Chasing Snowflakes & Sand Dunes: Our Colorado Road Trip Adventure

Disclaimer: This road trip happened in 2023. If there were an award for procrastination, I’d be giving this acceptance speech two years late too 😂

Before we begin, a quick confession.

If you happen to wonder how I am able to recall, in sufficient detail, a trip that happened two years ago, let me assure you that it is not because I've been blessed with an exceptional memory. Far from it! I forget things all the time 😆 But what I lack in memory, I more than make up for in documentation. Before this trip, I had crafted a meticulous (some might say excessively detailed) itinerary to make sure everything went off without a hitch. I also have this habit of taking way too many photos and then turning them into obsessively captioned albums. Turns out, this compulsive archiving is an unexpected perk of being a travel blogger. It lets me rewind, pause, relive, and now, finally, two years later, share the magic all over again. 

To provide more context, during Spring of 2023, my family and I embarked on a 35-day trip to North America. Our trip spanned 2 countries, 5 states, 2 provinces with approximately 5000 miles of road trips, one train journey and 4 domestic flights. This extended holiday came on the heels of us concluding our 17-year chapter in Singapore and re-starting a brand new one in our home country India. It was intended to celebrate a major turning point in our lives. 

I've already chronicled our trip to New Jersey and New York which happened to be the first destination on our itinerary. From there we travelled to Florida to take our (then) 9-year old twin daughters to Disney World and Universal Studios. One of the states in the United States of America that I hadn't previously visited and was most keen on visiting was Colorado. My husband had been there before and was completely bowled over by the majestic mountains, the expansive plains and unique geological features. Colorado was the next stop on our travel agenda and we were all looking forward to it. 

April in Colorado offers a mix of winter and spring activities as the snow melts and hiking trails begin to open. It is shoulder season so there are predictably less crowds and little traffic. One can also score great deals on accommodation. Even restaurants and shops may be discounted during this season. 

April 22nd: Hello Denver!

We landed in chilly Denver on the evening of April 22nd. Coming straight from Florida’s humid warmth, we were immediately greeted by a bracing mountain breeze. Our twin daughters were delighted which was evident by the sight of them gleefully blowing out little clouds of mist and watching them vanish in the cold air 😄 We picked up a roomy Chevy Traverse from Hertz, checked into The Westin Denver, and grabbed dinner at a nearby restaurant. 

April 23rd: Salida and Great Sand Dunes National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, we hit the road for Salida. We had about three hours of picturesque driving ahead of us with snow-capped peaks, rolling hills, and winding rivers keeping us company. Our daughters who are notorious for motion sickness seemed completely at ease as they enjoyed the crisp mountain air and amazing views. The unexpected perk was spotting deer, eagles, cows, buffalo, horses and donkeys along the journey. We met up with my husband's college friend in this charming mountain town and reminisced old times over a home-cooked lunch.

Then came the highlight of the day which was a visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Imagine a sandbox of epic proportions set dramatically against the snowy backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This phenomenon is said to be the result of the valley's unique wind patters. It was surreal! Cold and windy, yes, but so unique and gorgeous that we didn’t mind being wind-whipped sand sculptures for a while 😄

That evening, we returned to Salida and checked into the rustic Salida Inn and Monarch Suites. The twins were over the moon spotting mule deer casually wandering about the property. It seemed like wildlife sightings were becoming their new favorite thing!

April 24th: Scenic Drive to Glenwood Springs

We checked out the next morning and set off on a 3-hour drive to Glenwood Springs, passing through the charming town of Buena Vista where we stopped to grab a bite. This drive which took us partially on I-70 was one of the most memorable drives I have ever been on. Towering cliffs, rocky canyons, meadows, and river views made it a feast for the eyes. I went back to realise that I have only videos of this drive but hardly any photos!

Once in Glenwood Springs, we stopped for lunch and did a bit of souvenir shopping before checking into Best Western Antlers. The views of dramatic hills and pine-covered slopes from the hotel were postcard-perfect.

We then visited Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the largest mineral hot spring pool in the U.S. There were two pools, the therapy pool which was much hotter while the main pool which was just warm. A soak in the mineral-rich steamy water while the mountain air nipped at us was absolutely divine. The best part? There were hatrdly any people. We enjoyed this experience immensely. 

Until then, a fireplace was an alien concept to the girls but once they realised the comforting warmth of a crackling fire on a chilly day, they parked themselves in front of it, utterly captivated by the dancing flames. 

April 25th: Haunted Hotels and Snow in Estes Park

From Glenwood Springs, we made our way to Estes Park which was a four-hour drive through winding roads, pine forests, and quaint alpine towns. We passed by the snow-covered slopes of Vail where we spotted skiers in action. 

We had made a lunch reservation at the iconic Stanley Hotel, best known as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining. The hotel which is a permanent feature on the list of America's most haunted hotels offers ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and a chance to stay in the room that inspired King's novel. As hardcore fans of the book and movie, we didn't want to miss checking out this iconic hotel while in Estes Park.

