Rocky Mountians-Finding Home in the Rockies

Our Family Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park

After an unforgettable week in Colorado Springs, it was time to head for one of the destinations we had been anticipating since we first started planning our seven-month journey.

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Leaving Colorado Springs wasn't easy. We had spent the week reconnecting with friends, exploring incredible places, and making memories we knew we'd talk about for years to come. But that's one of the beautiful parts of traveling full-time. Every goodbye also means another adventure is waiting just down the road.

Like most travel days in an RV, our drive took a little longer than we had planned.

Before reaching the mountains, we made the usual stops at Costco and Walmart to restock groceries, filled the fuel tank, and checked off all the little errands that have become part of life on the road. By the time we finally started climbing into the Rockies, we were more than ready to settle into camp.

As we drove through Estes Park and entered Rocky Mountain National Park, it didn't take long to realize we had arrived somewhere special.

Before we even reached our campground, elk were grazing along the roadside.

A few minutes later another small group wandered through a nearby meadow.

The kids pressed their faces against the windows, pointing excitedly every time another animal appeared.

It felt like the park was welcoming us.

Our home for the week was Moraine Park Campground, tucked into one of the park's most beautiful valleys. Our campsite backed up to a wide open meadow where elk and mule deer regularly came to graze throughout the day.

We hadn't even finished setting up camp before another deer quietly wandered through the campground.

That quickly became part of our daily routine.

Morning coffee often came with elk feeding in the meadow outside our windows.

Dinner sometimes included watching deer stroll through camp while the sun disappeared behind the mountains.

Almost every evening, dark clouds would begin building over the Continental Divide before another Rocky Mountain thunderstorm rolled across the valley. We'd sit together inside the motorhome, listening to rain pound on the roof while flashes of lightning illuminated the mountains beyond camp. It was one of those simple rhythms that quietly became part of our week.

Before long, another routine developed as well.

Almost every evening, Jessie, Hudson, and Lincoln grabbed their fishing rods and headed for the river. They loved finding another stretch of water, trying another lure, and seeing if a trout was waiting around the next bend. By this point in our trip, Hudson had truly become a fisherman, and watching his confidence grow with every new river and lake became one of my favorite parts of our journey.

Looking back, Rocky Mountain National Park wasn't just about alpine lakes or scenic drives.

It became a week of wildlife outside our campsite, mountain thunderstorms that made us laugh, evenings spent fishing together, and discovering that some of the best memories happen when you simply slow down and let the mountains set the pace.

Sometimes a place surprises you.

Rocky Mountain National Park did exactly that.

Monday | Discovering Estes Park

While Jessie spent the day working, the kids and I met up with a few friends and headed into Estes Park to spend the day exploring.

One of the things I loved most about Estes Park is that it doesn't feel like a tourist town trying to entertain you. Instead, it feels like a welcoming little mountain community that just happens to sit at the entrance to one of America's most beautiful national parks.

Flower baskets lined the streets, the mountains surrounded us in every direction, and the Big Thompson River flowed right through the middle of town. Everywhere we looked, people were slowing down, sitting outside with coffee, strolling through the shops, or simply enjoying the fresh mountain air.

It was exactly the kind of place we love.

Our first stop of the morning was Kind Coffee.

Nestled along the banks of the Big Thompson River, Kind Coffee is much more than just a coffee shop. The warm, welcoming atmosphere immediately makes you feel at home. Inside, the smell of freshly roasted coffee fills the room while large windows let in plenty of natural light. Outside, tables overlook the river, making it the perfect place to slow down before starting your day.

Their menu offers everything from classic espresso drinks and organic coffee to smoothies, teas, breakfast burritos, bagels, pastries, and light lunch options. As a family that eats gluten free, I was excited to see they also offered several gluten-free options, making it easy for everyone to find something they could enjoy.

The staff couldn't have been friendlier.

From the moment we walked through the door, they greeted us with genuine smiles and made us feel like locals instead of visitors.

Coffee in hand, we wandered down to the river.

