Colorado Vacation - Final installment

Day 7-   Today was our tour of Down Town Denver.     We took the RTD (Rapid Transit Denver) into the city.    Most people we talked to recommended this option since we were not sure exactly what we wanted to do.      We meet our friends Shane and Cassie for lunch and were then on our own to explore the city.    After we had walked around for awhile we took a bus out to the Museum of Nature and Science.   We actually only had 3 hours before the Museum closed, and that was really not enough time to see it all.  We started with the dinosaur exhibit, watched a movie in the planetarium in the space exhibit and quickly walked through the rocks and minerals.    

Day 8 -   This morning we packed up our Camp, but before we left the Denver Area we had to tour the Hammond Candy Factory.    Everyone enjoyed this special treat, especially the store at the end of the tour. Our college friend Pam, joined up for the tour.    It was great to see her again.   

Back on the road to Golden, CO for lunch and a tour of the Coors Beer Factory.  He had lunch in a little park along Clear Creek.    It was a pleasant surprise.   We dipped our feet in the cold water and watched people enjoying the rapids in tubes and kayaks.

 

Unfortunately for the adults, we did not have time to tour the beer factory as planned.    We hit the road and headed south to Colorado Springs.   Our first stop in Colorado Springs was the Air Force Academy.  Andrew wanted to see the chapel and Ethan wanted to see the B52.  

Day 9    - July 4.     This is the day that the family had been looking forward to for most of the trip.    Everyone knew that we were going White water Rafting.      We left our campground early to drive about an hour to Canon City to raft on the Arkansas River.     Although we enjoyed the morning, we were expecting a few more crazy rapids.    So we were a little disappointed, but it was a family trip after all.  

We were all feeling pretty tired, so we spent the rest of the day at the KOA.   The campground had a lovely pool and a jumping pillow, but we were never more excited to have air conditioning and a TV!

Day 10     This was our last official vacation day and we still had lots of things on our list.  
First stop was Garden of the Gods.    A park filled with Beautiful red rocks. 

The next stop for the day was the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum.   It is an exhibit of  relocated Indian cliff dwellings.  Andrew was not impressed with the relocated part of them, but I convinced him that it was a learning experience either way.  

Our last stop of the day was the Olympic Training Center. 

Our day ended in a Hotel for a swim and early bed.

Day 11 - Spent a long day on the road and arrived home at about 10:30pm.   Tired, but glad to be home.