Spending five weeks together driving across America is a great test of a marriage. We have always done everything together – just not four hundred miles a day for so many days. The results were a stronger relationship, so many more memories together, shared delight in the God moments we witnessed, and a greater appreciation for the beauty of and freedoms enjoyed in America. This was our 2023 journey. We hope you will plan your own…
On the way to Telluride for July 4th, this cyclist inspired us. Flags were flying everywhere.
In Delta, Colorado they had a hot air balloon festival. Delta makes it a multi-day party! Balloon flights, pancake breakfasts in the park, pickle ball tournaments, Christmas in July market, games and Firemen competitions, live music and Evening Glow.
We got to Telluride just in time for the annual July 4th parade. It was like a small family July 4th celebration.
Our hotel The Victorian Inn, 401 W. Pacific Ave., Telluride, CO 81435, www.victorianinntelluride.com, was centrally located in town.
Dinner at Floradora Saloon, 103 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, CO 81435, www.floradorasaloon.com, was like stepping into the past. The building is a National Historic Landmark and the saloon was established in 1973. It was the first place we ate when we first poured Messina Hof wines at the Telluride festival in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Both the Telluride Village and the Mountain Village offered many activities throughout the day. We rode the gondola to Mountain Village. Views are beautiful but July 4th traffic was heavy. Fireworks at 9:30 pm were stunning against the mountain background and lasted an hour!
Mountain mornings are glorious and the temperatures cool. We took the opportunity to do the preplanned walking tour of the city learning about the historic buildings of the area. The Museum was outstanding and very thorough in the history in photos and actual items from the beginning of the mining town in 1887.
The town also offers free shuttle service around the town which is a great way to see the area and the drivers are so friendly and informative. In the heat of the day in the afternoon we took a drive up the mountain to see the beautiful mountains and the many subdivisions that have developed since we were last here. The drive up to Bridal Veil falls was easy and the view of the falls was breathtaking.
It also offers a glimpse of the mining operation that still stands. We also saw several mine entrances that were closed long ago.
Brunch at the Sheridan Hotel and Wine Bar was relaxing and offered a front window seat to people watch on the main street while we ate. The building is historic and has been a hotel since the 1800’s. It is a Wine Spectator awarded restaurant and has a wonderfully diverse wine list. Service was excellent. 231 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, Colorado 81320 www.newsheridan.com
It is easy to visit the Mountain Village by way of the gondola. Views are beautiful.
It was a very long drive from mountains to deserts, more mountains and more deserts – the drive is on one hand monotonous but on the other hand an abstract of what the earth has painted. Along the way there were several antique shops and thrift shops that had quality inventory. They are not only retail shops of history but educational museums in their own right.
