Ridgway, CO- A Hidden Gem
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| Dennis Weaver Memorial Park |
Matthew and I took an extended weekend to Ridgway this past week to celebrate one of my closest friends from college getting married! Her wedding was beautiful and full of love and I was so happy to be a part of it! We originally planned on leaving Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, but Colorado was hit with what they're calling the "bomb cyclone blizzard"....yikes, pass. We DID attempt the drive Tuesday super late at night but the weather we ran into in Western Kansas was already terrible so we promptly turned around. But we did eventually arrive on Friday and I'm not one to waste time! I packed in as much as I could with our limited time and it was an absolute blast. I think it would be pretty hard to visit a place like Ridgway and not share the experience. It's VERY quaint and VERY beautiful. There are spectacular views in every direction and everyone who lives there seems to be so friendly! If you're looking for a new place to travel to, Ridgway (or one of the surrounding towns) should make the list.
Where We Lodged
Unfortunately while we were there they were undergoing a massive construction project, so we didn't get to partake in most of the things they offered, BUT there was huge potential. The Ridgway Lodge is such a classic ski lodge, I felt like I was in a movie or something.
Currently they're offering great discounts to the surrounding hot springs due to the construction (no hot tub or pool for now) and both springs that are nearby (furthest is nine miles) are beautiful! We didn't get to actually attend the hot springs because we had a super short trip, but the reviews are amazing and the photos are as well. When they finish construction they'll have a gorgeous lounge and eatery for breakfast, as well as a new swimming and hot tub area with gorgeous views of the mountains (they will be near the back of the hotel, so the mountain view will be what you see above). How breathtaking!
All of the employees and the manager were very kind to us and were happy to give their suggestions for walking/hiking, food, etc.
What We Did
The Dennis Weaver Memorial Park was pretty small, but there was a nice walking trail, space to relax along this river, an inspiring "prayer stone" area, lots of wildlife, and again...VIEWS 😍
Matthew and I walked around for quite a while. We knew we wouldn't get much more free time on our trip so we needed to soak up all the mountains as well as we could!
What a fantastic photo, I know 😂 This drink was delicious! Their newest syrup was called Love Potion Number Nine and the barista suggested using that in a latte. It's raw sugar infused with rose hips (😍), saffron, and cinnamon. We drank our coffee, browsed some books, and lounged around for a while. It was such a nice place to take a breather.
Man, was this store unbelievable! It reminded me of Texas (as this whole little town sort of did) and my heart swooned. Everything was handpicked and sourced from the owner who was the kindest old man, running around arranging things with a smile on his face. What I loved most about Timber Creek was that it wasn't one of those home stores piled with junk- everything seemed so meticulously chosen and loved. I wish I had taken a photo but this was probably the only thing I didn't take a photo of.
Antiquing
I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the darling antique shop we visited, and it doesn't seem to be listed online. But a sweet older lady runs shop on Sherman Street (where pretty much everything else is located too 😂) that has gorgeous and lively antiques as well as impressive handcrafted items from local Colorado artists. The baby sweaters almost brought me to tears! Here are some of my favorite finds:
All of the items in this shop were unique and full of personality like these! I never wanted to leave.
Where We Ate
John Wayne. Everywhere. 😂 The movie True Grit was filmed in Ridgway and this restaurant is super proud of that! I have never seen that movie, but now I feel like I have to. True Grit had a fantastic southern menu. I would recommend the Guacamole Cheddar Bacon Burger. Holy cow (literally), it was quite the burger! Their portions are huge in true southern fashion and their hot drink menu blew my mind! So much so that I took a photo of it.
Have you ever seen so many beautiful coffee options?? I decided against coffee for a reason that is beyond me but I really wish I had tried one! Or all. True Grit is a must-try if you're ever in or passing through Ridgway.
Since our trip was short and sweet, this was about all we did! I would love to go back to explore Telluride which is super close to Ridgway, visit the hot springs, and find some great hiking. There really is so much to do for such a tiny little town!
Here are some miscellaneous photos from the trip. The first is at my friend's wedding. Whaaat a view! The last two are passing through the Royal Gorge, which I was way too excited about. It was so much more beautiful than my iPhone could have captured!
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you get the opportunity to explore Ridgway someday!
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