Travel

Without fail, there comes a time each summer when I catch the travel bug. Coworkers are returning from week-long summer flings and feel the need to start exploring for myself. One of these explorations took me on a whirlwind weekend trip to Seattle. I set out on a Friday after work and landed at Sea-Tac with enough time to find my way downtown.

With only a couple of hours to look around, I focused on some major tourist spots. First stop: Pike Place Market. A lot of vendors had shut down for the evening, but the appeal was still there. Endless shops with flowers, crafts, fresh seafood, you name it. A trip to the market could take up an entire day on the itinerary easily. Of course, a trip to Pike Place wouldn’t be complete without grabbing a coffee at the original Starbucks. If you really want to dive in, head down the street to Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room. Unfortunately, my tight schedule didn’t leave extra time for this experience. I continued my tour with a walk by the gum wall (gum alley?) and along the waterfront ending at Miners Landing on Pier 57, home to the Seattle Great Wheel. I had an early wake-up call the next day so I set off to find a good night’s sleep in Monroe, WA – about an hour drive Northeast of Seattle.

The following morning I set out for the Blanca Lake trailhead, located in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (side note: you do need a National Forest Pass to park at the trailhead). The actual trailhead was washed out, so this added about 4 miles roundtrip to the hike by parking along Forest Service Road #65. Road conditions (and therefore the ‘beginning’ of the hike) are constantly changing, be sure to checkout the status before heading out. The added distance to the hike took a toll, but compared to the rest it was an ‘easy’ 4 miles. The Blanca Lake trail consists of 37 switchbacks and gains almost 3,000 feet in 3 miles. It was a workout, and it came with a reward. This is a popular hike, especially on a Saturday in the summer. Add in heat and bugs, and a 6am start time didn’t seem so crazy. A small group started the hike just before me, but I was otherwise alone on the trail as I made my way to the glacial lake. Post-switchbacks, around the top of the 3,000 foot elevation gain, is Virgin Lake (honestly more of a pond in my opinion). I ran into some campers here, it’s also where the trail becomes a little rockier and the descent to Blanca Lake begins. It was cooler on this side of the mountain, the sun was starting to make an appearance making for some incredible views peaking through the trees. Following my AllTrails map I knew I was coming close to my final destination, but I was not prepared for the initial lake sighting. It stopped me in my tracks.

After the wow-factor wore off (who am I kidding, I’m still in awe sitting here writing this post), I made my way down to the lake. It was still a little too cold for a swim, but that didn’t stop me from dipping my feet in and taking in the scenery for a while. About an hour and some snacks later I began my journey back to the car. Without the appeal of a glacial lake at the end, this trek was a little more difficult. My 6am start didn’t seem so crazy with the number of hikers I encountered at this point. I was able to beat the heat, the bugs, and have the trail (and lake) mostly to myself – highly recommend getting up early for all of the above. This was definitely an all-day journey, and even if my legs were able to keep going after 13 miles I still had to get back to Seattle and settle in for the night.

I had ambitious plans to hike Mount Rainier National Park before my flight the next day, but my legs just couldn’t do it. So I went back to the list of major tourist attractions in Seattle and found myself on a ferry to Bainbridge Island. I didn’t drive on, opting for short walking tour instead. Taking my time through Waterfront Park, I headed over to Pegasus Coffee for some caffeine and breakfast. This was the perfect way to refuel for the day and had the bonus of overlooking the marina. My tour of downtown Bainbridge also took me to the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum where I was able to learn more about the unique island.

My time is Washington was short, but nothing short of incredible. So much was squeezed into my weekend trip, and even more activities were added to my bucket list. A return trip to the Pacific Northwest is absolutely in my future.

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I was booking my plane ticket to Denver earlier this year (an impulsive trip itself) when I got the urge to change my return destination. The plan was to fly home Friday morning, initially thinking I would have to work the weekend. After a schedule change, I had two extra days to adventure out West and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. So instead of Minneapolis, I booked a flight from Denver to Spokane, Washington. I had visited Coeur d’Alene, Idaho once a few years back and had been wanting to return ever since. This was the perfect opportunity to explore the city a little further and get a chance to hike in the Selkirk Mountains. My flight landed in Spokane at noon on Friday, and left for Minneapolis Sunday afternoon. I was determined to pack as much adventure into these 48 hours as possible.

