Feature

Although COVID-19 has put a stop to most traveling abroad, luckily, got to experience the beauty of Europe before this crisis. So keep in mind many of the experiences may not be available. Please check with local and state health protocols before planning to travel to this destination.

I grew up all around northern Colorado. This Colorado girl loves to experience new places and things, but my opportunity to do so has been limited because I have always been so busy with school, and sports. When my college soccer team had the opportunity to go to Europe in 2019, I simply could not pass it up. Unfortunately, right before we left… to play soccer… in Europe… I broke my tibia plateau. I questioned if I should even go considering I would be on crutches, and Europe is a lot of walking. But, I knew if I did not go I would regret it.

Europe was an important trip for me. I had committed to play soccer at the University of Colorado my freshman year of high school. This was a big decision, and I may not have realized it at the time. I struggled just to get up most mornings and get what I needed to get done, done. I went from being Colorado state player of the year, to somebody that was not seen as a person. It made me hate soccer, and honestly, I never wanted to play again. This trip took me away from all of that for a little bit.  We played some while we were over there, and even though I could not play it made me realize that I wanted to love soccer again. The people who played over there enjoyed it and had such a passion for it that I used to have. This was the first time I realized I wanted to transfer and find a different program that fit me better. It helped me realize that the game of soccer is supposed to be fun and not a job that I hate. The trip helped me to enjoy the people near me, and the beautiful places around me. Even though the Europe trip was hard for me because of the crutches, it is a trip I will never forget and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Sitting in my room in Windsor, Colorado, I had always imagined Paris as the romantic, city of light, the city of love. Upon arriving, I realized that Paris is like most cities. It is dirty and has a harsh smell. Of course, it is rich in history and has beautiful parts, but mostly, it is home to people in business suits, traffic, and the homeless. We experienced the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, and also went to many other historic places. The Eiffel Tower was certainly beautiful at night, but during the day it was all gated up around the bottom. It was also hard to enjoy it because so many people were coming up to you and asking you to buy things. The Mona Lisa was one of my favorite parts. Not only just that painting itself, but the Louvre Museum was fascinating. There was always something beautiful to look at. Most of the trip was a challenge for me on crutches, but when it came to the Mona Lisa, I got to use the handicap line which put me right next to the painting, and I got a perfect picture with it. This put me right next to the Mona Lisa, and I got a perfect picture with it. Another part of the museum was the food court. Now, this may not seem this exciting but most of the museums we went to did not have anything to eat or drink. Not only did they actually have a food court, but it was also so delicious. I had a hamburger and fries and it surprisingly tasted amazing. It almost gives you a small feeling of America.

Another fantastic place was the Palace of Versailles. The inside had so many details it was hard to pick which one to look at. There was also so much interesting history to learn. They gave us a small earpiece so they were able to explain each room in detail, and we could hear them loud and clear. There were so many rooms, and some of them even had secret doorways to different parts of the palace. This was such an educational part of my trip, and I highly recommend it. The outside was a lot like the inside. There were so many details in the greenery, and the different pathways to walk around the outside. The grass was laid out in a swirl motion throughout the whole outside, and then there was a beautiful fountain in the middle of it. There was also a bigger lake you could walk to that was further away.

The following day we went and saw all of the shops in Paris including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Supreme. Unfortunately, we did not get to go into Gucci or Louis Vuitton because there was at least an hour wait to get into each of these. We also went to the Norte Dame. Unfortunately, this was right after the fire that destroyed a large section of the roof, so we could not go in. However, it was still one of the most beautiful buildings.

We scootered around Paris for the most part, and that was probably one of my favorite parts. Traffic is so different there compared to Colorado, I would compare it to New York. So, while scootering you were able to weave in and out of traffic and scooter in the road instead of on the side walk. There were times it got a little scary because we were so close to so many cars and big trucks. We also were there during the World Cup, so we went to a game at the Stade de la Mosson. This stadium was absolutely gorgeous, and was easy to get to. This game was also a good time because the United States was playing, which made it feel a little bit like being home. I also got to watch my team play three games. It was life changing to see my teammates, and the other team having so much fun playing the game we all love. We also went to Montpellier and stayed in a hotel right on the beach. Montpellier is beautiful and walking the streets there was like a dream. The beach was had the softest sand, and the water was so clear. We sat out here for hours and played games and had drinks. The little beach town we stayed at had cute shops and restaurants that were delicious. They also had stands everywhere for ice cream and churros. All of the buildings were a cream color, and they all matched in a sense. We ate at an Italian restaurant, and watched one of the World Cup games.

