The Simplicity of Perfection

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

“All good things are wild and free” – Henry Thoreau

As we drove through the windy curvy roads of Wyoming there was no second guessing we were passing the Grand Teton as we saw the dynamic snowcapped mountains in July. Our itinerary included Yellowstone for a few days and then wrapping up in Grand Teton National Park. Growing up in Colorado I expected beautiful mountains but the experience of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons was more. The mountains were raw, clear of houses, wild, and untamed as though they were still barely discovered. They impressed on me a feeling of wonder, excitement and a grand adventure coming my way.

We stayed between Jackson Hole WY and West Yellowstone MT exploring Yellowstone National Park. While in Jackson Hole, we started our day with coffee from Starbucks or the local Cowboy Coffee Co and then grabbed our pre-packed breakfast burritos and snacks and took off. Given the amount of sites to see and distance between them we recommend you make a plan so you’re able to see it all. We also downloaded the parks app so we could have an offline park map which came in handy multiple times. If a site was closed due to repair or just too busy for our liking we quickly found another amazing hike or site to see instead. A few of the most popular sites: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Old Faithful, and the Prismatic Spring will leave you speechless. Each dynamic and powerful in its own way. Yellowstone Lake is another beautiful site that if you plan it right, I recommend stopping at for lunch with a view.

Buffalos in Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the Great Prismatic Spring

Some of the evenings we walked around Jackson Town Square where there’s boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. Not realizing we had to make reservations if we wanted to eat at a decent time in town square, we took to the backstreets and found Thai Me Up Restaurant and Brewery. This place is a hidden gem. Great food – great atmosphere – great staff. They have thai food clearly but also serve a fun flare on burgers and other classic American dishes.

On our last day in Grand Teton we hit the water and took a scenic raft cruise down Snake River. After days hiking, exploring and being on the move it was nice to take a breath and just take in the sights from a raft. There were bald eagles galore and seeing the massiveness of this river and feeling its power and force underneath the raft again left me in awe of creation.

As we headed into Grand Teton National Park for the final full day of our trip the simplicity and perfection of nature kept standing out to me. As we hiked through Cascade Canyon the perfection and beauty was tangible, and there I was with no makeup, sweaty, just me and my camera keeping it simple and feeling so alive. You see a bald eagle or a moose and even with flaws, it’s still perfect. It’s not trying to be something that its not nor change what it is, it is simply being. Its existence is purpose enough. We as humans often believe that we need to create ourselves because we have a fear that who we are underneath isn’t enough. Though who we are underneath is really the greatest expression of ourselves that we can be. We can make life so complicated but if we follow nature’s example we should be keeping it simple, and by keeping it simple we’ll reach our greatest expression.

As we wrapped up our national park adventure and started driving back to Colorado, I was encouraged. Encouraged to live simply and strive to be the truly greatest expression of me I can me be; not add on layers but instead peel them back to reveal me. So Wonder readers I encourage you to take a sip of wine, take a deep breath and simply be, knowing that is enough, you are enough.

Kate

Pandemic Dream Chasing

When the pandemic started in early 2020, no one could’ve guessed what life would look like now. After months of working from my couch, using the pandemic to justify eating Dino nuggets, and learning how dependent I was on an office to get more than 100 steps in a day, I went from wondering when life would be normal to realizing life would never be the “old” normal. It was time to take a step back, shift my perspective and work this unexpected time into my story and work it to my advantage. So what did we do? We moved across county during a pandemic. Why? Dreams don’t go on hold when the country goes on lockdown.

For years we had been refining a list of places where we wanted to live and to experience. When we realized that this pandemic was going to alter all lives in some way, we took hold of that list and refused to let it steal time away from us truly living. Our opposition became our opportunity as we settled on moving to the Space Coast in Florida.

We committed to our decision in May 2020, locked in jobs in July, and three weeks later we were on our way to the Space Coast with two cars and a 5×8 trailer. If you weren’t aware, the drive from Colorado to Florida takes about 30 hours, especially if you’re pulling a trailer and can’t go over 55 MPH. We mapped out a tentative plan with our first stop being in Wichita Falls Texas, the stomping grounds for cattle ranchers dating back to the 1800’s. The biggest thing I learned from this leg of the trip is how large Texas is, and how amazing books on tape are, I recommend “The Boy from the Woods” by Harlan Coben. Once we arrived in Wichita Falls we took the advice of my mother and found ourselves a Whataburger to try a double double with extra cheese and double toasted buns… if there’s one thing you do while you’re Texas, try this burger, you will not be disappointed.

