Kyle and I already had a trip to Tucson planned and at the last minute I decided to start the road trip a week early to visit my Mom in California for her 76th birthday. For the most part I was just passing through, not taking time to sightsee just stopping to stretch my legs until I got to Vegas.
A headless horse….Just kidding.American Southwest architectureAZ wildflowersMore American Southwest architectureHere for a good time, not a long time
I spent two nights at the Golden Nugget on Fremont. I prefer Fremont to the Strip since it’s less overwhelming and easier to navigate. They’ve also done a lot of refurbishing in the area and it has a really neat arts district area with unique restaurants and shops and lots of huge murals.
Vegas!!!FremontHigh Roller
I treated my self to a dinner at the iconic Peppermill restaurant across the street from the Circus Circus casino. It’s one of my favorite kitschy spots in town, open since the 70’s and featured in many films, music videos and tv shows. The decor is so over the top there’s really no way to capture it all in a photo so here is a photo of my club sandwich.
I was fueling up to go to the Horseshoe casino to see “Dita Las Vegas: a Jubilant Revue,” starring neo-burlesque queen Dita Von Teese. A show filled with the glitter and glamour of a classic Vegas showgirl (and boy) production using original Jubilee costumes designed by Bob Mackie.
Neo-burlesque queen Dita Von Teese
On my way out of town I grabbed some donuts and a t-shirt at The Donut Hole and stopped at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum before I hit the highway. I was in Vegas in 2010 when the museum had it’s grand opening. It started in the corner of a coffee shop on Fremont and now it has it’s own space in the arts district a few blocks away from the Fremont experience. The museum has come a long way from it’s roots on Jennie Lee and Dixie Evan’s goat farm in Victorville (which I have also visited) and it is great to see that the costumes and stories are being taken care of by a passionate group of burlesque historians.
But first, donuts The Burlesque Hall Of FameDisplays at the Burlesque Hall Of FamePasties art the Burlesque Hall Of Fame
I’ve been to Vegas many times before but I think this might be the first time I’ve ever gone alone! I definitely have some favorite spots there but it is always neat to do something new and different each time I visit.
In one of our earlier posts Bee wrote about her fifth element of travel: the unexpected. We were driving down to Tucson, AZ from Creede, Colorado towing a couple motorcycles, so I was taking the scenic back roads. We were in Western New Mexico and entered the El Malpais National Monument, something I had not planned on. I was looking for a spot to stop and take a rest and walk our pup Maya and figured this was perfect.
The trail starts paved and becomes easy to travel level gravel.
We were out of cell service so I was just keeping an eye open, and saw a sign for La Ventana Natural Arch in 15 miles and figured, why not, that’s the stop! I pulled off at the trailhead and much to my surprise you could actually see the arch from the trailhead. It’s a short 15 minute walk up the trail (which does allow pets), and you’re standing at the base of a gigantic, natural sandstone arch – one of New Mexico’s largest.
Rules, regulations, and a little info at the La Ventana Natural Arch trailhead.
It’s fun when something is simple as a little break from the road turns into seeing a beautiful natural wonder. That entire national monument is absolutely gorgeous and at some point we will make a point to head back to and explore the lava tube caves and sandstone bluffs in the future!
The view of La Ventana Natural Arch from the end of the trail.
Somehow the entire winter managed to get past me without hitting Wolf Creek Ski Area again! Even though the winter season is long here in the high country of Southern Colorado, sometimes looking back it just flew by. Luckily having my brother and his family in for a visit gave me the excuse I needed to get some time on the slopes!
Tyler, Julia, Darly, and Virginia takin a break on the slopes
It’s been a couple years, so I had to pull out my gear, and literally dust the cobwebs off. It ended up being the perfect week to go, the last week of the season, and a locals week (everyone is a local!). Even without the special rates Wolf Creek is a bargain compared to so many resorts out there with reasonable lift tickets and gear rental. To me the best thing about it is that it is one of the most uncrowded ski areas I’ve been to! It still feels like a local hill, but with some of the most snow in Colorado normally averaging over 400 inches a year, 1600 skiable acres with 133 named trails of varied types of terrain, and hike-to backcountry areas, it is still a world-class experience. It makes for an excellent vibe compared to packed resorts with exorbitant prices and huge lift lines.
The extensive trail map for Wolf Creek Ski Area
The first time I went to Wolf Creek was about 15 years ago, and it still feels the same. It was opened in 1938 and family owned and operated for the past 50 years. I feel like that is why it kept its charm rather than feeling like just another corporate park. The facts the nearest airports are 65-80 miles away, and there is no lodging on site (although nearby Pagosa Springs offers a ton of options, as well as hot springs) may have part to do with it not exploding as well!
Heading down 160 from Creede, CO to Wolf Creek Ski Area
We hit the road early and had a beautiful drive from Creede to Wolf Creek and showed up right around opening time to an almost empty lot, and 6 inches of fresh powder! After getting everyone geared up, we headed right to the closest lift and headed up to the top of the mountain. It was a blast getting to ski and snowboard as a family; the sun may not have been shining, but it was excellent conditions for the end of the season. We got run after run in, took a nice lunch break in the lodge, and hit the slopes again for a couple more hours.
