Aspen/Glenwood Springs/Carbondale (2-4 days)

Now it’s important to clarify that we did not actually ski at Aspen. We had one night booked at the Fabi Hut, one of the 10th Mountain Division huts, which is right outside of Aspen. Without traffic, Aspen is just under a four hour drive from Denver International Airport. Aspen Snowmass consists of four mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Since I didn’t ski at the resort, I’ll keep this section brief.

We drove straight from the airport to Glenwood Springs, which is where we stayed our first night, before embarking on our adventure to the Fabi Hut the next morning (probably one of the most beautiful and pleasant enclosed pit toilet experience one could have). This was our first time doing a hut trip and we were very excited and incredibly unprepared (however that’s a story for another time). It is MANDATORY that you stop at Sweet Coloradough to pick up breakfast on your way to Aspen. Their breakfast burritos can easily feed a family of four.

~brief mandatory history lesson~

Like much of Colorado, Glenwood Springs is rich in history. The area was home to the Ute Indian Tribe before James Landis homesteaded the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Grand Rivers in the early 1880’s, later becoming Glenwood Springs. The area is known for its hot springs and early settlers saw the potential for Glenwood Springs to become a destination.

~class dismissed~

If you’re taking this route in the summer the number of hikes available are overwhelming but I recommend the two below if you’re looking for something on the more mellow end.

Conundrum Creek Day Hike

Distance: ~4 miles

Elevation Gain: 583ft

Type: Out & Back

Estimated Time: 1.5-2hrs (it took us 1 hour and 12 minutes with stops)

Probably one of the easiest ways to experience the Maroon Bells Wilderness if you’re looking for a taste. I haven’t had the chance to go back but it’s on my bucket list.

American Lake Trail

Distance: ~6.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,000ft

Type: Out & Back

Estimated Time: 4-4.5hrs (it took us 3 hour and 15 minutes with stops)

The hike starts off Castle Creek Road and you meander through a field before you enter towering aspens and start the climb. The hike up to the lake itself isn’t the most exciting since you’re in the trees, but it is beautiful.

Alli-Gate—your new travel agent

Rest Day

Iron Mountain Hot Springs

Our 4th day we pampered ourselves with a trip to Iron Mountain Hot Springs making our rounds through the 35 mineral hot springs pools. Passes start at $45 and have a range of options.

Vintage Ski World

This is the type of place you need to know about because there’s no way you’ll stumble on it. Located in a warehouse off a not so busy road, Vintage Ski World hosts the “largest collection of vintage ski equipment, posters, and memorabilia in the world” (according to their instagram bio—did not verify this).

Dining Options

El Tapatío Family Mexican Restaurant - A cozy spot in town serving healthy-sized margaritas and delicious food.

Carbondale Beer Works - A chill neighborhood brewpub with good beer, patio, and live music.

Izakaya - I haven’t been here but people comment on their wine selection, sushi, beef teriyaki, and pork buns.

El Dorado - Take a seat at the bar or sink into one of the booths and end the evening with a nightcap.

Crested Butte (2-4 Days)

Now it appears I took zero photos during this 4 day stretch when I was there in the winter. The mountain itself is a pretty decent size and there’s plenty of terrain for everyone. We happened to visit when snow was sparse so terrain was limited, however, we did take our chances off The High Lift with Teocalli and Halfpipe and immediately regretted it after hitting one too many rocks.

It’s only a 5 minute drive between the ski resort and town, and the town bus (CB/MTCB) runs about every 15 minutes. Check online for the most up-to-date schedule.

Fat Bike the Nordic Trails

Crested Butte is a mountain biking town, and there’s no exception in the winter. Rent a bike in town and explore the groomed nordic trails. For more information on trails and rentals, click here.

Snowshoe or Ski to the Backcountry Bistro at the Magic Meadows Yurt

Check the website for the most up-to-date offerings, but usually you can choose from a guided dinner or stop in during the day for a light bite.

If you’re in Crested Butte over the summer there are multiple ways to spend your time from mountain biking the 401 trail to taking a day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. CB calls itself the wildflower capital of Colorado and peak bloom usually comes in July.

Take a Day Trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

About 90 minutes from Crested Butte, you can spend an entire day exploring the park’s multiple overlooks or stack miles with a number of short hikes. If you’re feeling extra brave and can plan ahead, the Gunnison Route might be one of the most epic and insane hikes I’ve done.

