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By Amber, on January 26th, 2012 In my quest to find the best cupcake in Fort Collins, I have been disappointed more times than I’ve been satisfied. Bakeries and cupcakeries have sprung up all over town, but most serve cupcakes leaving much to be desired.
That is, until I discovered the Cupcake Cruiser!
For months the Cupcake Cruiser has eluded me. I’ve seen it parked in various lots throughout town, but never at an opportune time for me to stop and sample the intriguing cupcakes. The stars finally aligned this weekend and I experienced the delicious bliss of the Cupcake Cruiser.
I was greeted by a smiling cupcake employee who enthusiastically reviewed current cupcake flavor offerings and deals. Each cupcake is $2.75, but she was offering four cupcakes for $10. I’m not one to turn down a deal (or four cupcakes!), so I sprung for the box. She even offered to throw in a FREE cupcake since it was my first time and I was clearly ridiculously excited. Flavors vary daily, but here are the goodies I sampled: the Happy Hippie, Chocolate Loves Vanilla, Vanilla Loves Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Pancake, and Root Beer Float (adorably garnished with a bendy straw!).
Cupcake Cruiser’s cupcakes are perfectly soft and dense, not overly moist and not at all dry. They are topped with just the right amount of frosting and garnished with treats to intensify the flavor. Truly delectable! I couldn’t stop saying, “mmmmmm” after each bite.
For locations, check out the Cupcake Cruiser calendar or “like” them on Facebook. Definitely give these cupcakes a go – they are so sweet!
By Ashlee, on January 22nd, 2012 Raise your hand if you start to go stir-crazy about this time of year! Alright, that’s a few of you.
If you’re like me, you take just about every sunny day in winter as a sign to get out and go somewhere. It’s too easy to be cooped up inside when the weather is bad. With temps in the 50′s today (downright balmy), we decided to get out of town and drive 45 miles up-river to the artsy town of Salida. Known for it’s prime location (downtown is on the Arkansas River) and its plethora of artists, Salida is a fun place to visit when you’d like to window shop, consignment shop, or just sample some of the local cuisine. 
Maybe it was the sunshine, but bikers (mostly families) were out in droves today. Stopping into stores, cruising along the river, or just getting from point A to B, two-wheeled commuters were everywhere. Salida is very bike and dog friendly; you’ll notice the abundance of bike racks and dog water bowls outside of shops. 
Salida also has a few interesting restaurants to choose from. You can stop by the ever-present Amicas for some pizza and micro-brew, or stop into Mama D’s for standard burger and fries fare. When I saw the sign for Little Cambodia, I had to stop in. I’ve never tried Pho (pronounced “fuh”), and thought that today was as good a day as any. It was awesome! We had a small pho with tofu and a spring roll with beef for about $11.00, and it filled us both up. It was the perfect quick lunch for a windy day.
In the spring, we’ll have to come back and tackle Tenderfoot (aka ‘S’) Hill to check out the views. Though the road was closed to traffic today (sorry, seven months pregnant and not about to hoof it), it will re-open in the warmer months. Until then…
By Amber, on January 15th, 2012 When winter hits Canon City and the Arkansas River it too cold for rafting, another great way to experience the Royal Gorge is a scenic ride on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The two-hour route winds through the canyon alongside the raging river. The views of the river, canyon, and bridge are simply breathtaking! While the train offers a variety of seating classes (from the less expensive coach seats to pricier upper level dome seats), the best view is offered by the open-air car. In the summer time, wave down to the river rafters; in the winter, keep an eye out for wildlife.
The train offers meals and snacks to purchase and a beverage service (though I would avoid the hot chocolate!). Tickets may also be purchased to include lunch or dinner. The train even features special events for Easter, Mother’s Day, Oktoberfest, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year’s. But the ride in itself is quite a special treat!
My recommendation is to save your money: buy a coach ticket and step out into the crisp, fresh Colorado air for the two-hour ride. The view from the open-air car is unbeatable!
For more information on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad and purchasing tickets, visit royalgorgeroute.com
By Amber, on January 11th, 2012 As promised, I Heart Colorado is officially back in action as the one-stop resource for all things Colorado! Today we unveil the new I Heart Colorado as the unofficial exploration guide for unique and truly local Colorado experiences. You can expect to read about:
- Vacation and Staycation ideas for day trips, weekend excursions, and week-long adventures – The best local shops, food & drinks – New and well-known places to hike, bike, run, walk, raft, play, and more!
We plan to show you how to really experience Colorado.
And who might “we” be, you ask? I’ve added . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on January 8th, 2012 Hello again! Thanks for tolerating the brief work in progress. I’m hoping to have regular posts resume next week. I’ve even added a new regular writer who has guest posted several times here on I Heart Colorado! (I’ll provide a full introduction in the near future.)
As I continue transitioning the blog back to a Colorado-centered site, I want to invite you to visit my personal blog. If you enjoyed my posts on recipes, personal health, goals, 30 Before 30, gift ideas, friends, and family, check out Sweet Side of Sunshine. If you’re here solely because you HEART Colorado, stay . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on January 2nd, 2012 Hello dear readers! Don’t worry, I haven’t fallen off the face of the Earth. I’m currently in the process of refocusing I Heart Colorado and taking it back to the roots I intended: a blog about the wonderful things to do in Colorado. I’ll be moving more of my personal posts to another blog and streamlining the current information to more accurately reflect the changes I’m making.
Hang in there, I’ll be back soon with a new style and a new view of this beautiful square state I call home.
Thanks for understanding and Happy New Year to you . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on December 25th, 2011 Happy Christmas! May your holiday be filled with peace, love, and joy!
By Amber, on December 6th, 2011 In my world, holidays are all about traditions. I cherish traditions from my childhood like decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, opening a present on Christmas Eve, and watching favorite holiday movies. But it’s important for couples and new families to start traditions of their own. One of my favorite new holiday traditions is chopping down our own Christmas tree.
For the past few years, Ian and I spend the first weekend in December up in Canyon Lakes Ranger District hunting through the sale area for the perfect tree for our little home. Last year, the . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on December 3rd, 2011 I’m sitting with a warm cup of cocoa, topped with marshmallows and cinnamon, a welcomed warm-up after a cold and snowy ColderBolder 5K this morning! Snow was steadily falling when I went to bed and continued through the night. I was pretty nervous about the conditions when I woke up this morning, but I wasn’t about to let a little snow ruin my plans to run. That’s what running tights, hats, and gloves are for.
My racing buddy Lindsey and I met at packet pick-up inside the CU Fieldhouse. It was so nice to spend pre-race . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on November 27th, 2011 While I’m writing, writing, writing to finish my NaNoWriMo story by midnight on Wednesday, you should get out and hit up your local shops for buy local week!
Supporting local businesses is a great way to spend your hard earned money, and boost our economy. I don’t usually talk politics (and I’m not about to start now!), but I absolutely believe it is important to shift our shopping away from big corporations and toward local businesses. Colorado Local First provides more information on how you can support local businesses and why buying local is a fantastic idea.
. . . → keep reading
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Sea level is for sissies!
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