Glenwood Springs, Colorado + Amarillo, Texas
Check out The Daily Happy - our daily 10 minute catch up session that reflects our #whatsyourhappy affirmation - there is something to be happy about every day, and while we are not here for ignoring the world around us, we are here for bringing the inspiration and the joy!
Also, if you have not yet, please check out our #thankyoufive initiative that is donating food and coffee to frontline healthcare workers!
We would love if you would check out our Indiegogo Campaign for our upcoming tour coming to a driveway near you.
Alison and her daughter have been binge watching Umbrella Academy, like, spent an entire day watching the first season! Lulu is obsessed with Papermate Inkjoy pens, which she heard about from one of our 10K Dollar Baes during a recent #10KSundaySocial!
While Alison has a ridiculously expensive vacuum that she never actually paid for, she is still wanting a Roomba, because she doesn’t like clean and would really pay for anything that would lighten her load. She’s also wished for one before, so family and friends come Christmas time - here’s your very public hint! Lulu is wishing for a foot reflexology place in Florida. She had a place in NYC that she loved, with a 40-minute foot rub costing only $25, and they are open til midnight. This sounds like a literal dream!
Alison is heading to the Rockies to take in the amenities at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. Stunning views are a given, and all bookings come with a made-to-order breakfast and access to the hot springs pool (keep reading to hear more about that!). Alison booked the Premium Family Room, which had two connecting rooms each with a balcony and a deluxe bathroom. There are many types of rooms and suites, starting with a standard room, and ending with a two-bedroom king-beds suite with a jacuzzi and a wet bar. This is a great place for a couple’s getaway or a family vacation, you’ll be ready to book as you read the rest of Alison’s day!
First stop of the day is at the aptly named Sweet Coloradough, whose offerings include coffee, wine and beer, and “Awesome Doughnuts”, “Semi Super Awesome Doughnuts”, and “RADiculously Awesome Doughnuts”. And all the doughnut-lovers said “Amen!”
Alison’s first choice is an add-on package from the hotel - Whitewater Rafting Adventure. This half-day guided tour take you down the Colorado River and the famous Shoshone rapids. They suggest you bring sunscreen and a waterproof camera, so Alison splurges on Sunleÿa Age Minimizer Sun Care SPF 50+ Sunscreen by Sisley Paris which comes in at $300 for a 1.69 Oz bottle. Waterproof camera? Alison decides on the Panasonic LUMIX GH5 4K Mirrorless Camera with a Summilux 10-25mm, F1.7 Lens, which is splashproof, but definitely not waterproof! please don’t take this $3,000 camera-lens combo on a whitewater rafting trip!
Element 47 is a fine dining spot located inside The Little Nell Hotel, a 5-star ski-in-ski-out resort in Aspen, about an hour's drive away from Glenwood Springs. Alison books an Uber black so she has an hour to chill post-rafting, pre-noshing. Alison orders a kale Salad and Wagyu burger, and splurges on three desserts - the malted milk crème brûlée, the raspberry yogurt panna cotta summer berries, and the chocolate caramel tart. She thought about joining their wine club, because they have graduated 10 of the world’s master sommeliers. But it’s $8,000 price tag is for storage, consulting, and access, without any imbibing involved. So instead she orders a $2500 six liter bottle of rosé. That’s a lot of wine for lunch…and we are HERE. FOR. IT.
After lunch, Alison heads to the pool at her hotel, for what is sure to be the most relaxing and rejuvenating pool day she’s ever had. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort boasts the largest hot springs pool in the world - there are 15 minerals in the water that have the power to reenergize the mind, renew tired muscles, and revitalize the spirit! All this while catching some rays, and escaping to her cabana rental ($165 per day) when the sun gets a bit much.
Dinner is at The Kitchen at Iron Bridge Club, where her meal starts off with the Chef's Board, a selection of cured meats, cheeses, and snacks. Following closely are an order of duck fat fries and the pork chop with swiss chard and polenta.
Finally, she returns to the hotel to see the Grand Fountain, a "water feature that acts as a kid-friendly splash pad by day" that lights up at night. Seems like the perfect place to unwind with a bottle of Domaine Hubert Lignier, 2017 she grabbed from the Element 47 cellar earlier in the day.
