind. The RMNP hike from the day before has left most of us in a lethargic state, myself included, and we’re not looking for a whole lot of activity.

We offer to wait up for a minute, but they motion for the rest of the group to keep on going- they’ll do the walking trails in the open field at the base of the mountain. The group gets cut in half, but I continue marching on with Jake, excited to experience this hike he had planned for us.

Being sore from the several mile hike the day before at RMNP, I wanted a nice, easy, casual walk offering some nice views over Boulder. Jake had something else in mind.

Almost immediately the elevation climb became noticeable, and I begin questioning my choice. Jake tries encouraging us with mention of “a breezy and shaded area up ahead” and we trudge along, trusting his guidance and prior knowledge of the trail.

The stone steps take us higher and higher up the mountain with every step. I debate whether or not it’s too late to turn back and join the casual walking group, but I decide to stick it out in pursuit of the view.

Rock after rock, step after step- we’re basically on the stair climbing machine for two hours. I don’t know if Jake was lying to us, or if he truly believed in what he’s saying, but he’s acting like the trail doesn’t go all the way up to the top of the Flatirons!

The whole hike up was “just around this bend” and “not that much farther up” which I naively believed with every step. After trudging up a 1,500 foot elevation climb, we finally make it to the top of the Flatirons.

Given my prior expectations of what this hike would be (more like wanted it to be), I didn’t bring any fluids with me. Luckily, Jake has 2 beers he brought to take pictures of for marketing purposes. I chug a warm IPA like it’s a ice-cold glass of lemonade before we descend back down.

Eventually we meet up with the rest of the group at the bottom of the mountain. They breathe a sigh of relief at their decision as I describe the past three hours, and we all head back to our Airbnbs to unwind.

Getting Carried Away

For dinner, Bella clues us in on a “bottle of wine and bruschetta for $25” deal at a place called Postino Wine Cafe.

It doesn’t take much convincing. Everyone splits different bottles of wine, tries some intriguing and tasty bruschetta, and stays until the place closes around 10:30 pm.

But Pat doesn’t drink wine, and is feeling left out…

Luckily, the Moonlight Saloon, the PBR bar we went to a few days ago, is just a few steps away…

I forgot to mention- not only is tonight a random Tuesday, but it’s also Sylly (Syllabus) Week at University of Colorado Boulder…

We walk in, and almost immediately the group is parked at the saloon. We’re here for only a few minutes before it really starts to fill up with people. I realize tonight is going to be a late night.

At some point, I leave mine and Cas’s bruschetta leftovers from Postino’s at a table to go play foosball. Ten minutes later, I’m told some random girls opened our box and started eating our leftovers!

I wasn’t there for the action, but several people from our party get triggered. I’m unphased (I didn’t really want to carry leftovers around all night, lol) but I definitely would’ve enjoyed some food later on in the night. We hang out a while longer before leaving, and we successfully end the night without getting into any physical confrontations.

To Denver!

Today, the once-fragmented group gathers together under one roof. We ship out of the Airbnbs in Boulder and drive 30 minutes to our next Airbnb in Denver.

I’ve been looking forward to staying at this Airbnb. The interior decorations evoke a natural, earth-centered vibe, and even better, there’s a sauna on the back porch!

We start figuring out the sauna, but can’t marinate in the heat for long- we leave to see Glass Animals at Red Rocks in just a few hours!

Red Rocks

Red Rocks is one of the most famous music venues, maybe in the world, and I’m here to say- it lives up to the hype!

We park the car in the main lot, and from there it’s stairs the whole way up. The stage and concessions are nestled right into the surrounding rock formations, giving you a cozy feeling that you’re in a whole new world.

We grab some drinks and climb what seems like an endless amount of stairs to the GA section. Finally we turn around to face the stage. Past the venue you can see for miles, even Denver off in the distance.

The Glass Animals had especially good visuals, lights and lasers, but it started raining about halfway through the show. Luckily the show stayed on, and the vibes were immaculate.

Meow Wolf

It’s day 7 now, and there’s been non-stop activity and interaction. With all of us now in close quarters, the group is reeling it back a tad. It’s the perfect day to check out an interactive art exhibit called Meow Wolf.

There’s only a few art installations of this kind in the world, and we’re jumping on the opportunity to visit the one here in Denver. I didn’t really know what to expect, but what we got definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.

It was three floors of bizarre, seemingly random art exhibits. There was a castle in one room and an optical illusion room in another. There were weird, nonsensical pictures on screens in one room and entire spaceships in another.

We discovered an “easter egg” inside a spaceship that played music if everyone pressed a button at the same time. You could spend hours there marveling at all the attention to detail.

We press all the buttons we could, then head back home to make DIY oven pizzas to celebrate Mayson’s birthday. It’s a chill night- we’re hanging out, watching football, and taking turns basking in the sauna.

Garden of the God

The next morning, I realize I only have a few more hours left to spend in Colorado! I have a wedding to attend back home the next day, so I must leave the group a day early.

We make the most of it by traveling down to the Garden of the Gods, just outside Colorado Springs.

If I wasn't already, I’m definitely taking in the scenery now. Colorado Springs is about an hour south of Denver, so we have plenty of time to marvel at the faces of the Rocky Mountains the whole way down.

We’re one of the first ones to arrive, but we have to wait for the visitor center doors to open to snag our much-desired coffee and souvenirs.

With coffee and spending needs met, we march towards the huge, spiny rock formations piercing the earth’s surface.

I always enjoy reading the informational plaques on display at parks and monuments, and there’s plenty of them here. Today is finally(!) the nice, leisurely, scenic walking trail I’ve been waiting for!

Departure

On the plane ride back, I think how life can sometimes jam packed with activity and interaction- but I wouldn’t change a thing. Rather than spending money on possessions or material objects, I know that unique experiences and evolving friendships is what makes life so beautiful and fulfilling.

The quality time I get to spend with friends is extraordinary- in my experience, it’s not common to meet a close-knit, passionate friend group as big and (mostly) functioning as we are, and I’m grateful for all of it.

As I bring this adventure to a close, I want to thank to Bella for helping organize our trip so we could maximize our time in Colorado! :)

The Gang Goes to Colorado, 2024