Road Trips 2023

[ABQ2015]

I am also headed for Telluride and Aspen but in about 2 weeks for my second Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In 2018 I visited Aspen just as a wildfire started near Basalt so did not see much of the immediate area, mostly just getting there through Independence Pass and a shuttle ride to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Too bad about Hwy 133 as I planned to see Paonia and Redstone Historic District this trip but it will now take extra time. But the good news is I can now drive Hwy 65 through Grand Mesa, another beautiful scenic byway, to get to I-70 and on to Aspen!

 

[COcheesehead]

I am also headed for Telluride and Aspen but in about 2 weeks for my second Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In 2018 I visited Aspen just as a wildfire started near Basalt so did not see much of the immediate area, mostly just getting there through Independence Pass and a shuttle ride to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Too bad about Hwy 133 as I planned to see Paonia and Redstone Historic District this trip but it will now take extra time. But the good news is I can now drive Hwy 65 through Grand Mesa, another beautiful scenic byway, to get to I-70 and on to Aspen!

You can get to Redstone, just not all the way to Paonia.

 

[audreyh1]

I found an article about the huge snowmelt in Colorado this year and the recent big break in highway 133. http://coloradosun.com/2023/05/23/snowpack-spring-runoff-colorado-2023-river-update/

 

[audreyh1]

Curious for those in Colorado:

I see that as of March 2023 grocery stores are finally allowed to sell wine. Law was passed last year so they’ve had time to prepare. Are grocery stores already selling wine in CO?

I’m wondering, I still may bring my own selection as we won’t be by a Costco or Total Wine on route. Last year I tried a couple of liquor stores in CO that had good reviews but I was very disappointed in the selection. Meanwhile my supply at home is overflowing.

If Whole Foods in CO is already carrying wine I may be OK.

 

[COcheesehead]

Curious for those in Colorado:

I see that as of March 2023 grocery stores are finally allowed to sell wine. Law was passed last year so they’ve had time to prepare. Are grocery stores already selling wine in CO?

I’m wondering, I still may bring my own selection as we won’t be by a Costco or Total Wine on route. Last year I tried a couple of liquor stores in CO that had good reviews but I was very disappointed in the selection. Meanwhile my supply at home is overflowing.

If Whole Foods in CO is already carrying wine I may be OK.

All the stores by us were carrying wine within a few days. Some have carved out whole sections now. The offerings are standard grocery store wines - nothing all that interesting that I’ve seen yet.
My experience with wine stores in most of the mountain towns is very hit or miss.
Total Wine is probably the better choice.

 

[audreyh1]

All the stores by us were carrying wine within a few days. Some have carved out whole sections now. The offerings are standard grocery store wines - nothing all that interesting that I’ve seen yet.
My experience with wine stores in most of the mountain towns is very hit or miss.
Total Wine is probably the better choice.

Good to know.

Yeah, here Costco is my best choice for wine. They have been great at always having something of interest without me having to look through a huge selection. Total Wine is OK if I’m looking for something specific.

HEB is a great grocery store but the one we go to has a large collection yet it’s uninspired, so I gave up on them long ago.

I think in the past Whole Foods has had a pretty decent selection so I’m hoping they’re stocked up in CO. There is one on the way to Aspen.

Does Costco in CO carry wine now? Unfortunately I won’t be going by one though on the way. Just curious.

 

[COcheesehead]

Good to know.

Yeah, here Costco is my best choice for wine. They have been great at always having something of interest without me having to look through a huge selection. Total Wine is OK if I’m looking for something specific.

HEB is a great grocery store but the one we go to has a large collection yet it’s uninspired, so I gave up on them long ago.

I think in the past Whole Foods has had a pretty decent selection so I’m hoping they’re stocked up in CO. There is one on the way to Aspen.

Does Costco in CO carry wine now? Unfortunately I won’t be going by one though on the way. Just curious.

Yes Costco and Sam’s have decent wine selections in Colorado.

 

[audreyh1]

Good to know. Hmmmm, maybe I need to join Sam’s for my CO trip. I saw Pueblo has one.

But then again I have so many bottles at home. Just have to be careful keeping it coolish during multi-day transport.

 

[Trailwalker]

Upper Peninsula

We are enjoying our half-circle tour around Lake Michigan. Camped at Indian Lake State Park near Manistique, Michigan.

