A Suitcase and Go

Week 3 is here already.  I can't believe how quickly my time is going.  The week was spent biking around and enjoying the food here.  I love biking Confluence Park leading to Cherry Creek Trail.  It is so nicely setup with a section for walkers and a separate section for bikers/skaters.  The reservoir water runs through the middle and there is street art around as you make your way through.  Its so nice to just put on some music, bike and people watch.  I didn't get a car this weekend and instead opted for exploring Boulder.  I loved Boulder, while the city of Denver is awesome, Boulder has its own magic.  You are right near the mountains with tons of trails everywhere.  Plus Pearl Street is really happening and fun to walk on, get drinks or food and people watch.  Few callouts: Avanti in Boulder - I know I called out Avanti earlier in the blog, but the one in Boulder has a beautiful rooftop, you can see the mountains and the city....

I love that Denver has so many ways to get around.  There are electric bikes everywhere by Lyft and Uber and an abundance of scooters all over the place.   The weather Monday/Tuesday were super rainy.  Everyone says it never rains this much here normally, but I actually don't mind it.  The weekends have been beautiful and the rain comes and goes.  What everyone said about the weather is so true, it really varies.  I can leave my AirBnb and it’s a little cool, walk 5 minutes and its really hot.  It definitely requires dressing in layers - I learned that after going to an outdoor bar and freezing because I didn't dress correctly.  Over the weekend I rented a car again and went to explore the mountains.   Highlights: Rocky Mountain National Park - I got to drive around the mountains, see wildlife and hike in the snow.  It was such an adventurous day and every view was unbelievably beautiful.   Royal Gorge Bridge & P...

I decided driving would make the most sense for Portland to Seattle since I can make stops along the way and take my time.  Its only about a 3 hour drive, and I love long drives like that.  My goal was to leave in the am and reach Seattle before the car rental place closed so I didn't need to deal with parking.  I'm so thankful I drove, I was able to see some really nice sites that I wouldn't have stopped at otherwise.   Highlights:  Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - Such a cool spot to stop and I'm really happy I came.  You can hike and walk around here in the summer.  During the winter you can take a car around the refuge and do tours.  There are all these different birds and nature sounds.  Lots of people with professional cameras were taking pictures.  I was able to see some really different birds and deer roaming around.  It was a really beautiful place to see and a recommended stop between Portland and Seattle. Pictu...