Day two of the road trip came with more driving but this time the addition of trees as we got farther southeast. I was shocked by the beauty of Louisiana and Mississippi. It was hot, yes, but there were giant, lush trees everywhere that took you back in time when the land was less developed. After 8 hours of driving we were ready for some good, authentic Creole food so we stopped in Baton Rouge at Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant. Some of our highlights were blackened gator bites and a shrimp Po Boy that was loaded with fresh shrimp. Ten out of ten times I would recommend taking a visit to Parrain’s for some delicious eats. Once we were full happy road trippers we continued on for a couple hours to our hotel in Gulf Port Mississippi.

The third and final day of our trip was the longest yet but thankfully we had more determination than ever to get there. We continued on Interstate 10 and finally reached the sunny state of Florida. There we tried boiled peanuts for the first time. I must say they’re delicious and no kidding, they taste like little salty potatoes. At 11PM we finally reached our airbnb and what a feeling that was. Relief, joy, and thankfulness overflowed our hearts as we celebrated with a beverage. We made it, 3 days translating into 27 hours of driving and no major hiccups.

Fastforward – I’m writing this post after we’ve been here for 6 months and we’re loving it, but more to come on that with future posts. Until then I encourage you to breath life into your dreams and go for them, pandemic or not. You have one life to live and I don’t know about you but even one year is time I’m not willing to give up.

Tips and Tricks for a Cross-Country Move:

Plan a route that takes you through some fun places and excellent local cuisine – there’s enough stress built into a cross-country move, plan in a break or at least a good meal
Don’t book hotel rooms until you’re on the road – this allows you to be flexible
Start a hotel rewards account or find hotels that will give you points towards your current rewards program – we recommend Marriott Bonvoy, hotels are clean, beds are comfortable and they serve Starbucks coffee in the hotel
Declutter and get rid of stuff before you move – most things you won’t miss and most of the time you won’t even remember you had them so its not worth your time to truck it cross country
Vacuum seal bags will be your best friend for packing clothes, blankets, and towels – I used Simple Houseware Bags which worked great and saved a ton of space.
Pack good road trip snacks – save your money for a special night out or for your destination. Some of my favorites are chicken salad, pre-made breakfast burritos, Shortys sausages, and grapes.
Be aware of your trips terrain – if your route takes you over a mountain range, assess if your car can handle it with it also towing a trailer 🙂
Get a long term airbnb (4+ weeks) instead of trying to worry about having a house/apt by the time you get there. This allows you to get to know the area, pack less because Airbnbs have everything you need, and create a fun first experience in your new city.
Count on sleeping a lot and taking a few days to recover from your trip – driving 25+ hours is not an easy task.
Pack a bottle of wine or a six pack to celebrate arriving at your destination – you’ll deserve it!

Until next time, continue to let your mind wonder,

Kate

Grand, Grand Lake CO

“Grand” – Magnificent and imposing in appearance, size or style.

I forever want to be a sight chaser. I want to see magic in the ordinary and embrace the magic in the sights you know few see in their lifetime. That’s living to me. Grand Lake is one of those sights. Not only because of the beauty of the mountains and the lake but because of the extreme vastness of the beauty that comes with each passing season.

I went to Grand Lake, CO three times in 2019, each time in a different season. Each trip provided new, unique sights, memories and experiences. It was as though I went to a new town each time I went back. Consistently, the town held charm and character and provided a perfect mix of historic Grand Lake and new business. My favorite thing about the town is that it doesn’t seem to develop too much to lose it’s small town cozy feel.

My first trip there in the Spring brought a touch of warmth to my cheeks as I sat beside the newly unfrozen lake in the brisk morning air with coffee. I did a quick run to Adams Falls to see it rushing down and then discovered bear prints next to the lake… wasn’t ready for that. I then learned that Grand Lake has its fair share of bears so be warned. The town was full of new life and new hope as winter came to an end. The lake was glassy, calm, and oh so grand. Nothing beats a crisp morning with a grand view and a hot cup of coffee.

