Proposal in Rocky Mountain National Park

Over the summer, my husband and I had the great pleasure of road tripping through Colorado. While on our adventure, we made our way into Rocky Mountain National Park. Little did we know, they had just opened access to Trail Ridge Road. This scenic byway is a 49 mile long road connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake. Though closed due to weather conditions throughout most of the year, we were lucky enough to have stumbled upon this snow laden path during it’s first week of availability.

This road soars high above the treeline to 12, 183 feet. As you climb to meet the Alpine Tundra, you can feel the climate change a dramatic 20-30 degree colder. I was happy to have my jacket, to say the least. As we started the epic climb, we were mesmerized by the abundant wildlife, streams and wildflowers. We made our way to the Tundra World Nature Trail and happened to notice that something special was going on near the entrance.

At the top of the mountain, Mike Wojtowics got down on one knee to ask Heather Lamberson if she would be his forever. I waited until after they had celebrated a bit and came down to introduce myself. I congratulated them and asked if they wouldn’t mind if I snapped a few pictures of them, ensuring that I would email them the images when I made it back to Texas.

I was thankful to have witnessed something so beautiful in such a magical place. After a few back and forth emails, Mike was nice enough to fill me in on the details of their love story. He told me that they had met where he works, building boats for the military, last March. Two months later, they were an official couple. Mike chose to propose at the Alpine Visitor’s Center for 1 of 2 reasons. He explained that this locale was actually where they had their first date and that those mountains were particularly special to him. Mike called it his “safe place”. He said, “On top of one of the other peaks is where I picture myself when I need to free my mind during stressful times, so I figured bringing her to my safe place would show her that I was letting her into my life 100%. No holds bar!!”

Mike will tell you that Heather had no clue that he was about to propose and from the look on her face, I’d have to say he was right. It was a genuinely beautiful moment. The couple has yet to set a wedding date but they are thinking of tying the knot in the fall of next year, in the mountains, of course! And, as if this love story couldn’t get any cuter, Mike & Heather announced to the world just this weekend that they will be adding Mom & Dad to their resumes in 2017. The couple are expecting their first child this April and we could not be happier for them! Congrats to these two lovebirds! We wish you all the happiness in the world!

To find out more about our epic 9 Day Road Trip around Colorado, head to this link. We whitewater rafted Clear Creek, kayaked Grand Lake, hiked St Mary’s Glacier and took an off roading Jeep tour in Rocky Mountain National Park amongst many other things. Our entire adventure is outlined for those of you who are thinking of traveling to Colorado!

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Travel Guide: 9 Day Colorado Road Trip

Hey guys! We are hitting you with another Travel Guide. This time around, I am going to take you behind the scenes of our epic 9 day road trip around Colorado. Back in June, my husband and I had the opportunity to hit the pavement and make our way around Colorado. I wanted to take you behind the guidebook and share some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of this kind of adventure. If you are a traveler or planning to travel in the Denver vicinity, this trip is one for the books so don’t miss out.

From the minute we got off the plane, I was captivated by the beauty of the Rockies. It would be my first time traveling in Colorado and to say I was stoked was an understatement. During our trip, we hiked a glacier, tried our luck at whitewater rafting in Clear Creek, climbed the stairs at Red Rocks, saw a Rockies/Yankees game in Denver and amongst many many other things, explored the haunted history of the infamous Stanley Hotel. Below, I have highlighted our itinerary and hope you find yourself feeling that stab of wanderlust!

Day One: DENVER TO IDAHO SPRINGS

We flew into Denver out of DFW and drove to Idaho Springs. About an hour outside of Mile High, we climbed to 10,000 feet and visited my high school buddy, Matty. We could not believe the views from his front porch. After settling in and touring his cabin and teepee in the woods, we made our way to Clear Creek and white water rafted a Class 3. Though the water was 32 degrees, we had the time of our lives. We even ended up randomly being paired with fellow Yinzers. Steeler Nation! To boot, the company provided us with a CD of high quality images of our adventure. After squeezing out of our wetsuits, we headed out for dinner at Mountain Prime. After having gotten in the workout of a lifetime rafting the river, the Blackened Tenderloin Stroganoff was the spot on. 3 beers later, I was pooped. The elevation really does get to ya. I was out like a light the minute we got back to Matty’s.

