After a few more days of scorching weather in Moab, Utah, and a few more visits to the stunning Arches National Park, we were ready for a change. We decided to leave a day early and called Tiger Run Resort, the only RV park in Breckenridge. Luckily, they had a last-minute cancellation, so we packed up quickly and hit the road. To give our RV a break on those steep Colorado mountain inclines, we decoupled it from the Prius for the trip from Arches to Breckenridge.
Tiger Run Resort was both fascinating and pricey. They offered a mix of pull-through RV sites and cabins that you could rent or buy. Some RV sites were even available for purchase, allowing owners to live there seasonally or year-round. The location was unbeatable, just a few minutes from Breckenridge and its great bike trails.
We made our way to downtown Breckenridge (wearing masks the whole time and practicing social distancing). We visited three of our absolutely favorite places in Breck: a used-books bookstore (Ole Man Berkins), a vegan pizza place (Piante) , and a tea shop (Spice and Tea Merchant). We also had vegan desserts and coffee at our favorite coffee shop: Clint’s Bakery.
The ski mountains at Breckenridge were open for alpine sledding, and it was an absolute blast. Being Colorado, the mountain was alive with vibrant flowers and lush greenery in every shade imaginable. Chipmunks scurried about, adding to the charm of the place. It was simply lovely.
Before releasing us to the sleds, the instructor asked, “What happens if a chipmunk gets in the track? Do we stop?” The group replied, “NO!” while I said, “YES!!” The instructor stared at me and said, “No, we don’t stop. They will get out of the way on their own.” Of course, I immediately decided I wasn’t going to risk it. If a chipmunk got in my way, I would definitely stop the sled (ha!).
And we were off! I have to admit, I giggled maniacally most of the way down. Adults rarely get to feel the overwhelming joy and excitement that kids do during fun activities—but I felt it then.
About a third of the way down, I had to slow down for a family of two sleds who were taking it easy. I sent a quick “thank you” to the heavens for the experience and for being in Breckenridge to enjoy something like this.
Our final activity in Breckenridge was to find the famous 15-foot troll: Isak Heartstone. At this point, the boys were starting to get tired after hiking and sledding, so there was some grumbling but the sight was worth it!
Finding the troll was tricky, and we went the wrong way a few times before spotting the trailhead. The trail itself was gorgeous, showcasing the amazing scenery that Colorado offers. At the end, we finally found Isak. What a lovely treat!
We tried to stay the rest of our trip in Tiger Run but they were full, so we moved to our reservation spot in the Lowry Campground. It was not as nice as Tiger Run and a bit sparse, but it was a great location and the drive to it was beautiful due to the water views of Dillon Reservoir.
On the morning of Day 4, Dennis and I looked at each other and decided to head home two days early—ALL the way home. Driving an RV is tough on the body (there’s no “relaxing” while driving), so we usually capped our driving at five hours at a time. For the trip back from Breckenridge to Kansas, I had planned a stop at the Wakeeney KOA, which is about halfway. But after three weeks away, with four people and three dogs in the RV, we were ready to be home.
We started packing up and left Breckenridge, stopping only for gas and food (we hit the Taco Bell vegan menu so hard that we won’t be eating it again for a while). With about three hours left, Dennis started flagging, so I played some upbeat music (Shakira) to pump him up, after another round of the Hamilton soundtrack. It worked! He started requesting songs and perked up for the final stretch.
We got home at 11 pm after 12 hours of driving. The GPS initially said it would take 9 1/2 hours, but with stops and crazy winds between Colorado and Kansas, it took much longer. We were exhausted but SO happy to be home.
The first thing I thought when I walked in was, “we have a HUGE house.” Anything feels huge compared to the RV. The feeling of being home was wonderful. We got to sleep in our own beds, bathe in our bathtubs, and let the dogs enjoy the fenced-in yard.
It was also bittersweet. There was so much to love about the RV, but also many things we’d change, which we’ll cover in our next post. Stay tuned!
Oh wow! I just read about those sculptures last week and how cool to see someone exploring to find them. Definitely on my list for one day!