1 Week in Colorado - 14ers, Friends & Fresh Air

We landed in Denver and picked up our rental car before making our first stop at The Bagel Deli and Restaurant, a local favorite featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Their enormous deli sandwiches lived up to the hype, and we grabbed a few tubs of their delicious homemade cream cheese to take along.

After lunch, we drove two hours to Frisco where we stayed with my best friend and her husband for the week. We spent the evening relaxing at their house and catching up.

Travel Tip: If you prefer not to rent a car, there are plenty of shared shuttle bus options that go directly from Denver International Airport to mountain towns like Frisco, Breckenridge, and Silverthorne. I’ve used these before, and prices are lower during the shoulder or off-season (outside of ski season). An even cheaper option is taking the train from the airport to Denver Union Station, then connecting with The Bustang, a regional bus service that runs to the nearby mountain towns.

Since the week ahead was packed with hikes, we used today to adjust to the altitude and explore Frisco at an easy pace. We wandered through the charming downtown area, browsed local shops, and eventually stopped at Highside Brewing. Even though I don’t normally drink beer, I tried their Banana Split Board Stout and it was surprisingly delicious. The atmosphere here is friendly and relaxed, with live music on summer weekends, shelves of free board games, and plenty of locals hanging out with their dogs (it’s a very pet-friendly spot!). We cooked dinner back at the house and turned in early since our first 14er awaited in the morning.

We were up by 5:00 a.m., had breakfast, and hit the road toward Mount Bierstadt for our first 14er hike (a “14er” meaning any Colorado mountain peak over 14,000 feet). Because it was Labor Day, the trail was crowded with families and hiking groups, but the weather couldn’t have been better! The trail itself was more manageable than expected, and we reached the summit feeling tired but proud. After the descent, we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Coopers on the Creek, a cozy spot serving hearty American food.

Later in the evening, we headed to the Dillon Amphitheater, which often hosts free Monday night summer concerts. That night featured ZZ Top and Eagles tribute bands, and the place was packed with locals. If you go, bring a blanket and arrive early; it’s open seating with a beautiful lake backdrop.

We returned to the Dillon Reservoir in the afternoon for a few hours of kayaking which is one of the best ways to enjoy the stunning mountain views. If you don’t have your own gear, kayak rentals are available at the marina. A storm rolled in later in the day, so we stocked up on groceries and spent the evening relaxing indoors, cooking, and planning the next hike.

After a slow morning, we drove out to Hoosier Pass Loop, a high mountain pass sitting at 11,542 feet. The hike is relatively short and easy but offers spectacular views! After the hike, we headed into Breckenridge to walk around town and at Ollie’s Pub and the Breckenridge Brewery for appetizers and a couple of drinks. Breckenridge is one of those towns that’s perfect for wandering and has tons of boutique shops, souvenir stores, art galleries, and endless food options.

Before heading back to Frisco, we stopped at Mountain Top Cookie Shop (my favorite spot for fresh-baked cookies). We spent the rest of the evening hanging out at the house and went to bed early to rest up for our second 14er.

We were up by 5:00 a.m., had breakfast, and hit the road toward Quandary Peak. The hike was tougher than expected mostly because it was steep, rocky, and was longer than what was listed on AllTrails. However, the payoff was worth it because the weather was fantastic, the views were incredible, and we even saw a few mountain goats along the way! By the time we finished, we were exhausted but felt accomplished. The rest of the day was dedicated to recovery, naps, stretching, and lots of snacks.

Today we went on a guided climbing tour at Arapahoe Basin which is home to the highest Via Ferrata in North America. “Via Ferrata,” meaning “iron way,” is a climbing route equipped with metal rungs and cables permanently fixed into the rock. A-Basin’s version is guided-only, and we opted for the full-day tour that climbs roughly 1,200 feet to a 13,000-foot summit. All gear (harnesses and helmets) is provided, and no prior climbing experience is required; just bring your own backpack, gloves, sunscreen, water, and extra snacks (a charcuterie lunch is included with the full-day tour). The climb was exhilarating, our guide was fantastic, and the views from the summit were breathtaking.

After returning and resting for a bit, we capped off the night by heading to Copper Mountain Resort to catch a free Third Eye Blind concert.

We packed up in the morning and made the two-hour drive back to Denver for our afternoon flight. We couldn’t resist stopping at The Bagel Deli and Restaurant one more time before returning the rental car. The trip was full of great company, good food, and mountain memories.