Day Two: IDAHO SPRINGS & MORRISON

We woke up and headed to St Mary’s Glacier. It was an easy hike to the most picturesque place. There was a family snowboarding the glacier…in JUNE. I was so glad that I brought my camera along to capture the view. Though I heave hoed my way up, it was totally worth it. This 1.5 mile hike only takes about 2 hours round trip. Next activity on the list, get ready for Red Rocks. We were going to the see the Lumineers in Morrison. This venue is an experience everyone should have. I laughed until I cried and the cheesecake was amazing until we had to hike up the hill. Again, this elevation got the best of me. Red Rocks was immensely beautiful and the acoustics that resignated from this group was out of this world! At one point, the Lumineers made their way into the crowd to perform “Skies are Blue” and they were only about 10 rows in front of us! It was an amazing night.

Day Three: LEADVILLE, TURQUOISE LAKE, & BRECKENRIDGE

Wake up and jump in the car. We headed to Leadville, the highest incorporated town in America. We took a 2 hour train ride up the mountain. At 12mph, the ride was so relaxing. The sun shining down on us and the slow ride made for the best afternoon. After the train ride, we made our way to Turquoise Lake to snap a few photos and then headed to Breckenridge. We met with my cousin, Scotty and his family for dinner at Fatty’s Pizzeria. We had a few drinks and headed back to the condo that my cousin had put us up in for the next couple nights.

Day Four: BRECKENRIDGE

We woke up early and headed to the Summit to fly fish. My cousin, Scotty  is a legit flyfishing guide. You can book your tour with him here. We only ended up catching 5 fish all day, though he probably caught 2o. We started in a stream to learn the basics and headed to a gully at the top of a mountain for lunch. The views we’re just out of this world. On our way back to town, we stopped at one more place, South Park, so we could have our picture taken as Kenny and Cartman. After fishing, we headed out for dinner. This was our one luxury during our entire trip. We went all out to thank my cousin for such an incredible time in Breck. The Blue River Bistro was out of this world. I had the Ruby Red Trout, a pecan encrusted filet of fish carmelized in an onion vodka buerre blanc and served with gruyere risotto. I dream about this meal sometime. The drinks were perfect and it was so nice to catch up with my cousin over a great meal.

Day Five: GRAND LAKE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK & ESTES PARK

We woke up and headed to Grand Lake. Our plan, put on lots of sunscreen and then rent some kayaks at Mountain Paddlers. This quaint and more importantly, adorable town is settled near an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park so we knew it would be a perfect place to stop and soak it all in. We made our way out on the lake but within 20 minutes, it started to thunderstorm. Though Russell’s first time kayaking was a bumpy ride, we both had a blast!

After stopping for ice cream, we entered Rocky Mountain National Park. In a million years, I couldn’t have imagined the sites I saw on that 2 hour trip over Trail Ridge Road. I even managed to snap a few photos of a guy proposing on top of  the mountain. That’s up on the Blog next! We were happy to find out that the access to Trail Ridge Road had literally started that week. During the winter, the path is impassable but lucky for us, we made our way through all 4 seasons as we climbed the 14,000 feet. We saw hundreds of elk, moose and deer and the flowers were endless and unimaginable. RMNP will forever have a place in my heart. After touring the park, we headed to our hotel, the Castle Mountain Lodge in Estes Park. We jumped in the shower and headed out for beers at Estes Park Brewery and had dinner at Smokin Dave’s BBQ. There, we had the Not-So-Teeny-Wahine which included ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, 4 sides and cornbread. We got our doggie bags and they rolled us to the car. We ended the night watching the sunset over the rocky mountains.