Gunnison Route

Distance: ~2 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,000ft

Type: Out & Back

Estimated Time: It took us 5 hour and 20 minutes with stops but we also added 3 miles to do the Oak Flat, Uplands, and Rim Rock Nature Trail Loop

You’re required to obtain a Wilderness Use Permit of which only 15 are available each day. For more information check out the NPS website. This route takes you to the bottom of Black Canyon and is a Class 3-4 scramble.

Oak Flat, Uplands, and Rim Rock Nature Trail Loop

Distance: ~3 miles

Elevation Gain: 500ft

Type: Loop

Estimated Time: 1.5-2hrs

The loop trail is located in the South Rim section of the park and provides stunning views of the canyon walls and river below.

Dining options

Bruhaus - Take a seat at the bar, or, in warmer weather, the patio, order a beer and order your favorite comfort food.

Thai Chili 78 - I don’t know why, but mountain towns always seem to have the best Thai food. This was no exception.

Izakaya Cabin - A full menu of sushi, ramen, donburi, and more.

Iron Horse Tap - Head in for après and maybe stay for dinner. This is a no frills bar with exactly what you’re craving after a day outside.

Telluride (2-4 days)

Check out our post At the End of the Road and Your Favorite Sport You’ve Never Heard of for all things Telluride.

In Summary

Whether you follow this itinerary or make your own, there’s no shortage of ways to travel and explore Colorado.

Subscribe now

On the property: made to kick-up your feet and relax

This is a two-bedroom cottage in a quiet residential pocket of North Wildwood. If you feel like staying close to home, there are plenty of things to do at the house or nearby. Here are some of Michelle’s suggestions:

• Friday night fireworks from the porch. The covered front porch is the spot to watch — no need to fight the boardwalk crowds.

• A yard and rear deck. Room for outdoor seating, plus a basic charcoal grill if you want to cook in.

• Walkable to the beach, boardwalk, and local restaurants. Everything else on this list is close enough not to need the car.

Book Sandy Toes Beach Cottage

Off the property

Walk the beach and the seawall (2.5 miles)

North Wildwood’s beaches are free and wide; from the lighthouse grounds you can step right onto the North Wildwood Seawall for an oceanfront walk — locals say it’s best late at night when it’s foggy and the lighthouse beam sweeps overhead.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

Built in 1874 and still an active navigational aid, it’s open for touring with a small museum inside and award-winning gardens open dawn to dusk — a quieter counterpoint to the boardwalk.

Get up early and rent bikes for the boardwalk, or spend an evening on the Wildwoods Boardwalk

Biking is allowed during early morning hours before the crowds show up — one of the better, quieter ways to see the whole stretch. Amusement piers, rides, mini golf, and the Seaport Aquarium are all a short trip away — the classic Jersey Shore boardwalk night out.

Check out NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum

Located inside an old World War II hangar, the NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum lets you explore aviation and military history. In 1943, NAS Wildwood was commissioned as a training facility for dive bomber squadrons that would go on to fight in the Pacific. Between 1943 and 1945, activities included night flying and target practice over the Delaware Bay.

Travel back to the 1800s with a visit to Historic Cold Spring Village and grab a beer from the state’s first non-profit brewery

Explore NJ’s largest open-air living history museum, Cold Spring Village, providing opportunities for historic education, preservation, and heritage tourism. Walk the village and see historically clothed interpreters who demonstrate blacksmithing, printing, woodworking, basket weaving, bookbinding and more. Historic Cold Spring Village is home to the state’s first non-profit brewery, Cold Spring Brewery. In keeping with the mission of the Historic Cold Spring Village, an 1804 barn from Upper Township was purchased.

Free movies on the plaza: A local tradition. Pack a blanket and watch a film under the stars.

Try crabbing or fishing: Sunset Lake and the bay side are the local go-tos if you want to spend an afternoon on the water without a boat.

Where to eat

• Secondo Panicos: Michelle’s own new favorite; she recommends the cozy back room with harbor views or the rear patio with a fireplace.

• Duffer’s Restaurant & Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor: family-friendly, with a mini put-put course and arcade for kids; Michelle suggests parking from the Wildwood Crest side (129 locals recommend).

