Welcome! Hello and thanks for visiting! I Heart Colorado is the unofficial exploration guide for unique and truly local Colorado experiences. If you’re looking for what to do, where to go, and everything in between, you’ve come to the right place!
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By Amber, on September 30th, 2012 The upside of a hot, hot, hot summer is a long, warm fall. Fall in Colorado sure is beautiful! We don’t always have a chance to enjoy its beauty before the snow hits. So when the leave start a’changing, Coloradoans know it’s time to race to the hills to catch a glimpse of fall’s elusive beauty.
A friend and I headed to her family’s cabin outside of Nederland to hike the hills and enjoy perhaps the last little bit of the changing leaves. The Aspens were glimmering gold and the mountain side was covered in blazing pockets of reds, oranges, and yellows. Simply beautiful!
The sun was shining and the leaves were slowly falling around us. It was truly magical. Fall this year has been quite a treat!
There may still be time to see the fall foliage in the next week or so. Colorado.com lists several leisurely drives for prime fall-color viewing.
Happy, happy fall in beautiful Colorado!
By Amber, on July 23rd, 2012 This past weekend, while Denver temps hit the high 90s, low 100s, my family escaped to the mountains for a little reprieve from the heat. We stayed the night in Dillon, but drove up to Breckenridge for a beautiful hike to Mohawk Lakes and Continental Falls.
The trail head is just south of Breckenridge off of Spruce Creek Road. Both the parking lot and the trail itself are well marked. The hike, considered intermediate, is about 7 miles round trip to Mohawk Lakes and gains about 1,700 ft in elevation.
 Trailhead The hike to Mohawk Lakes features breathtaking views, historic landmarks, and gorgeous waterfalls. The trail is completely dog and family friendly. As with all Colorado hikes, be sure to dress for all weather (meaning layers! Be prepared for sunshine and rain), wear sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. While the hike is considered intermediate, there are certainly hikers of all ages and abilities on the trail.
Mayflower Lake is the first big stop along the hike, and from there the trail is a steady incline up to the impressive Continental Falls and stunning Lower Mohawk Lake.
 Mayflower Lake  MayflowerLake Take a breath and enjoy the beautiful surrounding views! The Falls and Lower Mohawk Lake are certainly beautiful and a typical end to the hike for many, but a little more leg work up steep terrain offers even more of a view at Upper Mohawk Lake.
 Continental Falls  Continental Falls  Lower Mohawk Lake The hike, round trip, can take as little as three hours. We ran into rain and hail on our hike back down the trail, so definitely be prepared! The trail is pretty well sheltered from the elements until Mayflower Lake. An early start time is generally a good idea in the Colorado backcountry.
By Amber, on June 13th, 2012 One of the perks of teaching is summer vacation! No 4:45 wake-up calls, no grading, no stress! And one of the awesome perks of living in Colorado is being able to get out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. With longer summer days and lots of daylight to fill, I decided to spend my extra time training for a triathlon. 
Last summer, my tri plans were halted abruptly, but I had a blast watching my dear friends complete the race. This year, I’m all the more excited to train for and compete in the Outdoor Divas Triathlon. After watching the event last year, I have a good idea of what to expect. And this year, I have a few friends to train and race with!
I officially started training on Monday, and so far, so good (easy to say after only two days!). I’m following Hal Higdon’s Sprint Triathlon Training.
As far as I know, registration is still open, but the race caps at 550 competitors, so register quickly! Outdoor Divas is a fabulous first triathlon for ladies only! I’ll try to update with a few training posts here and there.
By Amber, on June 12th, 2012
Photo courtesy of the Coloradoan
Please send thoughts and prayers to Fort Collins residents as fire crews fight to contain the High Park Fire. As of today, the fire is 43,433 acres with some containment.
By Amber, on June 10th, 2012 We’ve moved! Just over a week ago, we bid adieu to the beloved Fort Collins and moved our lives down to Lakewood, CO. Now that Ian and I are all moved and settled in to our new place, I’ve finally had a chance to venture out and explore the surrounding area.
My first big outing was a hike along Green Mountain Trail. The trail is moderately easy and the views of surrounding Lakewood area are simply stunning. I was even able to spot Denver off to the east. Green Mountain is part of William Frederick Hayden Park and is . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on April 22nd, 2012 This series is dedicated to the very best [running trails, restaurants, shops, pubs, parks, etc] of Fort Collins. Of course “the best” carries a tad bias as they are my absolute favorite places in Fort Collins, but I know I’m not alone in my love for these fine establishments. Enjoy!
Best Multi-Use Trail: Spring Creek Trail Spring Creek Trail is a biking, running, and walking path extending from the intersection of the Poudre Trail near East Drake all the way to Spring Canyon Park (Ava’s favorite dog park!). The trail is nearly 7 miles long and connects with many of . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on April 5th, 2012 This series is dedicated to the very best [running trails, restaurants, shops, pubs, parks, etc] of Fort Collins. Of course “the best” carries a tad bias as they are my absolute favorite places in Fort Collins, but I know I’m not alone in my love for these fine establishments. Enjoy!
Best Brewery: Odell Brewing Co Fort Collins offers no shortage of local breweries, but I happen to believe Odell brews the best beer! The brews are always spot on delicious, the employees are knowledgable and friendly, and the tap room provides ample space to sample new and classic brews. Besides . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on April 1st, 2012 This series is dedicated to the very best [running trails, restaurants, shops, pubs, parks, etc] of Fort Collins. Of course “the best” carries a tad bias as they are my absolute favorite places in Fort Collins, but I know I’m not alone in my love for these fine establishments. Enjoy!
While I am fond of the Spring Canyon Dog Park, I know know that Ava is absolutely IN LOVE with this dog park. So much, in fact, that we cannot even say the words “dog park” within earshot of the dog. We lovingly call Spring Canyon the “dp” to avoid . . . → keep reading
By Amber, on March 31st, 2012 While we’re already a few months into 2012, the fun is just beginning! Summer is right around the corner, which means long, sunny days to get out and explore the great state of Colorado. If you need help filling your planner with fun activities around the state, check out 5280′s 155 Things to do in Colorado. You’re sure to find something to fit your fancy!
By Amber, on March 27th, 2012 I will be the first to admit that I totally feel off the running (and blogging…) bandwagon after Christmas. Life gets busy, grading piles up, and short days leave me feeling less than motivated. Not to mention that I was in desperate need of new running shoes…
Well, the running gods heard me (and probably my creaky old knees) and with a little extra money I earned at work I was able to buy a shiny new pair of kicks: the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12!
I wear a whooping size 12 running shoe and thus I usually have . . . → keep reading
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Sea level is for sissies!
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