The kids wasted no time kicking off their shoes and splashing into the cold mountain water.

They searched for skipping rocks.

Built tiny dams.

Chased each other through the shallows.

Laughed until they were completely soaked.

Meanwhile, we sat along the riverbank enjoying our coffee, catching up with friends, and watching the kids simply be kids.

Those moments never seem extraordinary while you're living them.

But they're often the ones I treasure the most.

Eventually everyone dried off enough to continue exploring downtown Estes Park.

One stop we couldn't pass up was The Taffy Shop, an Estes Park tradition that has been making homemade saltwater taffy since 1935 using the same family recipe. Walking inside felt like stepping back in time. If you're lucky, you can even watch the taffy being stretched and wrapped right in front of you.

With dozens of flavors to choose from—including gluten-free options—it was impossible to leave empty-handed.

The kids loved trying to decide which flavors to take with us, and I'm not sure any of us agreed on a favorite.

A little farther down the street, I wandered into one of my favorite stores of the day—Trends.

If you've ever walked into one of those stores where you instantly wish your house looked exactly like everything inside, you'll understand why I loved it so much.

Every corner was filled with beautiful home décor, seasonal decorations, gifts, cozy blankets, kitchen accessories, and all the little things that make a house feel like home.

Living in a motorhome for seven months means you become very aware of how little space you actually have.

I found myself smiling as I looked around, thinking,

"Maybe someday."

Sometimes it's just fun to dream a little.

That afternoon we made our way to one of Estes Park's most famous landmarks—The Stanley Hotel.

Perched high on the hillside overlooking town, the grand white hotel has welcomed visitors since 1909 and has become one of Colorado's most iconic landmarks. It's perhaps best known for inspiring Stephen King's novel The Shining, after he spent a night there and imagined the haunted Overlook Hotel.

For our family, though...

There was only one movie we could think about.

Dumb and Dumber.

The moment we stepped inside, Jessie and I couldn't stop quoting lines from the movie.

We laughed our way through the lobby.

Walked the long hallways.

Explored the beautiful grounds.

And probably took more pictures than we needed to.

Every room seemed to remind us of another scene.

It made the visit even more fun because while the hotel is elegant and historic, for us it also brought back memories of one of our favorite comedies.

By the time we left, the kids were probably wondering why Mom and Dad were laughing so much.

After spending the afternoon exploring Estes Park, we made our way back to Moraine Park Campground.

As we drove through the park, elk were once again grazing in the meadows and deer wandered quietly between the campsites as if they owned the place.

Back at camp, we settled into another peaceful evening together.

The boys grabbed their fishing rods and headed for the river while Macie and I relaxed around camp, enjoying the slower pace that had become part of our week in the Rockies.

Later that evening, another familiar sight appeared over the mountains.

Dark clouds slowly rolled across the Continental Divide.

Thunder echoed through the valley.

Before long, rain was pounding on the roof of the motorhome once again.

We sat together inside watching the storm roll through, listening to the thunder while talking about everything we had done that day.

It was the perfect ending to a simple day.

There were no big hikes.

No famous overlooks.

No checklists to complete.

Just coffee with friends, kids splashing in a mountain river, wandering through one of Colorado's most charming mountain towns, and another peaceful evening surrounded by the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sometimes those are the days I remember the most.

Tuesday | A Slow Day in the Rockies

After spending Monday exploring Estes Park, Tuesday was intentionally slower.

Jessie had another workday, so the kids and I stayed around Moraine Park Campground and enjoyed everything that makes camping inside Rocky Mountain National Park so special.

One of the things we loved most about Moraine Park Campground was that we never felt like we had to leave to have a great day.

Our campsite backed up to a wide open meadow, and almost every morning we'd wake up to elk grazing in the distance or mule deer quietly wandering through the campground. The kids quickly got into the habit of looking out the windows before breakfast to see what wildlife had decided to visit that morning.

Some days we spotted elk.

Other days it was deer.

