Houston's great in the summer, if you have access to a pool for the parties on the weekends and sometimes weeknights, but it's not always enough, because sometimes you just need to get out of town.

Harley (my pup) and I headed out of town this past week to enjoy the great outdoors in the amazing state of Colorado. The scenery was worth the adventure and the clean air worth the mileage I put on my car....which by the way, I get up to 30 mpg on the road. Yeah! Volkswagen!

My Broadway-bound performance in the car of Les Miserables, and a whole slew of popular Disney songs, didn't seem to bother Harley much, considering that no accompanied howling was coming from the back seat.

We made it all the way to Santa Rosa, NM on the first day of driving, and when I stepped out of the car after 11.5 hours of straight driving, the smell of evergreen filled my lungs and cleared my head of the Houston heat.  I was immediately refreshed and rejuvenated, just by the incredible fragrance of nature. The amazing electric storms in the distance only added to my experience.

The intention of this trip was to get in some excellent hiking and spend time with my family, but it turned out to be much more than that.  I arrived at my father's house nestled in the mountains of the San Juan National Forest around 1:30 p.m. on Monday and not long afterwards, my sister Charla stopped by to pick me up for another bit of a ride to Durango, where Lyle Lovett was performing on the football field at Ft. Lewis College. As is his style, his stories were very entertaining, We also enjoyed listening to Bluegrass performer John Morris from Dove Creek, Colorado. He left a very calm but pleased audience in his wake.  Later that afternoon we checked into our hotel and headed for the hot spots along Main Street.  We struck gold by entering the Diamond Belle Saloon at the Historic Strater Hotel www.strater.com, decorated in the old Victorian style complete with wood railings, ornate tapestries, fabrics, and red leather covered furniture. To our enjoyment, the guests at the bar this evening, were telling some 'not so famous ghost stories associated with the hotel.  The bartender made a wonderful lemon drop martini which was a perfect night cap to end our evening.

The next morning we drove back to Main Street to stop for coffee (there are plenty options) and did some shopping at a fabulous shop called Eureka, which carried a varied selection of casual and semi formal attire in addition to some great looking cowboy boots and beautiful accessories (things that people will actually wear)... and very feminine looks to "boot."  Denise, who owns the shop, says she doesn't have time for a website or emails, but everyone is invited to stop in when in town.  I found some great pieces on sale!

I recommend the Durango Diner www.durangodiner.com for breakfast. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the classic and very pleasant and welcoming atmosphere created by not only the look of the diner, but also the friendliness of the servers.  Even the chef proved to be socially exceptional when coming directly to us from the grill, to plop down another serving of bacon on my sister's plate, directly from the spatula he was cooking it with, and then said, "No, thank you very much" to my sister's simple "thank you".

Back in Pagosa Springs we took a 3 mile hike on the dirt roads surrounding the property in the Loma Linda development and rested up before heading out to the Music in the Mountains festival at BootJack Ranch. www.musicinthemountains.com The festival features world renowned musicians from early July through the first of August.  The setting is hard to describe in words.  They set up a large white tent next to a small lake beneath the mountainside.  The temperature was around 60 degrees, with a wind blowing in from the North, being followed by a short rainstorm, which only highlighted the performance of the brother and sister duo, performing Sonata No. 3 in C minor (Op.45).

On Wednesday we took a leisurely walk with the dogs down to the river, and later Harley and I took another three mile hike up for a bit of exercise and bird watching.   We even crossed paths with a few deer along the way. It was fun to watch Harley try to figure out whether or not to chase the deer and the horses; regardless, the chipmunks and chirping groundhogs were all his.

A few other things you must check out are the Hot Springs, for which there are two options.  The first choice is outdoors, www.pagosahotsprings.com with many pools set at different temperatures.  The air is crisp and chilly in the evenings, which makes the hot water even better for a little rest and relaxation.  Another option is The Outlook, which is across the way.  The Outlook has three indoor pools and two on the roof. The difference is the price and the atmosphere.   You'll just have to decide if you want an entertaining atmosphere out in the cold, or if you would rather have a peaceful quieter experience. If you travel with your children the outdoor Hot Springs is the place to go, not The Outlook.

Our own Farrago in midtown Houston even has a couple of hotspots under the same name in Pagosa Springs, www.farragomarketcafe.com.  One is a brewery, the other a deli.  I tried the Moroccan Chicken Salad and was very impressed... and I was seriously hungry after all this activity.

Things to consider when taking a road trip--
Make sure to have your car checked out. Check your fluids, tires, and gas level; bring a jug full of water, have plenty of healthy snacks in the car to keep you out of the drive-through, and bring plenty of good music to sing to that won't put you to sleep.

Traveling to Colorado with a pet is easy, but not every town you wish to visit will be so accommodating.  For instance, I found that all the La Quintas have rooms for pets and they are clean.  I strongly recommend looking for some dog kennels or boarders in the stopover towns before heading out. It's also a good idea to ask around for referrals in the town where you'll be staying.  If you want some customized services for your stay or a rental home, please contact Charla at www.pagosaaccomodations.com.  She will be happy to assist you for your stay and make any recommendations you require.

Best of luck to you and as always, I wish you healthy life adventures.