we’re home! as of 3 am last night, that is. my own bed was a welcome sight after all that travel.
so! colorado! part 1 of 18! just kidding! now seriously… colorado definitely has some spectacular areas but vail took my breath away. i’d been there once before, just before we got engaged, but it was one quick overnight and i didn’t get to breathe it in like i did this time. it’s so great. like sooooo great. tell yourself you’re in a little swiss village, and you’d really believe it. one of those special pinch-me-is-this-real places.
we flew into denver on the 4th, and spent some time with steve’s parents. then, we headed out to vail for a little time in the mountains on our own. so, here’s the vail bit!
there’s so much to love about that place. it’s so walkable, there’s a creek running through it (freezing but refreshing nevertheless), and nearly any hotel room will have a view. the creek’s not your thing? okay, then look at the mountains all around you. our hotel room at the sitzmark (beautiful and affordable!) had a balcony on the creek side, perfect for two chairs, and from your bed at night you could hear the creek falling over the rocks westward.
one morning we were there, we woke with the sun (a toddler as your bedmate will do that) and headed out for a walk and breakfast. we got to witness the people that maintain vail’s reputation as they went about their work: street sweepers, people watering all the plants (the flowers in vail are overwhelming in the best way possible. each window box, lining the streets, lacing each hotel balcony–full of color!). meticulous weeding, deliveries being made to the various eateries–one of the few times you’d see a car or truck on the main thoroughfare through the village (the no-cars rule got a big thumbs up from me). it was fun to be up with the sun in vail. you get the sense that the people who frequent vail know how to live. they’ve got it figured out–much like the italians! the sweetness of nothing: have a latte at yeti’s grind, maybe a chocolate croissant if you’re feeling decadent. then stroll over to the pirate ship playground for the kids to run around. if it’s hot, dip your toes in the creek, a mere stone’s throw from the playground. admire the petunias bursting everywhere. look up the mountain, the gondola still frozen in place from when it closed up shop the night before. walk across the bridge, notice the dogs leaping through gore creek. perhaps, like us, vail will make you keenly aware of your poor decision-making when it came to careers. how do we get to do this every day?? tell us!
no, not really. i know that we appreciate the siestas life offers more when the daily grind isn’t always handing them out. they come as a welcome relief to life. life is sweet and sweeter still when you get to take trips like this one.
there’s more on all this tomorrow. including some specifics on our vail-favorites. and a huge thank you to all of the people who gave me their vail insider tips!
you look beautiful! such a dreamy, peaceful place…
Oh MAN. I already really wanted to go to Colorado. Now even more so- that creek sounds amazing!
Ok, this place looks like a scenic, tasteful Disneyland. And this is coming from someone who LOVES Disneyland. New spot on my travel wish list!
http://www.anna-bird.com
Vail looks amazing!! I'm flying out to Denver in a couple of weeks with my baby to see my husband… recommend any places? I know you were only there for a little bit 😉 Vail will be on the top of my list to visit if we end up moving to CO — its beautiful 🙂
oh man! if i can't, i'm sure some readers could! i will say: snooze is amazing for breakfast. there's a few in the denver area. i went THREE TIMES while i was there. then i've done the downtown denver which is cute, and has a trolley sort of thing running along it… but i say get outta the city and do some mtn. things!!
I love it! Sometimes on other blogs I might get bored seeing their 'family vacation pictures', but not yours! Vail looks so, so lovely. Thanks for making me pine for Colorado (anything beats the Northeast humidity at this point 🙂
thanks christy! sometimes i wonder… i'm like, "this could easily be several posts" but i dont want to bore everyone (but i also like it for our own memory-keeping! glad you're not bored by it 🙂
LOVE all of these pictures, can barely pick a favorite because they are all too sweet and perfect (but if I had to I think it would be the one of you and Parker by the creek)!! Also, when did William start looking so old?? Handsome young man he is! Yay for day 1 of a week's worth of CO pics and stories…bring it!!! 🙂
omg i know! william's a man now. and such a stud, if i say so myself.
