Denver Breweries

Sunday in Denver started out with breakfast and mimosas at Watercourse foods- the food was so amazing on Friday that we had to have it again on Sunday :) The mimosas were 2 for 1 and were very generously sized!

We headed straight to Tommyknocker Brewing and the drive from Denver to the brewery was incredibly scenic. As usual I could not stop from tearing up at the beauty of nature. Call me crazy but I am stunned every time I see such a beautiful view. The pictures barely sum up how amazing the sights are in Colorado

We planned to visit a few different breweries so at Tommyknocker we got the sampler platter instead of getting full size beers. My favorite was their cocoa porter ale which is seasonal and only available november-march.

 
After leaving Tommyknocker we headed to the Golden Gate Canyon State Park to hike the Blue Grouse Trail. The trail was only about 1.5 miles and was a very easy trail. We weren't sure how we would react to the altitude so this was the perfect start, I definitely could have done a longer trail though!

 

Next on the list was Avery Brewing which happened to be having a release party for their Tweak Beer which is a stout with coffee added and aged in bourbon barrells and is a whopping 17.01% alcohol. We had to try one but we split it and sipped it slowly, it was VERY intense but delicious. 

After leaving Avery Brewing we headed to Oskar Blues and accidentally ended up at the Oskar Blues restaurant not the actual brewery. We stayed for a beer but didn't hangout for long because we were at the wrong place! We skipped ahead to our next brewery on the list which was Left Hand Brewing. This was our favorite of the day because for anyone that's a fan of dark beers, they have a LOT of options. We got along great with the bartender and he gave us a ton of samples so we tried every beer they had on tap. The most interesting one was an IPA they had with jalapenos in it. 

After a full day of driving and sampling beers we headed back to the hotel to relax and eat leftovers. We were too tuckered out to go out Sunday night. After spending a day driving through the mountains, I wish I had done that every day while in Colorado. Its truly the best part about the entire state :)

Washington Park- Denver

Saturday in Denver started with morning snowfall! Very exciting for two Floridians exploring Colorado. Naturally the first thing I wanted after waking up was a hot cup of coffee. I think the most important part about traveling is avoiding chain coffee places/restaurants. A quick search will bring you to a cozy local coffee shop. My choice for Saturday morning was the Purple Door Coffee. They employ previously homeless/troubled teens that are trying to get their lives back on track. This was a win-win for me, I was able to get a delicious latte and contribute to a great organization. I made my latte vegan by replacing regular milk with soy milk (They also have almond milk available)

Latte with Soy Milk

After grabbing coffee we headed over to Voodoo Donuts which has been featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. This is a 24 hour donut shop that sells vegan donuts and regular donuts in endless different flavors. Below are my two vegan donut choices; one is vanilla icing with oreos and the other is a cinnamon sugar flavor. They were deliciously sweet :)

Voodoo Donuts

I wanted to see a few city parks so we went to Washington Park (or "Wash Park" as the locals call it) for a morning walk. The park was pretty barren except for a lot of birds and some crazy locals running around the park in shorts and a t-shirt in SEVEN degree weather... I imagine this park in the summer/early fall is absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed the snow covered grounds but it was incredibly cold so we did not last long. 

Washington Park

Washington Park

After walking around outside it was time to warm up so we headed to The Denver Tea Room and Coffee Saloon for some hot tea. We cozied up next to a window drinking rooibos tea and enjoying watching the snow fall. Its always nice to have a relaxing moment during a busy vacation.

After having tea we met up with a friend at Snooze which is a very popular breakfast spot, I was able to select three different sides (vegan chorizo, vegan sausage, and hash browns) for a vegan brunch. The food was flavorful but vegan options were definitely limited as with most breakfast restaurants.

Next we spent a few hours walking around the mall at Cherry Creek Shopping District. Then headed back to our Airbnb to relax for a bit. We found a place for dinner called Hops & Pie which specializes in pizza and beer. We put our names on the list as soon as we got there but the wait for a table was around 2 hours. If you plan to eat here I suggest snagging a few seats at the bar and just ordering food from there. We had the vegan mac & cheese and it was incredibly savory, creamy, and toasty because of the bread crumbs on top. It was amazing paired with the Denver pale ale I was drinking. The only complaint I have about this restaurant is that their options of dark beer are VERY limited, but this should be assumed with the name HOPS and pie. They like hops! We spent a few hours socializing and drinking beer, then headed home to get some rest before Sunday.

More later on Denver :)
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Denver Treats

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Denver, Colorado for the very first time. I am not sure why, but I have always felt very drawn towards Colorado, despite never visiting before. I have always desired to explore the snowy mountains, endless trails, and delicious food. Finally this past weekend I had the opportunity to do just that. 