Day Six: THE STANLEY HOTEL, ESTES PARK & MARY’S LAKE LODGE

The next morning, we headed to the infamous Stanley Hotel. For those of you who don’t know, Stephen King’s novel, The Shining, is rooted in the haunting stories of this historic place. We had the great pleasure of touring the hotel with Scary Mary. We highly recommend booking with her. Book your tour at the Stanley Hotel by heading to this link. She has done her homework and knows all about the Stanley & the hotel’s haunted misgivings. Fun fact: the Stanley family made millions being the fore running photographer in the new century. The tour was fun and creepy and it’s a must for those of you with any interest in Colorado’s history.

After our tour, we booked a 4×4 Jeep Tour into RMNSP with Green Jeep Tours. It was bumpy but oh so beautiful. I even found a place to move to, should we decide. We also passed the most beautiful church on our ride, San Malos Catholic Church. That evening, we headed to the Stanley’s sister hotel, Mary’s Lake Lodge and had dinner in their signature restaurant. I had the Mountain Man Meatloaf, a bacon wrapped wild boar, elk, venison, antelope and bison meatloaf served with mashed potatoes swimming in a wild mushroom bordelaise. Add a few glasses of the hotel’s signature malbec and a Penguin Stanley Cup Championship, we were golden. I ended the night watching Game of Thrones from our clawfoot tub!

Seven: RED FEATHER LAKES

We woke up and traveled to Red Feather Lakes to meet Scooter, my husband’s buddy from PA. He put us up at the the Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch. We stayed in a cabin overlooking the valley and a stream leading into a lake. It was amazing and so quiet. We literally sat around the fire and ate all night. It was awesome. There were horses nearby and as the sun set over the mountains, we made smores and brats over the campfire.

Day Eight: DENVER

We started our trek back into Denver through the Poudre Canyon and met with my good buddy, Dave. That night, we headed to the Rockies/Yankees game. Russ managed to snag us some impossible seats and we managed to watch the sunset over the mountains. What a stadium and what a game, it was a perfect night to catch up with my buddy and have a few beers at the ballpark! After the game, we headed out for a bite to eat at Machete Tequila + Taco. At $4 a pop, these bad boys are worth the walk. I had the Langosta and the Arrachera con Chile Relleno, both = bomb.

Day Nine: HEADED HOME

Up and attem for the Voodoo Doughnuts I had heard so much about. OMGEEEE, these were so delicious. We grabbed the Memphis Mafia doughnut and the Rapper’s Delight Collection of the Dirty Old Bastard, Marshall Mathers and the Maple Blazer Blunt Doughnuts. At a whoping $4.20, our breakfast satisfied without breaking the bank. We had just enough time to head downtown and check out a mall. As a tradition, we snagged a photo album to put all our adventures in. And then, we then jumped on the plane and cried ourselves to sleep. Seriously, best vacation evvva!!

 

If you have questions about our trip or how we planned, shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com. I would be so happy to help you put together your next big adventure. Keep wandering!

Travel Guide to Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Hey y’all!! We are back with our 2nd Edition of our Travel Guides on the Blog! You all loved our Girl’s Guide to an East Coast Trip so much that we decided to add another Guide to the series. A little over a month ago now, Tiffany,  of Wanderlust Floral Designs, and I made our way north of DFW to Broken Bow Lake in Oklahoma. This quaint town, located at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, is the perfect place for family vacations, peaceful retreats and even a little adventure. We had a blast exploring McCurtain County and I just wanted to share some tips on where to stay, what to eat and how to get the most out of a small getaway like this.

