Telluride is known for its music festivals, and one of Kevin's friends was hoping to make the trip to Telluride for "Ridefest" because his favorite band--Pearl Jam--was playing this year. And, a friend of ours was planning to stay in Telluride while on a road trip with his family. So, we thought it would be nice to cross paths with friends while out on the road ourselves.
It all seemed too good to be true when one day in May a family that we know offered us the use of their vacation home in Telluride out of the blue. They had no clue we were planning to head that way all along, so we took it as a sign that Telluride would be a definite stop on a road trip that typically has no definite stops.
Also, although we love camping in the trailer, the idea of some time with hot showers in a real bed in the middle of our trip sounded too good to be true. We decided to take them up on their offer.
We got to Telluride a little earlier on than we planned, so our week turned into two weeks--which is significantly longer than our 2-3 day campsite tradition. So...that should tell you a little something about the magic we felt in this place!
Side note: Altitude sickness is a real thing! Although Kevin didn't really feel the effects, when we first arrived I got severely out of breath just from walking up a few steps! After a few days my body got used to the altitude, but I still had to remember to take it easy.
I've decided to try to capture our two weeks in Telluride in this one blog post, so here goes:
We got to Telluride just in time for the Fourth of July holiday. This turned out to be a good thing for two reasons: (1) it rained for the first two days we were here and we had an amazing place to stay (I mean...the actual mountains on the Coors Light cans were in our backyard) and (2) we didn't have to try to find a campsite for the busy holiday weekend. Little did we know that we were about to make some memories that will last a lifetime! Here are some of the highlights--
Fourth of July in Telluride: a flyover, parade, and fireman's BBQ lunch in the town park. It does NOT get more American than that! We especially enjoyed the music from an eclectic group called the Hillstompers during the parade!
Free Gondola Rides into town: Twenty years ago, in an effort to be more green by limiting the amount of traffic into and out of the town especially during ski season, the town erected a gondola system to get from Mountain Village down into the Telluride valley. The thirteen minute ride offers breathtaking views, is dog friendly, and is absolutely FREE. Plus, it eliminates the hassle of looking for a parking spot! We loved the views and the convenience of the whole system.
Delicious food!!!!: Telluride offers a variety of dining options. Our favorites were Smugglers Brewery (delicious appetizers and beverages), Brown Dog Pizza (get the 3-1-3...trust me), and Baked in Telluride (delicious baked goods and pasta...and we were there one morning just after Oprah!). We also enjoyed many meals cooked in the luxury of a full kitchen at the place we were staying.
Bridal Veil Falls: The falls are gorgeous. You can hike or drive to them. We opted to drive, which we immediately regretted because there was no easy place to turn around in our giant truck once we got to the top. After several moments of sheer panic and adrenaline we were able to maneuver our way around, but the sweaty palms and anxiety kind of tarnished the falls experience! If we ever have the opportunity to return to Telluride, I'm opting for a hike to some of the other falls that are in the area!!!
Gold King Basin: Another bumpy drive takes you back to an abandoned mine and picturesque setting. This spot is the home of the first long distance electric wire to operate the mine, this spot is a little tough to get to but
most definitely worth it. So much so that we went back twice. Here we found snow in July and found rocks filled with crystals and minerals just outside the abandoned mine shaft.
Ridefest: Telluride is known for its festivals, and we timed our visit to align with a two day festival known as Ridefest. This year the headliner was Pearl Jam, and one of Kevin's friends flew out with his brother to share in the experience. When the lead singer of a band that has travelled the world says he has goosebumps from playing in such a setting, you know it is something special. The laid back atmosphere, scenic views, and great music all made for a memorable time.
Last Dollar Road: We spent one afternoon driving to neighboring towns (Rico and Ouray) and checking out local campgrounds. On the way back we took a gravel but scenic road called the "Last Dollar Road." It's strange for us to put down roots for so long during a road trip, so this drive helped us feel like we were still on the road.
Tubing through Town: OK. Kevin and I were too chicken to get into the ice cold water ourselves, but when our friends and their three kids arrived in town, we gladly watched the kids enjoy the experience! It looks like fun...maybe when it is a few degrees warmer! Scout enjoyed playing in the creek, too.
Farmer's Market/Concert in the Park: Telluride offers a variety of options for family and entertainment. From farmers markets to free outdoor concerts, there is always something to do. We especially enjoyed the Sunset Concert and browsing the library sale at the Farmer's Market (where I got 5 books for a total of 10 bucks!)
Time to Relax: We also enjoyed hanging out at the house. Kevin carved walking sticks to give as a thank you gift to the owners of the house, I enjoyed the hammock in the Aspen forest that surrounds their home, we watched some movies, showered, and did laundry. It was a perfect time to recharge from a month on the road!
Time with Friends: It was a crazy coincidence that our friends were staying at a house less than a mile from us while we were in town, and we enjoyed hanging with them and their kids in such an amazing setting. Kevin also got to experience Ridefest with another friend. The memories that we made in Telluride will last a lifetime.
Dog Friendly Town: There were dogs everywhere in Telluride. On the Gondola. In the Creek. In the Town Park. And...at my personal favorite...puppy parking stations. We "parked" Scout a few times when we went into Baked in Telluride to pick out our breakfast pastries each morning or when we ran into the grocery store a few times. Scout was so worn out from all of the activity and attention that he just sat and quietly waited for us to return. It was nice to be able to be in a town where water bowls line the street and pups are welcomed, too!
When we return back to "The Real World" people will ask us about our trip. I'm certain that Telluride will be the time that stands out. We are so thankful to the friends who opened their home-away-from home to us. It was so difficult to leave, but we know there is more out there to see and we will carry the memories of our time in that special place with us. We hope to be able to return...but only time will tell.
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