After a whirlwind couple of days in Denver, I took off for the airport at 6 am on Friday morning. I have a strict ‘2-hour early’ policy when it comes to airports. Mainly because allowing extra time to get through security and to the gate eases my nerves, but also because airports are cool and I like to be able to take it all in. The Spokane airport is fairly small and easy to maneuver. It took about 30 minutes to grab luggage from baggage claim, check-in with the car rental, and get on the road. From here, the drive to Coeur d’Alene takes about 45 minutes. Make that 60 minutes if you stop at Cabela’s to purchase bear spray.

You can’t talk about Coeur d’Alene without mentioning The Coeur d’Alene Resort. It is a marvel sitting on the Northwestern tip of Lake Coeur d’Alene offering incredible lake views, numerous restaurants, spa packages, golf, you name it. Uncharacteristic for my hiking vacation, I decided I had to experience the Resort during this trip. When I booked my room the agent asked what was important to me. Price point was my main focus this time around, but you bet they’re going to accommodate whatever is it you care about most. The concierge and valet were extremely helpful right off the bat and the room was great, but it was later afternoon by now and I was ready to get to the great outdoors.

My Friday night adventure took me just north of Sandpoint, Idaho to Schweitzer Mountain. Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers a unique ski village in the winter, but the views are incredible for hiking in the other seasons as well. The drive up to the village is a little slower with lots of switchbacks, but the view pays off. I opted for the ‘Nature Trail’ for my hike. Starting at the base, the trail climbs up the mountain loosely following underneath the Great Escape chairlift and ending at the summit lodge known as Sky House. It’s roughly 5 miles round trip, and half of this is climbing a skill hill. I was challenged, and I was rewarded. The scenery along the way was incredible, but the 360° views from 6,400 feet up were breathtaking. The top of the mountain also brought some snow and 32° on the temperature gauge (queue my frozen hair). The Great Escape chairlift actually runs year round and was operational during my hike. With it getting darker and colder by the minute I tried to ride the lift down the hill. Unfortunately I wasn’t a part of the wedding party hosting a rehearsal dinner at Sky House, so it was another 2.5 miles (downhill this time) for me. I nursed a venti hot chocolate during the hour long drive back to Coeur d’Alene in an attempt to warm up. My first day was an exhausting success, but I still had a big weekend ahead of me.

I was on the road by 6am the next morning heading north to Bonner’s Ferry. It’s only about an hour and a half drive from Coeur d’Alene, but it takes another good hour to get to a trail from here. My destination was Pyramid Lake. It’s actually not that far from the town of Bonner’s Ferry, only about 20 miles. The problem is the second half of this trip is a dirt road littered with potholes and rocks, like BIG rocks. I did not go over 10 miles an hour and was generally in fear of ruining my rental car. Luckily I didn’t run into any other vehicles on my way up (or down), it’s basically a one-lane road. I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the trailhead. There was a nice bulletin board with trail info (including how to differentiate black bears from grizzly bears thank you very much), and four other cars parked in the lot! The anxiety of getting to this point was wearing off and I was excited for what was ahead of me. The hiking itself was fairly tame, moderately rated. There was an initial climb with some switchbacks, but otherwise felt like a low grade. It was late September so most of the trail was snow covered, my leather hiking boots fared well. The cool thing about this trail is by the time you get started, you’re already deep in the mountains. The views are incredible and only get better with each step. After 1.5 miles on the trail, it opens up to Pyramid Lake, and it was breathtaking. The sun was shining on a gorgeous Fall day, and clear blue skies highlighted the snow on the mountain side. I wandered out to a group of rocks bordering the lake to take in the view, it almost seemed unreal.

My adventures in the Selkirks turned out to be fairly tame, the only animals I came across on the trails were wolf tracks in the snow, which was fine by me. It meant $40 wasted in bear spray, but it was still money well spent. The drive back out to Bonner’s Ferry was just as daunting, leading me to take a breather at Kootenai River Brewing Company before heading back to Coeur d’Alene. My taste in beer can be summed up in two words: Blue Moon, so the Huckleberry Wheat Beer was right up my alley. The rest of my night consisted of watching the sunset from the boardwalk over Lake Coeur d’Alene, picture perfect.

My flight didn’t leave until early afternoon on Sunday so I took advantage of local hiking on Tubbs Hill. Located just next to The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Tubbs Hill is 120 acres of public land with miles of trails and incredible views. I opted for the roughly 2 mile loop around the perimeter, finishing with breakfast at Bakery By The Lake coffee shop and cafe. It was the perfect way to end my time in the Idaho Panhandle. There are so many places I still want to explore, but I would not hesitate to revisit the Selkirk Mountains and all of its surrounding beauty.

