Omayra Acevedo,  Peak to Peak.   Several weeks ago, before the snow and freezing temperatures set in, I took a friend to Morrison, Colorado. It had been many years since I’ve been there, and I had almost forgotten how marvelous the town is. Our first stop was at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. We drove through the park to take in all the beauty via our lenses. We came across a few brave souls who were there specifically to exercise up and down the 69 bleachers at the amphitheater.

If you’ve never attended a concert at Red Rocks, I am going to highly recommend you do so at least once. I’m not a fan of huge crowds, but some things are worth putting up with them for. My first time at Red Rocks was actually for a John Denver tribute concert. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced.

Before embarking on a 1.4-mile hike on the Trading Post Trail, we feasted our eyes on the goodies at the trading post shop, including, a spectacular display of Red Rocks musical history. I was wonderfully overwhelmed by all the memorabilia. I even found myself recalling and singing songs I have not heard in quite some time. I was taken on a trip down memory lane.

After our short hike, we headed into downtown Morrison. The town was alive and booming! There were tons of people filling the streets and a few motor bikers, which is typical of the town, especially in the summer time. For not a very large town, there are plenty of stops to make and places to enjoy. If you’re hungry, you’ve got plenty of choices from cafes to bakeries, grills, bars and restaurants. One of which is my favorite. The food is great, but the ambiance is simply unforgettable at The Fort Restaurant, located on Highway 8, just past the end of town.

That’s where my friend and I shared a meal, a drink and enjoyed the music from an artist who walked around engaging all the patrons with his flute. It was, again, unforgettable. We took off and headed back to the center of town and did some window shopping. There’s a boutique, a mercantile, a gift shop and my other favorite in Morrison, Sundance Sensations. A collection of artworks, handmade clothing, jewelry and more can be found in this lovely store. It’s not that difficult to find once you’re in town.

Before we knew it, it was time to call it a day. On the way out, I couldn’t resist making one last stop at the Bandimere Speedway. If you haven’t been there, it’s a quarter-mile drag strip at an elevation of 5,800 feet above sea level and it hosts more than 125 events per year. It is also known as Thunder Mountain. During popular events and races, you can hear the roar of cars speeding down the strip echoing throughout the town.

So, what can I say about the town of Morrison? I’ve already said it. It’s simply marvelous.

(Originally published in the December 6, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)