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This summer, we were thrilled to welcome our brother Chris to Creede, Colorado—a very special trip gifted by Sean and Scott for Christmas 2024. Chris flew into Denver, where he met up with Sean and Scott, who were arriving from Washington, D.C. The three of them landed together at the Alamosa Airport on Thursday afternoon, June 19.

To kick off their arrival, Karen fired up the smoker at 5 a.m. and had a brisket ready by the time they arrived. That evening, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner out in the Pavilion under the Colorado sky, turning in early after a long travel day for the boys.

Friday morning Karen picked Chris up to have breakfast together back at their place in the Park.  They were staying in a cozy two-bedroom cabin, just across the street, a place Sean had found through Vacation Rentals in Creede Vacation Rentals in Creede, CO | Cozy Mountain Stays. The cabin’s location was perfect—neat, comfortable, and just steps away. Sean felt a bit under the weather that morning, and Chris—at nearly 77 years old—needed time to adjust to the altitude, but that didn’t stop us from making the most of our days together.

Friday evening, Chris, Sean, Scott, friend – Bob Holt, Bill and Karen enjoyed pizza at our local Old Miner’s Inn https://www.oldminersinn.com/ pizzeria. After a nice dinner and visit, we walked over to the Elk’s Lodge #506 for a tour of the historic story and photos.

As part of their Christmas gift, Sean and Scott had included a picture frame, so the mission was to get some good photos of the trio to put inside it. We didn’t make it all the way through the famous Bachelor’s Loop, but we did manage a few scenic stops and photo ops along the way.

On Saturday, the whole crew piled into Sean’s rental and took a day trip to Lake City via the beautiful Silver Thread Byway. We stopped to admire North Clear Creek Falls and continued on to Lake San Cristobal—a picturesque gem nestled in the San Juan Mountains. As we drove into Lake City, we noticed packed roads, caution signs, and officials guiding traffic. Turns out, we’d arrived during the annual San Juan Solstice Marathon! The town was buzzing with runners and spectators, creating a lively, festive atmosphere. On our return to Creede, we couldn’t resist stopping by Freeman’s Guest Ranch Freemans Guest Ranch, Historic Cabins and General Store in Creede, Colorado for their famous hamburgers—a must-do!

During the visit, Sean and Scott ventured out in our side-by-side to explore Creede on their own. One spot they especially enjoyed was Coffee on the Fly https://www.coffeeontheflycreede.com/, where they spent a couple of quiet mornings taking in the local vibe.

Saturday wrapped up with a laid-back evening at Antler’s, where Sean, Scott, Bill, and Karen enjoyed live music and appetizers out on the patio. Chris stayed behind in the cabin to rest after the busy day.

All too soon, their visit came to an end. Hosting my brother in Creede was truly special, especially knowing this may be his only time out here. The altitude was a challenge, but the memories we made were worth every moment. Heartfelt thanks to Sean and Scott for such a thoughtful gift—and we’re all excited to see which photo gets chosen to fill that frame.

“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.”