The weekend started when my work conference ended on Friday at noon and I picked up my boyfriend from the airport. We went directly to Watercourse Foods for lunch thanks to the raving reviews I had heard from friends. The restaurant is 100% vegan and has tons of creative dishes that made my mouth water just looking at the menu. I decided on The Atlas Burger with a side of the Mac 'n Cheese. The Mac 'n Cheese was incredible; by far the creamiest and most flavorful vegan Mac 'n Cheese that I have ever tasted. Of course I had to finish the meal with something sweet, I chose the Resee's Cake and my boyfriend had the Samoa style "Scout" cookie. The cookie was coconuty, crunchy, and nutty while the cake was dense, moist and very rich. 

The Atlas Burger

Scout Cookie

Resee's Cake

After Watercourse we checked into our AirBnb rental. This was our first time renting through AirBnb and we had a great experience! The apartment we stayed in was very clean and charming and check-in was incredibly easy. I liked the idea of staying in an apartment and eating the local food instead of staying in a hotel where more chain-like restaurants would be located. If you are interested in giving it a try- let me know and I can send you a coupon for $25 off your first rental!

After an hour of relaxing we tried to catch the 5pm tour at Great Divide Brewery in downtown Denver. We caught some traffic along the way and unfortunately missed the tour by a few minutes, but we were still able to sample some great beers. I had the Denver Pale Ale, typically I would go for their Yeti beer but I felt it was time to try something new. The pale ale represented exactly what a pale ale should with the right amount of hop. A note of warning though, the tap room standing area is limited and the brewery was very crowded. However I enjoy seeing breweries in this state because it gives me hope that this craft beer movement is not just a phase but will be sticking around. 

If the crowd at Great Divide starts to overwhelm you, check out The Lobby right next-door. They have a great beer selection and plenty of tvs for watching sports. They also have different specials for days of the week. We ended up eating dinner there and I had a portobello cap burger. The food was pretty good, but definitely not as flavorful and unique as Watercourse.

Our first day there was only a half day but we were still able to try out some great restaurants and beers!

Happy People

I have been thinking a lot lately about what truly happy people have in their lives. In my observations and thoughts I noticed it was easier to first determine what it is they don't have. 

Happy people don't have perfectly clean houses, full wallets, or personal chefs. 
Happy people don't have perfect relationships, flawless routines, or days without worry. 

People that are genuinely happy have passion, curiosity, dreams, and hectic lives. They live from one dream to the next changing their mind constantly. They have so many hopes and passions that they aren't even sure which to pursue first. 

They are confused, dramatic, and at times difficult to understand. They love so passionately that it may cause fights and disagreements. They wake up every day with new questions and problems to solve. They appreciate the world around them and connect with everyone they meet. 

They are also they people who have found the one passion that makes them tick, and continue to be curious and excited about pursuing it every day. 

So much focus is placed on paychecks and "making it" in life. But when we try to discover what it is that the contagiously happy people have, it isn't always high paying jobs and an easy lifestyle. We should aspire to be passionate and curious about the world. We should aspire to BE not to obtain. Happiness is rooted in your soul and will only grow if you nurture it. If you expect it to come from outside influence (money, promotions, relationships) you will be greatly disappointed. 

Find your inner happiness, feed it, inspire it, and you will suddenly connect better with those around you. The change always begins from within. 

Breweries in Birmingham, AL

One of my favorite hobbies besides traveling/hiking is tasting new craft beers. I have been spending a lot of time lately trying out new breweries in Birmingham, Alabama so I thought I would share some information about the different breweries that I have been to. 

Avondale Brewing Co: The inspiration for this brewery came from Miss Fancy the Elephant which is why you will see elephant symbols everywhere at the brewery and phrases like "Trunks Up". The atmosphere is perfect for a Saturday afternoon with some friends and your dog. When you enter from the front door you will find a very nice bar which is a great place to have a cold beer at night. On a nice day I urge you to explore their outdoor area where they frequently have live bands. On Saturdays you will find tons of people and dogs enjoying the weather and fenced in area for the dogs to run without leashes. My favorite of their beers is without competition the Vanillaphant Porter. It has the smooth, dark, and chocolatey characteristics of a porter but with a hint of vanilla. Its amazing. 

Back Forty Brewing Co: This brewery is located in Gadsden, Alabama and the space is much smaller  than that of Avondale. The environment is great and the bartenders are very friendly. They also have live music inside the taproom. They participate in a lot of local events and you can find a calendar of events on their website. My favorite beer at Back Forty is the Freckle Belly IPA. It has a bold hoppy finish that I love about IPAs. 

