If you're ever in Colorado looking for a great backpacking trip, this is the one. Located in the Pike National Forest, the Lost Creek Wilderness was created by the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980. Its only about a two hour drive from Denver and Colorado Springs, and offers around 100 miles of hiking trails. On the right trail, it also offers incredible views of huge granite boulders stacked in ways that makes it look more like a Hollywood movie set than a wilderness area. I've wanted to see this area for awhile now, so last weekend I headed out for a quick backpacking trip.

My wife's family would fly across the street or to run errands if  they could, so most of our family vacations tend to involve air travel. However, I love a good road trip. So this year, I strongly suggested that we drive for our trip to Gull Lake in Minnesota. After some early, and repeated, attempts to sway me away from my idea, I managed to stay steadfast in my determination to drive. So last Saturday we loaded up the car and set out, determined to have our kids experience the Great American Road Trip.