This shows the beautiful greenery at the Palace of Versailles
This photo is taken outside of the Palace of Versailles. This is the greenery and you can see the swirly motions that I mentioned above.
This is me standing with the Mona Lisa.
This is me with the Mona Lisa. You can see the great detail it has.
This is the Eiffel Tower at night.
The Eiffel Tower is beautiful at night. It has so many lights, and will sometimes even blink. You could see it from miles away.
This is the inside of the Palace of Versailles
This shows the great detail of the Palace of Versailles. This was just one of the rooms, but there were so many that had the same amount of detail.

For those of you wanting to travel to Europe, here are some tips that I wanted to share. First, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get a passport. Second, an adaptor for plug ins is also a must for traveling to Europe. Third, bring a water bottle, preferably one that collapses so it is easy to carry around. Fourth, bring comfortable shoes because you do a great amount of walking. Fifth, bring a portable charger is also a great thing to have. This will allow you to have your phone charged at all times. A cross body bag is an item you want to insure safety. This makes it harder for your personal items to be stollen right off of you. Sixth, and the biggest suggestion I have is to exchange American money for European euros before leaving. It is a lot easier to exchange them before you leave compared to when you get there.

Overall, this trip was life changing for me. I got to experience so many different places, and I found my love for soccer and life again here. I may forget the places, but I will never forget the eye-opening experiences I had to find my love for soccer and life again.

How To

When preparing for a trip out of the country it is important to know what to pack. It is essential you remember items such as an adaptor for the plug ins, and your passport. These items are you key items but, what else should you plan to bring along with you?

Passport: 

A passport is something that is common knowledge for traveling out of the country. But, keep in mind that passports take awhile to arrive. You want to plan ahead and make sure you order your passport with plenty of time for it to come to you before you leave for your trip.

Adaptor for plug ins: 

The plug ins in Europe are a lot different than the ones in America. They are essential for charging your phone, straighteners, curling irons or blow dryers for your hair, or for anything you may need to charge. It is also important to keep in mind that that you need a dual voltage (110v, 220v). The adaptors will not convert the voltage. The best part about having to purchase these is they are usually very easy to find. They can be found at Best Buy or even easier Amazon. I have added a link in the title “Adaptor for plug ins”. This adapter is great because it has multiple ports for American plug ins and also USB.

Water bottle: 

I know this seems like a dumb item to bring, but it comes in extremely handy. Water abroad can be very expensive especially while going through a museum or going on certain excursions. Having a water bottle handy is going to save you from purchasing expensive water. It also is helpful to have when you are in a location that is not providing water to their guests. Remember that Europe is a lot of walking so you want to be prepared to have water with you at all times. Although it is crucial to bring a water bottle along, it can be a drag to carry around a heavy water bottle. I would suggest bringing a collapsible water bottle. I have linked a cheap collapsible water bottle in the title “Water bottle”.

Comfortable shoes: 

As I said before, you do a lot of walking in Europe. It is extremely smart to remember that while packing. You need to take comfortable shoes that are good for walking long distances. This will save your feet in the long run, and not make your trip miserable.

Portable charger:

Having a portable charger handy is something I would consider a must. With being in a foreign country and not knowing where anything is you use your phone a lot. Not only for being able to find certain places, but also for something as simple as taking pictures. This is also essential just in case there is an emergency, such as getting lost, ordering an Uber, or simply just finding your friends.

Cross body bag: 

A cross body bag is always a great item to have abroad. Some of us love carrying a bag to keep everything we think we may need handy. But, it is a commonly known fact in Europe that bags are often cut off of people and stolen. This is why the cross body part is so important. This makes it a lot harder for something to sneak up behind you and cut it off of your body. I have linked a cute and affordable cross body bag in the title “Cross body bag”.

Exchanging American money for European euro: 

Exchanging your American money for euros is something I recommend doing before you leave. I had a very difficult time doing it in Europe, and ended up having to just use other peoples euros the whole time and give them American money. There do not seem to be many places to this, so it would be smart to do this before going on your trip.

 

 

 

Informative

Mexico is one of the best vacation on can take. Benito Juárez, which is one of the largest residential areas in Mexico City is a fantastic place to stay. There are many resorts that all of the rooms are in walking distance from the beach, the pool, the restaurants, the clubs and  the work out center. This makes it easy to spend a lot of time at the pool and the beach. But, there is always excursions close by that are well worth the time spent away from the resort. I stayed at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera, which is a great option.