Cahaba Brewing: This brewery is relatively small compared to the others, producing only 3.5bbl (Barrel) at a time. The beer is tasty and the brewers and bartenders are friendly and will take the time to get to know their patrons. I love this about microbreweries! They have a few constant beers and then a few taps that rotate as the seasons change. I think the only thing they are missing at this point is a great stout, I wasn't crazy about their stout because it wasn't malty enough for my taste unfortunately. For others who don't like the deep malty characteristics of stouts- it may be perfect. I did like their IPA which is called the Oka Uba IPA. It is an easy to drink IPA because it has a low hop concentration at only 57 IBUs. I like the feel of their taproom because there are some games available and they open up the garage doors to make it feel very large and open. 

Good People: Good people has been around since 2008 and has developed some amazing beer recipes since that time. I loved hearing about how the brewery started because it was started by two friends who loved to brew in college and wanted to abandon their day jobs to pursue their brewing dreams. At the time they started brewing, they were not allowed to sell their beer in Alabama so they continued brewing and gave away their beer to friends for parties/weddings. Now that is dedication! Their location is prime because it is right across from Regions Park. If you are in the city for a game, stop by for a brew beforehand! My  beer of choice at Good People is the Coffee Oatmeal Stout. Oatmeal stouts aren't always easy to find, so when I see one I always try it. This stout is incredibly flavorful and you can definitely taste the coffee and malty flavors, alongside a bit of hoppy notes. 

If you aren't able to visit the taprooms while they are open- you can find most of the these beers at Whole Foods in Birmingham, Highland Package, Hop City, and sometimes even your local Publix. 

Sylacauga, Alabama Off-Roading

I am staying for the week with my boyfriend in Pell City, Alabama which means that I am not far at all from off-roading, hiking, and swimming in lakes! TripAdvisor will tell you that this area of Alabama has basically nothing to offer but I disagree.
We went with a group of friends and two Jeeps on an off-roading adventure. We got onto Forest Road 600-1 in the Talladega National Forest near Sylacauga, Alabama at Highway 148. The road starts out as basically a gravel one way road, as you keep venturing on it becomes more bumpy and rugged. There were a couple of very steep side trails that we were able to get the Wrangler up with a winch around a strong tree. We were definitely happy to be in jeeps with 4WD because some parts of the trail are VERY rugged and rocky. There are also some puddle areas with standing water (that smells awful) but are fun to drive through. 
We drove for about 2 hours and then stumbled across this beautiful look out point because the boys wanted to drive the jeeps up onto the rocks. It is called Heath Cliffs Overlook. As we walked over the rocks we were all in awe at the view. 

On the way back down the radiator cracked in one of the jeeps and it overheated. We had to tow it out with the other jeep through the rockiest and windiest parts of the trail. This was definitely a challenge and a bit nerve wracking through all of the trees. 

A few lessons learned

- Definitely do not go alone incase something happens to your jeep/truck. You will be very deep in the forest and will most likely not have cell service 

- There are many horse flies in this area so just be weary of this

- Bring water and snacks because it is a very long trail and there are no sources of water

- Bring your tools so you can try to fix anything you need to in the event that something happens

Even with the slight hiccup, it was an amazing day and a great first time off-roading experience for me!!

Charleston

After leaving Asheville we stopped at William B Umstead Park for some quick site seeing.The lake at the park was absolutely beautiful and there are plenty of hiking trails to do. I can only imagine how breathtaking it would be in the month of October when the leaves change colors. 

Our next destination was Charleston, South Carolina and I had picked out the beautiful  Angel Oak Park  to visit. I was anticipating a bit of walking and stretching my legs, but it is more of a park and sight see type of place. EIther way, the park is beautiful and the tree is incredible. Anticipate a lot of tourists while you are there. We were not able to get any pictures without tourists in them unfortunately. 

 

After the visiting the park we checked into our hotel, King Charles Inn. This is the only "nicer" hotel we stayed in during the whole trip. It was worth every penny because it was a great way to relax after a very active and busy trip. We were able to sleep in and since we were staying downtown we could walk to everything (PERFECT for after a week of being in the car) We did a lot of sight seeing down by the waterfront which was only five minutes from the hotel. The scenery reminded me a lot of my hometown Sarasota. 

We stayed in Charleston for two nights and then started the journey back to Orlando, FL. Below is a screen shot of our entire trip we planned out on Roadtrippers. I definitely suggest this website for anyone interested in planning a roadtrip! It will keep you organized and ensure you see everything you want to see. 