 

[Northforker]

Our summer RV road trip starts in 3 weeks. Leaving from West Kentucky and stopping at friends houses for short visits in Central Illinois, Indy, Northwest Ohio, East Ohio, crossing into Canada at Niagara Falls then Southwestern Ontario to visit some work friends and fellow snowbirds. Then onto the Maritimes and Newfoundland by ferry. 2 weeks in Newfoundland and then returning by ferry. Then into Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware which will complete our 50 states where we have spent at least one night in all of them. From there we are returning home via Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. 8 to 10 weeks depending on our whims. Then home for a month or two before gearing up for another winter in Florida. We are purchasing another rv and leaving it in Florida at the resort this year so timing is a little fuzzy.

 

[audreyh1]

I am also headed for Telluride and Aspen but in about 2 weeks for my second Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In 2018 I visited Aspen just as a wildfire started near Basalt so did not see much of the immediate area, mostly just getting there through Independence Pass and a shuttle ride to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Too bad about Hwy 133 as I planned to see Paonia and Redstone Historic District this trip but it will now take extra time. But the good news is I can now drive Hwy 65 through Grand Mesa, another beautiful scenic byway, to get to I-70 and on to Aspen!

I found out that the Telluride Jazz Festival is happening while we are there. I don’t really care for crowds even outside, but maybe we can listen in from a distance. Tower of Power will be there. Geez these 50 year old bands just don’t stop!

 

[Lsbcal]

All this talk of wine is making me thirsty.

So what price level are you guys talking about? I am always curious about those higher priced wines but tend to just do the $8 to $10 ones.

 

[audreyh1]

All this talk of wine is making me thirsty.

So what price level are you guys talking about? I am always curious about those higher priced wines but tend to just do the $8 to $10 ones.

Well at Costco we often do pick up $8-$10 wines and these include Kirkland labels which are often excellent. But we do buy some in the $12-18 range. Rarely go above $20 because there are so many excellent wines below.

Pretty much Spain, France, Italy with vintage years.

 

[COcheesehead]

All this talk of wine is making me thirsty.

So what price level are you guys talking about? I am always curious about those higher priced wines but tend to just do the $8 to $10 ones.

There is a wine thread on here if you are interested.
https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/wine-discussion-travel-and-more-117648.html

I tend to shy away from inexpensive wines. Not all of them, but many are “value engineered” concoctions filled with concentrates, coloring agents and usually a good dose of residual sugar = morning headache.
If/when wine labeling laws come into effect, people will be shocked at what may actually be in cheap wines.
Some cheap wines can be good if its unclassified barrels, left over juice or from value wine regions like Chile, Italy or Argentina for example.

 

[Lsbcal]

Well at Costco we often do pick up $8-$10 wines and these include Kirkland labels which are often excellent. But we do buy some in the $12-18 range. Rarely go above $20 because there are so many excellent wines below.

So in your opinion, is there a taste step up from the $10 to the $18?

I have a wine closet that can take 100 cases but it is woefully stocked. The previous home owner was a doctor who had very expensive tastes. DW won't drink except when she goes out to a restaurant .

 

[audreyh1]

So in your opinion, is there a taste step up from the $10 to the $18?

I have a wine closet that can take 100 cases but it is woefully stocked. The previous home owner was a doctor who had very expensive tastes. DW won't drink except when she goes out to a restaurant .

There can be. More often certain regions are more expensive. I prefer the reserve type wines for some reds that have been longer in the barrels and they cost a bit more. I can definitely taste the difference.

I rarely drink wine at a restaurant because I like my extensive selection at home. We rarely eat out unless traveling and rarely do dinner out even then.

 

[COcheesehead]

So in your opinion, is there a taste step up from the $10 to the $18?

I have a wine closet that can take 100 cases but it is woefully stocked. The previous home owner was a doctor who had very expensive tastes. DW won't drink except when she goes out to a restaurant .

I personally think wine takes a jump at about $25, then again at $40 then not much after that. I’ll buy an $8-$10 wine at Sam’s and they just taste artificial and generally on the ripe side. If you like that, enjoy. I like a more structured, complex wine.
Keep in mind a lot of wine is made to be consumed right now, but many more crafted wines may benefit from aging - both for reds and even some whites.