 

Where to Stay: Lakeview Lodge at Beaver’s Bend State Park 

This state-owned facility is exactly what your family is looking for. Each room has a gorgeous view of the lake from your very own balcony. Continental breakfast is included and we managed to snag a Groupon for our stay which made it Uber affordable, around $50/night. For more information on how to stay here, give the front desk a call at (580) 494 6179 or head to TravelOK.com. Word to the Wise: Beware of Spring Break!

 

Where to Stay: Rent a Cabin for the Week

Though we did not opt for a cabin, we were lucky enough to meet some locals and check out their digs during our stay. Jerry Isbell of Mountain Vista Luxury Cabins was nice enough to offer up some information on how to rent a cabin/cabins in the Broken Bow area. We encourage you to download their app and check out their Blog for more information on this versatile area.

Jerry & Sherri Isbell
Mountain Vista Luxury Cabin
http://www.BeaversBendVacations.com
info@beaversbendvacations.com

http://road.ie/beaversbend 
405-535-8055

Where to Eat: Grateful Head

I will head back to this place every time I am in the area. This hippie shack, located about a mile from Lakeview Lodge, is the ultimate hangout for friends and family. The walls are decorated with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead memorabilia, as well as a few bobcats hanging from the ceiling. An outdoor patio with thousands of twinkly lights and space heaters makes it the ultimate oasis for anyone looking for a good beer and some really fantastic wood-fired pizza. Bands play out on the deck and the gift shop offers the absolute softest t-shirts around if you are in need of a souvenir. We recommend the Psychedelic Supremo or the Tree Hugger paired with one of the Beaver’s Bend Brews.

 

Where to Eat: The Blue Rooster

Located in the same parking lot as the Grateful Head, the Blue Rooster is chalk full of southern charm. The menu consists of everything southern fried; chicken, Gulf shrimp, catfish, green tomatoes. The service was great and the Bloody Mary’s were the ultimate way to start off our trip. Plan on spending your night out on their patio with one of the many Oklahoma craft brews that are available at the bar. We recommend the Fried Chicken dinner!

Where to Eat: Abendigo’s

This place is definitely one of the fancier places to dine in Broken Bow. Tiffany and I rolled into this joint late one night to catch the end of the Rangers game and could not have been more pleased with our experience. Though most places shut down super early in this town, Abendigo’s proved to be the place to grab a late bite and a cold beer. Tiff had the Wood-Grilled Salmon and I had the Chicken Madeira. Both dishes were out-of-this world. We recommend both but highly suggest that you try the Fried Calamari with Dynamite Aioli and Pickled Jalapeno Relish!

What to Do: Beaver’s Bend State Park

This park has so much to offer. Whether you are away for a girl’s weekend, bachelor party or family vacation, this park has a mile-long list of activities to dive into. Head to visitmccurtaincounty.com for all the details.

• Fishing
• Boating
• Kayaking
• Horseback Riding
• Camping
• Hiking
• Carson’s Creek (great picnic area & marina)

 

 

What to Do: Beaver’s Bend River Floats

Near a swim beach in Beaver’s Bend, you can find this Rental Facility. For $12, Tiff and I had the pleasure of spending our day on the Lower Mountain Fork River. Though the kayak/canoe trip only takes about an hour, we managed to make it last all day. It was so much fun and the scenery can’t be beat. This was, hands down, our favorite part of the trip. To set it up, just give these guys a call at (580) 494 6070.

For a more adventurous ride, check out Wild Goose Canoe and Kayak. This company is located a little further out of town but worth the drive. They offer 2 trips, a 5 mile or 8 mile down the Mountain Fork River. One of the tours even has a Class 2 Rapids classification and a 3 foot waterfall, Presbyterian Falls.

 

What to Do: Girls Gone Wine 

This boutique style wine and gift shop is located near Beaver’s Bend State Park. When planning our trip, I was lucky enough to get in contact with a young woman named Katie who worked here. She proved to be indispensable when it came time to find models for our styled shoot but also blew us away with her knowledge of the wines they had available. She explained to us that the owners, Michelle and Terry, have all the juices for the wine shipped to them and then they actually ferment their own wine! So, of course, we had to have a tasting.