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The idea sparked one summer day, two friends laying by the pool. I had just gone to a local music festival to see one of my favorite bands and mentioned they were playing at Red Rocks Amphitheater in September. Turns out, seeing NEEDTOBREATHE at Red Rocks wasn’t just on my bucket list. Before we could change our minds, flights were booked and concert tickets were purchased.

Early morning on a Wednesday in September, my friend Jess and I set out to the airport to catch our flight to Denver. The plan was to see the concert Wednesday evening and spend as much time outdoors as possible. We had no specific plans for the latter, but were eager to make the most of our time.

With a full day ahead of us we headed to Golden, Colorado, home of Coors Brewing Company and the School of Mines. A walk down main street (i.e. Washington Ave) left us with hours of entertainment from shops, dining, and hiking. A local tip led us to Lubahn Trail, a 2.5 mile trail loop leading to the base of the Castle Rock cliffs. This gave gorgeous views of the town below and the perfect opportunity to stretch our legs after a travel-filled morning. We were graced with a similar view on the other side of town as we traveled up Lookout Mountain on our way to Evergreen, CO.

Side note: Evergreen, CO is a hidden gem 40 minutes West of Denver. We decided to stay in Evergreen (vs. Denver) for a few reasons. A. Staying out of the metropolitan area is slightly cheaper. B. Our main event was taking place in Morrison, CO which is conveniently located between Denver and Evergreen. And C. The tentative plan for Thursday was to ‘hike in the mountains’, by staying in Evergreen we were well on our way to whatever the destination may be.

Seeing a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater has always been a dream of mine.  The venue is breathtaking, something to see in itself. To be able to see NEEDTOBREATHE at Red Rocks is on another level.

We arrived early to walk the grounds and see what else the venue has to offer. We toured the Visitor Center, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and took in the views before the sun went down and the music started. The New Respects took the stage first, followed by The Lone Bellow, both acts were a welcomed warm-up for the main show. NEEDTOBREATHE was everything I had imagined and then some. It was a beautiful night and they played a couple hours of sweet, sweet music. Our tickets were in row 19, the perfect view for when the lead singer emerged for a slow jam in row 18. We decided to spend a little more money on tickets ($100 each) to get reserved seating versus general admission, would absolutely go this route again. One of my favorite things about going to a concert is leaving with a new favorite song. I had at least a couple new favorites after this show, and countless memories to take with me.

Thursday brought a new day and a new adventure. We opted for a quick continental breakfast at the hotel, then hit the road for St. Mary’s Glacier near Idaho Springs. This popular destination includes a short hike with breathtaking views. It’s about 0.75 miles to the base of the glacier, Saint Marys Lake, so a pretty short round-trip hike depending on how far you choose to go. Once off of the freeway, there’s an 8-mile winding road to get to the two gravel parking lots. Here, you’ll need $5 and a pen to fill out the permit to place on your dash. The trailhead is located in between the two lots, and from there the hike is fairly self-explanatory. The whole thing is an uphill climb which was tough at first for us Midwesterners but we acclimated and made our way up. We started to question ourselves near the top when lots of spur trails appeared, but by this time as long as you’re moving up the hill you’ll eventually run into the lake. The trail itself wasn’t packed with people, but we saw enough to know we weren’t alone and on the right track. Views of the lake and glacier are incredible and plenty of people were basking in the glory of this final destination, but I recommend continuing on up the glacier. We didn’t hike the whole thing, hoping to save some time for other sites, but we managed to get about halfway (see featured image of this post). This is a must see regardless of the season, but Fall is spectacular.

It was only noon and we were eager to squeeze as much adventure into the day as possible, this is where Mount Evans comes in. Also located near Idaho Springs, Mount Evans stands at 14,264 feet and is part of the Front Range. On a tip from a friend, we decided the reputation and location of the mountain made it the perfect stop. Before we headed up Highway 5, we made a pit stop at the Idaho Springs Visitor Center for a map and the local gas station for food and fuel. It’s about 22 miles from Idaho Springs to the “base” of Mount Evans, Summit Lake Park in our case. The first half of which is a gorgeous drive filled with pine trees, fall colors, and amazing views. We then passed through the Forest Service Station near Echo Lake and paid our dues ($15 for a vehicle permit). The second half of the drive up had me white knuckling the steering wheel a bit, driving on the outside edge of a road (cliff?) is not my idea of a good time. The lot at Summit Lake was full, plenty of people were heading up the mountain before it closed for the season. Once you reach Summit Lake, Mount Evans Scenic Byway actually continues up almost to the summit and is the highest paved road in North America. This last 6 miles between Summit Lake and the top of Mount Evans closes after Labor Day to protect natural resources at the summit, but this doesn’t stop hundreds of tourists from traveling to the top. We took an unconventional route to the top, but we had come this far and were determined to reap the rewards. The altitude hit us hard at times, reminding us to slow our pace. It was a gorgeous day, but got pretty winding depending on which side of the mountain we were on.Lots of water breaks, coconut cream pie Lara bars, and trail mix were involved. We may have stopped to lay on the sun-soaked black pavement once (or twice).  So, three hours and six miles later we were on top of the world.

