The drive from Grand Junction to Denver, Colorado takes about twice as long as the miles would indicate. It’s because of scenes like this and the others included in this post. The photo above is of Dillon Reservoir and was taken from a scenic view rest area on I-70, just past the first exit for Frisco, Colorado. My favorite rest area on the planet, shown below, is the Grizzly Creek Rest Area, just past Glenwood Springs.

We have so many family memories at this place. And while I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to capture how amazing the drive through Glenwood Canyon toward Denver actually is. The scale is immense. I think the photo below is a valiant effort, but even this falls short.

There is a temptation to stop at every turn as you wind your way through the mountains beside the Colorado River. We like to make this part of the journey across the country a “short day.” We keep the miles low so we don’t feel pressured to just drive by the overwhelming beauty, like the rest stop in Eagle County, Colorado below. It’s a good plan. I recommend it. Because really, the driving is the distraction, not the beauty.

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