after our super long hike that ended in rain, taking the wrong bus and a less than stellar dinner afterwards i just wanted to go to bed.
but craig is much more fun than i am so he drove around a bit and found Tiny Town Mini Golf in Estes Park.
i’m a sucker for vintage signs.
and at $3 a person… how could we NOT?
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i loved every quirky little detail of this place!
you pick your ball and your kids just golf… no snacks… no arcade… no go karts?!
it IS possible.
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everything was old and maybe a bit falling apart but the VIEWS!!
and it’s mini golf… it’s always hard to make it in anyway so the age of the course seemed to make it even more fun.
my favorite part was all the flowers.
it has to be the owners pride because they were everywhere.
but it looked like a grandpa’s backyard… not a gardening crew that comes through every week.
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we played two nights in a row because the kids begged to go back.
and on the second night sean won the free game. 🙂
you get to write your name on the hand written poster board and date it.
seriously… if you go to Estes park.. you have to come here.
it’s the cutest place!
the second night we walked across the street afterwards and ate at Baba’s Burgers & Gyros.
it was equally “local” and kitchy.
totally delicious.
my family loved it!
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and both nights we also went to Dairy Delite in Loveland, CO.
it was the perfect local ice cream place.
like the kind you went to when you were a kid. 🙂
and there was a Ms. Pacman and Galaga machine!!!
it seemed to make the ice cream taste even better..jpg)
we did go horseback riding… at least the girls did.
we signed up at the YMCA of the Rockies on the first day to come back the second day.
the boys went hiking while we rode.
we had signed for 1:20. the 1:00 group was about 15 people and the leaders.
our group was us.
and Sam our wrangler from upstate New York.
so my girls and i got a private two hour tour of the Rockies on horseback.
annie had never riden and i think talby had once.
it couldn’t have gone any better.
except i did have the lamest horse ever… i told craig “i get enough difficulty in life raising kids and even the dogs… having a horse that listened to me would’ve been nice. i just paid money to have an animal ignore me for 2 hours”
but the other horses were great…perfect for my nervous girls.
they were so confident by the end! i loved seeing that.
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and that is all we did in colorado.
we got up the next morning and left for wyoming.
we debated on just staying in colorado and forgetting wyoming. seriously.
i am really glad we didn’t but we easily could’ve kept finding things to do everyday and had a perfectly great time in colorado.
have you ever been to colorado?
what are your favorite places there?
because we are totally going back… and i want lots of ideas.
meg duerksen - i THINK that shirt was from my nephew. He went there? i think. 🙂
Emily - Catching up on your blog, but love the Georgia Southern shirt! Do you know someone there? That’s my school!
Lori S - I live in Colorado…an hour away from Estes Park. Its funny, wehn you live here you don’t go do those things..too bad for me, I think I will try that horseback riding!!!
Kristen - You must go to Durango and take the train from there to Silverton. Then, we stayed a week in Silverton and rented a jeep to take ALL around. If you aren’t comfortable doing that on your own look into a jeep tour doing the Alpine Loop. Seriously the most gorgeous 360 degree view I have ever seen was on that loop. I think they called it Oh point because all you can say is “oh”! This trip is still a favorite of our kids and they are begging to go back and do it all over again.
Lori Immenhauser - I traveled out of state for the first time in my adult life. I am 48! I live in South Texas! We drove to Crested Butte,Colorado. We stayed in a cabin on Cement Creek and spent most of our time going up into the mountains on ATVs and then hiking. It was hard to hike at the high altitude! I loved it. We visited Crested Butte one evening. It was a beautiful little town.
Blessing,
Lorilee
Staci from PA - We went to Breckenridge during the Winter…….
1. We went to Snowmobile through the Rockies……AMAZING!!!!!!!!! (Did this 2 different days)
2. The DEW Tour was happening and lots of events to watch/visit were free. Your kids would LOVE this at their age. We were in AWE at the tricks of these athletes.
3. We did a Horse Drawn Carriage ride at night to a cowboy style dinner……this turned out to be a Bucket List item just like the Snowmobiling was!!!! http://dinnersleighrides.com/ Apparently they have a Wild West show in the Summer too.