No matter what we saw, it never got old.

We enjoyed a slow breakfast outside before the kids settled into one of their favorite campground routines.

They rode bikes through the loops, played on the open grass, explored around our campsite, and found new adventures without ever leaving the campground. It's amazing how little kids need when they're surrounded by nature.

Macie spent time drawing and coloring at the picnic table while the boys wandered off to see what they could discover nearby. Every so often they'd come running back to tell me about another animal they'd spotted or something interesting they had found.

It was one of those peaceful mornings where there wasn't a schedule to follow or somewhere we needed to be.

While Jessie worked, I found myself appreciating the slower pace.

Travel isn't always about packing every day with famous attractions.

Sometimes it's about having the freedom to spend an entire morning outside with your kids and letting them simply enjoy being kids.

As lunchtime rolled around, we gathered back together for a picnic at camp before spending the afternoon playing card games inside the motorhome and catching up on a few of those little chores that come with living on the road.

Laundry was folded.

The RV got a quick tidy-up.

Snacks were restocked for tomorrow's hike.

It wasn't glamorous, but it was real life, and somehow those ordinary moments have become some of my favorite memories from this journey.

By late afternoon, Jessie wrapped up work, and our family was back together again.

Almost immediately, the fishing rods came out.

That quickly became another tradition during our stay.

Jessie, Hudson, and Lincoln would head down to the Big Thompson River each evening to see if they could catch another trout.

It didn't matter if they caught one fish or ten.

They simply loved exploring another stretch of water, trying a different lure, and seeing what the river had in store.

By this point in our trip, Hudson had truly become a fisherman. Every new lake and river was another opportunity to learn, and it was so much fun watching his confidence grow with every cast.

Lincoln enjoyed fishing too, but he was just as happy skipping rocks, exploring the shoreline, or looking for sticks to throw into the river.

He was exactly where he wanted to be.

Back at camp, Macie and I enjoyed a quiet evening together before the boys returned full of stories about the fish they had caught—or the ones that got away.

As the sun began to disappear behind the mountains, another familiar scene unfolded.

Dark clouds slowly gathered over the Continental Divide.

Thunder echoed across the valley.

Before long, another Rocky Mountain thunderstorm rolled through camp.

We curled up inside the motorhome, listening to the rain drum on the roof while flashes of lightning lit up the mountains outside our windows.

It had become one of my favorite parts of the day.

There was something incredibly peaceful about being tucked inside together while the storm passed overhead.

Tomorrow would bring one of the most iconic hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.

But for today, slowing down was exactly what we needed.

Wednesday | Chasing Alpine Lakes...and a Rocky Mountain Monsoon

After enjoying a slower day around camp, we were ready for one of the hikes we had been looking forward to most.

The Bear Lake Corridor is one of the most popular areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, and after hiking it ourselves, it's easy to understand why. Surrounded by towering granite peaks, alpine lakes, and dense evergreen forests, it feels like stepping into a postcard.

Knowing how busy the trailhead can become, we decided to get an early start.

Before beginning our hike, we took a few minutes to walk around beautiful Bear Lake.

The water was perfectly still, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a giant mirror. It was one of those peaceful mornings where nobody felt the need to rush.

From Bear Lake, we began climbing toward Nymph Lake.

The trail wound through towering pines before opening to a quiet alpine lake covered with lily pads. It was a beautiful stop, but we knew there was even more waiting farther up the trail.

Next came Dream Lake.

True to its name, it almost didn't seem real.

Towering granite peaks reflected perfectly across the crystal-clear water while hikers quietly sat along the shoreline taking in the view. We lingered for a while, snapping family pictures and soaking in one of the most iconic scenes in Rocky Mountain National Park.

After one final climb, we reached Emerald Lake.

Nestled beneath dramatic cliffs and surrounded by rugged mountain peaks, it was every bit as breathtaking as we'd imagined.

Once we reached the shoreline, Jessie and the boys couldn't resist pulling out their fishing rods.