Lulu is staying at “The BARn” a unique Airbnb located between Amarillo and Canyon. It has a dining space for 46, a full stage with sound equipment, a commercial style kitchen, a laundry room, patio and grilling space, and a game room with billiards, table tennis, fooseball, shuffleboard, and a 22-foot professional wet bar complete with glassware. You could throw a pretty decent party here, which is what it is often used for, small weddings, family gatherings. Lulu will not be throwing a party here, but having the option to is nice.
The city of Amarillo has a rich history and has been known for many things. It was once the self-proclaimed “Helium Capital of the World" for having one of the country's most productive helium fields. It is known as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (as the city takes its name from the Spanish word for yellow). Amarillo operates one of the largest meat-packing areas in the United States, and is located along the original Route 66. The latter two factoids greatly inform Lulu’s excursion choices…just wait.
Lulu stops at Ye Olde Pancake Station for one of her breakfast favorites, a “Dutch Baby”, which is a really thin pancake served with confectioner’s sugar and lemon. She also enjoyed a helping of chicken fried steak with cream gravy and a GIANT cinnamon roll. A little shopping is in order next, so Lulu pops in to Amarillo Candle Company, where she buys the following scents - “French Market”, “Leather”, “Cowboy” and “Cowgirl”…and “Butt Naked”. Who knows how that last one is going to smell but it’s a gift for Alison who loves to do things like skinny dipping and nude beaches on her 10K Days.
A trip to (or even a drive-through) of Amarillo isn’t complete with a visit to Cadillac Ranch. Two artists asked a helium billionaire for funding in 1974 to create this art installation. 10 cadillacs are partially buried in the ground, as a commemoration of the “golden age” of the vehicle. Graffitti is encouraged, so Lulu hires ten local Amarillo artists to paint whatever they like with the Montana BLACK 12 color Spray Paint Set she provides them. This is a must-visit for those who like unique sites and self-expression!
Lunch, and by lunch we mean margaritas, Lulu hits up Los Braceros. Next she takes in the Second Amendment Cowboy, the symbol of the National Rifle Association is proclaiming his right to bear ams simply by having “second amendment cowboy” emblazoned on his shirt. Next to this larger-than-life cowboy are three Cadillacs jacked up in reference to the Cadillac Ranch…with Elvis, John Wayne, and Willie Nelson at the wheel.
Dinner is going to be quite the main event, there’s even a costume change involved. The Big Texan Steak Ranch is best known for its 72 ounce (4.5 pounds or 2.04 kg) steak . The steak is free to anyone who, in one hour or less, can eat the entire meal, consisting of the steak itself, a bread roll with butter, a baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and a salad; otherwise, the meal costs $72. Competitive eater Molly Schuyler holds the record for consuming this meal in 4 minutes 18 seconds. Well, the record of any human, a lioness ate the whole meal in 80 seconds in 2012. But coming in second to a wild cat in eating seems like a feat worth mentioning. You can go to their website and live stream watch the eaters, the prospect of which either enthralls you or…well, doesn’t.
Lulu is showing up fully prepared to take on this challenge, no matter how long it takes - she’s guessing it’ll be hours.
First, a no waistband kaftan dress with steak juice stain friendly colors (ew!), which if you don’t think about that is actually a super cute Gucci dress - $2100
These Italeau Trino loafers that appeared on a “most comfortable shoes 2020” list - $275
Some Way of Will Grapefruit essential oil to spray or place when she needs to calm her nerves, her stomach, or both - $22
These Ultimate Ears with Fostex wireless bundle are petite, clear, and easy to use, no one will notice that she has a playlist in her ears she’s been using to train to - $1799
After all of that carnivorous indulgence, Lulu is feeling the need for some detoxing, so she pendulum swings over to a week of juicing, relying on favorite Organifi green and red juice powders to get her body back to some type of normal.
CHECK OUT THE CHARITIES WE FOUND IN THE CITIES WE VISITED:
HEY, FRIEND! IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, FOLLOW US!:
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. For a full understanding of how we use affiliate links on our site, please visit our Policy Disclosures page. Thank you!