Each variety and blend is innovative and a few of their wines have proceeds that help out local charities. The B’Ark is a kiwi pear Sauvignon Blanc which proceeds benefit Animal Rescue and their Friends 4 Life is a rose, white merlot infused with ripe strawberries, that was created with a friend’s memory in mind. The owner’s friend, Cynthia Shawnee Hutchings passed away in 2008 after battling breast cancer and these friends wanted to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer Research and be able to provide scholarships for their friend’s children. Now that those guys have graduated, the tradition continues. It varies each year but now the proceeds go towards scholarships for seniors at Broken Bow High School, where their friend has previously taught.

We could all learn a thing or two from the girls at Girls Gone Wine. We love that they have embraced their community with open hearts and the Pinot Noir Slushie had me at hello! Stop in here and make sure to tell these girls we said Hello!

 

What to Do: Talimena Scenic Byway

This scenic drive panning over 54 miles of the Ouachita Mountains is the perfect opportunity to bust out that camera. For a lax day full of winding roads and sweeping views of the mountain vistas, head here during the fall. The changing colors of the fall foliage may force you to never leave.

 

Next time:

So, we didn’t have the time or availability to do everything we wanted while we were in Broken Bow and that means we will be back. Next time, we are hoping to check out the Moon Tower, a restaurant located slightly north of Broken Bow. Owned and operated by Tabb Singleton, a winner of the CHOPPED series on the Food Network, the locals raved about the food.

Another must see, the RUGARU Ziplines. They were not open yet in the beginning of May but we are eyeing them out for our next trip. And lastly, squatch sighting. Yes, we will be on the hunt for the infamous Big Foot, apparently a favorite pastime in this particular part of the country 🙂

 

What we Loved: 

Tiff and I had been itching to get out of dodge, beat the concrete jungle that is DFW and set up a styled shoot. McCurtain County provided the perfect backdrop for our shoot and for a relaxing vacation. The drive from DFW was only 3 hours and the sides of the road were covered in Texas spring blooms, everything from blue bonnets to Indian paintbrushes. We jammed out to the likes of Trent Harmon, Chris Stapleton and Sublime as we chatted our way to Oklahoma. Overall, this trip was one for the books. We managed to work and play. It is a balance and war to find time to take care of yourself when building a brand and this trip proved to be exactly what we needed. We got a little break from the hustle, a little time to rest and more stars in the sky than we could have ever imagined.

So if you are in need of a getaway, check out this part of the country and we know you will end up leaving a fresh perspective on the world. For more information, head to TravelOk.com or follows these guys on IG: @hochatime (a lifestyle brand) or @mccurtainok (travel info) or @beaversbend (cabin rentals). Hope you all enjoyed this Guide and looking forward to sharing our next big trip with you guys.

Where would you like to see us head next?

Guide to an East Coast Girl’s Trip

At the beginning of February, a few friends and I decided to take a short getaway. Though we were itching to hit up some warm Florida sunshine, we instead opted to see a different part of the East Coast. Our first leg of the journey started at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland and the next day, we headed into the District of Columbia to see our Nation’s Capitol, in an election year no less. We had a blast exploring these two very different cities and I just wanted to share some tips on where to stay, what to eat and how to get the most out of a small getaway like this.

Day One:

Despite  the horror stories that I have heard about Spirit Airlines, we snagged a great deal (the Bare Fare, bookbag included) and both flights were on time. Including insurance, we managed to get our round trip flight from DFW to BWI for under $100. To boot, we managed to get a promo code for friends and family of the Marriot Group. We stayed at the Renaissance Harborplace smack dab in the middle of the Inner Harbor. This was a clutch location overlooking the U.S.S. Constellation, the Baltimore Aquarium, Camden Yards and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. We were in walking distance of all the sites to see in the Harbor although we did Uber it down to Fells Point for around $10 round trip.