The trek down only took about an hour and consisted of lots of shortcuts. It was starting to get dark (and cold) and we were eager to sit down for a good meal at this point. We headed to Beau Jo’s for some Colorado Style pizza. Our waiter suggested the Hipster (roasted garlic-olive sauce, spinach, red peppers, pineapple, pepperoncici peppers, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses) and it did not disappoint. Honey is served with all of the pizzas to be used on the crust, but that didn’t stop us from putting it on the pizza too. By the time we got back to our hotel, we were exhausted and sleep came easy. Jess was staying in Denver through the weekend and I had an early flight Friday morning to take me to my next adventure. We packed as much excitement as possible into the 36 hours we spent exploring Colorado. It was a trip I’ll never forget.

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Growing up, my family took ski vacations every winter; mostly Spirit Mountain, Lutsen Mountain, or Giants Ridge. Now that I’m ‘all grown up’ I’ve gotten a taste of the mountains and there is no going back. Lucky for me, Vail Resorts offers the Epic Pass. There are lots of pass options to choose from, and along with the Rocky Mountain resorts, most include skiing at Afton Alps right at home in the Twin Cities!

My most recent adventure was on a whim as a last ditch effort to prolong the season. In a classic ‘long weekend’ trip, I flew to Denver on a Thursday night. My go-to stop along I-70 is Evergreen, CO, about 20 miles West of Denver. I’ve stayed at the Comfort Suites Golden West a handful of times and it has not disappointed. After a good nights sleep, I got on the road at 6 am and made my way to Beaver Creek. This was a new destination for me, and I was excited to go down these runs for the first time. It’s also the furthest Epic Resort along I-70, which is why I hadn’t made the trek before. After a couple hours on the road I found myself in the ‘Bear’ parking lot and got shuttled over to the Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express Lift. The shuttle to and from the lot is free and was fairly easy to navigate for a first-timer like myself. I started off with the runs on Arrowhead Mountain, and throughout the day made my way through Larkspur Bowl and over to Beaver Creek Mountain. I quickly found my favorite spot at the top of Larkspur Bowl (pictured). While it’s not the highest point at the resort, it’s wide open, less crowded, and provides gorgeous views.  It was the end of March, the sun was out, and the snow was melting. By mid-afternoon I was skiing through slush. That was my cue to make my way back across the mountain. I ended where my day began, only having to wait a few minutes to catch the shuttle for the short ride back to my car. My condo rental for the weekend was a ski-in-ski-out in Breckenridge, about an hour drive back East, so it was nice to get on the road during day light and get settled in for the weekend.

I checked-in to a newly renovated studio in 4 O’Clock Lodge Friday evening, this rental was perfect. One block down from the Snowflake lift on Peak 8, it was a short walk to hop on the chair and hit the slopes. At the end of the day, 4 O’Clock run took me to the back door of the condo, could not be any easier. What I really loved about this location was the quick walk (just over 0.5 mile) to main street and downtown Breckenridge. I parked my car on Friday night and didn’t get back in until it was time to head home. After a late night traveling and skiing all day I was ready to relax for the evening. My one stop before settling in was Sauce on the Maggie for a wild mushroom pizza, it was well worth the trip.

Saturday was another full day of skiing. Breckenridge has become my favorite resort out West (so far) due to its size and variety of runs. Based on my location, I started out in the middle of the resort on Peak 8 and branched out from there. I have a soft spot for the runs on Peak 7, but have also found this to be one of the busier areas. A real gem on this side of the mountain is Peak 6, up the Kensho Superchair. Above the treeline, these runs start out a little steeper than most but turn into groomed runs after the initial drop. I haven’t made it up to any of the true bowls Breckenridge has to offer, so this is a nice constellation for me. From Peak 6 I made my way back across the mountain and ended my day on Peak 10. The Falcon Super Chair takes you up, and the only way down is via black diamond runs. Still lots of variety and people on this side of the mountain, but not as busy as the major peaks. When it was time to call it a day, I found 4 O’Clock run and crossed my fingers hoping I would recognize the back of my rental. My second night in the condo was spent relaxing by the fireplace with a good book and a glass of wine. After a full day of skiing, I was happy to curl up and call it an early night.