Fishing in an alpine lake surrounded by mountains isn't something you get to do every day.

While they cast into the clear water looking for trout, the rest of us found a sunny spot along the shoreline, enjoyed a snack, and simply took in the incredible scenery around us.

For a little while...

Everything was perfect.

Then the mountains reminded us who was really in charge.

At first we noticed a few dark clouds beginning to build over the Continental Divide.

Nobody thought much of it.

Mountain weather changes quickly, and a few clouds didn't seem unusual.

Within minutes, though, everything changed.

The wind picked up.

The sunshine disappeared.

Then came the thunder.

One loud crack echoed through the mountains, followed by another.

We quickly packed up the fishing gear, threw on our rain jackets, and started hiking back toward Bear Lake.

A few minutes later the rain arrived.

Not ordinary rain.

A true Rocky Mountain monsoon.

The kind of rain that completely soaks you within seconds.

Lightning flashed nearby while thunder rolled through the valley. Rain poured so hard we couldn't walk fast enough to stay ahead of it. Before long the trail had turned into a flowing stream, and every step sent water splashing over our boots.

We still had more than three miles to hike.

I'll admit...

At first, nobody was having much fun.

The kids were soaked.

We were soaked.

Every layer we were wearing was dripping wet.

The rain just kept coming.

It felt like the hardest rainstorm any of us had ever experienced.

But somewhere along the hike, something changed.

Instead of trying to avoid the puddles, the kids started jumping in them.

Instead of complaining about being wet, they laughed every time another wave of water splashed over their hiking shoes.

By the time we passed Dream Lake again, we had all accepted there was no such thing as staying dry.

The laughter started.

The jokes started.

And somehow, one of the wettest hikes of our lives became one of the funniest.

When we finally reached the car, we looked like we'd gone swimming instead of hiking.

Water dripped from every backpack.

Our shoes squished with every step.

Our clothes were completely soaked.

Looking back, it's one of the funniest memories from our week in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sometimes the adventures you never plan become the ones you remember forever.

After making it back to camp and getting everyone into dry clothes, we laughed about the entire experience while warming up inside the motorhome.

As evening settled over Moraine Park, another familiar thunderstorm rolled across the mountains.

Only this time, we were happy to be watching it from camp instead of hiking through it.

It's funny how quickly perspective can change.

What felt miserable in the moment had already become one of our favorite stories from the week.

Sometimes the mountains have adventures planned that are even better than the ones you planned yourself.

Thursday | A Day to Slow Down Together

After Wednesday's adventure to Emerald Lake—and getting completely soaked on the hike back—we all appreciated the chance to slow down.

Best of all, Jessie was off work.

After spending the first part of the week working while the kids and I explored, it was nice to simply enjoy a full day together without feeling like we needed to accomplish anything.

There wasn't an alarm clock.

No trailhead we needed to reach before the crowds.

Just a beautiful morning in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We took our time making breakfast outside the motorhome while the cool mountain air drifted through camp. Coffee always seemed to taste a little better surrounded by mountains, and we found ourselves lingering around the picnic table longer than usual.

As we sat talking, another group of elk wandered into the meadow behind our campsite.

It had almost become part of our morning routine.

Every day brought another wildlife sighting.

Sometimes it was a large herd of elk.

Other mornings mule deer quietly wandered through camp while families enjoyed breakfast outside.

No matter how many times we saw them, it never got old.

The rest of the morning unfolded slowly.

The kids rode their bikes through the campground loops.

We played card games around the picnic table.

Macie colored while the boys explored nearby.

There wasn't a schedule to follow, and honestly, that felt refreshing.

One of the things we've learned during this trip is that not every great vacation day has to be packed with activities.

Sometimes the best days are the ones that leave room to simply enjoy being together.

Later that afternoon, Jessie and the boys grabbed their fishing rods and headed down to the Big Thompson River.

By now, evening fishing trips had become a tradition.

They loved finding another stretch of water, trying a different lure, and seeing if another trout was waiting beneath the current.

