Being from New York,It doesn't matter how long now I have been here, heading past the first hogbackand into the Rockies is the moment the getaway mentality starts to kick in. I have always liked traveling up Highway 285 better than I-70. It just seems better without all the commerce traffic or the people trying to blaze a trail to L.A. or Vegas. Seemingly, there are a lot more reasons to head up the interstate but there are great reasons to venture up the less used civilization escape route if you do a little investigating.

When the economy improves I hope the silly term staycation is the first casualty.Luckily for us the word stay to Coloradoans is a lot friendlier then to those in Toledo.

When Linda and I searched out our July 2007 wedding site we had pretty high hopes for the one touting mountain beauty. As we passed the already picked out rehearsal dinner site, The Fort, and left the flatlands the drive helped us decide it was a clear choice.

That location, Lower Lake Ranch in Pine did not let us down in our effort to provide our friends and family from MO, NE, FL and NY a true Colorado experience. Being outside in such a gorgeous setting had everyone smiling almost as much as Linda and I. With the impressive Lion's Head rock formation in the background the pictures came out stellar and it will always be a favorite place for us to go.

At the time you needed to be a part of an event or reside there to take in the valley's beauty but there was more in the works that July to broaden that limitation. We missed out on being able to stay on site and we no doubt could have easily found 16 people leaping at the chance to fill thesite's now renovated cabins. These great pieces of Colorado history on land just to the north of the wedding site would have a mesmerizing story to tell if there was a place to plug in the ipod headset.

In 1878 President Cleveland established the homestead and the Jensen family called it home first. John C. and his wife Elizabethhad a son and three daughters. The youngest of which married Elmer Berg and together they ran her Dad's guest ranch called Elk Falls Ranch.While they had the ranch covered John Jensen was able to focus on having a hand in the starting of The Denver Athletic Club. It was not just that connection that made Elk Falls a popular site for many large gathering groups but Elmer was a part of a group of men that started the Round Up Riders Of The Rockies. The soon to be redone (and relocated) Clubhouse was the ending site of the Riders annual mid-July excursion. From 1948 to 1955 they picked a starting place like Estes Park and rode to the Central City Paradeand from there on to Elk Falls. Already the first of many people have had"Ah-Ha" moments when taking in the sites north of the cabin area. This valley used to be the location of many company summer picnics and outings of several different boys and girls organizations - the untouched beauty can bring back a rush of fun memories.

So for the first time in a long time Elk Falls at Lower LakeRanch is available to start making new memories. The web site will provide all the info you need but consider this an early tip for all levels of fly fishing enthusiasts, this setting is going to be top notch and the sooner you scope it out the better luck you will have at booking the weekend you want.

Visit www.Lowerlakeranch.com for details and check out www.hookflyfishing.com for supplies and tips! They have a great retail location you have to seeto believe.