The final day of my ‘long weekend’ started early, like 5 am early. My destination was Estes Park, about a three hour drive from Breckenridge. It felt like I traveled through four different seasons during those three hours. The trip started in a snowstorm, not my idea of a good time when driving through the mountains. When the snow passed, a dense fog rolled in. This was followed by rain showers, and finally bright blue skies filled with sunshine when I reached my final destination. The parking lot at the trailhead to Gem Lake was pretty full. I welcome this when I’m hiking solo, it gives me some peace of mind knowing I’m not completely alone on the trail. The hike to Gem Lake is uphill – it’s an out and back trail, about 1.5 miles one way. Not too strenuous, but walking over a mile on an incline does take some time, especially when stopping to appreciate the gorgeous views of Rocky Mountain National Park. I enjoyed my lunch while overlooking Estes Park and took some time to catch my breath. With a few hours to spare before my flight I decided to continue on another two miles to Balanced Rock. This portion of the trail was snow covered and icy in some areas, I put my hiking spikes to good use. Only a couple people decided to make the trek past Gem Lake, this made for a peaceful hike through varied terrain. When I set out on a hike, I’m all about the reward. Trying to focus more on the journey every day, but a beautiful destination is so fulfilling after a long hike. Balanced Rock didn’t really do that for me, but it was an enjoyable hike on a beautiful day.

The drive back to the airport, marked the end of my weekend. It was a quick trip, but filled with gorgeous views and unforgettable experience. Breckenridge will always be a favorite, but Gem Lake was just the tip of the iceberg. Next stop, Rocky Mountain National Park?

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Cabin weekend. Up North. Girls trip. Winter wonderland? My teammates and I built fast friendships in college, we spent nearly every waking minute together for four years. Different jobs and different cities after graduation keep us apart at times but we’re always able to pick up right where we left off. This fall a group of us were able to come together for a full weekend up the North Shore in Lutsen, MN and it did not disappoint.

October in Minnesota (especially up the shore) is unpredictable. Last year I attended a friends wedding with clear blue skies and 60 degree sunshine. This year was a different story. The first snowstorm of the year started early Friday morning, making the commute from Minneapolis to Duluth longer and slightly more terrifying than usual. After 3 hours of white-knuckling the steering wheel, I rendezvoused with the group and our grocery list then we made our way up the Scenic Highway.

A trip up North wouldn’t be complete without a brewery stop along the way. Castle Danger Brewery gave us just the push we needed to continue up the shore to our snow-covered cabin. By the time we got to Lutsen it was late and it was dark, but we could hear the waves of Lake Superior crashing on the shore.

We rented through Cascade Vacation Rentals, basically a VRBO for north shore homes, and I would absolutely recommend. Our cabin was private, and on the shore line of Lake Superior, i.e. gorgeous. We could have created the perfect weekend just by sitting around the wood stove (and we totally did), but we took it a step further.

The first snow of the season could not have fared better in our favor. Saturday brought glistening white forests underneath a bright blue sky and we set out on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT). Snow also meant muddy trails, but what’s an adventure without a little adversity? We started at the Lutsen Mountain trailhead, just through the village past the main parking lots. Early on, the trail comes to an overlook showcasing the Poplar River and Lake Superior. Our group actually started cheering when we saw the view, just incredible.

We continued on up the mountain, through switchbacks and camping sites. Our hike was only a few miles round trip, but the SHT continues to the top of Moose Mountain and through if you’re up for it. Lutsen also runs its Summit Express Gondola outside of ski season if Moose Mountain by foot seems too daunting. It looked like a lot of fun, but we were cold and our minds quickly turned to Bloody Marys. Lucky for us, there was a bar open on the mountain at 11 am, so we headed over to Moguls to get a round and play cards to escape the cold.

The rest of our Saturday was spent at our cabin on Lake Superior. We played endless games around the kitchen table, drank our fair share of beer and wine, fired up a charcoal grill (an adventure in itself), and sat around a campfire on the beach. With our lack of experience, the campfire would have been a more effective way to cook dinner than the charcoal grill, but *hindsight*. I learned how to play cribbage, revisited some classic playing card drinking games from college, and played countless rounds of hilarious traveling pictionary (seriously, you need to play this game).

The weekend was a blast, something we all wish we could do more often. At the end of the day we absolutely made the most of our short time together. Just under 2 hours from Duluth, Lutsen makes a perfect weekend getaway for all ages and walks of life – there is truly something for everyone.

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