Hudson had grown so much as a fisherman over the past few months.

Watching him confidently tie on lures, cast into unfamiliar water, and help Lincoln whenever he needed it made me smile.

Every new river seemed to teach him something new.

Lincoln was just as happy.

Some moments he was fishing.

Other moments he was skipping rocks, exploring the shoreline, or seeing how many sticks he could float downstream.

He simply loved being outside.

While the boys were at the river, Macie and I stayed back at camp.

We read together, talked about our favorite memories from the week so far, and enjoyed the quiet afternoon before everyone returned for dinner.

As evening settled over the campground, the now-familiar afternoon weather arrived once again.

Dark clouds slowly rolled over the Continental Divide.

Thunder echoed through the valley.

Rain began falling across the meadow behind our campsite.

Instead of feeling disappointed, we smiled.

By this point, Rocky Mountain thunderstorms had become part of our daily rhythm.

There was something incredibly peaceful about sitting together inside the motorhome, listening to the rain drum on the roof while lightning illuminated the mountains outside our windows.

Looking back, Thursday wasn't filled with famous hikes or bucket-list attractions.

Instead, it reminded me that some of the sweetest moments of our journey happen in between the adventures.

A slow breakfast.

Coffee together.

Watching deer from our campsite.

Fishing another stretch of river.

Playing games around the picnic table.

Those ordinary moments are every bit as important as the big adventures.

Sometimes slowing down allows you to appreciate just how special the place you're in really is.

Tomorrow would be our final full day in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We had one more big adventure waiting for us.

Friday | Above the Trees

It was hard to believe our final full day in Rocky Mountain National Park had already arrived.

The week had gone by so quickly, but we still had one more adventure waiting for us.

Knowing afternoon thunderstorms had become part of our daily routine, we decided to get an early start.

Today's destination wasn't another hiking trail.

It was one of the most scenic mountain drives in America.

We began our morning at the Alluvial Fan.

A short walk led us across a wooden bridge overlooking the rushing Roaring River before opening into an enormous field of giant granite boulders. Created by the historic Lawn Lake Dam failure in 1982, the Alluvial Fan is one of the most unique landscapes in the park.

The kids didn't care much about the history.

To them, it was simply the world's biggest playground.

They carefully climbed from boulder to boulder, helping each other across the larger gaps while Jessie and I followed behind. We laughed as they searched for the biggest rocks they could safely conquer.

It was impossible not to feel like a kid again.

From there we made our way to one of the roads I had been looking forward to driving since we first started planning this trip.

Old Fall River Road.

Unlike most scenic drives, this historic one-way dirt road slowly winds its way up the mountainside at just fifteen miles per hour. Built more than one hundred years ago, it follows the natural contours of the mountain with narrow switchbacks, incredible scenery, and breathtaking views around nearly every corner.

It felt less like driving a road and more like stepping back in time.

One of our first stops was Chasm Falls.

A short walk down a stone staircase brought us to a viewing platform overlooking the beautiful waterfall as it rushed through a narrow granite canyon.

Even though the walk was short, it quickly became one of our favorite waterfall stops of the week.

As we continued climbing, the scenery slowly began to change.

The forests became thinner.

The trees became smaller.

Then, almost without realizing it...

There were no trees at all.

We had climbed above treeline.

Standing above the trees is difficult to describe until you've experienced it yourself.

The mountains stretched endlessly in every direction.

The air felt thinner.

The landscape looked almost untouched.

It was hard to believe places like this really exist.

Eventually we reached the Alpine Visitor Center, sitting at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.

We enjoyed lunch together while looking out across the endless mountain ranges before heading inside to explore.

One of the highlights of the day came when the kids proudly turned in their completed Junior Ranger books.

Watching them stand together, raise their right hands, and take the Junior Ranger oath before receiving their wooden badges made me smile.

Those little wooden badges have become some of my favorite souvenirs from our travels because each one represents another place our family explored together.

After lunch we continued on to Rock Cut and walked the Tundra Communities Trail.

