Travel
We hope we can help plan out your vacay. There is so much to go do, our planet is pretty spectacular.
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Exploring The Wedge and Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and Camping at the Wedge in Utah.
The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
The Holferty Crew outside the Lloyd-Cleveland Dinosaur Quarry Museum This place, you guys is a magic and a mind bending experience. Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry (CLDQ) at Jurassic National Monument contains the densest concentration of Jurassic-aged dinosaur bones ever found. Over 12,000 bones (belonging to at least 74 individual dinosaurs) have been excavated at the quarry. https://www.blm.gov/national-conservation-lands/utah/jurassic-national-monument
This is still an active Quarry!!! Their museum is fabulous!!! So much history and educational areas.
As you walk out through the back doors, you will see the quarry and a spectacular trial where you can actually look for real dinosaur bones. Some are in the rocks (Photo Below) and others are laying on the ground. Please put them back so other can also enjoy.
You also have the option to go into the quarry to see where some of the bones were found and how they were laying at the time they were discovered.
There is also a trail that goes up above the whole area. SOOOOO PRETTY!
One thing that stood out to me is all the different colored Lichen on the rocks and the pretty bloom.
Camping at the Wedge aka The Mini Grand Canyon
Just imagine waking up in the most majestic place possible, this is The Wedge. The Campground is right on the Wedge and across the dirt road. You wake up feeling the energy. You can tent camp or bring your camper.
Its about 30-40 min away from the Lloyd-Cleveland Quarry. All Dirt road….. pretty cool.
We loved this time together and will definitely be back.
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Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Glenwood Springs has been around for awhile but they are renovating and reviving!!! I’m so excited to tell you about our experience.
Ryan and I traveled to Glenwood Springs for our 9th year wedding anniversary!!
We rode Amtrak…. by train!!!! https://www.amtrak.com/home
We had to be to the train station by 3:00am! All good all good. As soon as we got on the train we just went back to sleep. After we woke up we went to the dining car and had an omelet with a croissant.
You see so much by train, it was magic! We saw a lot of antelope, elk, deer and a bear cub!!!
We tend to go to towns with natural springs, we love soaking and the health benefits are pretty spectacular.
The train station drops you off right downtown and there are hotels across the bridge. We rented an Airbnb, a romantic little loft. We had to only walk a couple of blocks to the best restaurants ever!!!
http://www.airbnb.com/c/nicoletteh391
Glenwood Springs has a couple of very charming and history packed buildings for the soaking experience. Its around $22 per person so budget for that, I don’t want you to be surprised. We went to Glenwood Springs Lodge. This place is huge! They are the hot springs and in the cooler area there’s a slide and diving board.
Second night we went to Iron Mountain Hot Springs. K, they have different hot spring pools on different tiers… right… by… the… river. So pretty and relaxing!! I didn’t want to leave.
Where do I even start for the hopping culinary arts?! So many great restaurants!!
Lets start with a beautiful cup of coffee with a beautiful couple originally from Denver. They like us traveled to Glenwood Springs via Train for an anniversary, they had a thought that it would be cool to move there….. well 3 years later they are selling and making beautiful yummy coffee at The Riviera Supper Club at 702 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Coffee Shop by day and piano bar at night. I enjoyed a Lavender Coffee on their patio. The lavender syrup is made by a local friend…. win win!!!
Love them, go see ’em!
The next day we went to Local on Cooper, a beautiful decorated restaurant… food and environment. 722 Cooper Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
AND just across the street was one of the funniest yes funniest times of my life. I think at one time I asked my husband if we could take them all home. We laughed SOSOSOSO much. It is the Glenwood Adventure company!! We did the 2.5 hr. white water rafting excursion. Ben was on point and a great tour guide, he played with us. http://glenwoodadventure.com/ They have a lot of fun options to choose from.
After we went to Grind. Its a burger joint times 10!! My burger was the bomb!! We also had the baked brussel sprouts drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
701 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
This is the first restaurant I saw when we got off the train and I knew right away that this is the place we are going for our anniversary dinner!! They are a root patio, a courtyard and a classic interior. I had the filet mignon and crab legs….. insert drool here. Ryan got a porter house as big as his plate. 308 7th St, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
All of these restaurants are within 2 blocks of each other. Pretty magic if you ask me.
Oh and this brand new bridge has been built over the railroad tracks, river and freeway. This is how you get to the springs and hotels. 😉
I hope you go to Glenwood, its a great place with great people.
Love,
Nicolette and Ryan
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Family Time in Moab 2018
Hey, Nicolette Here!
We went to Moab for some time away, my sweet and amazing father in law passed away on Easter… his favorite holiday. We needed to step back and we are so thankful for Moab, Utah. We camped in our truck and camper at Sand Flats Rec Area, its central to a lot of fun things to do. The best time to go is in the Spring and Fall.
I want to help you when it comes to camping with your families. I used to be a nervous mom and going on vacations with my little ones, can’t really explain it. I have come up with some things to help myself out. My hubby is on call 24/7, we can’t ever plan a vacation… it just we can leave at the end of the day or lets go tomorrow. We are pretty quick at packing.
– Only pack the basics for your children, make it simple.
– Don’t have high expectations, just go with the flow, its totally fine to have a schedule and things to do but don’t stress.
– Act like a local, just live and experience your surroundings, instead of your own stress bubble.
– Bring things that make you feel good… I love bringing my lanterns and setting them up around camp. It makes things feel cozy.
-Wear your children out = they will be excited for bedtime!! Let them explore, let them learn, play with them!!
-Powder toothpaste. You don’t have to wet your toothbrush and don’t have to rinse. The kids love them too. This is what we use.
We rented our side by side from… Moab Side X Side Adventures LLC. https://moabsidexside.com/
Their machines are well cared for and they’re very nice to work with. Their phone # is 435-210-4153 and address is 854 South Main (behind Farm and City).
The way we see it when it comes to renting. When you rent, you will always have a nice machine and don’t have to pay for it monthly.. just when you want to go play. We road Hells Revenge and Fins and Things twice, the kids loved too!! There will always be an alternate route.
Here’s something we loved!! The catacombs over Harrah Pass. Once your on the other side of Harrah Pass. Go for 10-15 minutes until you find a rock with red x’s (left side of the road). You will need flashlights and maybe sweatshirts.
Go explore with your people, life is to fun to worry!!!
Love,
The Holferty’s
