Ouray, Colorado is a beautiful destination in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. It’s referred to as the “Switzerland of America” because of the picturesque and sprawling mountain peaks surrounding the town. On your journey up to the “Switzerland of America” look out point off US Highway 550 (known as the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton) you’ll pass by the entrance to the world famous Ouray Ice Park. This is an ice climbing park that people travel from all over the globe to visit. This human-made ice climbing spectacle spans two miles and boasts 150 ice and mixed climbing routes for all skill levels. (Note: please make sure to follow the rules and regulations if you plan to visit).

While planning a trip to Ouray in January 2023, my friend Caroline and I decided we wanted to try a private, half-day guided ice climbing course with a local guide company called Basecamp Ouray. It was founded and is owned by a Ouray local, Logan Tyler. Logan was wonderful to work with when booking the ice climbing course. He answered all of my many questions, and you could hear his passion for sharing climbing with others just through a phone call.

This was only the second time Caroline and I had gone ice climbing, so we were looking for an option that suited our beginner-level climbing skills. Basecamp Ouray offered the perfect choice for us. Here are a few reasons why:

• Trying a new activity can be intimidating. Looking at Basecamp Ouray's website before booking, I was confident in pursuing a course when I read this quote: “We think climbing is for everyone, and has the power to foster authentic community.”  Seeing this, I knew Basecamp would welcome us into the climbing community, cheer us on for trying something out of our comfort zone, and squash any imposter syndrome we might feel.
• Basecamp Ouray offers private courses where you receive one-on-one instruction. This is exactly what we wanted after experiencing a larger group ice climbing course the year prior. We were looking for a course where it would just be us and our guide so we could really focus on learning and progressing our skills without the distraction of comparing ourselves to other climbers.
• The guides at Basecamp Ouray are American Mountain Guides Association trained climbing guides with extensive experience. No matter which guide we were paired with, we were assured we’d be in good hands. Our guide was Lindsey Hamm, and she was amazing. She was knowledgable, energetic, and encouraging. We learned so much from Lindsey, which I'll talk about more below.

October in Colorado has been unofficially dubbed “Fallorado” because of the vibrant fall colors and endless fall themed events happening weekly. Autumn is such a wonderful season in Colorado and a time to soak in the days of that not too hot, not too cold weather. There’s so much to do and see around the state during fall, and in this blog post  I’ve rounded up my favorite ideas for your October Colorado Checklist in the Denver Metro Area!

If you’re looking for a weekend hot springs visit in Colorado that isn’t too far away from Denver, Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resortis the perfect option. These hot springs are nestled amongst beautiful views in the Rocky Mountains in Nathrop, Colorado in between Salidaand Buena Vista. The namesake Mt. Princeton 14er, part of the Collegiate Peaks, is nearby and provides a gorgeous backdrop while you relax in the hot springs.

In February 2021, a new business offering a unique experience opened its doors in Denver. It’s called The Beer Spa , and much like the name suggests this venue combines local craft beer and wellness- quite an amazing combination if you are a beer lover. But, you don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy this spot. As soon as you step inside The Beer Spa, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail put into creating this relaxing and aesthetically pleasing escape from reality. 

So, how did The Beer Spa get to Denver, Colorado? Founders Jessica and Damien traveled the world for a little over a year on a quest for an entrepreneurial business idea they could pursue. While in Zakopane, Poland, they experienced something called a “Beer Spa." It didn’t take much for the pair to realize this was what they wanted to bring back to the states. A lot of hard work and business planning later- The Beer Spa in Denver was born.

You're probably wondering what the experience is like, and that's why I'm here to share everything about our visit to The Beer Spa. Let's talk cost first. It's $89 for one person to take in the hour long experience which includes your own private beer therapy room with a hydrotherapy beer bath, infrared sauna, a rain shower, and $10 worth of beer. If you want to bring a second person it's an additional $30. I view this as a unique gift option or a "treat yourself" day which is well deserved after a long week of work. You can look at their pricing at this link. 

If you’re looking for a unique, fun-filled, no experience required winter activity in Colorado, look no further than snow tubing! Snow tubing involves sliding down a snow packed mountain in an inner tube (in a controlled environment) and it’s the perfect cold weather event for thrill seekers of all ages.

There are many choices when it comes to tubing hills in Colorado, but the spot closest to Denver is called Echo Mountain. Only about 40 miles away from Denver, Echo Mountain offers skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at an affordable price point with amazing views of the Continental Divide. Snow tubing at Echo Mountain is truly a blast! This post includes everything you need to know when planning your visit:

Making a reservation
Reservations are required so make sure you do this ahead of time! Snow tubing is popular here in Colorado, so you’ll need to plan ahead to find an available date and time. You can make reservations online through this link. The pricing varies depending on weekdays versus weekends/holidays. We went on a weekend and it was $32 per person, which is a great price point for a full hour of endless snow tubing fun! Plus, they have a conveyor lift/magic carpet to get you back up the hill quickly. We were able to tube so much we lost track of how many times we slid down the hill! Reservations start on the hour, so make sure you get there early to get all your layers on and get checked in. For example, our reservation was at 9 a.m. and we got there at 8:30 a.m. which was a good amount of time to get settled in.