Kelly - I live in Colorado! Colorado Springs. I’ve only been here three years so far so we are still learning all about our state. We were at YMCA of the Rockies last year. Fun! We will have to check out that mini golf place. Helen Hunt Falls is my favorite place in Colorado Springs. Happy travels! Kelly
Melanie - Wow you were visiting my part of the world! So happy you and the family loved it. I’ve lived in Longmont, CO, since 2004 and the entire Front Range has so much going on, especially for family vacations. Estes is a great start! Of course, when you come back, please see us in Boulder County. I’d love to share my ideas for fun and good eats. See us again soon!
Ruth - Wonderful! If you went to the Tetons in WY, you are not far from Yellowstone and Bozeman MT. Seriously Meg, you and your family NEED to come here! You would LOVE it. Just puttin’ it out there for next year’s trip consideration. 😉 Beautiful people, gorgeous scenery, super fun!
Mollie @ Sprinkles of Life - We went to Estes for a day when we were in Boulder last month. Beautiful!
I rode that same horse trail when on my senior trip 11 years ago. We stayed at the YMCA. I have the exact pics from the trail ride. too funny! 🙂
Rachel Jeter - Hi Megan! 🙂 I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Colorado. My uncle lives in Loveland! I have spent many summers in Estes Park! IT’s so beautiful! I also have a sister in Breckenridge. I highly reccomend going there in the “snow season”. It’s a beautiful little downtown. Even if you aren’t skiers, (I’m not!). There’s something so magical about Colorado. The Mountains are incredible! Loved all your pics! 🙂
Karie - Estes Park is my favorite! We went there every summer when I was a child. We would camp in Loveland, too.
Lydia Skaggs - 5 years ago, my husband and I spent the summer working at the YMCA of the Rockies back when we were dating. Love that place! We can’t wait to take our daughter someday! Next time, you’ve got to drive out to Allenspark and have breakfast at Meadow Mountain Cafe. Its literally a tiny bungalow house that’s been converted to the most cozy restaurant ever. Homemade bread every morning. Beautiful omelets. Totally kitschy & unmatched coffee mugs. The bacon, oh the bacon! But seriously, your crew would take up the entire living room, so I’d suggest eating out on the porch surrounded by Roosevelt National Park. Every time, best place I’ve had breakfast. I hope Meadow Mountain Cafe is in heaven someday. 🙂
Christy - I love Colorado so much, I try to figure out how to move there every time we visit, and we have visited lots of times. 🙂 My husband and I went to San Isabel in May. It’s such a hidden gem! We also stayed in the Vail/Avon area and fell in love. Breckenridge is a fun place to go in the summer too. You really can’t go wrong anywhere!
mel - I was born & raised here in CO, and I totally love that miniature golf place. My husband and I went to Estes for our honeymoon(!) 20 years ago. We went for two days because my husband was starting medical school a couple weeks later. We had no time or money. So we played miniature golf there several times so my husband could work on his short game. I would recommend any hike in the Park… but especially Chasm Lake. I think it’s 4 mile one-way, and a pretty good climb, but it’s right at the base of the face of Longs Peak and SO worth it! Longs Peak would be awesome for your older kids. Wild Basin is incredible too. Really, anywhere you end up in the mountains is pretty great. 🙂 Just close your eyes and point to any random spot on the west side of the state! Love that you guys had so much fun!
Kathy - I have to say that your comment about paying an animal to ignore you for two hours made me laugh out loud. 🙂
Janel - I’m a Denver native…if you loved Estes Park,
You will LOVE Grand Lake, just 45 min west of Estes Park or so…lots to do there for a family….also amazing fishing! My dad is a native and an expert sportsman..one of his favorite fishing holes is at the Granby reservoir…south east of Grand Lake by 30 min…you can google Grand Lake for accommodations etc….
Straight west on I-70, 170 miles west of Denver is Glenwood Springs..my favorite place! Hanging Lake is. 1 mile hike to a lake up top..gorgeous in the summer! Perfect for family photo. Bring Blue Lily with you! You can take THEIR family photo too! Glenwood is a H uGE natural hot springs and hot therapeutic pool. Bowling, putt putt, go carts in area… There is a huge slide at the pool….you can reserve a cabana too for the day for $75 so you have shade..Aspen is 40 miles away with amazing hikes and trails, a gondola to top…amazing food..views are amazing.. Glenwood offers family rafting too…and they have a gondola too to a mt top restaurant. There are also fairy caves to explore…on way to Aspen is Carbondale…cute little town… Head south of there and you’ll see RedStone and RedStone Castle. There is a hotel there…it s a beautiful little day trip as is Aspen from Glenwood.