The summer brought adventure, warmth, and pure bliss. My boyfriend and I stayed at a cozy lodge right in town and it was perfect. We spent three days biking around town, kayaking around the lake dreaming up what our lake house would look like, playing put put, and finishing up the trip by hiking 13 miles to Lone Pine Lake and watching a young moose frolic in the water. In the evenings we explored town, window shopped, found an incredible homemade gelato and coffee shop called Lulu’s, and a classic, full of character and good food pub called Worlds End.

The Grand Lake winter trip provided a truly Colorado experience. On the way up we stopped at Hot Sulfur Hot Springs to bask in the hot mineral filled water. Next we arrived at Sunflower Cottage, a unique, charm filled cabin right in town. It was cold and the snow came down hard while we were there which made it blissful. We explored town while the sun was out, went back to some of our favorite spots, Lulu’s and Worlds End, and cozied up inside at dark. With the fireplace going we heated up the German Gluhwein, cooked dinner, pulled out the card games and had an ideal evening while the trees outside got a nice fresh covering of snow.

One of the most unique aspects of winter in Grand Lake is the snowmobiling and being able to walk and snow mobile across Grand Lake. Freaked out? I was too but I walked out onto the ice anyway and wow was I glad. The view of Grand Lake is unique and incredible to begin with but being able to view it from the middle of the lake? Now that is just raw, wild, and epic Colorado.

We also made it a point to go snowshoeing. It wasn’t my first time but you would’ve thought it was given the smile on my face. There’s something so unique and special about snowshoeing to me. You’re usually the only one on the trail, you’re walking through untouched snow, its so quiet your own mind doesn’t have a choice but to settle and you’re immersed in wild beauty.

From Spring to Summer to Fall to Winter, each season brings a gift of beauty and experience only that season can bring. Similar to our lives, if we only live in the past or in the hope of the future we miss the beauty and the perspective of the season we’re in. Just like the earth’s seasons, some are more hopeful and cheery and others are more wild, raw and take your breath away for good or bad; but in each season beauty and perspective are never lacking.

So what’s season are you in? What memory, lesson, or perspective can you cherish and take away from this season? For each season has a purpose if we so choose to embrace it.

Wonder On,

Kate

A Hidden Oasis – Sky Pond, RMNP

Up at 10,900 ft lies an oasis unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Colorado. Glassy lakes, lush wild flowers, waterfalls, and towering dynamic mountains.

I was born and raised in Colorado, which is now something as unique as a unicorn. I grew up with this gem called Sky Pond in my backyard yet I never knew it existed until I was 27 years old. This led to me wondering “What other gems and oasis’s have I been missing out on all these years?!”

Going back to Sky Pond, it’s a 10 mile round trip moderate hike with unbelievable views and adventure. In September I headed up with my boyfriend AJ around 7am from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. Something to note is that the All Trails hiking app said it was only 8 miles… though we tracked 10. Make sure to bring snacks.

My favorite thing about this hike is that you pass multiple incredible sights on your way to Sky Pond such as Alberta Falls, The Loch, Lake of Glass, and of finally Sky Pond. You even get to climb up a small waterfall on your way to Lake of glass which makes for a good story later. As you ascend, each body of water get clearer and clearer and more glassy. After you climb up the waterfall you enter this lush, vibrate green area where you would expect to see fairies flying. I’m not kidding – it is that surreal and not your classic Colorado scene.

As I reached Sky Pond I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with wonder and awe of the creation around me. The journey was as amazing as the destination. The time I spent up there was still and filled with color, life and bold majestic presence.

Being up there gave me the reminder that’s there’s more out there. There’s more to life than the daily routine, there’s more to a person if you give them the chance and there’s more to your backyard if you dare to explore it. So be encouraged today and don’t loose hope that what’s in front of you is it because that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Beauty and wonder are out there, we just have to choose to seek it.

The wonder behind the land of the rejected – Sydney Australia

Wild Australia – the land of an estimated 44 million kangeroo’s, 20 out of the top 25 deadliest snakes in the world, and a turtle species that can breath out of their bottoms… yes out of their bottoms. In fact, 90% of the native animals are found no where else in the world.

