Lovely hostess made us fresh cookies and beautiful breakfasts. This Airbnb is located in the downstairs portion of her house. The gardens and flowers are beautiful. My kids and I enjoyed the hot tub, as well.
If you are in Golden, you must go to this coffee shop and bookstore. They sell used and new books, great lattes, and yummy treats. We bought a mystery puzzle and the kids and I had fun bonding time with it.
I love walking across suspension bridges and this one is one of the best. The kids and I also did the challenge course (which was challenging for me) and the terrifying zip line across the canyon. We skipped the axe throwing since we had done it already in San Diego and opted for ice cream instead.
Chateau Style Hotel Set on the shores of Lake Louise
I had seen photos of this hotel and always wanted to stay here because of the idyllic location. Pros: It is undeniably beautiful. It offers easy access to the Lake Louise hikes. Fast pass to the canoeing on Lake Louise. Complimentary yoga class. Great buffet-style breakfast only available to hotel guests. Cons: It is overpriced. On balance, I was happy that we stayed there so I could go out hiking by myself early in the morning before the kids woke up.
Lake Louise is magical. The water is so blue that it looks unreal. We hiked from Lake Lousie up the hill to Lake Agnus, where a historic teahouse is situated. The kids and I enjoyed a snack on the terrace overlooking the lake. I wanted to extend the hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse but the kids were burned out on hiking. Instead, we headed back to Lake Lousie and then I continued on by myself toward the Plain of the Six Glaciers... I only made it about halfway before I started to scare myself -- thinking that a Grizzly Bear would be around any corner. I was pretty silly.
The Lake Agnus hike is very popular, so I felt comfortable hiking by myself early the next morning to visit the lake a second time.