Heading up the mountain for my first run of the season!
Julia looking pumped to be snowboarding!
Still a few days left before Wolf Creek closes for the season, if you live in the area or are visiting and enjoy snow sports, you should absolutely check out Wolf Creek. See you next year!
Wolf Creek Ski Area has tons of skiable acres, and approximately 20% of the trails are rated easy, great for kids and beginners.
Look Ma, no hands!
And that is almost a wrap for the season!
Fun runs with the family! Thanks Wolf Creek Ski Area!
Living in a remote town has its perks, the nearest stoplight is an hour away and as much as I enjoy the slow quiet pace here in Creede during the winter, the entertainment options are limited (unless you like going out in the snow). Heading out of town we followed the mostly frozen Rio Grande into South Fork, hooked a left and made our way across the San Luis Valley. The trip to Joyful Journey Hot Springs is about a 2 hour drive so Kyle and I stopped in Monte Vista for quick bite at Taqueria Antojitos Los Lopez since we hadn’t been there before. It looks deceptively small from the outside, but there is a large seating area inside. A couple of tacos and a refreshing agua fresca hit the spot and we were on our way.
The Joyful Journeys spa entrance.
Joyful Journey Hot Springs is located in Moffat, Colorado beneath the sharp outline of the Sangre De Cristo mountains. There isn’t another business or building around for miles, so it is just you and the mountains to keeping you company while you enjoy the hot springs resort. Kyle and I have been for a day soak before, but this was our first overnight stay. There are several options for accommodations and this time we chose one of the lodge rooms (I’ll save a stay in the yurt for a summer trip thank you very much). We were in between snowstorms; the sky was mostly clear and we knew it was going to dip in to the 20’s overnight so we thought a room would be best for us this time.
We checked in just after 4 pm and the staff was super friendly and informative, giving us the lay of the land and handing over the keys to our room. I was a little hesitant when we first walked into our room and saw there were tiled floors and I was worried about the cold, until I realized the floors had radiant heating! Each room also has a sitting area right outside the back door to take in the views, and the rooms don’t have televisions, so you are really encouraged to disconnect and enjoy what the resort has to offer.
The rooms are comfortable with radiant floor heat and a patio put the back of each room.
We got changed, grabbed our robes, and dipped in to a few of the pools just as the sun was going down. Then we went back to our rooms to catch the view of the sun setting in front of us and enjoy the alpenglow on the mountains behind us from the patio at the back of our room.
Alpenglow on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
A beautiful sunset in the San Luis Valley from our patio!
Overnight guests have dinner provided from a seasonal fixed menu, all of this info is on their website so I’ll spare the details, but I will say we were satisfied and refreshed from the fixin’s provided.
The lodgings and event center where meals are served and yoga was held the next morning.
Dinner and desert were delicious, as well as the full breakfast after our morning soak.
I took a quick nap before heading out to the pools again. When we went outside for our second soak, we could see the glow of the full moon that was getting ready to rise above the mountains. Things seemed pretty quiet for a Friday evening, I’m sure in the summer when there are more campers and visitors it is much livelier but this quiet retreat is exactly what I needed. The temperatures were dipping down in to the 20’s and it was a refreshing feeling walking between the pools with steam trailing off our bodies. The grounds are softly lit making this steamy winter night under a full moon look just magical.
Heading to the spa.
The best pool in our opinion, with views of the mountains all around you.
Pools of varying temperatures and depths.
I got a great nights sleep and opted out of the morning soak to take a yoga class instead. I practice regularly on my own, but I always look forward to learning something new from a new instructor. It was a fun class and I think even a beginner could feel comfortable following along. After yoga I met Kyle for breakfast. There are some quick self-serve options but we decided to wait for a fresh made breakfast from the kitchen and took our plates back to our rooms.
We will definitely be back, I’m excited to try a stay in a yurt or tipi in the summer and explore more of the grounds. Since it was cold I was focused on keeping cozy and getting a good nights sleep so I didn’t take tour of the greenhouse or visit the labyrinth and meditation hill. Luckily, it’s not too far from us and it will give us an opportunity to experience the resort again in a new way.
One last thing worth mentioning is what I call the “fifth element” of a trip, the element of surprise. The things you can’t pay for or plan, you just have to be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. At Joyful Journey we were greeted by the sounds of red-winged blackbirds singing away on what seemed like every branch of every tree at the resort. The second surprise was on the way back into our little hometown and catching a large herd of elk crossing the road followed by one little antelope. If we had been a minute earlier or a minute later, we would have missed the whole thing. The fifth element is what fuels my adventurous heart. You can only plan so much; you should always leave room for surprises.
