For the past week, my family and I have been on vacation in Colorado and Wyoming. It was an incredible experience, full of exploration, regional events, and cherished moments with Auntie Annie, who lives in Colorado Springs.
Our adventure began with what was supposed to be a simple two-hour flight from Fresno to Denver. Instead, it turned into a nine-hour ordeal with unexpected stops in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, and an hour spent in a holding pattern near Denver airport. Our planned 6:30 pm arrival turned into a 1:00 am landing. The life lesson here: one bad decision can cascade into a series of unintended consequences.
Despite our lack of sleep, the boys woke us up at a reasonable time on Sunday morning. After breakfast, we headed to Colorado Springs. We attended Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, braving the variable weather. It was pouring rain when we arrived and still raining when we left. Fortunately, the rain subsided by the time we reached my sister-in-law’s house. There, we caught up, and our older boys had impromptu wrestling matches around her home, fueled by the snacks she kindly provided.
Next, we visited the Air Force Academy, a vast and impressive institution. The drive to the visitor center, located on the far side of the property, took at least 15 minutes. Amidst a storm, we dined at the only open restaurant on campus, serving Southeast Asian cuisine, which everyone enjoyed—a win given our disrupted schedule.
Reflecting on the Air Force Academy, it’s clear that if you’re academically inclined and committed to serving the country, this institution should be on your shortlist. Living on the West Coast, I hold this academy in higher reverence compared to its Army and Navy counterparts on the East Coast.
The following day, we visited the gravesite and museum of Buffalo Bill Cody, just outside of Golden. The museum was excellent, offering a rich array of historical materials, interactive western wear, and artificial horses for kids. Buffalo Bill’s life marked a pivotal era in the development and settlement of the West, and his Wild West show captured a fleeting fragment of history.
We then headed to Golden for lunch at Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza, a fantastic spot with a great pizza and salad bar buffet. Meeting Annie there was a treat for everyone. Afterward, we followed her to the St. Cabrini Shrine, an impressive site originally founded by St. Cabrini for orphaned girls. Today, it serves as a church, shrine, and visitor center. We didn’t climb the numerous steps leading to the massive statue of Jesus atop the hill, but the views from there must be breathtaking.
After another day of adventures, we returned to our hotel, then dined at a local Chick-fil-A followed by Baskin Robbins. The boys were thrilled with the treat, and bedtime came quickly afterward.
A few notes on Golden: it’s a unique town, unlike any in California. With a population of around 20,000, it sits in the foothills of the Rockies, hosts the world-class Colorado School of Mines, houses the Coors beer production facility, and boasts a tourist-friendly downtown. Golden is where tourism, engineering, and beer production converge—an intriguing combination.
More adventures to come!