• Sweet stops: Quinn’s Original Fudge Island and Cool Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, both on the boardwalk — good for an evening stroll.

• Russo’s Market: Some call them the best hoagies on the shore. You’ll just have to go and find out for yourself.

Parks and Nature

• Cape May County Park & Zoo — free admission; Michelle calls it “great for a beach break day” (614 locals recommend).

• Wildwood Dog Park & Beach — about 0.7 miles from the cottage, per Michelle. If you’re bringing a pre-approved pup, this is the spot — just make sure they’re clean and dry before heading back inside.

Plan around what’s happening

• Wildwood Events Calendar — worth a look before you book activities, since Wildwood runs festivals, concerts, and boardwalk events all summer.

Book Sandy Toes Beach Cottage

After a lifetime in cities, a 2015 family trip to Pigeon Forge was the reset they didn’t know they needed. By 2016, Tobin and his family had packed up their life in Texas and moved to East Tennessee for good. The pace of life changed almost immediately, and every friend or family member who came to visit left saying some versio…

Read more

Travel Day

After arriving in Montrose, pick up your rental 4WD car and make your way southeast along Highway 145, winding through the Uncompahgre Plateau and into the San Juan Mountains. Check into your hotel and drop your bags—if you’re staying in Mountain Village head to the free Gondola which you will take down into the town of Telluride—before headin…

Read more

Nature’s Playbook was built on a simple belief: people connect most deeply through the stories of others. Sharing insights on an outdoor adventure with a friend creates connection—something more meaningful than a review or search result—and that’s the basis of NP.

At its heart, N…

Read more

While each park has its own system, destinations like Carlsbad Caverns and Yosemite have reservation requirements for ti…

Read more

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) covers over 415 square miles with more than 350 miles of hiking trails, diverse wildlife, and the opportunity to hike along the Continental Divide. If you’re a seasoned hiker, we recommend spending at least three to five days to explore RMNP. Beware that crowds are largest during the summer months, especi…

Read more

Sterling Pond

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 2.3 miles out and back

Gain: ~938ft

Seemingly short and …

Read more

If you've been following this series, you already know that public lands decisions are rarely simple — they involve competing mandates, multiple agencies, and stakeholders with vastly different relationships to the land. The fight over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is one of the most consequential public lands battles p…

Read more

If you’ve been following this series, you already know that BLM lands and other federal public lands are managed under a complex web of mandates, agencies, and competing uses. The San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado are a good example of how that complexity plays out on the ground. The BLM’s Tres Rios Field Office manages more than 600,000 acres…

Read more

How is BLM land actually managed?

The d…

Read more

What is the BLM

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is one of four primary land management agencies in the US. It sits within…

Read more

March is my favorite month of the year. It’s the beginning of Spring. Flowers are blooming, there are little ducklings and baby r…

Read more

Read more

Spring is in the air in Southern California. It may not be official for another week or so but we are seeing it pop up all around us. On freeways, backyards, mountain, or hillsides, and valleys. If you live here, you know what I’m talking about. The wildflowers. Oh yes! The joy that springs up (pun intended), when seeing bits of yellow, orange, purple, …

Read more

This is a recording of our second Nature’s Playbook “The Atlas” Book Club discussion of Eat Like a Fish by Bren Smith. It was such a thoughtful and engaging conversation, and we truly appreciate everyone who took the time to participate, ask questions, and share ideas.

A special thank-you to our guest keynote speaker, Mae Connor, for joining us and generously sharing her expertise. Mae is an Aquatic Biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based in the Pacific Northwest. Her work focuses primarily on anadromous salmonids—particularly ESA-listed species—studying their populations, reproduction, and habitat restoration. As someone working closely with these ecosystems in and around Seattle, Mae brought real-world insight to many of the themes discussed in the book.

Our conversation ranged widely—from salmon ecology and regional tribal knowledge to the current realities Mae is seeing in the Pacific Northwest. We discussed common misnomers surrounding farmed fishing, particularly salmon farming, and some of the environmental challenges and trade-offs associated with those systems. The book’s candid and often humorous storytelling style also sparked conversation, as Bren Smith shares his journey in a very honest, fisherman-to-reader voice. Many of us were surprised by what we learned—from the role of kelp and shellfish in improving ocean health to the broader food and environmental implications of regenerative ocean farming. While the book doesn’t shy away from difficult environmental realities, it also offers a hopeful vision for the future of food production and ocean stewardship. We also explored complex topics like hydropower, recognizing that even solutions considered renewable can carry environmental costs if the full chain of cause and effect isn’t fully considered and planned for. Mae’s perspective helped bring these ideas to life in a way that deepened the conversation for all of us.