Before heading to Australia I knew that I’d learn a lot about the wild animals. Little did I know that I’d learn about the wild history of how this massive island was turned into a land for the rejected.

Below I will share the top five things I did while I was in Sydney along with the wonder that lies within the land of the rejected.

1. Sydney Botanical Gardens

Arriving in Sydney in the early morning we didn’t waste any time. We hit the city, first going to the Botanical Gardens. Bright colors and life surrounded me. I was in the zone, capturing stunning photos of wild plants when my dad told me to look in-between the plants. So I took my camera and scanned in-between when suddenly all of them were forced into my perspective… spiders… man eating (basically), size of my head, worse than tarantulas, worse than anything in America status, spiders. I felt as though I should have been deep in the Amazon jungle, but no, there I was right in town. Moving on from the spiders, everything else was stunning. Vibrate flowers, squawking birds, and massive trees that you knew had witnessed so much throughout the years.

We also got to experience a special exhibit that featured carnivorous plants in the gardens. Venus flytraps were one of many wild carnivorous plants there and what a sight they were. They were bold in color, small to large in size, and just looking at them and observing them made my mind race with wonder. Overall it was the perfect introduction to the wild lands of Australia.

2. Fortune of War

The first night we walked around The Rocks, a cute history filled district in the northern part of South Sydney, and visited the oldest bar in town, Fortune of War. To say it was fun would be an understatement. There, in that small pub, people from all around the world as well as locals gathered to drink a beer and reflect on their day and celebrate life. The best moment was when everyone in that little packed pub starting singing, “Do you come from the land down under?!”. Between that experience and a handful of conversations with folks in the pub, my mind was set on the fact that the culture and vibe of the bar was as impactful and genuine as its roots.

3. Manly Beach

Manly Beach lives up to its name. It is full of activities, wildlife, and adventure. You take the ferry over which is quick and painless and then the adventure is all yours. We decided to rent bikes and see as much of the coast as we could. Even with it being a Sunday it wasn’t unbearable with the amount of people doing activities which was surprising. Although, I do recommend getting started early. The views were stunning and being on a bike really lets you see the culture and heartbeat of Manly. Once our bike rental was up, which wasn’t too expensive, we got fish and chips and planted on the beach. It was a beautiful fall day. Not cold but not hot enough to get in the cold ocean. After the beach we cruised through Manly’s outdoor shopping area called The Corso, which included a local market, street performers, and a ton of shops. By that time the sun was setting and we headed back on the ferry to wrap up a perfect Manly Beach day.

4. Featherdale Wildlife Park

We made our final day in Sydney another adventure day by booking a 10 hour day trip to the Blue Mountains with a first stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park. It far surpassed my expectations by giving visitors an up close wildlife experience. There were a ton of animals you can only see in Australia, and the park provided two different open areas where kangaroos and wallabies ran free allowing you to interact with them. I also got to pet a koala bear which was a highlight.

5. Blue Mountains

Number five… the Blue Mountains. They’re a place to be admired and respected. They’re called the Blue Mountains because light reflects off of the oil being emitted from the eucalyptus trees, also known as gum trees, that gives them a blue color. The Blue Mountains cover about 3,900 square miles and a hold a handful of Aboriginal legends and sights such as the three sisters, shown below. The landscape is stunning and so in the depth of history of these lands.

Outside of admiring the beautiful surroundings and listening to the Aboriginal legends I was made more aware of the dark side of Australia’s past. In the late 1700’s convicts were forced over to Australia from Britain. This group of convicts ranged from murderers to people who had stoled an apple due to hunger. They were lumped into one guilty category, put on a dirty, rat invested ship, were sailed to Australia and were forced to be slaves in the new lands. Over the course of less than 100 years, 160,000 convicts were forced to Australia.

This part of history was one I hadn’t thought much in depth about until my day in the Blue Mountains. Up until that point I had been saturated in the fun, good, wild animal aspect of Australia but when I started to take in the reality of its history it provided so much wonder, awe, and hope. I reflected on my time there and the culture I had experienced. Just thinking of what it took to get from there to present day made each experience and interaction with a local so rich. What I experienced was the result of goodness winning out after cultures collided. A land of deep Aboriginal roots and rejected convicts was resurrected to be a land of acceptance, depth, respect and wonder. That in my opinion is what makes Australia so wild and a must to visit.