This particular area of Baltimore was the best part of trip for me. My brother lived in Baltimore for a short time when he got out of the Marine Corps so I trusted his judgement when it came to pointing out the safest locations for 3 girls to roam Charm City. The cobblestone streets overlooking the marina boasted some of the best bars and restaurants in the area. After checking out all the reviews, we headed to Thames Street Oyster House for dinner. This place promised the best Lobster Roll we would ever have and boy did they deliver. We had their signature Octopus appetizer, Shrimp Cocktail, Crabcake, Pecan Pie, multiple glasses of wine for around $55 per person, including tip. As I write this, I can smell the spices and herbs that filled the stairwell and brick walls of this picturesque second floor brownstone. Truth be told, those Lobster Rolls very well may be why I book my flight back to Baltimore. They are well worth it, like, the best meal ever.

After dinner, we made our way to Slainte, an Irish pub, for Baltimore’s signature drink, the Natty Boo. Reveled as the drink of choice in Charm City, a National Bohemian goes down smooth. I can see why Mr. Boh has such a following amongst Oriole Fans. From there, we headed to “The Horse You Came In On”. Established in 1775, this bar claims to be the oldest saloon in America. As a matter of fact, this place is shrouded in the mystery of Edgar Allen Poe’s death. It is said that Mr.Poe had his last drink here before walking outside and dying in the street of consumption. (Fun fact: His grave isn’t too far from here, near Camden Yards)  Mystery and gloom aside, this place has all the feels of an excellent dive bar, live music, friendly staff and Yuengling on tap. Peter James, a former contestant on the Voice, graced the stage with his guitar and we closed the bar by the crooning along to his eclectic song choices.

Day Two:

After many an Advil and copious cups of coffee, we Ubered it back down to Fells Point to chow down on Diablo Doughnut’s famous breakfast treats. Yes, we ordered a mixed dozen and yes, the Unicorn Farts are worth it. Don’t judge us. Group favorites included the Maple Bacon, Sin A Crunch and Cherry Cheesecake. Follow these cats on Instagram @diablo_doughnuts to check out all the crazy flavors. And, the best part about this place is that it doubles as a pizza joint at night. The slices are huge, delicious and available until 3 am.

We left Broadway and caught the Mark Train at Penn Station to Washington DC ($18 roundtrip, 40 min each way). Upon our arrival in the Capitol, I whipped out my Canon and immediately began snapping shots of the overwhelming architecture we were surrounded by. A little persuasion from a really good-looking police officer enticed us to take the tour of the Capitol. After our tour, we headed out to see all the sites in Washington DC. We stopped at the War Memorials, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and even got a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial before heading back to Union Station to catch our train to Baltimore. Truth be told, we could have used another day to explore all the sites. We did not have enough time to see The Smithsonian Newseum, a big one on our list. For $22.95, you can tour all the latest exhibits at this groundbreaking museum, from the famous “Letter to Santa” to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit, this attraction offers an experience for all ages.

We arrived back in Baltimore around 10 pm and immediately headed back to our favorite Doughnut Shop in Fells Point to grab a slice, term used very loosely, before hitting the hay. Overall, what a trip. Though short-lived and somewhat, haphazard, we made our way to the East Coast, got to eat some of the best food I’ve ever had, met some of the friendliest locals and managed to see two very different cities over the course of three days.

We loved it so much, we are working out a plan to head back soon. To see the Cherry Blossoms, visit Local Color Flowers (a floral design studio that sources local farms) and drink some Zeke’s coffee are on our list of To Dos for next time. So until then, stay in tune with our travels and we’ll fill you in on all the details of our adventures as we go. Anywhere in particular you would like to see The Rustie Nail head to next?!? Leave your comments below and we’ll keep you updated on our travel arrangements.