One excursion that is fun is snorkeling. The boat rides are beautiful. While we were there we took a snorkeling excursion. You start off by getting on the boat, and are surrounded by gorgeous blue water  that feels like it goes on forever. You boat around for awhile until finding an open spot where then they let you swim and  jump off the boat. They also bring paddle boards along with you so that is an option as well. After swimming and paddle boarding for about 30 minutes they have you get back onto the boat to find a good place to snorkel. This is one of the best parts of the whole trip. You see so many cute little fish, and then also got to see some turtles which are one of my favorite animals. The water was so clear that you could see everything. The beautiful corals, the fish and all of the beautiful features of the ocean. As you are on the way back to the drop off location they gave us food, and many yummy drinks. They give you a platter of four different foods, which were fruit, chips and guacamole, a salad and chicken.

This picture is of the boat and then also the blue water for as far as you can see.
This picture is of the boat and then also the blue water for as far as you can see.
This picture is of me doing a backflip off of the boat. You can also see in this image the blue water and some other people who were in the water.
This picture is of me doing a backflip off of the boat.
This picture is of us paddle boarding. You can see the blue water again and also another boat in the background.
This picture is of us paddle boarding.

When going to Mexico one of the excursions I highly recommend is going zip lining. There is a location called Xei Ha Hidden Wonder. There are spots to take pictures with beautiful parrots, float down a river, zip line, go hiking and swimming in these magnificent caves, go cliff jumping and go down water slides. One of the best parts of this excursion is the caves. There were so many of them and each one of them had its own original look to it. The zip lining is extremely fun, and a great time for all ages. It was surrounded by beautiful trees, and the water was so clear underneath you.

This is a picture of one of the caves. You can see how beautiful the colors are and how each of the rocks almost have their own personality.
This is a picture of one of the caves. You can see how beautiful the colors are and how each of the rocks almost have their own personality.
In this picture we are cliff jumping. Each of the spots that had cliff jumping had these fun rocks to jump off of.
In this picture we are cliff jumping. Each of the spots that had cliff jumping had these fun rocks to jump off of.
This is a picture of me and the parrots. They had the most beautiful colors and were so friendly.
This is a picture of me and the parrots. They had the most beautiful colors and were so friendly.
This is a picture of me zip lining. You can see how clear the water is underneath me and how green everything is around me.
This is a picture of me zip lining. You can see how clear the water is underneath me and how green everything is around me.

Overall, Mexico was one of the most beautiful and fun places to visit. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for a fun and relaxing vacation to go here. There are so many different options for places to stay, excursions to go on and the best part is it is all up to you. If someone wants to sit and relax by the pool or beach all day they can do that, or if somebody wants to go on adventures and see so many beautiful places and things they can do that as well.

Personal

Being abroad had its ups and downs for me. I am not somebody who loves to be away from home for an extended period of time. But, I also enjoyed seeing new cultures and experiencing a different lifestyle. I have a love hate relationship with traveling. For shorter trips, I love them. But for trips that are longer than a week I am not always a big fan of them. Although my trip to Europe was a long and tiring trip, I really enjoyed learning about a different culture. I would not say this trip changed me, but it helped me grow in ways I didn’t know I needed to grow.

This is me with the Mona Lisa.
This is me with the Mona Lisa.

Experiencing the Louvre Museum was my favorite part. There was so much to look at and learn from within this magical place. There was artwork everywhere, and so many items that were simply priceless.

This is me outside of the Louvre Museum
This is me outside of the Louvre Museum.

Another part of the Louvre Museum was the walk way up to the museum. As you can see in the picture the greenery and all of the statues were so elegantly designed. There are few places in America that have this much detail into one place. It was like everything you saw had a story of its own.

This is the Eiffel Tower at night.
This is the Eiffel Tower at night.

Another place that shocked me was the Eiffel tower surroundings. The Eiffel tower itself is not what shocked me, yes it was beautiful and all, but it was what went on around it. There were tons of people around the Eiffel tower trying to make a living. I never knew that there were so many people selling little toys everywhere you looked. When I had heard about the Eiffel tower everyone said it is the most romantic place and everywhere you look is beautiful. This is not what I experienced. What I experienced was horrible smells, so many people trying to stop you constantly and gates blocking off some of the Eiffel tower. This changed my perspective as a whole for the stories of the Eiffel tower.

