Solo Colorado Road Trip

When Gracie Abrams announced the Secrets of Us Tour and it included a performance at Red Rocks, I knew I had to be there. I discovered Gracie Abrams via her song "I miss you, I'm sorry" during my divorce. It was one of those songs I played on repeat and sang at the top of my lungs with tears streaming down my face.

With the concert being on a Monday, I decided to make a week out of it. Here's the schedule I followed.

Day 1

Fly into Denver. Take the train to Union Station. Check into the Limelight Hotel. Then I walked over to dinner at Tavernetta. I was able to score a seat at the bar - one of the biggest perks of solo travel. The burrata appetizer is a must if you go.

Day 2

Walk around Denver. I started in Larimer Square which is home to a really cool vintage shop, Garage Sale Vintage. Then I walked to RiNo which is one of my favorite parts of the city. I love all of the street art! There are plenty of shops to check out, and be sure to stop by Denver Central Market for coffee or lunch.

I then met an old friend for cocktails at Poka Lola Social Club. I had the PS I love You, which is essentially a Porn Star Martini, one of my favorite cocktails.

Then it was time for Red Rocks. I booked a ticket with Bus Party Colorado. I used this service back in 2023 for my first Red Rocks experience and loved it. It's a social club that takes you from downtown Denver on a party bus straight to the top at Red Rocks. It was so much fun meeting other people and jamming out on the drive up. You meet at a local bar and you can bring food/drinks on the bus. I can't recommend it enough! They dropped me off 2 blocks from my hotel after the show.

Day 3

I picked up my car that I booked via Turo. I can't say enough wonderful things about Turo. I'm not sponsored, I really just love it. I've used it in so many states and it's always seamless. Way less hassle than traditional car rental companies. After that I decided to drive over and explore the Cherry Creek area. I'm a sucker for Zara and just can't help myself when I'm in a city that has one.

I went back to the hotel to rest. The Limelight has a partnership with Therabody, so I asked to used the compression boots. Oh. My. Gosh. They are wonderful. I sat in them for an hour and could have gone all night. I don't know how much they cost, but I want some now.

Then I took myself to dinner at Uchi and it was amazing. The short rib nigiri and mushroom hot pot were fantastic. But the fried milk dessert is something I'll be dreaming about.

Day 4

I hit the road for Boulder. I've always wanted to visit this town and it definitely lived up to the hype. So many great shops to wander into. I started with coffee at OZO Coffee which was the perfect place to hang out and play on my computer. After walking around for a bit, I went to The Yellow Deli and got a very refreshing iced hibiscus tea. For lunch I had a burger at West End Tavern on the rooftop. Then I walked past The Lighthouse Bookstore and decided I needed an impromptu psychic reading. I'm open to all sorts of woo woo stuff and it was definitely something I needed.

Then I continued my road trip to Estes Park where I checked into Trailborn Rocky Mountains. After I unloaded the car, I took off for Rocky Mountain National Park. The park requires timed entry passes during certain times of the day, but I entered at 4:30pm, so I didn't need a pass. I drove Trail Head Road and let me tell you, it was terrifying. If you are afraid of heights, it's not the drive for you. But I pushed through because it was THAT beautiful. I just drove 5mph with sweaty palms most of the way.

After leaving the park, I walked around downtown and was amazed how many ice cream shops there are. I stopped for dinner at Antlers Rooftop Tavern.

Day 5

I had one hike I wanted to accomplish and it required access to Bear Lake Road. Since I didn't have a timed entry pass, I had to be in the park by 5am. But, I prefer a sunrise hike. National Parks are crowded, but tourists don't like early morning hours. I arrived at the parking lot at 4:45am and started the hike at 5:30am. On the way up, I saw very few people. The hike takes you from Bear Lake to Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha. Honestly, it's one of the best hikes I've ever done, but it's not easy. It's 6 miles with 1,200ft of elevation gain. But it's so worth it.

After the hike, I went to lunch at Smokin' Dave's BBQ and promptly went back to the hotel to shower and nap.

For dinner, I went to Antonio's Pizza and it was the best meal I had in Estes Park.

My hotel offered nightly s'mores, so I went back to take advantage of that before bed.

Day 6

I woke up and loaded the car and headed to Golden, CO. This is a really cute, but small town. There are a lot of cute shops to venture into. I stopped for lunch at Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse and the brisket nachos were amazing.

After leaving Golden, I stopped by Outcrop Dispensary. It was such a nice shop that was super welcoming. I ended up talking to the owner and she was incredibly knowledgeable. I highly recommend this shop when you're in the area.

After that, it's sadly time to end my trip. I headed back to Denver, dropped of my car and checked into the Denver Airport Marriott for an early flight home.