history

Visit Glenwood Spring Part of Colorado History & Our History. HeidiTown (13)

Glenwood Springs never gets old, and yet it is old. In fact, it’s brimming with Colorado history, and it plays a role in the history of my life. I have been visiting for just over a quarter of a century and Ryan’s been traveling there his entire life. We simply love it. Here is what we did in Glenwood Springs on our most recent trip this April.  We sailed into

Belle Fourche, South Dakota: A Museum Worth the Read

I like visiting museums. They tell stories about past people, tell tales of the land, and generally provide insight into the place I am visiting. And, I have always loved black and white photos. But let’s face it, they can be dry—not Tri-State Museum in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. At first glance, it may look like many museums you have browsed in the past. There are artifacts like old horse

Seeking Old & New in Leadville, Colorado An Irish Miners’ Memorial. HeidiTown (4)

Full Disclosure: As a redhead, St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday. While my grandmother, who had several redheaded sisters, always claimed to be Dutch, my dad took an Anscestory.com test a few years ago. He’s Scottish and Irish (basically, he burns easily). He is zero percent Dutch. So, now I can celebrate the holiday from an honest place, although I would have celebrated either way! We spent this last

Speak Friend & Enter: Mine Tours in Georgetown, Colorado

The cat is out of the bag—I love Lord of The Rings, and when I think about a mine, I picture dwarfs, but mining is also a big piece of Colorado’s history. Over many years, thousands of people have come here to work in our mountain mines, seeking silver and gold. While in Georgetown, Colorado, we had the opportunity to visit two mines. Remember, Georgetown is just 45 minutes west

Silver Plume is Not a Colorado Ghost Town. HeidiTown (5)

Please note that in 20-years of living in Colorado, I have never exited the freeway at Silver Plume. I have been to the train station, via the Georgetown Loop Railroad, but I have never ventured into town.  When I saw that business actually existed in the town, thanks to Facebook, I began to wonder why we hadn’t visited. I still didn’t have firsthand proof, however, that Silver Plume was a

The Colorado Hot Springs You’ve Never Heard of near Craig. HeidiTown (6)

Down a lonely road, through herds of cows and calves and across the Yampa River, is a well-kept secret. It’s Juniper Hot Springs and locals have cherished this little-known place for many years. Located near the bank of the Yampa River about 30 minutes west of Craig, Colorado, the hot springs is bucolic in its remoteness. We wouldn’t have known about it except for a loving mention of the hot

A Grand Island, Nebraska Getaway Beer, History & Coney Dogs (4) HeidiTown

Ryan knew he had familial ties to Nebraska, he just didn’t realize how deep. When we returned from a recent trip to Grand Island and Kearney, we discovered that Ryan’s great-grandparents had come from Germany to farm outside of Omaha. Eventually, Ryan’s grandma married his grandfather who was also from Nebraska and they moved to Oregon, eventually settling in Colorado. It’s not a rare story. During our trip, we ran

A Jolly Trolley Ride in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Riding the trolley. HeidiTown.com

It’s been interesting to watch my first article about Cheyenne, “So You Think You Know Cheyenne, Wyoming?” circulate the interwebs. Some of the comments are a reminder of how many of us tend to become jaded about our own hometowns. Whether you agree with me or not about Cheyenne, I think the city is swell and has a lot to offer visitors. One of Cheyenne’s major assets is its colorful

DMNS Vikings

Note from the Mayor: This exhibit is in its final weeks at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The Vikings sail away for good on August 13 (final day of the exhibit). So you think you know about the Vikings, but did you know that the word “viking” isn’t a noun? That’s right, it’s actually a verb. You’ll learn tidbits like this and a lot more at the new

Colorado Springs, land of museums

Founded as a resort town, Colorado Springs has long been a center for arts and culture. While Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows were taking place in Denver, Colorado Springs was hosting writers and artists. I believe this predilection for the finer things in life is one reason the city has so many museums. Visit Colorado Springs has 24 area museums listed on their web site, making this city a must-visit