Location and getting there
As mentioned, Echo Mountain is fairly close to Denver. But it’s important to map out your drive before you hit the road as the route to Echo Mountain does involve taking a mountain pass (Squaw Pass) which means curves, inclines, and conditions that change with the elevation. The trip from the Denver Metro Area takes about an hour. Make sure you take a vehicle with 4WD or AWD and you have tires with good tread for winter driving. Bring extra water and snacks so you stay hydrated and we’ll fueled. All this being said, the drive is beautiful so get yourself a great playlist ready to go and enjoy the ride!

The food hall scene in the Denver Metro Area is booming, and on top of that, the growth of local businesses in Colorado is creating a prime opportunity for new ideas to take off. Downtown Golden is one of the destinations that has become a hot spot for unique venues- from craft breweries, coffee shops and eateries, to its newest addition and first ever food hall called Tributary Food Hall and Drinkery.

What exactly is a food hall? This growing trend takes a large, open space inside a building and turns it into an artisan food court of sorts, offering a wide variety of high-end, local, and delectable fare. For Tributary, the owners envisioned the venue as a gathering place for community members and visitors alike. “For us, the joy of opening restaurants is in creating a space for people to come together. That’s been most true here in Golden—this town, like what we’re trying to build at Tributary—is so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s a place that celebrates the special-ness of the community that comprises it, that's welcoming to all, and that prides itself on being distinct from ‘anytown.’” Tributary’s co-owner, Josh Dinar, said, “That we can be a part of that landscape, and bring all these amazing stories into one place, is a privilege we take very seriously.”

Colorado boasts an overabundance of beautiful, scenic hiking spots across the state. It’s one of the reasons many people visit- and even move here. It’s also one of the reasons I love calling Colorado my home state. We truly live in an outdoor recreation playground year-round! However, when you venture outside, and potentially to a new spot you’ve never explored, it is so important to take responsibility of your own safety. That means being prepared before you go and maintaining a mindset of safety as you trek the trails.

 City of Golden Fire Chief, Alicia Welch, says Golden Fire & Rescue responded to 13 hillside and four swift water rescues in 2018- and that is just in the Golden area. In an effort to proactively educate the community about this topic, Golden Fire & Rescue recently hosted a class presented by Colorado Mountain Club called “Introduction to Hiking Safety.” My mom and I attended the course, and we left armed with helpful tips and great knowledge to take on our next hike with safety at the forefront.

 First of all, it is important to remember that hiking in Colorado is different than hiking in other states. Colorado has high altitude, elevation gain on trails, dramatic temperature and weather changes including lightning, year-round snow in the mountains, and a variety of wild animals. Now this list shouldn’t scare you off from a wonderful Colorado hike, but rather bring awareness and incite preparation before you hike. Colorado Mountain Club instructors Art and Tom broke the course into sections including what to do before you go, once you get to the trailhead, and on the trail. Here are my top takeaways from each section:

1. Before you go : Check the weather forecast. Make sure you have a good hiking backpack that is equipped with everything you might need on the trail. This includes lots of water, healthy snacks, a compass and trail map, personal identification, and the proper clothing you may need if any weather moves in. During this course, you’ll learn about the “10 Essentials” you’ll want to make sure you have in your pack. Also, make sure you let someone know that you are going on a hike, and give them an estimated time of when you will return home.
2. At the trailhead : Put on sunscreen, hydrate, note the time you start, and make sure to read any information posted at the trailhead kiosk.
3. On the trail : Be on the lookout for trail markers and stay within the path of the trail. Every 15 minutes make sure you turn around and take note of the landscape and geography around you. Stay hydrated. Watch the weather around you. If you are climbing a 14-er, be off the summit and ridges by noon to avoid lightning.

In this course, you’ll also learn tips for staying safe if an electrical storm suddenly hits, pointers on what to do if you get lost, and how to avoid danger if you have a run-in with a wild animal. The goal of this blog post is to encourage you to attend one of the many courses offered by Colorado Mountain Club as well as Golden Fire & Rescue. You can stay up to date on upcoming courses by checking out CMC’s website and Golden Fire & Rescue’s Facebook page. Special thanks to Golden Fire Chief Alicia Welch and her team at the Golden Fire Department, as well as the awesome CMC instructors, Art and Tom. Educate yourself before you go, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of Colorado’s hiking scene!