Walking across the alpine tundra felt like stepping into another world.

Tiny wildflowers somehow survived in one of the harshest climates imaginable.

Yellow-bellied marmots darted between the rocks.

Pikas disappeared into tiny openings before popping their heads back out a few moments later.

It was fascinating to see so much life thriving in such an extreme environment.

As we made our way back toward camp along Trail Ridge Road, we took our time stopping at several overlooks.

Each one somehow offered a completely different perspective of the Rockies.

At Gore Range Overlook, rugged peaks stretched as far as we could see.

Lava Cliffs showcased dramatic volcanic rock unlike anything we'd seen earlier in the week.

Forest Canyon Overlook opened to an enormous alpine valley that seemed to disappear into the horizon.

Finally, we stopped at Rainbow Curve.

Nobody said much.

Sometimes the most beautiful places don't need words.

We simply stood together, taking in one final view of Rocky Mountain National Park.

By the time we made it back to Moraine Park Campground, we thought the day couldn't get any better.

Then we noticed something familiar.

Just a few campsites away...

Our friends from Colorado Springs.

Completely by coincidence, they had reserved a campsite in the same campground for the night.

We couldn't believe it.

Of course, there was only one way to spend our final evening together.

Around a campfire.

We roasted marshmallows.

Made s'mores.

Watched the kids run around with flashlights until well after dark.

The laughter around that campfire seemed to carry through the entire campground.

We let the kids stay up later than usual.

Sometimes memories are worth being a little tired the next morning.

As I looked around the fire that evening, I couldn't help but smile.

Just a week earlier we had reunited with these friends in Colorado Springs.

Now, somehow, our paths had crossed again in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park.

It felt like the perfect ending to an unforgettable week.

The next morning we'd pack up the motorhome and continue our journey to Fort Collins before eventually making our way toward Grand Teton National Park.

But as I crawled into bed that night, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful.

Grateful for another week together.

Grateful for mountains that continually reminded us of God's incredible creation.

And grateful for friendships that somehow picked up exactly where they had left off, no matter how many miles separated us.

Sometimes the best endings are the ones you never could have planned.

What We'll Remember

As we packed up the motorhome Saturday morning and pulled away from Moraine Park Campground, I found myself taking one last look across the meadow behind our campsite.

It was hard to believe an entire week had already passed.

Just a few days earlier, we had arrived tired from the drive, wondering what Rocky Mountain National Park had in store for our family.

Now we were leaving with memories we'll never forget.

I'll remember waking up each morning to elk grazing quietly outside our windows.

I'll remember the boys heading to the river almost every evening, always convinced the next cast would bring another trout.

I'll remember watching Macie slow down enough to notice the little things—the wildflowers, the mountain streams, and the quiet moments around camp.

I'll remember our family laughing as we hiked three miles through one of the biggest mountain thunderstorms we've ever experienced, completely soaked and unable to do anything except smile.

I'll remember standing above the trees on Trail Ridge Road, looking across miles of rugged peaks, and being reminded once again just how incredible God's creation truly is.

More than anything, though, I'll remember the slower pace.

Rocky Mountain National Park taught us that every day doesn't have to be filled with a long hike or another attraction.

Some of our favorite memories came from drinking coffee while watching elk in the meadow, listening to afternoon thunderstorms roll across the mountains, playing cards around the picnic table, and ending each evening together at camp.

Those simple moments became some of the most meaningful.

As we made our way toward Fort Collins and the next stop on our journey, I couldn't help but feel thankful.

Thankful for another week together.

Thankful for the beauty that surrounded us.

Thankful for the opportunity to show our children places like this while teaching them to appreciate the incredible world God created.

Rocky Mountain National Park gave us breathtaking views, unforgettable adventures, and stories we'll tell for years.

But it also gave us something we didn't expect.

It reminded us to slow down.

And sometimes, that's exactly the adventure we need.

Until next time, Rocky Mountain National Park.

We'll be back.

-Kayla