goof grief, I miss living in Colorado! my family and I stayed in Vail for a week as a mini-vacation before heading down to the Colorado Springs area to house-hunt. my 7-year-old self has lots of fond memories of bike rides around Vail and taking our lab for exploratory walks. Breckenridge is another gorgeous place to explore the next time you make it out to Colorado! such a charming little town, especially during ski season. and Denver's a blast too of course! the science museum and the zoo are both fantastic. and then Colorado Springs has Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne Mountain and the Broadmoor…and now I'm getting all kinds of nostalgic.
anyway, my point is this: go visit Steve's family more often! there's lots of beautiful places you have to see in Colorado.
i agree, i need to do breckenridge! that's one of steve's faves too! i have done the springs (garden of gods and flying w!) years ago! vail might be tops but there are some great places all over… have you been to idaho springs? i loved that too! i'm sure you have, having lived there!
We'll be in Breckenridge in a few weeks! So excited. We went two years ago and I loved it. I'm looking forward to the cooler temps!! I thought for sure that's where you were when Lindsay is on the trampoline bungee thing because it looks JUST like the fun park there. Must be a popular Colorado activity 🙂
must be! it's called, i think activity ridge – top of the lionshead gondola. you should get to vail too! though steve says good things about breckenridge too so maybe not!
I love your photos and I know that's a fairly generic comment, but I do! I love the perspective. I also like how I feel like one of your friends meeting you for lunch when I read about your adventures here. I'm glad you had a lovely time!
devon, this is so nice. thank you!
Your hair is getting so long! It's weird that I don't even know you in real life and I feel the need to comment that. #bloggerissues I suppose.
The kids in the mountain pictures made me want to start singing, "The hills are aliiiiiiive, with the sound of mussssic…."
Gorgeous setting! Looks like a blast.
-Amy
some fraulein maria would do well up in here!
please. blogging is so like that. you comment on my hair any day. and yes! the longest i've had it in like forever.
ugggh LOVE these photos. must take stephen to vail.
Ah I recognized these scenes instantly, I love vail esp during the summer, you captured it beautifully. I dream of vacationing here every summer when my kids are older, for now we just booked a Christmas holiday there, can't sit to see my then 3 year old hit the slopes.
oh i cannot imagine how amazing it must be at christmas!!!
We spend the last days in Switzerland and you are so right, the landscape really reminds me of our little "just the two of us" – trip, thank you for that! I really like the picture of you and parker at the creek, looks adorable!
I'm glad you all had a pleasant time and I'm really looking forward to the next posts.
The pictures of you and your husband are beautiful. They should be blown up really big and hung on your wall 🙂
I want to visit there so much! It really does look so much like Austria/Switzerland! Gorgeous!
How cute! His flower is so darling!
I seriously enjoyed all your Instagram pictures of Vail. I'm now dying to visit Colorado in the summer!
I've been following you on Instagram (got to you through Anna from Dear Friend) and I loved seeing your pictures! I've never been to Colorado, but it is high on our list! It looks amazing!
this looks so fun
the pictures are so gorgeous
xx
http://www.adayinmywheels.com/
Oh, I love Vail! We were there a few summers ago and it's a blast. Great photos!
girl! i LOVE these pics!! did you use an action on them? i wanna steal it! btw i live in fort collins co…we only leave town to go to vail 🙂
hey lady! i just adjust the curves – and usually brighten them a bit! but i have been told the vsco download for… light room? photoshop?… will give a very similar look!
oh you are lucky to live close to vail!!!!
I followed your pictures from Vail on Instagram and couldn't wait for you to post about this trip! My husband went to Vail when we had first started dating and I skipped on the chance to go with him at the time. He always talks about going back and these pictures are just the impetus to make the plans! Also, I adore the striped/polka dot shirt…mind me asking where you found it?
you must go w/ him! and the shirt's from anthro!
Looks sooo swiss. Can't wait to visit one day!!
It is so gorgeous there!!! Makes me want to visit. It looks like you had an amazing trip!
Such lovely photos!