This was inside the Gardens of Versailles.
This was inside the Palace of Versailles.

The Palace of Versailles was the last part of Europe that was so inspirational to me. It is rare you find anything in America that has kept such a historic building with so many incredible details. The amount of information I learned just from this tour was mind blowing. The blood, sweat and tears that was put into making one place was astonishing. The Palace of Versailles taught me the importance of little details. There were a lot of rooms or places where they could have gotten by without adding a certain detail, but if they would have left those details out the history of it would have never gotten told.

Multimedia

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WLYCciLm1NLC4jH9jJaUEMCsLv3MDOZHQ5thRCr0wb4/edit?usp=sharing

This presentation shows my trip to Gering, Nebraska. I really enjoyed this trip and reminiscing while making this slide show. I really hope you all enjoy it!

Travelogue

In 2016, I spent two weeks in Europe with my club soccer team, traveling to many different countries, and experiencing different cultures and people, as well as the different ways of playing the game I love. I got another opportunity to do the same thing three years later in 2019.

In 2016 I went to Europe with my club team and got to visit many different cities and countries. My favorite city was Budapest because of all of the amazing views. The people were challenging there. The women did not like us and would make sure we knew that. They are not fond of American women we quickly learned. Now the men, were about the exact opposite. They were constantly trying to touch us (sometimes inappropriately). Besides the people, Budapest was educational, beautiful and simply eye opening to a whole other life style. Our hotel was right on the water, and you could see a magnificent castle right across the water. We were also fortunate enough to have many different adventures. My favorite adventure was having dinner on a beautiful boat. Budapest has a river that runs through it named Danube River, and it is surrounded by new and old buildings. The views were breathe taking. They served us with a drink as soon as we stepped food on the boat. They served us a buffet that had all types of noodles, sauces, and different kinds of meats including meatballs, chicken, and some sort of ground beef. Another one of my favorite places from this trip was Vienna. We stayed in a very old castle that had been transformed into a beautiful hotel. We also got to go into the town and see all of the beautiful white buildings. We also went on a 23 mile bike ride that led us to another castle. The bike ride was not easy by any means, but the views around were worth it. We stopped at multiple different points to simply look at all of the greenery around us. There were mostly just plants and a lot of different kinds of boulders because of us being on a path for the most part. Playing soccer in a different country is very different than playing soccer in America. Soccer is a way of life in Europe and is taken very seriously. But on the other side of it, they love to have fun while playing it. Before most games, we were offered shots and at half time and a beer after the game. The way they take care of their pitch was overwhelming. The grass was perfectly cut and was very green. We also went to Prague, which in ways like Budapest to me. We went on Segways to tour Prague, and that was the best part of the whole trip. We got to see all of the simple and beautiful places in Prague.

 

In the photo it shows the Danube River right off of an magnificent castle in Budapest.
In the photo it shows the Danube River right off of an magnificent castle in Budapest, 2016.
In the photo it shows the Danube River right off of an magnificent castle in Budapest. This was right outside of our hotel.
In the photo it shows the Danube River right off of an magnificent castle in Budapest. This was right outside of our hotel, 2016.
This is me holding a wine class while on a boat ride on the Danube river. This photo also shows the castle up close that I talked about on the last image.
This is me holding a wine class while on a boat ride on the Danube river. This photo also shows the castle up close that I talked about on the last image, 2016.

 

This is a photo of me in the boat on the Danube River.
This is a photo of me in the boat on the Danube River, 2016.
This photo shows an old castle that we stayed in while in Vienna. It has beautiful green landscaping in the front.
This photo shows an old castle that we stayed in while in Vienna. It has beautiful green landscaping in the front, 2016.
This photo was taken in Vienna and shows a beautiful white building. It has people in the photo as well as a taxi car.
This photo was taken in Vienna and shows a beautiful white building. It has people in the photo as well as a taxi car, 2016.
This photo shows the castle we biked 23 miles to in Vienna. It had beautiful detailing along the entrance and was a dark yellow color.
This photo shows the castle we biked 23 miles to in Vienna. It had beautiful detailing along the entrance and was a dark yellow color, 2016.
This photo shows one of the fields we played on while abroad. It has a very bright green field with a beautiful blue sky in the background.
This photo shows one of the fields we played on while abroad. It has a very bright green field with a beautiful blue sky in the background, 2016.