After a hearty lunch washed down by Redrum Punch (if you know, you know!) we explored the property. The hotel is majestic and elegant, perched high with commanding views. We checked out the gallery wall dedicated to movie memorabilia, sat at the bar and wandered through the hedge maze that was built decades after the book and movie came out. 

Much to my own surprise, I found the hotel lovely and not eerie in the slighest. But then again, as a self-confessed scaredy-cat, I didn't (and wouldn't!) stay in room 217 or 418 so you can't take my word for it 😝

Post-lunch, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) which is one of the most visited national parks in the US. Think of Colorado and The Rocky Mountains usually come to mind. This mountain range forms a majestic spine of North America (seriously, they are unimaginably huge!). The Rocky Mountains stretch over 3,000 miles from northern British Columbia in Canada down to New Mexico in the United States. Geologists estimate the Rockies began forming around 80 million to 55 million years ago. RMNP features alpine lakes, waterfalls, breathtaking mountain views and is home to elk, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, marmots, pikas, mule deer, and hundreds of species of birds. 

The girls received cute little ranger badges at the entrance of the park (which they hold dear to this day). The moment we entered RMNP, it began snowing. The girls squealed in delight because it was their first time seeing snow! Soft white flakes fluttered all around as we were there and we also chanced upon mounds of fresh snow fallen previously. I'll be ready to make a wager that this moment could turn into a core memory for them 😊 We spotted numerous elk and bighorn sheep from the car. 

After an eventful day, we made our way to nearby Murphy’s Resort. There, we found ourselves surrounded by a casual gathering of elk, grazing right on the property. It almost felt like we had teleported into a scene from a nature documentary! We kept very quiet and approached the elk cautiously. Once we determined that they were not threatened by our presence, we got a good look at them from quite close range. 

Later that evening after exploring every nook and cranny of our room, I spotted the girls in the patio in just their PJs, clutching fistfulls of snow with their bare hands and shoving it into a plastic bag while giggling non-stop!

April 26th: Snowmen, Lakes & More Wildlife

We knew that the Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine Visitor Center would be closed this early in the season due to heavy snow, so we focused on lower elevations. Our first stop was Moraine Park, a beautiful expanse dotted with pine trees and expansive meadows. 

Next came Bear Lake, which was still frozen solid though magical and hushed. Being in the area felt like being in a winter wonderland. 

The kids built three mini snowmen in different spots, then initiated their first ever snowball fight. Despite being tropical born and bred, I was surprised that they took to snow like penguins to ice! There was no complaining or whining about being cold or uncomfortable. The only emotion they expressed was one of pure joy!

We followed this up with a visit to Sprague Lake which was partially frozen and surrounded by the towering Rockies. We did a few easy hikes while in the area which were very enjoyable. 

Nature doesn’t need to try. She just is flawless, untamed, and endlessly mesmerising. Don't you agree? 

At noon we headed over to an Italian restaurant called Dunraven at the Estes Park Resort where we enjoyed a delicious meal with magnificent lakefront views. 

Our final stop for the day was Deer Mountain where we were treated to stunning 360-degree panoramas. 

We did a spot of grocery shopping before heading back because I was keen to put the well-equipped kitchenette in the room to use. One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to visit local markets and grocery stores because it gives me a glimpse into everyday life and tells me something about the people who live there. 

More elk, more mule deer, more wide-eyed wonder from our daughters who refused to come inside. Nature therapy was in full swing 💚

April 27th: Farewell, Colorado!

With heavy hearts, we checked out of Murphy’s and drove back to Denver. We passed by the idyllic cities of Golden and Boulder, nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains and hence completely devoid of snow. It was a short and pleasant 1.5-hour ride and our flight to California was scheduled for the afternoon. 

I may have ticked Colorado off my bucket list but it left its mark on my heart from the very first breath of mountain air. 

My Final Thoughts:

I look back fondly at this leg of our trip because, for five+ days, it was just the four of us driving through breathtaking landscapes, exploring beautiful places on our own terms, and most importantly, enjoying quality time together as a family. This roadtrip was easy-breezy and flexible with no waiting on anyone, no tight schedules, no following of any instructions and no preconcieved notions of what to expect. I hope the girls read this post when they are older and look back with nostalgia at the fabulous time we had. 

Colorado in April is a magical medley of snow, sand, steaming springs, and wildlife. For our girls, it was a trip of many firsts - their very first snow, first hot spring soak, first elk encounter, and the first snowball fight! For us, it was a refreshing breath of icy air and wide-open landscapes after the heat and humidity of Singapore, bustling energy of New York and amusement park overdose at Florida. Highly recommend for families looking to mix adventure with spectacular natural beauty.

“In Colorado, every corner turned is a postcard waiting to happen.”

I fully intend to complete the write-up of the missing parts of our North America trip so (hopefully), I will be taking you on a virtual tour to Florida, California, Washington in the US and then Canada. 

Stay tuned...

Cheers,

Megha