On your way out of town headed back to Denver, you could take Independnce pass out of Aspen… It’s a BEAUTIFUL drive down 20 or so hair pin turns and a road that can sometimes be only wide enough for ONe car hanging on a cliff…. I pretty much blare my horn so people know I’m coming around the bend and to slow down…so they don’t hit me head on…regardless, the pass is stunning! The drive is a tad scary as you head down, then it evens out and is fine….
Steamboat Soring is another area to visit, or further south to Salida or Buena Vista.
As I said, I’m a native. My dad was born and raised in Salida. The family vacation you just had was my childhood, my whole summer, every summer, my whole life. Only we did a LOT of tents too! Every weekend pretty much. I wouldnt change it for a thing, and if given the chance to relive it, I would in a heart beat!
Marilyn M. - We love Estes Park. My husband I go there almost every year except due to illness we didn’t go for two years. Rocky mountain has some of the best hiking with well marked trails. Go across the mountain to Grand Lake. Day trip. Stop at the Alpine center. Grand lake has a small town with a beautiful lake and lots of little shops. Saw moose this year on the way back. We’ve golfed at that same course multiple times. Owned by an older gentlemen who lives local. Next time through try Smokin Daves barbeque, go early or otherwise long lines. Dunraven Inn on highway 66. Italian. The Appenzell Inn on highway 34 and for an amazing donut fix “the donut haus” on the corner by the big slide. Views are gorgeous and wildlife very cool. The big horn restaurant great place for breakfast. Your boys would get plenty to eat. For an adventure take the “Old Fall River Road” One way on gravel to the continental divide….the best……
Cassie Moore - I love love Colorado!!!! So many favorite places, I love Breckenridge…their little main street is adorable and has the best junk store, Marigolds! Alpine slides are a blast in Colorado!!! Mesa Lodge about 20 minutes from Powderhorn Ski Resort is an awesome place with tons of lakes & rustic log cabins you can stay in! I could go on and on how much I love that state!!!! 🙂
Lee Johnson - Oh Meg what beautiful pictures and I live here!!!! Came to the craft w/e with my daughter and friends from TX. Loveland is my home! You drove almost by my house on HWY 34. Wish I’d known you were in this neck of the woods!
Michelle from Australia - It is our biennial family trip to the USA this December. We will be going to Breckenridge, CO for Christmas. Being Australian, and from the tropics, Christmas to us is hot, Hot, HOT weather, air-conditioning, eating salads and swimming. We are very very much looking forward to finding out what a cold Christmas is like.
Barb - Awww, Meg, that is my hood. In live along the Big Thompson river in Drake. Next door to Tiny Town golf is Smokin Dave’s Barbeque. Thee best ever. My hubby and I go at least once a week all year long. Buy a “Rocky Card” in Estes at the hardware store. It is only $10. With fabulous discounts in and around Estes. It will save your big family a ton of money. Next year, Old Fall River Rd. should be open (closed this summer from the flood in sept.)…. Anyways, it is an absolute gem of a drive that takes you up the back way to the top at Trailridge. Creeks, meadows, serenity. Even funner in a jeep, that you can rent in Estes. Email me for more ideas if you are interested, I have bunches. Glad you enjoyed Colorado. Love your blog. Have been a quiet follower for a few years :).
Christy - My husband and I lived in Estes Park for a while during college and worked at the Day Camp at YMCA of the Rockies! We really miss that place!
angela - …..and there is a Christmas tree in the office. Awesome.
Jenny B. - Woops! I’m a dork. Mesa Verde IS in Colorado! 🙂 http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
Jenny B. - So fun! I love all the local stuff. That hamburger and fries is seriously making my mouth water! YUM. I’ve been to CO twice. Once on a ski trip to Breckenridge with friends in college, and once with my parents (I’m an only child) on a two week road trip “out west” that included camping at the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon was grand and all, but I looked at it, and said (with all of my ten-year-old wisdom), “It looks just like it does on TV.” My parents were flabbergasted. Ha! I WAS impressed, though, by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which is in Montrose, CO (I had to Google that to see if it was actually in CO or not). 🙂 Here’s a link: http://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm. I also really enjoyed Mesa Verde, which of course, is not in CO, but AZ. The most disappointing stop on that trip was Santa Fe, NM. I think I had high expectations, and it was just kind-of a rundown town at the time. Nothing spectacular whatsoever. The most memorable part of that trip, though? Learning to whistle. I sat in the middle seat of my dad’s pickup truck the whole trip, and we got some good three part harmonies going for “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Good memories. 🙂
Gretchen P - love Estes Park. I was there for a high school trip, it was amazing to see fireworks over the Rockies. Colorado and Wyoming are some of my favorite places. i need to get my kiddo out there, but it is quite a drive from Ohio.