 

Three years later, in 2019, I went to Europe it was with my college soccer team. This time was a little bit different for me because I had just fractured my tibia plateau, so I was on crutches for this trip.We went to France. Paris had beautiful parts to it, but overall I was not the biggest fan of it. It was very dirty besides the museums, and it constantly had a harsh smell. We went to the Eiffel Tower, saw the Mona Lisa, and also went to other historic places. We went and saw all of the shops in Paris including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Supreme. We also went to the Norte-Dame  right after the fire, so we could not go in it but we were still able to see the outside of it. We scootered around Paris for the most part, and that was probably one of my favorite parts. Traffic is so different there compared to Colorado, I would compare it to New York. So, while scootering you were able to weave in and out of traffic and scooter in the road instead of on the side walk. We went to the Palace of Versailles, which had the most beautiful pieces of art work, and had extraordinary attention to detail. They gave us a small ear piece, so that our tour guide would be able to explain every room and place we went to. We also were there during the World Cup, so we went to a game at the Stade de la Mosson. This game was so fun to go to because the United States was playing. We also went to Montpellier and stayed in a hotel right on the beach. Montpellier is beautiful and walking the streets there was like a dream.

This photo shows me in Paris the day I was allowed to switch to one crutch instead of two.
This photo shows me in Paris the day I was allowed to switch to one crutch instead of two, 2019.
This photo is of the Eiffel tower at night.
This photo is of the Eiffel tower at night, 2019.

 

This photo shows me with the Mona Lisa. This is the only time being on crutches was nice, because they had a handicap line, and they told me to go in it so I got to be super close to it. 
This photo shows me with the Mona Lisa. This is the only time being on crutches was nice, because they had a handicap line, and they told me to go in it so I got to be super close to it, 2019.

 

This photo shows skateboards in the Supreme store in Paris.
This photo shows skateboards in the Supreme store in Paris, 2019.
This photo shows the Notre Damn, and it is being rebuilt after the fire happened in 2019. 
This photo shows the Notre Damn, and it is being rebuilt after the fire happened in 2019, 2019.
This photo shows me and my friend scootering around Paris.
This photo shows me and my friend scootering around Paris, 2019.
This is a photo of inside the Palace of Versailles. The detail was amazing in here, everywhere you looked there was small details. 
This is a photo of inside the Palace of Versailles. The detail was amazing in here, everywhere you looked there was small details, 2019.
This was the garden behind the Palace of Versailles.  The greenery was  breath taking and the design of each piece of nature was so satisfying. 
This was the garden behind the Palace of Versailles.  The greenery was  breath taking and the design of each piece of nature was so satisfying, 2019.
This is me and one of my friends on the beach in Montpellier. 
This is me and one of my friends on the beach in Montpellier, 2019.

 

This is me and one of my friends in the streets on Montpellier. 
This is me and one of my friends in the streets on Montpellier, 2019.

 

Although both of these trips were life changing, my second trip was my favorite. Even though I was on crutches I still think I got to experience more and see more things that we hear so much about. It was also more recent so that also could have something to do with it. I remember so much more from my second trip than my first.

Listicle

Although there are hundreds of places to hike in Colorado, I wanted to give 5 of my favorite hiking spots. I am always looking for a fun and different way to work out and going on a hike can be a good way to stay in shape. My hiking experience for each of these hikes was fantastic and I would do them again. I was able to get a quality long distance work out in, but also was able to relax and enjoy the nature around me. Each of these hikes have breathe taking views, and a fantastic cardio work out. Rather you are in Colorado for a few days or are a resident, all of these hikes are worth a try! Many of these hikes are doable in the winter, but I would suggest summer and fall are the best times or be prepared for extremely cold weather. Also each trail name is hyperlinked to a google map of the destination.

  1. Hanging Lake Hike

Hanging Lake

This picture is from the Colorado. com website (https://www.colorado.com/articles/hiking-hanging-lake-colorado). The photo shows the clear water, magnificent water falls  and  the nature around Hanging Lake. 

Hanging Lake is a well-known hiking trial in Colorado. The hike is 2.4 miles round trip, and is about 2 hours and 45 minutes from Denver. The hiking difficulty is moderate, which means it is not impossible to do, but it will be a good challenge for most people. The hike ends at two beautiful waterfalls and a lake. Parking can sometimes be a struggle here because it is one of the most popular hikes in Colorado.

2. Sky Pond Hike Photos of Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail - Colorado | AllTrails

This photo is from  alltrails.com (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/sky-pond-via-glacier-gorge-trail). The photo shows the snow still on the mountains over a blue and green pond.  It shows the bright blue sky and clouds hanging over Sky Pond. 

