Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

So I’ve been on vacation with my husband and son—six days in the Rocky Mountains, visiting Charlie’s parents and introducing them to our son, Jackson Luke.

Charlie grew up in Salida, Colorado, about a three-hour drive southwest of Denver. We stay in a bed and breakfast run by Lance and Patti called Beddin’ Down. They’ve become good friends, so much so that it feels more like a visit with family. This is the place to stay when traveling through or sticking around for rafting/hiking/skiing adventures. Tell them Mollie sent you.

Salida has its charm and intrigue, though its potential has yet to be reached. Growth and development are evident though barely keeping pace with soaring housing prices. Neighboring Buena Vista (byoo-nuh vis-tuh, or byoonie if you’re a local) is a quick and easy trip promising good ol’ burgers and ice cream cones at K’s Dairy Delight. Come hungry.

Back in Salida, the most distinguishing feature is S Mountain, or “Tenderfoot.” It’s peak is accessible by automobile via Spiral Drive, and—by no means a “mountain” in comparison to the nearby fourteeners (mountains at or above 14,000 feet in elevation above sea level)—still affords an excellent panoramic viewof the entire town of Salida. At the holidays, S Mountain is lit up, literally, like a Christmas tree, but the “S” is lit year round and currently flashes a red heart around the “S” intermittently. Charlie and I drove our rental up Spiral Drive for pictures, and I’ll say now what I said then as we were clinging to our “oh sh*t” handles inside the vehicle—given the shape that road was in, we were clutching the skirttails of death. Hey, Chaffee County? You might want to look into some maintenance up there. Seriously.

We had the pleasure of sharing the house, for a few days, with a group of New Yorkers (and one Los Angelean) who were in town for hiking and rafting. I’m proud to say that this group hiked to the top of Mt. Shavano (elev. 14,229 ft.) and lived to tell. Note: Mt. Shavano is known for its mysterious snow pattern called the “Angel of Mt. Shavano.” Can you find her in this photo?

While in town, it’s told that Laughing Ladies is not to be missed for dinner. We wouldn’t know because we turned it down for Lance’s homemade spaghetti, several bottles of wine, and a first-time viewing of Nacho Libre. Y’all go check out the Ladies (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays), but we were laughing just fine without them that particular night!

Wednesday night is Thai night at Bongo Billy’s down on the Arkansas River. We left Jackson with “Grandpop” and “Gigi” and soaked up the savory, made-to-order shrimp curry and Clark’s mouth-watering margaritas. Live local acts entertain, but outdoor seating lulls the listener to the sounds of the river rushing by below. Tell Michelle Mollie sent you. And don’t dare leave without a peanut butter cookie.