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the places! :)

Pisgah National Forest: Looking Glass Falls

Our journey took us next to the Pisgah National Forest as we traveled towards Asheville, North Carolina. If you want to see a beautiful waterfall that you do not need to hike too Looking Glass Falls is perfect for that. You can venture down the stairs to get a closer look, or stay at the road level for a great view. Since we were there in December you were not able to swim (I definitely did not want to anyway it was very cold!!!). I imagine it is a great swimming spot in the summer though! 

After visiting the beautiful waterfall we headed over to Looking Glass Rock trail for an amazing hike. It is about 6.5 miles total with an elevation change of 1700 feet. The trail is definitely challenging and there are many points where it seems like it is over but you need to just continue finding the blazes and trek on. When you get to the top it becomes completely clear why this viewpoint is so popular. The view is absolutely breathtaking. 

After eating a couple cliff bars at the top and soaking in the view, we headed back down and drove directly to Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard, North Carolina for a few hard-earned beers. At the time we were there they had received a few christmas trees from their other location in Colorado and threw them directly into one of the Old Chub batches (Old Chub is a Scottish Style Ale). They called this concoction Christmas Chub and it tasted incredible. We got a private tour from one of the bartenders and it was probably one of the most fun tours we have been on at a brewery. She took the time to get to know us and told us new information about brewing that we didn't know, instead of just reciting the same spiel that they give to everyone. Overall it was a great experience and we even went home with an amazing growler that keeps beer cold for about 36 hours!

I am already planning my next trip back to North Carolina and the Pisgah National Forest! So many amazing views still to see. 

Great Smoky Mountains: Cades Cove

            This adventure was part of my Graduation Roadtrip with my boyfriend. After leaving Nashville we drove directly to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. There is an 11 mile loop that is perfect for sight seeing of mountains and wildlife. There are many stop off points where you can get a quick hike in and have some up-close encounters with deer. We were there in the winter so we did not see any bears but I'm sure in other seasons you may see some bear as well. We didn't plan out which trails we wanted to do off of the loop, we just hopped out of the car when we felt like it! The important thing to remember in winter is that although it is a desirable time to go because there aren't as many tourists, some of the waterfalls may be dry if there hasn't been a lot of rain. We hiked to a waterfall only to find out when we got there that it was dry. Regardless, the mountains in the backdrop make this an incredible driving and hiking route!! 

We spent about four hours here, I definitely could have spent an entire day but we had to get on the road and head to Asheville!! More to come on Asheville adventures :)

How To Find A Job You Will Enjoy

            I recently completed the dreadful journey of job searching. I turned down a full time salaried job offer for an internship with no benefits and low pay in order to follow my dream. In the end my dream wasn't what I wanted to do anymore and I had to do a lot of soul searching to figure out what exactly I wanted to do. After five years of engineering school I thought I would have my life figured out- this was not the case. As most of my friends began getting amazing job offers for their "dream jobs" and I continued to work at an internship I did not love I began to feel very depressed. I think the hardest part for me was that what I thought was my dream job was not at all what I enjoyed doing. This was truly shocking when I was so confident before. 
            I suppose you can't truly know until you try it, but I think we all have the hope that if we do get the opportunity to pursue our dream job- it will make us truly happy. In the event that it does not, you need to get back on your feet and try again. If you are having some trouble figuring out what it is that you would truly enjoy doing, read some of my tips that helped me. 

1. Look to where your mind goes when it wanders: maybe this will lead you to the correct path. Do you craft baking recipes? Imagine a room with better furniture? Think about how processes could be more efficient? For me it was constantly thinking about global climate change and how buildings could save energy. Styrofoam coffee cups in the break rooms made me cringe and I never understood why so many lights were left on throughout the night. This day dreaming helped lead my path to the job I want to have, and the person I want to become. 

2. Figure out your strengths: I'm not talking about your "organizational skills, multi-tasking, and passion" that you describe in job interviews. Get real with yourself, what are your strengths? Do you find yourself a natural leader and excellent project manager? Are you creative and able to imagine finished products before they are even created? Find out what you are good at and write it down. 

3. Stop worrying about your 5 and 10 year plan: You cannot plan for ten years ahead from now, you have no idea where you will want to be or what will make you happy so stop worrying about it. Many professionals I have interacted with were doing something completely different in a polar opposite industry 10 years ago. Give yourself the freedom to do what makes you happy today and this year. 

4. Be open to try something new: Don't limit yourself to the strengths you listed earlier, simply use them as a guiding light. If you have absolutely no idea what you want to do then you shouldn't limit yourself. Try something new and out of your comfort zone, it may be perfect for you. If not shake it off and try again. 

