Day 5: Golden Colorado; Blair Family Roadtrip

It's a gorgeous cool & sunny morning here in Golden! The sun is piercing as it rises over the Rockies to the point that almost hurts your eyes. The town is waking up with eager expectation of the festivities that only the 4th can deliver!! Even Sadie seems to have a spring in her step!! 

We sit outside Starbucks and enjoy the view as we sip our French pressed coffee & eat our breakfast wraps. I look around at the young couples mingling with sweet young children still sleepy-eyed in their printed pajamas & think, "this is the life God intended us to live." It's a happy place here where superficial things seem to fade away & I LOVE it!!

Long gone are the cares of difficult battles in the Deep South. We are finally feeling renewed!! 

We pack up & head out-Salt lake city bound! We don't get far before we hit significant traffic but the scenery & snow capped mountains with the cold air wash away all anxiety. I am grateful to be in this place!! 

Out of traffic 45 min later we gain speed & decide to stop in Dillon for a coolant check. Turns out that the altitude has thrown off the gauge & once opened & pressure released we are good to go!! 

We see lots of whitewater rafting, tunnels, biking, & other awesome sights! This is a drive Everyone should make Atleast once in their lifetime!!

We enter canyon country & decide to stop in Grand Junction for gas & Chik-fil-a- per Sierra's request! I think she may be having withdrawal!! 

We make it to the Utah border & our 9th state!!! Such a pretty drive!! It's HOT out here!! At times it's 100 degrees, which we are told is weird because it snowed 2 weeks ago in Salt Lake!! 

We see a few small dust tornados & a few signs for "Good Jerky."...LOL!!! 

As we get closer to Salt Lake City, the mountains are breathtaking!! What a great city!! Everything is so clean!! 

We check into The Hotel Monaco-which I highly recommend!! Then we head out to dinner at The Red Iguana 2, which was featured on Drive ins Diners & Dives!! The place is in a "up n coming" area of town so we were pleased to see that the management had hired security & offered Free valet parking!! 

The Red Iguana is Amazing!! This diner is CLEAN, well decorated, had amazing hand-crafted cocktails & a killer menu!! The service was superb!! 

Per the waiter's recommendation, we head up to the Avenues on top of the hill that overlooks the city!! We can see All the fireworks from here & the weather is amazing!! 

It's been an unbelievable 4th!!!