My piece of Heaven is Estes Park, Colorado. So, what is so special about a small mountain town located at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park? Estes Park is one of those places that no matter where you go in the town, you feel like you belong. Whether it’s shopping downtown, eating at one of the many restaurants that the town has to offer, or enjoying time with family at a home away from home, Estes Park is a fantastic vacation destination! I have been traveling to Estes Park since I was only a year old. My family has used Estes Park as a home away from home because of the unique feel of the town and the beauty that surrounds it. Placed in a valley in the Rocky Mountains, this town is beyond beautiful and the people in the town are absolutely wonderful. So why do I consider Estes Park my piece of Heaven?

My piece of Heaven provides a unique experience each time I visit. Whether it’s enjoying a relaxing week or two with my family, going on hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Park, or spotting wildlife roaming around, you never know what to expect when you arrive. Throughout the course of a year, nature changes, so you are never guaranteed the same experience when hiking or sightseeing. I love that I can visit the same location and still see new things every time I go.

My piece of Heaven allows me to take in the beauty of my surroundings everywhere I look. Let’s face it, I’m from Iowa and am really only used to seeing flat land with cornfields everywhere I look, not saying that cornfields aren’t beautiful, but there is something about seeing a 13,000-foot mountain standing right in front of you that can take your breath away. I can never get over the cascading waterfalls, the snowcapped mountains, and the wildflowers blooming all over the hill sides. Every time I turn, I find something else to enjoy, and I can’t help but be blown away by this beautiful place.

My piece of Heaven makes me feel empowered. As I’ve visited Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park, I have done countless hikes and been in awe countless times of the beauty of our earth. As I begin a hike and get to the top of a mountain or near the mouth of a lake, I feel empowered and overcome with strength because of the feat that I just did. The amount of times that I reach the top of my destination and just stand in awe makes me realize how wonderful these mountains are.

And My piece of Heaven brings me closer to my family. Every time that we go to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains, my family spends a ton of quality time together. We laugh and we argue, but through these experiences, we have created so many unique memories. Whether it was falling into a frozen lake or losing a golf ball in a pond, the memories created in this picturesque and tourist town have been memories that I will never forget.

So, Estes Park, thank you for being my piece of Heaven and for providing me with a vacation home that I know will never get old.