There is just something about Colorado that will always feel like home to us! Michael and I snuck away for a long weekend to celebrate his birthday, and it was truly the sweetest few days. Lots of hiking, incredible food, mountain air, beautiful scenery, and uninterrupted time together. Basically, all of my favorite things!
We split our trip between Boulder and Vail, which ended up being the perfect combination of nostalgia, adventure, and a little luxury. If you’ve been following along for a while, you probably know that Michael and I actually lived in Boulder for three years, so getting to go back and visit some of our favorite places (and see friends!) is always so special.
Sharing a little travel diary from our weekend, including where we stayed, where we ate, our favorite hikes, and everything in between!
Getting There | Flying JSX to Denver
We kicked things off by flying JSX from Dallas to Denver, and I truly cannot say enough good things about flying JSX. It makes traveling SO much easier.
We left our house around 10:45 AM and were in Colorado by lunchtime! One of the biggest perks is being able to arrive just 20 minutes before your flight instead of spending hours at the airport. Plus, the complimentary WiFi is insanely fast, the snacks are amazing, and the entire experience just feels so seamless.
Once we landed, we picked up our rental car and headed straight to Boulder!
First Stop: Boulder, Colorado
Where We Stayed: St. Julien Hotel & Spa
We stayed at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, which is hands down our favorite hotel in Boulder. The location is amazing, right downtown and within walking distance of Pearl Street, restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping.
It’s beautiful, luxurious without feeling stuffy, and just has that cozy Boulder feel that I love so much. If you’re planning a trip to Boulder, I HIGHLY recommend staying here!
Hiking Mount Sanitas
Of course, we had to squeeze in a hike! We did Mount Sanitas, which has always been one of our favorite hikes in Boulder.
It’s about three miles total and definitely gets your heart rate up, but nothing too crazy. There are some steeper sections, but the views of Boulder and the surrounding mountains make it so worth it.
One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is getting outside, moving my body, breathing in the fresh mountain air, and just being surrounded by God’s creation. It never gets old.
Coffee, Farmers Market & Dinner
We made sure to hit two of our favorite Boulder coffee spots: OZO Coffee and Alpine Modern. Both are SO good and absolutely worth adding to your list if you’re visiting.
We also spent some time at the Boulder Farmers Market, which is one of my favorite things to do when we’re in town. I love wandering around, seeing all the local vendors, and just enjoying the slower pace of a Saturday morning.
For dinner, we went to Steakhouse No. 316. Such a great date-night spot! Delicious food and the perfect way to spend our evening in Boulder.
After a little time catching up with friends and soaking in all the nostalgia, we packed up and headed to Vail for the next part of our trip!
Next Stop: Vail, Colorado
The drive from Boulder to Vail is beautiful, especially this time of year. The leaves were just starting to change, and the mountains were beginning to show off all those gorgeous fall colors.
I feel like September is such an underrated time to visit Colorado. You get the crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, and the prettiest scenery without needing to plan an entire ski trip.
Where We Stayed: Four Seasons Vail
We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Vail, and you guys…this hotel is absolutely worth the splurge.
From the beautiful rooms to the incredible service, gorgeous mountain setting, and convenient location, everything about our stay felt so special. It was the perfect place to celebrate Michael’s birthday and enjoy a little time away together.
A little travel tip! We booked our stay through my friend Hillary, who owns Taylored Travel, and I cannot recommend her enough.
When you book Four Seasons through her, you can receive some amazing additional perks, including:
$100 food and beverage credit
Complimentary daily breakfast
Eligibility for a room upgrade, based on availability
Such a great way to get even more out of a luxury hotel stay! Hillary is wonderful to work with, and I would definitely recommend reaching out to her if you’re planning an upcoming trip (and its completely free).
Hiking Booth Falls
One of the absolute highlights of our trip was hiking Booth Falls!
We did about four miles total, and the scenery was seriously breathtaking. The leaves were beginning to turn golden, the weather was perfect, and there were so many moments where I just wanted to stop and take everything in.
Between the mountain views, gorgeous aspen trees, and waterfall, this hike is SO worth doing if you’re visiting Vail.
It’s definitely a bit of a workout with some elevation gain, so come prepared with good hiking shoes and water. But I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Outfit details here!
Exploring Vail Village
Outside of hiking, we spent a lot of our time just exploring Vail Village, which is honestly one of my favorite things to do there.
We walked along the creek, popped into different shops, and visited the Vail Farmers Market. Oktoberfest was also happening while we were there, so the village felt extra lively and festive!
I love trips where you have a few things planned but also plenty of time to just wander, grab coffee, shop, and enjoy being somewhere beautiful without feeling like you need to rush from one activity to the next.
And Vail is the PERFECT place for that.
Where We Ate in Vail
You know a trip isn’t complete without some really good food, and Vail did not disappoint!
We had dinner at Tavernetta, located inside the Four Seasons. Such a beautiful restaurant with incredible Italian food. The perfect cozy, elevated mountain dinner. We loved it!
Another amazing dinner! If you love sushi, this is a must. The food was absolutely delicious, and it’s such a fun spot for a date night or special occasion.
Okay, I HAVE to mention Sundae because it’s genuinely one of my all-time favorite ice cream shops. Anytime we’re in Vail, it’s a must-stop. The perfect little treat after a day of exploring the village.
Heading Home
After the sweetest few days, we packed up, drove back to Denver, returned our rental car, and hopped on JSX for our flight home to Dallas.
It was a quick trip, but one of those weekends that fills your cup in all the best ways.
So much good food, hiking, fresh mountain air, beautiful scenery, and most importantly, quality time with my favorite person.
As much as I love traveling with our kids and making memories as a family, I also think there’s something so special about getting away with just your husband every now and then. Time to reconnect, have uninterrupted conversations, explore somewhere together, and simply enjoy each other’s company.
And getting to do all of that in a place that holds so many memories for us made this birthday weekend even sweeter.
Colorado, you will always have our hearts. Already counting down until we’re back!🤍
All Our Colorado Weekend Favorites
For anyone planning a similar trip, here’s a quick roundup of everywhere we stayed, ate, and explored!
BOULDER
Hotel: St. Julien Hotel & Spa
Hiking: Mount Sanitas
Coffee: OZO Coffee
Coffee: Alpine Modern
Dinner: Steakhouse No. 316
Activities: Boulder Farmers Market & Pearl Street
VAIL
Hotel: Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hiking: Booth Falls
Dinner: Tavernetta
Dinner: MatsuhisaDessert: Sundae Ice Cream
Activities: Vail Farmers Market, Vail Village & Gore Creek
TRAVEL & BOOKING
Flights: JSX
Hotel Bookings: Hillary at Taylored Travel
Thanks for following along on our little Colorado getaway!
xo Lauren
