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Just got back last night from a family vacation in Colorado. Rocky Mountains - Nathrop, Co.

19 of us. My parents, siblings, spouses, nieces and nephews.

Rode horse in the mountains numerous times. It was great. Getting back to true nature? Can't beat a horseback ride in the mountains with views of snow covered mountains, going through streams, etc.


Cell phone service? Pretty much non existent except for the 2 areas of the ranch that offered wi-fi.

White water rafting on the Arkansas river. Zip lining (not me, though - scared of heights) Off roading. We rented 3 jeeps, 3 side by sides (awesome machines), and 2 ATV 4 wheelers.

Hiking, climbing. And just hanging out in the evenings with my extended family.

Took my son back to Denver on Wed. so he could leave for work. 3 hours of convo with just he and I. A quick, and I mean real quick, 'goodbye' at the airport. Then, a 3 hour drive back to the ranch by myself on curvy, mountainous roads - 'why don't they have guard rails here?????'

All the solitude one could want, with the luxury of family time.

Breakfast cook out 1 morning in the middle of nowhere. The Chalk Cliffs as the background.

Day drive to several 'abandoned' ghost towns/mining/railroad camps. Imagining what life was like for those miners and railroad constructionist back in the late 1800's, early 1900's.

Had an excellent time, made better with family. It was my 3rd time there, but my wife, Sooga, and Son's first time. They weren't excited before, but all of them had a great time.

Back to my real life now. Had a blast. Wouldn't want to live there, but loved visiting. Kinda like going to some city, for me. Enjoyed, loved the time spent - but don't sign me up to live there.

I am jelly! That sounds like an amazing vacation!

Nice story. Amazing family outing.

Arch, you do the grilling?

Hey, you know i'm joking around. (I hope that story is a distant memory)

(please don't suspend me for another year, refs)

Fantastic!! Those are great family memories you'll take to the grave with you. We also love it out west, and I plan on retiring in the Yellowstone area. My brother was in the Air Force Academy and I vacationed in Colorado all 4 years he was there. Rafting the Arkansas river is not for the feint of heart. You're still fairly early in the season, so the water levels are still pretty high and that makes for an even more exciting trip. I did the lower bit out of Canon City through the Royal Gorge more than a few times, and did the upper trip on the last vacation with both my parents before my mom passed. What great memories.

Hopefully not a hijack and I can add a recap of our recent family vacation -

We are a Griswold vacation type of family. Load up the family truckster and hit the road. Two years ago we did a 3 and half week cross country trip that included Yellowstone, Montana, Mount Rushmore, Chicago, Cleveland, Nashville, and New Orleans. Cleveland was our midpoint and we spent several days there with family.

This year we took another 3 and half weeks. Left Vegas and spent 3 days each in Boise, Portland, and Seattle, then crossed the border and headed to Vancouver where we embarked on a 7 night Alaskan Disney cruise. On the way home we did portions of the Oregon coast and the Avenue of the Giants (giant redwood forest in northern California).

Amazing trip. So many pictures and memories. It was our first ever cruise. My girls are almost 6 and loved meeting all the characters and princesses on the cruise. They got autographs and pictures. We loved dropping the kids off at the kids club on the ship and having some adult time.

A great, memorable trip. We are already thinking about the next one.

Now that you mention it - I actually haven't grilled since that incident. It was just a couple of days over a year ago that happened.

We do an extended family vacation every 2 years. We've gone to Florida many times, all different places though. Colorado, obviously, been to S. Carolina, northern Michigan (not the u.p.), gone on a cruise, etc. Always have a great time.

Like I mentioned earlier, my wife, daughter and son weren't super excited about this one. "What do you do in Colorado?" However, they loved it. Just like I told them they would.

Daughter has some fear issues about flying - she made it though. Then, before rafting, she didn't want to do it. I told her it would be the highlight of her trip. Her concern was everyone was saying the river was really high due to a lot of snow, and a late melt.

The river WAS high,and really moving. It was a blast. She loved it.

Same with zip lining. She's not afraid of heights, but she almost backed out at the last second. But, she did it, and loved it. Me, on the other hand? I didn't even sign up for it due to my fear of heights. I drove her, wife, and 2 nieces to the place - 40 minutes to get there. They went, and I sat in the car for 3 hours waiting on them. Actually, I drove around on some back roads for a bit, sightseeing.

I should add this: As the years go by, we all get older. My parents included. They are both 77. Time has taken it's toll on both of them.

I'm self employed, which means I don't get paid vacations, or holidays. In fact, I work many holidays.

This trip to Colorado cost me 1 full week of work. No income. I have, since I was in my mothers belly, gone to a camp at the end of July. That's 51 years of going, minus 1 time when my daughter was born 4 days before the vacation. Much of my family goes.

