Fall Trip - Part 1 - Denver & Mountains - Fav Photos 2014

Fall Trip Part 1 - Denver and the Mountains

This album contains the first part of the fall road trip adventure, of a five-member family group
of Iplehouse dolls; JIDs Owen and Leona, KID Peach, and BIDs Efreet and Bonnie

Snowy Ridge Road

Driving across the US, our first destination was the Snowy Ridge Mountain Scenic Byway along the borders of Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado. We'd taken it once before, and it's a spectacular drive high through the mountains. But as we approached, the sky darkened, and it began to rain. At the higher elevations (over 10,000') it was snowing - and not just snowing, but a veritable blizzard.
Even so, Bonnie and Owen decided to brave the conditions and venture outside

As the snow changed to drizzle, Peach and Bonnie went out to look at Marie Lake.....

Cameron Pass

Heading into the Rockies, we decided to go the scenic route south from Laramie. It had been pouring rain all night down on the plains, and it was very cold - just above freezing - so we were expecting more snow at the higher altitudes. The plan was to weave our way through the mountains and see if the west entrance to Rocky Mountain Park was still open. We expected it wouldn't be, so wanted to take advantage of as many high mountain passes as possible, just in case. High at Cameron Pass, everything was covered with a fresh layer of snow.....

Leona took the two little ones out for a walk in the snow.....

the Denver Botanical Gardens

The next day we were in downtown Denver, visiting the Botanical Gardens where there was a Dale Chihuly exhibit.
Bonnie is my little artist, and really wanted to see the glass installations, so Peach offered to take her....

They loved all the fabulous glass installations....

Colorado Springs

Later that evening, we were in Colorado Springs, exploring the red rock formations in Garden of the Gods...

Watching the sun set....

Garden of the Gods

Next morning we woke to a clear blue sky without a cloud in sight. After three days of heavy storm clouds obscuring the mountain tops it was a nice change. First destination was Garden of the Gods again. It's most beautiful very early on a sunny day, as in this classic view of the red fins framing snow-covered Pike's Peak in the distance.....

We parked near the Balanced Rock, and let the kids get out and explore.

Efreet immediately started climbing up the rocks....