Jenn - How fortunate for you to live in such a central location. We so very much want to do the Great American Road Trip. We just have to get over that 4 hours of driving includes just getting out of Texas. We want to travel to Mt Rushmore and circle back around through Colorado. The pictures have been great! Looks just heavenly!
Kim - Estes Park is one of the most beautiful towns in CO…love it! My husband and I did a big two week tour of CO a year before we had our first son. Best vacation ever!
Karyn - I grew up in Emporia, KS and moved to Denver when I was 22. Seeing your family sporting lots of KU gear while enjoying beautiful Colorado makes my heart smile!
stephany - Meg-
I was born and raised in Colorado! Lived there for the first 30 years of my life…went to college in Boulder!
Next time you are planning a trip e-mail me!
xoxo-
Stephany
Jennifer - We did Colorado for our family vacation this year and really liked it. Estes Park was great, we enjoyed some of the same things you did, and really went in for looking at all the great art shops they had there. Overall, Colorado got to our family of midwesterners – the mountains. The mountains!! I have roughly three million photos of them and love them! In Denver we did Hammonds Candy Factory (free + candy), a Rockies/Braves game, great food, Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rock, Garden of the Gods, so many drives into the mountains, and Casa Bonita. Good times!
jenni - We live in a small town outside of Durango. From Durango it’s just a short drive to Pagosa Springs (1.5 hrs), Silverton (1 hr), Durango Mountain Resort (30 mins)… hiking, rafting, tubing, alpine slide, hot springs, quaint shopping, horseback riding, dinner shows, fishing, boating, kayaking, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad…
Michelle - We spent a week in Colorado Springs when my kids were 16, 13, and 10. It was the best vacation EVER! There is So much to do there! We did one or two activities every day and could easily have found more… Can’t recommend it enough!!!
Cathy - Been to that very place! and it was our boys favorite – especially writing their names on the poster. We love Colorado – especially Buena Vista, Salida and Lake City. So glad y’all had a vacation 🙂
Emily - We have a mini golf very similar in Springfield MO. Total classic for the town! They do have batting cages and so we always have to take our turns in those too. And trail horses are always on auto pilot! Not surprised at all! Looks like lots of fun!
Angela Storm - We grew up going camping in Colorado and doing all the tiny little towns and some of the big ones too. There is a small town near Colorado Springs called Green Mountain Falls – a restaurant there called The Pantry is excellent. I think it may be a breakfast/lunch place only. C-Spgs. also has cool hiking at Garden of the Gods.
Riding the train in Georgetown or the train from Durango to Silverton is fun. And we loved going hiking/driving up Engineer’s Pass. My parents love Pagosa Spgs. I could go on and on and on – I love CO and need to get back there ASAP!
April R - Thanks for sharing the vacation 🙂
We didn’t go anywhere this summer so it’s nice to vicariously virtual visit Colorado. (alliteration!)
We lived in Colorado Springs one summer and LOVED it. First place I’ve ever been that I knew the first week – I could stay here and be happy.
We visited Garden of the gods, went horseback riding at the AF Academy, hiked, climbed, visited Pike’s Peak and spent a lot less time indoors! (sigh)
My favorite was the sky! Every hour was a new “show!”
Grateful for our time there.
btw – sorry if you’ve already said this somewhere but I was wondering if the pics were iPhone or dslr? thanks!
Erin - I grew up in Colorado! There is so much to do here. Next time check out Boulder and Pearl Street. Or head up to the mountains and visit Breckenridge or Telluride or Winter Park. Or even go jeeping in Ouray and stop by Durango. You will love everything 🙂
amy jupin - i love the miniature golf place.
i love that it was worn and looked homemade.
and those flowers!
i was looking at your pictures thinking “this was someone’s dream! (to build and own it) and that made it awesome all the more.
Lee - I saw your Pacman photo on Instagram last week and KNEW it had to be from Dairy Delite! 🙂 We live about a mile from there and pass it everyday driving. Glad you had fun exploring our lovely state! 🙂