Finding Cabins from the 1800’s in the Mountains of Colorado

Here in Colorado, it is not uncommon to find home sites from some of the original settlers being semi-preserved on the lands of state and national parks. Not only are these cabins and ruins fascinating to see, but they are a reminder as to the harshness of nature and how difficult life must have been for those early adventurers. It is hard to imagine what life must have been like living without heat in a wooden cabin deep in the woods with wolves, bears, coyotes, and other animals all around. On a bright, sunny day, it becomes clear why someone would want to brave the elements in order to live in such a beautiful place. It must have been truly special to walk out of your front door every day and see the glory of nature. We have put together a collection of different wooden cabins that we have encountered during our various hikes in the Colorado mountains.

Looking Up at a Cabin on the Trail
Roof Collapsing
Inside of a Cabin
Cabin in Beaver Creek
Just the Wooden Logs Remaining
Snow Covered Roof
Perhaps Still in Use
Near Cripple Creek
Not Safe to Enter

Stepping Back into History at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia

Located on the banks of the James River in Virginia is the Jamestown Settlement, which was first permanent English colony in America. The first colonists arrived in 1607 where they lived and worked to establish a foothold on the continent. Today, the Jamestown Settlement provides visitors the opportunity to climb onboard replicas of the ships that brought the settlers on the arduous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, participate in reenactments, and see the archeological efforts that are still ongoing today.

Participating in Reenactments
You Can Ask Questions at the Exhibits

It is a great place to learn about the history of the people who ventured to the “New World” and the difficulties that they faced. The Jamestown Settlement is located near Williamsburg, Virginia and combining a visit to both locations is a great way to follow the history of the people who went from a rustic settlement with wooden buildings to the first capital city of Virginia with its mansions and cobblestone streets.

Demonstrating Firing a Rifle
You Can Climb Onboard the Ship Replicas

There are obviously plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to stay in the area. We visited many years ago at this point, when our children were old enough to appreciate the significance of the Jamestown Settlement. All these years later, it is still a location that they remember seeing and enjoying their experiences there. Admission is only $10 for anyone older than 16 and those under 16 are free, making this an easily affordable adventure for the whole family.

Making Bullets to Protect the Settlement
Learning to Fire a Cannon

Poblano Pepper Scramble – A Taste of the Southwest

We don’t often eat breakfast because we’re usually out and about first thing in the morning. We do, from time to time, have breakfast for dinner. When we were in Telluride, we had breakfast where we got a poblano egg scramble, which was quite delicious. Since our poblano pepper plant had several ripe peppers on it, we decided to recreate it over the weekend. A scramble is nothing more than an omelet where you scramble up the eggs as opposed to letting it set. We always add milk to our eggs since we find them to be fluffier. We did end up having this for dinner, but obviously it is perfect for breakfast. This recipe was just for the two of us, but it easily scales to more people.

Poblano Pepper Plant

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 Large Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Tomatoes – diced
  • 1/4 cup Poblano Peppers – seeded and diced
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion – diced
  • 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese – shredded
  • 2 tbsp Milk
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
Fresh Ingredients

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the butter in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add the tomatoes and cook for about another 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk together the eggs and milk and add to the skillet. Stir frequently until the eggs are almost cooked to the firmness that you prefer and then add the cheese for the final minute or two.

Scramble the Eggs
Sauté Vegetables
Adding the Cheese to the Scramble
The Poblano Pepper Scramble