Although I have not been on this hike in a couple years, it is one that has been stuck in my memory. This hike is an all day activity (at least it was for me). Sky Pond is an 8.5 mile hike and it can be very difficult at times. It starts off fairly easy, but as you get to the end you will notice many flights of stairs and also a small rock climbing part. It is important to wear the correct shoes on this hike due to the rock climbing at the end. Once you arrive at Sky Pond the difficult hike soon becomes worth it. The views are breathe taking, and the pond itself is surrounded by huge mountains that usually still have beautiful crystal white snow on them. Another important part of going to Sky Pond is you have to make sure you arrive early enough for parking. Parking can be limited here, and can get very busy at times.

3. Flatirons Hike in Boulder

This photo is from bouldercoloradousa. com (https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/things-to-do/insider-guides/flatirons/). The photo shows the green nature all around and in the Flatirons. It also shows the bright blue sky and some people  on the hike. 

The Flatirons Hike in Boulder is a moderate level hike and is 2.6 miles round trip. This hike is another very popular hike in Colorado. There are many locals who go on this hike regularly, and even some who travel to hike it often. You start off by going through a green meadow and then go through the first and second Flatirons. When you reach the top there are beautiful views of the front range of the Colorado Rockies. This hike is right across the street from a neighborhood so even though parking is limited there is a neighborhood that some can park in if they choose to do so.

4. Crystal Mill

This photo was taken by Josh Rose and used on roadtrippers.com (https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/crystal-mill-colorado-perfect-picture/). The photo shows the mill which is an older and rustic wood built building. It also shows the water that runs down the side of the mill to a smaller pond. The photo grasps the beautiful views by showing the bright green nature around the mill, while also showing the mountains in the background. 

Crystal Mill Hike is not for one that is not up for a challenge. The hike is 9 miles in length, and can take 5 hours to complete. It is difficult right from the start of the hike, so it will give you an inside of what it will be like the rest of the way. Although the hike is rather difficult, the end is worth it. The beautiful rustic mill and the small pond surrounding it is the end result of the hike. It is important to space out enough time for swimming, or having a snack at the Mill when you arrive. The fall is a great time to do this hike because of how beautiful all of the leaves are during it. The only downfall to this hike is the trail is also big enough for cars and ATV’s, which means there can be a lot of dust kicked up at you.

5. Horsetooth Falls Loop

Image

This photo was taken by Cassandra Lois and was put on alltrails.com (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/horsetooth-falls-loop-trail/photos).  The photo shows rocks on the side that are built up. It also shows the trail that one would be taking on this hike. The photo also shows the nature around the path that is green trees and shrubs. 

Horsetooth Falls Loop is another well-known hike in Colorado. The hike is 2.9 miles round trip and is a moderately ranked hike. You will make a complete loop around, so you will not go down the same way you came up. Horsetooth Falls is currently dried up due to the lake of rain, but other than that this hike is beautiful. This hike is kid friendly, and a good hike to do with the whole family. Parking at Horsetooth has never been a problem for me. I have always found more than one parking lot even if it is a bit farther away.

Review

Pasta Jay’s 

1001 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302

★★★★★ 9/22/2020

The first thing I noticed when I walked into Pasta Jay’s was the beautiful decor to set the mood for an Italian food themed meal. They have beautiful art and so many small details that are very noticeable. They have an abundance of dishes from something healthier to something that can really fulfill your taste buds. The menu is large and has a ton of choices. Many people at my table got the simple dish of spaghetti, which they loved. They also have the option to add meatballs, chicken, or another meat of your choice. The menu is interesting because it shows you the sauce options and then they let you decide which noodles you want.  The problem for a lot of people going to an Italian food restaurant is being gluten free, but luckily Pasta Jay’s offers a gluten free menu. I enjoyed the shrimp giacamo  and I would most definitely get it again. The noodles were cooked perfectly, and the shrimp were perfect bite size. Everybody that works there were kind and helpful. They constantly check in on you and make sure everything is exactly how you like it. They served with a smile, and made me feel very welcome. Pasta Jay’s can be extremely busy, so it is always best to get a reservation. Parking on Pearl Street is never very easy, but there is parking to the left side of the restaurant and also in front of the restaurant. But, I would keep in mind that parking here can sometimes take time, so take that into consideration when making your reservation. I would highly recommend going to Pasta Jay’s if you are in Boulder looking for a yummy Italian food restaurant.