I can't financially do it this year - miss another week of work. But I keep thinking "Mom and dad aren't getting younger.....there is no guarantee they will be able to go next year. If I don't go this year, and there is no next year.............. will I miss the money? Or the memories?

I can always make more money, right? I can't extend their time. But, I have bills to pay also.

It's an awesome feeling to get mom and dad in the boat and cruise Lake Michigan. Big waves especially. Mom doesn't like it so much, but dad does.

Pay bills, or keep the memories coming....

I think there is a fine line between responsibility and creating memories by having a good time.

I don't claim to be an expert on such matters, but I watched my dad lose his high-paying factory job in Buffalo, NY and struggle for a period of time. He eventually moved to Ohio and rise to a salaried foreman position in another factory. He worked his damn ass off almost all of his life and served in the military during the Korean War. Later, he finally made it and he and my mother [who did not work because they thought it best for her to be home w/the kids] finally started to reap the rewards of his hard work.

They started to travel. Went on cruises. Saw some of the sights that were only previously available in magazine photos. And suddenly, their world was turned upside down.

My 54 year old father who had never missed one single day of work in over a decade had a lump. He didn't want to go to the doctor. My mother convinced him and I will never forget when he came home and said......."I knew I should have never went to the doctor."

85 percent of his liver was covered by a tumor. They gave him 2 weeks to live. He survived another 21 months because our dumb asses encouraged him to keep fighting. So stupid were we!!!!!

So, for a long time..........I lived for the moment. Make memories because tomorrow is not promised. Yet, I have outlived my dad. I am 62 and he passed at the age of 56. My family history dictates that I go to the doctor for 5 annual check-ups w/complete blood work analysis.

I teeter between living for the moment and living in the moment.

I don't have any answers, but it's something that we all should consider.

There IS a fine line. I just don't know what it is.


Lawn mower completely died yesterday. The tractor is ok, but the mower deck is shot, totally. That means: buy a new mower.

Daughter is off to college soon. Sooner than I want.

Our water line (well) is leaking - that's somewhere between $500 to $1000 to fix. Just spent over $700 on my daughter's car.

Whole bunch of other bills.................so, work, or memories with my parents?

By the way, after our Colorado vacation, they took my twin nephews, their twin grandsons, and headed to Yellowstone National Park, then heading down to the Grand Canyon.

Mom and dad are dealing with the age thing as well. They know at any time all the trips and vacations might end. They are living in the here and now, and fortunately, have the means to do so.

Bills will always be there and like you said you can always make more money .

Sounds like a great, relaxing vacation.

Not sure if this will work: https://www.whitewaterphotography.com/noah-s-ark?external=1


You need to scroll down about 3/4 of the way and find 'pm pod 4 rees harper.


Click on that, and you'll see me, brother, son, wife, daughter and 2 nieces.

Going to Chattanooga, TN tomorrow for a week of vacation/softball. Any good steak places?

I would not know the answer to that question. But I'm sure there are some good places, I just don't know where.

Yes. Steak Place

COL is an awesome to place to vacation. We used to do two weeks in Estes Park during my late middle school through early high school years. Highly recommend Estes Park.

Glad you and the fam had a great time.

We leave for a Caribbean cruise soon. Looking forward to taking the fam out west when they truly appreciate natural beauty.

As Milk pointed out, Bridgemans is good. It is in the Read House Hotel.

http://www.hennens.net/

Hennens is very good. It is up on the waterfront.

I live in Chattanooga. PM me if you have any questions about any other cool places to eat. I always get on here early in the morning. After that it is hit and miss. Let me know where you are staying and I can key you in on places close.

Hampton Inn Chattanooga West/Lookout Mountain on Starview Lane. Daughters 14th birthday is tomorrow and she just wants a good steak/meal with her dad.

Your best bet would be downtown at one of the two listed. There isn't much out that way. Watch the traffic on I-24...it tends to back up heading in to town. You might want to explore taking US41 in to town.

There is a Logans out your way, chain place, but good. In St Elmo, which is out your way, on Tennessee Ave is 1885 grill. It's pretty good. Never had a steak there but I can vouch for their shrimp and grits and burgers.

http://1885grill.com/menu/

Also, 1885 is a little lighter on the budget. Bridgemans and Hennens can be steep, but they are really good.

That looks expensive to me, I'm cheap looking for a meal for two, under $50. Again I'm really cheap, lol.

It is. That is why I offered a couple of others in the PM. 1885 has plenty of option in the $14-$17 range. So does Logans.

Downtown also offers many affordable options because of the high tourist traffic. No doubt you can't go out and order $40 ala carte steaks every night...at least I can't.

Big River Brewery brews some tasty beverages and offers a wide variety of menu options with a nice spread of price points to fit any occasion..