Winter’s Patience

Growing up I viewed winter as long dark days filled with harsh freezing air. I thought the snow was pretty but only from the comfort of a warm cozy blanket. When I moved back to Colorado with my new sense of wonder I challenged myself to see winter with new eyes… eyes seeking wonder, wisdom, and the hidden treasures of creation.

As I explored my budget friendly options, I got invited to go snowshoeing to Glacier Gorge up in Rocky Mountain National Park. To be honest I was nervous to go. The thought of hiking miles into the unknown in the dead of winter without service, maps or common wilderness knowledge seemed risky. What if I wandered off course or a storm came in or something simple like having to go to the bathroom? It’s cold! Not to mention sasquatch could be lurking behind any of the evergreens… who am I to say he couldn’t be out there. Regardless of my fears I went and it revealed a wonderland beyond what I had imagined.

As I walked through through the trees on feet of snow there was a patience and peace emitting from my surroundings beyond what I had expected. It gave me that same sense of wonder that I would get as I held my breath and sat on the ocean floor 20 ft down. A feeling of being in awe, humbled by creation and the creator, and thankful to live in a world that contained such beauty. In the stillness I felt alive and was able to think clearly.

Nature has perfected the harshness of winter and given us a new way to look at difficult, or dark seasons, if we so choose to. It beautifully reflects the patience, meaning, and importance of winter seasons. In winter, nature waits out the brutally cold and stormy season by growing roots, embracing the sunny days and storms as they come, and trusting that spring is just around the corner. In our lives, we can choose to see struggles as seasons that will end. We have the power to grow roots into what we know is true, extract the lessons to be learned, and trust that the season will be used to produce new fruit in our lives. How would our lives be different if we viewed struggles like this versus allowing difficulties to be a burden and weigh us down? What energy can we put into the growth process instead of feeding into the victim mentality? Something to think about.

As far as adventures go, I highly recommend Glacier Gorge, Lookout Mountain Trail, and Herman Gulch Trail, all in the beautiful state of Colorado. Glacier Gorge and Herman Gulch Trail are both about 6 miles roundtrip and take you on a true, out of this world adventure. Lookout Mountain Trail is an easy two mile roundtrip trail that is quick and easy for a wonder refresher.

Till next time, wonder on.

xoxo,

Kate

Eyes to Wonder

One of the greatest gifts my time in Hawaii gave me was eyes to spot wonder and a heart to experience it. I can still close my eyes and re-live the moments I spent under the waves, seeking treasures, being in awe of the turtles and fish lavished with color and design, and the feeling of being at the mercy of the sea and being at peace with it. In those moments I was out of my element, I felt alive, and I was hooked.

Wonder:

A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful , unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
The quality of a person or thing that causes wonder
An extraordinary or remarkable person, event, or thing

When I think of wonder I think of what could be, and the mystery of what is. I enter a place of bliss and opportunity. The wonder of life, creation, the ocean and all of its many creatures; the wind as it howls through the mountain fir trees, the moment when chaos is contained and deep purpose is revealed; it all produces a feeling of wonder. Wonder surrounds us and we need to explore it in order to fully live.

When I allow myself to wonder I allow myself to appreciate the gift of breath and the mystery and beauty of living. I gain a greater sense of the uniqueness that God placed in me by allowing myself to reach a depth in my heart where my desires can be revealed and my imagination and creativity can be ignited. Wondering pulls the deeper meaning and magic out of the ordinary. Wonder is the gate where heavenly properties meet the physical world.

My goal for Wine&Wonder is to build and share my eyes of wonder. I believe wonder is necessary and I also believe it is contagious. Wonder applies to both present and future reality, the tangible and unseen. When you choose to see with eyes of wonder you see past the present fear to the blissful life you were created to live. Victoria Erickson puts it like this, “Wonder is one of the wildest elements and qualities on the massive scale of human experience. Just a pinch of it stops time. The world halts. The eyes fill. You become for a small time, everything you truly are.” So lets celebrate life, explore some perspective and give breath to our wonder.

-Kate