Let me just start with this: sleeping in your car in a mall parking lot doesn’t sound glamorous—because it’s not. But when you’ve been on the road for 14+ hours, and you’re delirious from convention fun, desert driving, and zero sleep? That mall parking lot starts to feel like a five-star suite.
So that’s exactly how Day 2 of our road trip began: half-asleep in a van outside the Glenwood Springs Mall, with the sunrise lighting up the Colorado mountains around us.
🏡 Back to Where It All Began
Glenwood Springs isn’t just another cute mountain town for me—it’s a piece of my childhood. I lived here when I was about eight, I was in third grade at Sopris Elementary. So before we launched into full-blown thrill mode, I took Aaron and Adelyn on a little trip down memory lane.
We drove by my old stomping grounds—a run-down trailer park tucked into the woods, just across from the school I once walked to every morning. It’s worn down now, but I could still picture the kid version of me running between the trees, probably barefoot, wild-haired, and full of imagination. Seeing it again through adult eyes? Surreal.
Aaron and Adelyn listened while I shared stories and pointed things out. It meant a lot to me, more than I expected. There’s something grounding about showing your family where you came from—especially when you're about to do something wildly out of the ordinary.
🎉 Birthday Boy + Mountain Thrills = Unforgettable Day
Oh, and did I mention? It was Aaron’s birthday.
While most people spend their birthdays chilling, this man spent his climbing to 7,100 feet above sea level for some of the most intense (and beautiful) rides you’ll ever find. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park sits right on the side of a mountain, and to get there, you take a gondola that slowly lifts you straight up over the valley. Sounds magical, right?
Okay, yes—magical... but also terrifying.
The gondola rocks when it stops. It sways. It pauses midair for no apparent reason. And while the views of the Colorado River below are jaw-dropping, I was internally preparing my “if-we-plummet” survival speech. Aaron loved it.
🎢 All the Rides (Minus That Terrifying One)
Once we got to the top, all of us (except fully-rested Adelyn) were running on approximately 3 brain cells and caffeine fumes. But that didn’t stop us from hitting almost every single ride—at least twice.
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The alpine mountain coaster? Unreal. You control the speed, so you can coast or go full send through the turns. We laughed the whole way down.
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The Cliffhanger Coaster, which literally clings to the edge of the mountain, made my stomach do cartwheels.
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And that super-intense coaster with the 110-degree drop? We bravely watched other people scream for their lives on it. That was enough thrill for us, thank you very much.
What made it even better was watching Aaron soak it all in on his birthday. I don’t think we’ve ever celebrated one quite like this—and I know he won’t forget it anytime soon.
🕯 The Fairy Caves: Nature’s Underground Masterpiece
Now let’s talk caves—because this part deserves its own standing ovation.
The Fairy Cave tour was the unexpected star of the day. It’s not just “a cool cave.” It’s a geological time capsule, carved over millions of years into intricate chambers filled with natural sculptures. I’m talking stalactites like frozen lightning bolts, glimmering calcite deposits, and twisting rock formations that look like they were sculpted by giants.
Our guide was amazing—funny, passionate, and full of little-known facts. Did you know these caves were some of the very first in the U.S. to have electric lights installed for public tours? Talk about trailblazing tourism.
Exclamation Point—a manmade lookout balcony built right into the cliffside—was like something from a movie. You stand there, hundreds of feet up, and the entire Glenwood valley stretches out below you. It’s quiet, it’s powerful, and it’s one of those moments that makes you feel small in the best way.
Bonus magic? It was National Cave Day (yes, that’s a thing!), and we scored a $1 book about the Fairy Caves in the gift shop. A solid find, and now we’ve got cave trivia for life.
🎯 One Last Burst of Energy: Laser Tag & Shopping Sprees
With whatever energy we had left, we squeezed in a round of laser tag (because why not chase each other in the dark at high elevation?) and made our final stop at the gift shop. Adelyn picked out a few sparkly treasures, and we grabbed some souvenirs to remind us of the wild day we just had.
🧖♀️ Hot Tub = Heaven
By the time 4 p.m. rolled around, we were officially toast. Thankfully, our hotel was right in the gondola parking lot—and I’ve never been so happy to walk to a check-in desk in my life.
We dropped our bags, took a breath, and headed straight to the pool area, where the hot tub was glorious. It soothed our road-weary bones and helped us soak in everything we’d just experienced.
From childhood memories to thrill rides, caves, birthday laughs, and laser tag—this day was a lot. In the best way.
🌆 Coming Up: A Drive to Denver and a Dinner Show You’ll Never Forget
Next stop: Casa Bonita in Denver. If you’ve never heard of it, imagine a dinner theater inside a pink Mexican fortress with cliff divers, caves, and a dash of pure chaos. It’s as wild as it sounds—and then some.
You’re not gonna want to miss this.