One of the major perks of being a full-time freelancer is that I can work from anywhere there’s WiFi. Over the holiday weekend, I decided to take advantage of that ability, and I flew to Denver, Colorado, with one of my college roommates.
We explored the mountains and the city over the course of several days, and it was exactly what I needed to get reinvigorated to create awesome content, both written and visual. It’s amazing how switching up your routine can inspire you to think and work differently!
Switching up your routine can inspire you to think and work differently!
Check out some of the highlights of my trip to Denver!
Hiking in Denver, Colorado
For the first few days of our trip, we had a rental car, so we took full advantage of our mobility. Our first stop was the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park, which overlooks the city.
The gorgeous venue is nestled among huge red rock formations, and while the view was stunning, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that there weren’t any shows while we were in town. Later in a trip, a local told me that it’s easily the most amazing place he’s ever seen a live performance! Needless to say, if I ever return to Denver, I’m definitely going to see a performance here.
The next day, we got up early and headed into the Rocky Mountains. The day I arrived, I was a bit nauseous due to the altitude of the Mile-High City, so I was anxious about how the trail to St. Mary’s Glacier would affect me—it starts at 10,000 feet above sea level and makes its way up to around 11,000 feet!
Because of my worries, I made sure to eat a solid breakfast, carry plenty of water, and take my time along the snowy trail. Luckily, I didn’t have any problems, and we made it to our destination without a hitch! It’s a little less than a mile hike, and the views are out of this world.
Downtown Street Art
As a creative person myself, I’m low-key obsessed with street art, especially murals. Boston has some, but not nearly as many vibrant ones as Denver. I spent almost a whole day exploring the 16th Street Mall and peeking down alleys in hopes of finding awesome whole-building paintings, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Finally, I had the day to myself on Monday (my travel buddy had to go back to work), so I decided to explore the Botanic Gardens. A close friend had recommended I visit, but I wasn’t sure what to expect because, well, it’s pretty much winter. As I suspected, most of the outdoor plants were a bit brown; however, the tropical conservatory alone was well worth the $12.50 admission price.
I spent way more time than anticipated wandering the gorgeous greenhouse, staring at all the stunning plants. It was warm, earthy, and colorful—everything that feels comfortable and homey to me.
The Botanic Gardens were hands down my favorite part of the trip, and I want to visit in the summer to see the full gardens in bloom.
Finding Inspiration in Denver
I have to say I was incredibly inspired to create after visiting the conservatory. One of my tabled projects at the moment is a novel that takes place in the jungle, and I had imagined a futuristic, plant-covered dome building as part of the main setting. It was actually unsettling that the conservatory was almost exactly the structure I was picturing! It might be a sign that I need to pick up writing again—what do you think?
All in all, I had a great time on my trip. It was a much-needed getaway from my home town, and it helped me to find new inspiration for upcoming projects—what more could a traveling freelancer ask for?
The only question left is what my next #ExploreToCreate destination should be! Any recommendations?