Any time I can get closer to the mountains is a good day. I live in the heart of Denver near downtown, so when I get out to the front range foothills I’m a happy gal. The foothills that run north to south around the Denver Metro welcome you to our beautiful Rocky Mountains and […]
Ottsworld Alaska Winter Tour – Join Me For Aurora Chasing in a Winter Wonderland
Note – this 2023 Winter Alaska trip has concluded, however I will be running it again in winter 2025. Make sure you are signed up for my Ottsworld Tour newsletter so you’ll be the first to know when it’s available! I first traveled to Alaska in the summer – as most people do. I fell […]
Where to Find the Best Patios in Denver – Go to Arvada
It’s summer! Do you feel it…the pull to be outside as much as we can? In Denver Colorado where we have sun 300 days a year (our best-kept not-so-secret), it’s the perfect region for outdoor dining, drinking, games, markets, and events. The front range comes alive as restaurants and bars sweep off their patios, and […]
Weekend in Denver: Best Places to Eat, Stay, and Play
At 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City offers culture, history, galleries, great restaurants, and brewpubs. A weekend in Denver is the perfect way to sample what the city has to offer. Denver is known as the Napa Valley of craft beer where eating and drinking rank up there with biking and hiking. […]
2 days in Portland Oregon: How to Spend a Weekend Eating Donuts and Working Them Off
It had been 10 years since I set foot in eclectic, weird Portland and I have many fond memories of my visits there. However, Portland’s destination image has taken a major hit because of COVID-19, political violence, and public safety concerns over the last few years. This of course made me want to visit it […]
Neon to Nature – Things to do Outside of Las Vegas
If you think the Vegas area is all gambling, shows, nightclubs, and parties…you are so very wrong! Look out the window of your Vegas hotel…this city is surrounded by mountains. Those mountains and deserts are an outdoor playground! There are plenty of things to do outside of Las Vegas that will bring you peace, quiet, […]
Winter Packing List: How To Avoid Freezing To Death In Alaska
I went to Fairbanks Alaska in the heart of winter and lived to tell the tale. You can beat the scary Alaska cold by simply being prepared with this winter packing list. It’s not quite as dramatic as I made it out to be, but the fact is most people are scared of Alaska in […]
Eat, Drink, and Be Curious on this Western Montana Road Trip
I bought a car this summer so I could drive and explore the states around Colorado. And first on my wish list was a Western Montana road trip. I hadn’t been to Montana since I was 11 years old when my parents and I did a road trip from Illinois to Oregon and back. All […]
A Journey Through Fear on the Colorado River in an Inflatable Kayak
“In big waves it’s easiest to catch a breath in the trough or low point of the wave instead of the top of the wave where it’s breaking” Dave said as we all encircled him brimming with excitement ready to start the whitewater part of our Cataract Canyon trip. I was listening to the safety […]
Cataract Canyon Rafting During High Water Season: Expect a Wild Ride
I took off my watch and packed it away, I put my phone on airplane mode. I was officially on an adventure now. Our OARS guide Dave started explaining what to expect and what our plan was for our first rafting day. I listened as I watched the Colorado River in its muddy brown glory […]