Jason and I traveled to Colorado recently to attend a family event and spend some time in Estes Park with said family. My sister, her husband, and my dad were amongst those present. It was a short but fulfilling trip with plenty of pines, climbs, dines, temperature declines… and other things that poorly rhyme, which I will not mention at this time.

On route to Estes Park, we stopped in Fort Collins for a day or so. Fort Collins is one of two towns that inspired Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. Its charming edifices surfaced unexpected cravings within me for Matterhorn-shaped macaroons and tipsy pirates. Instead, we toured the New Belgium Brewing Company, shopped in Old Town, and drank tea peacefully at a darling teashop while lightning splashed the sky and thunder growled constant complaints.

After our respite in Fort Collins, we were off to Estes Park where we had rented a cabin situated in a hilly nook with log beams and room to hang. We wasted no time heading out into the opulence of nature in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is one of the primary reasons visitors swarm Estes Park in the summer. We did the Alluvial Fan Trail, but it was too short to satisfy. So, we followed the Lawn Lake Trail until darkness dissuaded us.

The next day, rain was in the forecast. We were confident we could beat or outlast it, but I’m not sure there was any logic behind that conviction. If logic wasn’t in our corner, at least luck seemed to be as we trekked to The Pool on the Fern Lake Trail, about 3.5-miles roundtrip. We got back to our car just before the showers picked up substantially. Some members of our group ran (literally) the extra mile out to Fern Falls in order to catch that cascade and still stay ahead of the downpour. It all worked out somehow. Beauty was beheld, proper exercise was performed, and dowsing was delayed.

After our hike, we had prudently scheduled an indoor activity: a ghost tour at the famous Stanley Hotel. The Stanley Hotel was built in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley of steam-powered-car fame. This 142-room resort is famous for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining and for providing a set for Dumb and Dumber. The ghost tour was a little spooky but mostly just fun and informative. Learning about the unusual history of the owners and buildings was my favorite part.

Although it was May, a winter storm warning was issued for the Estes Park area the next day, and we barely missed the worst of it when we headed out. Cute Colorado supplied much to jolt our systems: May snowstorms, historical phantoms, fermented concoctions, and quirky company.

When Jason and I first visited Escalante and stayed at Escalante Yurts, I immediately thought it would be a perfect spot for some family adventures and togetherness. Two years later, Jason and I made that bonding outing happen as our birthday present to everyone in my clan.

Planning this trip was a bit complicated. We told the group about our idea last November and managed to schedule a weekend this spring when the yurts and almost all my family were available. Although we planned months in advance, only 75% of the crew ended up attending. Still, it was the greatest concentration of us in a remote location in over 20 years. Hallelujah for my preparation inclinations!

We all arrived at the yurts within an hour or two of each other. Then, eighteen of us ate pizza and Spanish anchovies at Escalante Outfitters. Escalante Outfitters is an unconventional but tasty consortium of lodgings, gear, and grub. After dinner, we wasted no time getting pungently smoky around a campfire. Encompassed in its crackling hospitality, we chatted until after midnight.

The next morning, we headed off on the 5.5-mile trek to Lower Calf Creek Falls, one of Escalante’s most popular paths. Our group spread out quickly between teenagers trying to impress each other with speed and younger children not being entirely convinced they wanted to move. Jason and I stayed with the slower faction and kept the kids distracted through entertaining readings and dramatizations at each of the trail’s 14 interpretive stops. It was an enjoyable ramble with plenty of meaningful conversations, merriment, and views of marvelous wilderness.

We spent the evening hanging around the yurts and carrying out an epic Easter egg hunt covering a significant portion of the yurt’s 20 acres. Usually, our Easter hunts are impressive only in terms of the number of items hidden. Obviously, this one’s ambitiousness extended to terrain complexity and size.

On our return journey, we made lots of stops. The first was to see the Freemont granaries along the Escalante River and hike to the 100 Hands Pictograph. This short, and somewhat-adventurous, trek has lots of points of interest that kept the kids attentive. I’ve heard rumors that it was the favorite outing of the weekend for many.

Next, we snacked and refreshed ourselves at Kiva Koffeehouse amidst gorgeous views and agreeable sunshine. Then, at Anasazi State Park, the kids and once-upon-a-time kids explored replica dwellings and viewed artifacts dating back to 1050. The last stop on our way home was Hell’s Backbone Grill, an appetizing diversion. The Jenchiladas were just as scrumptious as I remembered them.

This weekend excursion was basically a reunion sponsored by the Sabins. I wish my entire family could have come, but it was still awesome to have a significant portion present. We got to witness Ryan’s performing skills, sample Andrew’s chili, watch the kids excavate muddy stumps in search of golden eggs, eat anchovies like the aliens on V, and laugh about childhood mishaps. It reminded me that my brother has a superb sense of humor, my sister an infinite reserve of kindness, and that countless connections bind us to each other. Happy birthday everyone!