It feels like if you’re going to live in the mountains, you need to take advantage of all the opportunities you can… especially in the winter, which is pretty long here. Out of the blue Bee asked, “Do you want to go snowshoeing?” Being that she’s not usually that down for cold-weather activities I immediately said yes. We decided to go on a Sunday, sunny and a high of 30° with some fresh powder on the ground seemed like perfect conditions. We headed to San Juan Sports in town to pick up some free loaner equipment. This is such a great little outfitter and I highly recommend checking it out whether you need gear, clothing, or a beer at the Sunnyside Bar next-door.
San Juan Sports, celebrating 50 years!
We took our newly acquired gear and headed up to Ivy and Lime Creek Trail at about 9400 feet elevation in the Rio Grande National Forest. We decided to head down the road first which had a trail broken already from some snowmobiles, we figured we’d get our feet wet so to speak and see how these guys worked. It’s actually super simple and intuitive to use snowshoes, you just have to adjust your stance a little wider and be careful when turning around so you don’t trip yourself (or whoever is behind you) up. I decided to take a stroll off the road to see how it would do on very deep powder. It ends up snowshoes only do so much, if it’s 4 feet deep powder…you will sink four feet!
Maybe some poles would help in the deep powder!
After some laughs, we made our way down to a good spot to look down the valley, absolutely stunning in winter. We made our way back to the trailhead and up a snowshoe path. It’s definitely a bit more challenging going uphill and through the woods, especially when you reach areas where the trail has not been broken yet.
Such a different experience compared to summer.
It’s still amazing to get back into the woods and some of these areas which we haven’t seen since snow started in October. We decided to call it a day and head back down to the truck. It was a great time and something we’d like to try to do further. If you’re looking to break that cabin fever go borrow a pair of snowshoes, and give it a shot!
Bee working her way uphill
It is a workout, but worth it.
On the way home we spotted some deer with Creede in the background!
There’s definitely something a little bit nerdy about my interest in trains. My father was into model railroading and as a kid I was exposed to trains both small and full-size. As an adult, I found myself riding more than a few around the country and enjoying the experience immensely. There’s a massive difference between traveling by train, car, or airplane. Trains have a romance and nostalgia other methods lack; you can picture yourself in a black and white movie traveling across the country, perhaps having a cocktail in the bar car as the scenery passes by and the cars rock and sway. In the case of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this is amplified even further as it is a narrow gauge track, which is about 27” narrower than standard train tracks, and many of the cars date back to the 1800’s so the atmosphere is quite different from a modern passenger train.
The Durango & Silverton Depot
Bee walking to board our train car
The train runs from Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado, and has been hauling passengers and freight since 1882. From the very beginning the railroad was promoted as a scenic route for passenger service, although the line was constructed primarily to haul gold and silver ores mined from the San Juan Mountains. It is estimated over $300 million in precious metals have been transported over this route.
The gorgeous Animas River
During the normal season the train runs the full route from Durango to Silverton, allowing you to disembark and explore Silverton and grab lunch and sightsee a little bit before heading back down the valley. We came up at the end of November, when the train is only running a partial route to Cascade Canyon because of snow. It goes about halfway up the valley and allows you to get off the train for an hour while it turns around and then heads back to the station. What’s really unique about this area is the only way you could get there is by train or raft. The Million Dollar highway running between Durango and Silverton more or less parallels this route however the train runs down through the gorgeous canyon along the Animas River, originally named the Rio de Las Animas, translated as the River of Souls.
From the end of the train we were able to catch the engine rounding turns throughout the trip
We were especially lucky as the first real snow of the year started literally as we were pulling out from the train station. By the time we reached Cascade Canyon, big fluffy snowflakes were coming down, and we were able to walk around the canyon, see the river, and warm ourselves by the fire.
The train turns around in a Wye (yes that is spelled correctly!) in the canyon, giving everyone time to stretch their legs
We made sure to get a photograph in front of the engine at our stop in Cascade Canyon
The Cinco Animas Presidential car at the rear of the train dates to the 1800s and features an observation deck for passengers as well as a bar with private service
The return ride was absolutely gorgeous with the snow blanketing the trees, and from the observation deck at the back of the car we were able to listen to the silence, broken only by the train.
A view you can only get while riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad!
If you’re in Durango, this is a true experience that many people can appreciate and is not to be missed!
Mare sure to check out this video taken from the observation deck!
We figured for the first post we would introduce ourselves and let you know what this blog is all about. We (Kyle & Bee) are based out of Creede, Colorado, high up in the San Juan mountains in Southern Colorado. We both love traveling, adventuring, discovering new places, and riding our motorcycles when the season allows!
Kyle & Bee riding horseback through Monument Valley Utah. Living those John Wayne dreams!
This site is more our travel journal than anything else. We aren’t sponsored or paid for anything, these are just places we want to go, things we want to do, and we want to share our experiences.
Snowshoeing in Creede, Colorado at 9500ft elevation
Follow us, Kyle & Bee, while we ramble around southern Colorado, our amazing country, and beyond. Whether it’s four wheels, two wheels, or two legs, we are looking for adventure, cool places, and interesting people.
Just a few of our past adventures on 2 wheels, 2 wings, and 2 legs!
Ramble Around 