On Monday, April 27, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. I could not be happier to be celebrating it in one of my favorite places- Rocky Mountain National Park.
We began the morning by taking photos.
We then enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the YMCA dining hall.
The boys both have live math classes on Monday mornings so we left them at the lodge and went into town by ourselves. We stopped and explored the Stanley Hotel. It is beautiful!
us on the steps of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park
I loved this old car.
Of course it made me think of my dad.
The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for the movie The Shining. They had several movie themed things for sell in the gift shop.
Before leaving, we stopped by their coffee shop for a coffee and a cappuccino.
We then drove out to Lily Lake and walked the loop around it.
Just like almost every other hike we did on the trip, as soon as we got out of the car, the snowflakes started falling. It just made our trip magical! I would love to see this park in the fall, but because of the snow, I think I'll always be drawn back there in the spring. I just love snow! It makes me happy!
Lily Lake
It's only a 0.8 mile flat walk around the lake.
I loved seeing these tiny pine cones.
walking around Lily Lake on our anniversary
Lily Lake
Lily Lake
We returned to the YMCA and picked up the boys in time for lunch. Prior to our trip, I had researched good hamburger places in Estes Park. Fresh Burger Stop came highly recommended in most all of my searches so we went there for our anniversary lunch. Much to my surprise, it was located in a gas station. The boys thought surely I would not want to eat there once we arrived, but my curiosity was up and I had to try the burgers. Just as recommended, they were delicious and the onion rings were perfect. Don't let the location deter you! There is also a burrito shop and a donut shop (Donut Haus) located there. The donut shop closes at noon and the sweet young guy working there gave us free donuts for dessert. If you know me, I love donuts!! That young man had no idea how much joy that small gesture gave me. Because all of our meals were provided at the YMCA and we had picnic lunches, this was the first meal we had eaten out since the Atlanta airport on our flight there.
I had packed a few of our wedding napkins to use on our anniversary.
After eating, we drove into the park for an afternoon hike.
We drove to the Cub Lake Trailhead.
We hiked to Cub Lake. It was 2.3 miles one way.
hiking to Cub Lake
me and Ben
more pretty purple flowers on the trail
And, soon after starting the hike, it began to snow. We had off and on snowflakes the rest of the hike there and back.
And then, because Colorado weather is so crazy, just a few minutes later it was nice and sunny.
And then came round two, which lasted a while.
'me and Ben relishing the snowflakes
arriving at Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
our family at a snowy Cub Lake on our 30th wedding anniversary
What a fun memory!
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
me and my boys at Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake with those beautiful mountains in the background
wildlife on the hike back down
the last of the rock climbing for Ben
David and the boys on the Cub Lake trail
Oh how I miss this mountain view!!!
Cruz on the trail
One last photo in the park on our 30th anniversary
hiking back out
the creek that runs through Moraine Park
This
trip had been incredible in every way! I am so thankful we were able
to celebrate our anniversary in a place we both truly love.
Thirty years.
Three decades.
One incredible journey!
April 27, 1996
