I spent a long weekend in Colorado with my cousin over the Thanksgiving holiday. We had intentionally planned a trip that was somewhere we had never been, where we could relax, connect, and spend a great deal of time outside in nature. We ended up 
picking Golden. CO solely based on a restaurant we found on one of those lists of “best places to eat Thanksgiving dinner in every state.” I mean, there are worse ways to plan an itinerary! LOL
The thing that struck me about Colorado, aside from the awe-inspiring natural beauty, was the friendliness of people. I don’t know if it’s the fresh air, or wide open spaces, or maybe the lack of oxygen . . . ? But nearly everyone we encountered was pleasant, helpful, and friendly.
I know how much better I feel when I can be outside in nature – so I would imagine that it is a contributor. You would be hard pressed to be down for too long with that kind of stunning beauty on your doorstep. But it also occurs to me that *I* was a contributing factor to the positive vibe I felt as well.
I speak a lot in my coaching business about energy – the energy in us – the energy around us. I think it’s “science” to say that energy connects, and that like seeks like. So, when we radiate positivity, people sense it. They are attracted to it. The reflect it back to us. Those energies connect and multiply as if by magic. I continue to experience the power my mindset has on my environment and my life. This version of me that is healthy, happy, vibrant, and confident shows up in the world that way and 
people want to be a part of that. They want to strike up a conversation. They want to be helpful. They want to be included in the party. It is such a great way to move around the world.
Colorado has a lot of things going for it. We ended up seeing quite a bit more of it than we expected, and I am grateful. We hiked among fantastic rocky formations with views that almost can’t be effectively captured in an iPhone snap. We stumbled onto an adorable German Christmas Market in a park in downtown Denver, which was a nice surprise. The festive feeling in the air, along with the food, gift and artisan vendors was such an unexpected treat to be a part of. We ate some amazing food, enjoyed some wonderful street performers and musicians, admired an impressive variety of local art – and even got to have just enough snow to blanket the world in a thin layer of pretty for a day.
Colorado will definitely go on back on my list for a return trip in the future – certainly to experience a concert at Red Rocks would be reason enough for another trip!
My list of faves this trip:
Mountain Shadows Café – Colorado Springs: Wonderful, family-owned café in the historic district. Great food, adorable and inspirational décor – and while they were already sold out when we got there, apparently their cinnamon rolls are legendary. They have even been featured on Diners Drive Ins and Dives.
The Fort – Morrison: Built as a replica of an old fur trading post, this place feels iconic Colorado. It was a cool and cozy place for Thanksgiving dinner, with roaring fireplaces and sweeping views.
Christkindl Market – Denver: Stumbled across this adorable little oasis of all things German with lots of artisan gift booths and delicious food and drink options – including Glutwein!!
Red Rocks – Golden: Beautiful area to hike with stunning rock formations and vistas. The amphitheater hosts live music in the spring and summer – those sunsets must be spectacular!
Garden of the Gods – Colorado Springs: Another beautiful natural area for hiking and biking. Several trails to choose from in a range of difficulty levels. The view of Pike’s Peak was really spectacular.
Pearl Street Mall – Boulder: The downtown are of Boulder was just so adorable! Great variety of shops, galleries and restaurants, and the street musicians and performers really added to the festive vibe of the whole area. Dinner at Salt was such a lovely (and delicious!) way to end our day in Boulder.