Argo Gold Mine & Mill

October 28, 2017 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

Colorado is one of my family’s favorite vacation spots. I love this state, because it offers a vast variety of activities and cultural exploration. If you have a love for history, then you can’t go wrong with a trip to Argo Gold Mine & Mill.

Argo is located in Idaho Springs, and you can get a great view of it from the Interstate. My husband and I have passed this landmark many times each vacation, but until our last trip to Colorado; we never stopped to check it out. The Mill has actually changed hands and just recently was deemed worthy of tours.

The owner of the Mill is hoping to expand over the next five years and add other tourist attractions to the site. Possibilities may include a restaurant and even a hotel, but only time will tell. Even without the extra attractions, this particular tour was a lot of fun and provided a wealth of information.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and she took us through each level of the Mill. I very much enjoyed the many photo opportunities available. We did go into the mine, but only a short distance. The majority of the mine is sealed off.

At the end of our tour we were allowed to wander around and take more photos. I got the chance to pan for gold. I didn’t find any large pieces, but it was still a fun experience.

I recommend this tour for anyone who wants to know more about the history of Idaho Springs, or the mill and mining process. For more information, please visit: http://www.argomilltour.com/

Colorado, Restaurants, Uncategorized

The Smokehouse BBQ in Winter Park, CO

October 18, 2017 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

If you happen to be in Winter Park, Colorado, you will find that there are a lot of great restaurant choices available. I happen to be a little bit of a foodie, so choosing my meals always seems to be such a task. What food would taste the best, and what will provide the tastiest experience. I just don’t want to regret any of my culinary choices, especially when on vacation. Life’s too short, always eat good food.

Anyway, whether you’re like me, or you just like meat, The Smokehouse BBQ, is well worth your time. They have a clean and inviting atmosphere for dining in. They offer some great bucket beer specials during happy hour. This restaurant also offers take out, if you prefer a more intimate dining experience.

The waiter was great. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was fairly prompt about getting us everything we desired, except the bill, which took a little longer than expected. I have forgiven this little time delay simply because the food was that delectable, and the establishment was somewhat busy by the time my party left.

The menu offers several different meal combos, as well as sides. I went with a two meat combo which came with two sides. I chose the burnt ends and pork shoulder. My husband went with the burnt ends and brisket. He ordered mac and cheese, and I ordered the sweet potato mash and potato salad. All of the meat was exceptional. My favorite item was the burnt ends.

We only went to this restaurant once during our visit, but I was highly tempted to go back on more than one evening. Had there not been so many other great options, I would have found myself once again at, The Smokehouse BBQ, enjoying more burnt ends. This is a place I will make a point of visiting again in the future.

For more information on, The Smokehouse BBQ, please visit: http://www.wpsmokehouse.com/

Colorado, Hiking, Uncategorized

Colorado In The Fall

October 12, 2017 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

Just got back from a lovely trip to Colorado. I have now visited in the early part of September as well as the later part. I have found that there can be advantages and disadvantages to both, but mostly these situations are due to the weather.

My family chose to stay in Winter Park. This particular location lived up to its name. We experienced a five-inch snowfall overnight and had to cancel some of our plans for the week. When we visited in the earlier part of September, we did not have to battle the snow, but again, this changes year to year. Sometimes you get snow, and sometimes the leaves change before you arrive. It is best investigate the situation year to year.

My husband, Neal, and I, did take a nice drive to view the Aspens, and while quite a few were losing their leaves, some parts of Colorado were still in full color. One particular location I would love to recommend for Fall lovers, is Aspen Ridge. The drive can be a little bumpy, but the colors are amazing.

Despite the snow, we still did some smaller hikes to destinations such as Magnolia Mill. Even with a little cooler weather, and all of the snow, it was totally worth the short jaunt. Magnolia Mill and Montgomery Reservoir look amazing with the snow glistening around them. They looked even better after my stepdaughter decorated the mountainside with a smiling snowman for future hikers to see.

If you would like to plan a Fall trip to Colorado, there are a ton of great sites that list hikes and drives to see the colors. Please visit the following for further information:

http://www.playwinterpark.com/top-5-spots-fall-color-near-winter-park-colorado?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sept%20Guest%20Enews&utm_content=Sept%20Guest%20Enews+CID_e86868db63ed3eb8f0025a6896a0af11&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=SEE%20FALL%20COLOR

http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/09/14/colorado-fall-colors-guide-where-and-when-go/659938001/

http://www.9news.com/weather/fall-colors/9-best-drives-to-see-fall-colors-in-colorado/315377917