5. Consider a year of service: I considered joining the AmeriCorp for a year while I did some soul searching, before I stumbled across the job I will be starting in the next month. There is nothing more humbling or mentally clarifying then service in your local community. If you can't commit to a year, consider volunteering a few days a week while you are job searching. It will keep your spirits up. 

But most importantly... 

6. Dont give up hope: When you become mentally defeated, it shows. People can sense when you lose your spirit and zest for life. Do not let this happen to you. Job searching is stressful, terrifying, and frustrating. But it is also exciting and the beginning of something wonderful. You will only find your dream job when you are happy and optimistic, so try to keep a great attitude throughout the grueling process. 

Till Death Do Us Part

             I am at the exciting stage in life where most of my friends are engaged, married, or thinking about getting married. Wedding talk is common in my life lately so it got me thinking about wedding vows. I decided that I will never include the line "Till Death Do Us Part" in my vows. First of all, how creepy does that sound?? Certainly not the beautiful words meant for a wedding ceremony. Second, this sets us up for failure. When you promise to be together "till death do us part" you are mutually agreeing that no matter what happens you will stay together. This almost gives your partner the "ok" to let themselves go and give up on romancing you. I think we should say "Until we are no longer happy". That should be our agreement to eachother. "I promise to stay with you as long as we are both happy", because at the end of the day, that is why you started dating them in the first place. When you are no longer happy with your spouse and no longer able to make them happy why stay together until death just because a wedding vow stated that? That puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on your relationship. I think life is more fulfilling and satisfying when we spend it trying to make our spouse happy and love life, instead of just trying to stay together. 

            With that said, take some time today to tell your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife or even just your best friend that you love them and appreciate everything they do. Ask them what you can do to make them happier and in return they will offer the same. Lets make our goal in life to share as much happiness as we can and help make the ones we love genuinely happy. 

Travel To Enhance Your Life, Not To Escape It

This past weekend, I traveled to Myrtle Beach with my boyfriend and we had an amazing and adventurous weekend. The trip was short (too short as usual) but incredibly wonderful. Upon return when I experienced the typical "Monday Blues" after an amazing vacation, I realized the importance of the way we think about traveling. 

I think most people go on vacation to escape the stress and frustrations of their daily life. This can really put a damper on your return trip because you will be dreading getting back to the daily grind. Maybe if we think of traveling as an opportunity to enhance our lives and make us better people, it wont be so upsetting as we make our return trip. With this mindset, you will return home feeling refreshed, relaxed, and more cultured. 

On our way to Myrtle Beach we stopped in Savannah, GA because it is a charming historic city that we both had never visited. I instantly fell in love with the cozy houses and foliage filled streets. If you get the chance to go, visit Forsyth Park for a nice walk and wander around The Historic District for some great sight seeing. Below are some pictures of Forsyth Park.

Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park

After our walk we ate at a restaurant called Green Truck Pub which had some incredible food made from produce at local farms, and I was even able to try a local beer (Savannah Brown by Coastal Empire Beer Co) ! I ate the veggie patty with corn and black bean salsa and avocado on top. The food, service, and beer were all amazing and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys eating (and drinking) local products. 

The next morning we tried something I have always wanted to do- Parasailing! This was an incredible and almost indescribable experience. My mind kept going back and forth between being incredible scared, and in awe of the beauty around me. My boyfriend who LOVES heights was relaxed the entire time and now wants to go skydiving...  

Atlantic Water-Sports Parasailing

After this adventure we were pretty hungry and decided to try Ethiopian food while in Myrtle Beach! The restaurant was called Redi-et Ehtiopian Cuisine and turned out to be incredibly delicious. Ethiopian food is typically eaten by hand, and when our waitress brought us our meals she asked if we would like to use forks. This felt like when you are at a sushi restaurant and you quietly ask for chopstick cheaters. I hesitantly said "yes we would like forks" and immediately regretted it. If we are going to eat Ethiopian food, we should eat it as it is customarily eaten- by hand! 

Our forks remained wrapped and unused as we proudly finished our meals. I was able to find three different vegan options that I could combine into one meal. Of course we also tried two different Ethiopian beers, a Stout and a Lager. 

Injera and Hakim Stout

Lentil Pastries

Vegan Dish: Collard Greens, Pureed Lentils, Roasted Veggies

My main message here is that the best part about traveling is learning more about the world around you, so try the activity you are scared of and eat the type of food you have never had. When you do, immerse yourself completely and hold nothing back. In doing this, you can return back to your "real life" content knowing that you have enhanced your life. Don't dread returning home, reminisce happily on all of the adventures you took part in.