For those who may be newer to the book, Eat Like a Fish is both a personal story and a hopeful vision for the future of our oceans. Bren Smith shares his journey from commercial fisherman to ocean farmer, pioneering regenerative ocean farming that grows kelp and shellfish while restoring marine ecosystems, creating jobs, and helping feed communities sustainably. It’s a fascinating and inspiring look at how working with nature—rather than against it—can help heal our waters.

We were especially grateful for the thoughtful questions and insights that came from this group. The curiosity and perspective each of you brings is what makes this community so special.

Looking Ahead

If you have a book suggestion for our next Atlas read, we would love to hear it. Please feel free to reply with a title you think would spark meaningful discussion and connect to our shared curiosity about nature, place, and stewardship.

We would also love to see experiences inspired by our recent reads shared on the Nature’s Playbook community page under The Atlas.
If you haven’t yet, consider posting an outdoor experience connected to The Enduring Wild. Over the next couple of months, we’d also love to see experiences connected to Eat Like a Fish.

The idea is simple: share an experience through the lens of what you learned from the book—whether that’s understanding ecosystems differently, noticing the role each species plays, or thinking more deeply about how human choices affect the natural world.

Experience Ideas Inspired by Eat Like a Fish

Coastal Experiences
• Visit a working harbor or fishing dock
• Walk the beach after a tide and observe seaweed washed ashore
• Explore a rocky shoreline tide pool and observe how different species coexist
• Snorkel, kayak, or dive above a kelp forest
• Visit a shoreline where oysters or mussels grow naturally
• Go fishing
• Visit an outdoor fish market

Anywhere Experiences (including landlocked regions)
• Visit a farmers market and talk with growers about soil health
• Explore a community garden and ask about composting or natural fertilizers (including seaweed or kelp if used)
• Visit a garden focused on biodiversity and soil health
• Observe a river, lake, or wetland ecosystem and note the interconnected species
• Participate in or organize a river or lake cleanup
• Visit a water garden and observe how different plants and animals contribute to the ecosystem

Finally, if you’ve enjoyed these conversations and have a friend or family member who might enjoy joining us, please feel free to invite them. We always welcome new voices and perspectives to the group.

Thank you again for being part of this community and for bringing your curiosity, ideas, and passion for the natural world.

Warmly,
Nature’s Playbook
The Atlas Book Club

So don’t worry — as we step into this mini blog, we’re doing it the Nature’s Playbook …

Read more

I could write a whole series on Glacier, but for the purpose of this blog post and your short attention spans, I’ll keep it quick to our NP communities top hikes.

A Brief History of the Park

Established in 1910, Glacier National Park protects over a million acres of rugged peaks, alpine meadows, and glacially carved valleys in northern Montana. The land has long been home to the Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille peoples, whose deep cultural connections to these mountains pre-date the park by thousands of years. Often called the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier sits at the headwaters of multiple major river systems and was shaped by massive glaciers that once covered much of the landscape—many of which, while rapidly receding today, still define the park’s dramatic terrain.

To learn more about the park’s history listen to the official podcast of Glacier National Park, Headwaters. Follow Headwaters on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts.

Subscribe now

Grinnell Glacier

Length: ~11mi

Time: 5.5-6hrs

Elevation gain: 2,000ft

Type: out and back

Details: Grinnell Glacier

If there’s one hike that encapsulates Glacier’s scale and grandeur, it’s Grinnell Glacier. Images really don’t do this place justice. Be prepared for a long but incredibly epic day.

Read more

I hope your elf on a shelf survived another week from the family dog, and your Q4 projects are coming to an end. We’ve got a lot to cover, so pour that coffee and keep reading. This week’s deep dive focuses on the impact of low snow years on water storage.

A quick recap of what we learned last week:

• Snow Drought is a period of abnormally low snowpack for …

Read more

This month we’ll be talking about all…

Read more