 

[Lsbcal]

There is a wine thread on here if you are interested.
https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/wine-discussion-travel-and-more-117648.html

I tend to shy away from inexpensive wines. Not all of them, but many are “value engineered” concoctions filled with concentrates, coloring agents and usually a good dose of residual sugar = morning headache.
If/when wine labeling laws come into effect, people will be shocked at what may actually be in cheap wines.
Some cheap wines can be good if its unclassified barrels, left over juice or from value wine regions like Chile, Italy or Argentina for example.

We live in Sonoma county and have a lot of wineries about. We've done a fair amount of plein aire painting in vineyard areas. One in particular was in the Dry Creek area and there I bought a bottle of rose which was spectacular. It was maybe $14 in today's market. Went back a few years later and the same rose was just pedestrian.

The wines I get are generally from California such as Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel off the shelf at Safeway.

 

[audreyh1]

I really don’t think the dry European wines we buy at Costco have that junk added, and they are structured and complex and taste like the wines we expect from a given region. No headaches either. Costco generally carries high quality wines. Costco has an incredible wine buying team, doesn’t mark up the wines much, and passes through savings on the Kirkland labels. So you are getting a lot of value. Does a Bordeaux we buy in Costco taste like a Bordeaux we’ve had in France? - yes.

 

[COcheesehead]

Update on Hwy 133 in Colorado.
https://www.kjct8.com/2023/06/05/cd...dium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=kjct

 

[ABQ2015]

I found out that the Telluride Jazz Festival is happening while we are there. I don’t really care for crowds even outside, but maybe we can listen in from a distance. Tower of Power will be there. Geez these 50 year old bands just don’t stop!

Telluride has a festival scheduled almost every weekend in the summer so hard to miss them. The Jazz Festival attendance is about 2500, much less than the 9-12K at the Blues and Bluegrass festivals also held in Town Park, so it might not be that crowded. Tickets are still on sale or you can just sit in the entrance area to the park and listen. The festival website lists several jazz events scheduled along Main Street and in smaller venues, some open to the public. A little entertainment after hiking and birding. Finally, since many visitors will be at the festival, maybe the restaurants will be less crowded.

 

[COcheesehead]

Telluride has a festival scheduled almost every weekend in the summer so hard to miss them. The Jazz Festival attendance is about 2500, much less than the 9-12K at the Blues and Bluegrass festivals also held in Town Park, so it might not be that crowded. Tickets are still on sale or you can just sit in the entrance area to the park and listen. The festival website lists several jazz events scheduled along Main Street and in smaller venues, some open to the public. Finally, since many visitors will be at the festival, maybe the restaurants will be less crowded.

Highly recommend Trout Lake and Lizard Head Peak just down the road from Telluride too.

 

[audreyh1]

Telluride has a festival scheduled almost every weekend in the summer so hard to miss them. The Jazz Festival attendance is about 2500, much less than the 9-12K at the Blues and Bluegrass festivals also held in Town Park, so it might not be that crowded. Tickets are still on sale or you can just sit in the entrance area to the park and listen. The festival website lists several jazz events scheduled along Main Street and in smaller venues, some open to the public. A little entertainment after hiking and birding. Finally, since many visitors will be at the festival, maybe the restaurants will be less crowded.

Good excuse for an evening town or river trail walk. We have a place with a balcony over the San Miguel river about 6 blocks away from Town Park. Might be too far away to hear much.

Highly recommend Trout Lake and Lizard Head Peak just down the road from Telluride too.

Nice photos! Been a while. Good reminder.

 

[vafoodie]

I'm starting to plan my trip from Yorktown, VA to Nova Scotia. I'd like any tips anyone has!

 

[Northforker]

I'm starting to plan my trip from Yorktown, VA to Nova Scotia. I'd like any tips anyone has!

On the Way:

Quebec City is an old world city in the new world and the culinary treats make it a must stop for a foodie.

The all day Grey Line tour of Montreal is a quick way to immerse into the history and sites of the city.

Nova Scotia:

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has some awesome displays and photos.

The Public gardens are very nice.

Peggy's Cove is overrated and a tourist trap in my opinion

The Alexander Keith's Brewery is the oldest brewery in North America, (sorry Yeuengling) and when we were there last the have a tour that is done in period clothing and more like a play than a tour.

Glace Bay and the loop around Caper Breton Island is beautiful.

Pubnico is an active fishing village.

We are heading there and on to Newfoundland in 2 weeks assuming the fire and smoke situation in Quebec doesn't escalate further, Pray for Rain!!!