Castlewood Canyon State Park
Blog 321: Denver Doings and On to Oregon
While in the Denver area we took a few day trips.
Arsenal NWR
It’s always fun to visit the Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of the Denver Metro Area to see the buffalo deer and birds. They also have a nice selection of prairie dogs—here is a sentinel guarding against intruders.
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Just south of Parker is this pretty little park, complete with nice trails and lots of birds. Here is a photo of a male Western bluebird and a mountain bluebird.
The Stanley
A few years back we took our grandson to spend a couple of nights at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, famous for the movie The Shining and also for being haunted (ask Jan about our last visit there!). Classy place that allows well-mannered pups. We signed up for the nightly Ghost Tour to learn the fascinating history of The Stanley founders and get a backstage look at the old structure. Not too scary but a fun and worthwhile trip.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Almost adjoining Estes Park is RMNP, one of our favorite national parks and a sure bet (almost) of seeing elk. For two hours we scoured the park, going to all the best places to view. Alas, we were skunked…no elk, zero, nada. However, Jan saved the day by cruising around the edges of Estes Park where we quickly found a half dozen or so grazing in backyards, moseying along the streets, and waiting in line at the MacDonald's drive-through.
Monument Stop
Another day trip took us down to Monument to visit a good friend and her dogs. Jack has a buddy in Gunner, and they have played several times. He quickly made a new friend of Gunnie, the latest addition to the family. It didn’t take long for the boys to start to play.
On to Oregon
From Denver we went north to Southern Wyoming, then west across the state, zig-zagged through Utah and Idaho, then west across Oregon, ending up on the coast.
Burns
We stopped at Burns, Oregon, and visited the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Here we saw a great horned owl, Wilson’s snipe, yellow-headed blackbird, and a ring-necked pheasant. Beautiful place.
Old Trucks
Meet Minnie
Meet Naomi
Check out www.onceuponatruck.com. Sign up for my What the Truck! blog, and get a sweet gal in your in-basket once a week.
More about the Oregon coast next time.
Arsenal NWR
It’s always fun to visit the Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of the Denver Metro Area to see the buffalo deer and birds. They also have a nice selection of prairie dogs—here is a sentinel guarding against intruders.
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Just south of Parker is this pretty little park, complete with nice trails and lots of birds. Here is a photo of a male Western bluebird and a mountain bluebird.
The Stanley
A few years back we took our grandson to spend a couple of nights at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, famous for the movie The Shining and also for being haunted (ask Jan about our last visit there!). Classy place that allows well-mannered pups. We signed up for the nightly Ghost Tour to learn the fascinating history of The Stanley founders and get a backstage look at the old structure. Not too scary but a fun and worthwhile trip.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Almost adjoining Estes Park is RMNP, one of our favorite national parks and a sure bet (almost) of seeing elk. For two hours we scoured the park, going to all the best places to view. Alas, we were skunked…no elk, zero, nada. However, Jan saved the day by cruising around the edges of Estes Park where we quickly found a half dozen or so grazing in backyards, moseying along the streets, and waiting in line at the MacDonald's drive-through.
Monument Stop
Another day trip took us down to Monument to visit a good friend and her dogs. Jack has a buddy in Gunner, and they have played several times. He quickly made a new friend of Gunnie, the latest addition to the family. It didn’t take long for the boys to start to play.
On to Oregon
From Denver we went north to Southern Wyoming, then west across the state, zig-zagged through Utah and Idaho, then west across Oregon, ending up on the coast.
Burns
We stopped at Burns, Oregon, and visited the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Here we saw a great horned owl, Wilson’s snipe, yellow-headed blackbird, and a ring-necked pheasant. Beautiful place.
Old Trucks
Meet Minnie
Meet Naomi
Check out www.onceuponatruck.com. Sign up for my What the Truck! blog, and get a sweet gal in your in-basket once a week.
More about the Oregon coast next time.