One would think this would be an easy post to write. After all, it’s just a simple list of our favorite places. Well, therein lies the problem: a list of our favorites. Yet, this simple list has turned into a colossal undertaking; one with many words, resulting in anything but a simple list.
Another problem with this favorites list is the word, “favorite.” Hate is a strong word, but I think I can honestly say there’s one question I hate – and ironically, I still find myself asking the same question of others. That question? “What is your favorite…?”
Both Ken and I struggle with finding an answer to this question, especially when it comes to breweries. But even when it comes to trails, places to camp, cities, states, and well, pretty much everything. There’s so many fantastic breweries, breath-taking trails, and inspiring and jaw-dropping places, it’s difficult to choose favorites.
So in honor of today’s world of people with very limited attention span when it comes to the written word (myself included), a list is what you’ll get. A list with a link to a story if we have one published (if there’s not a story published, it might be forthcoming, so keep checking back), and a link to the place itself if we don’t. That way, the power for more or less words is in your control.
And in honor of my hatred for the word “favorite” this list will consist of places and events that stood out to us last year, most often because of the people that experienced it with us. Because in the end, the events and places we love are because of the people in that specific moment in time.
So, maybe instead of asking, “What’s your favorite?” it should be “What were your memorable moments?” Keeping in mind, memorable moments are fluid.
The Menu For All the Things
- Top 5 (or 6) Memorable Numbers
- Top 5 Memorable Stout Life Stories
- Top 5 Memorable Podcasts
- Top 5 Memorable Breweries
- Top 5 Memorable Mountain Biking Trails
- Top 5 Memorable Other Adventure Places
- Top 5 Memorable Camp Spots
- Top 5 Memorable Beer Events
- Looking Ahead to 2023
Top 5 (or 6) Memorable Numbers of 2022
- 160 breweries, taprooms, and more (this number never seems to decrease)
- 45 different places we stayed (campgrounds, driveways, airbnbs, RV parks, Harvest Hosts sites and more)
- 25 years of marriage (celebrated July 5, 2022)
- 3 months in Bigfork, Montana (coming back to a place we know), and 3 new states (all we have left is Alaska)
- 2 months renting a room in Salida (instead of staying in RAIF – Might there be a new home base for us soon?)
- 1 tire blowout and 1 injured shoulder(definitely not favorites)
Top 5 Memorable Stout Life Stories of 2022
- Nebraska Breweries: Drinking Our Way from CO to SD
- Snoqualmie Breweries: A Seattle Craft Beer Day Trip
- A Tour of Asheville’s Best Breweries
- The Secret to Brewery Hopping Without Getting Drunk
- Ultimate Guide to Overnight Camping at Ski Resorts and Where to Drink Beer Afterwards – Yes, this was also included in 2021, but it has since been updated and remains a favorite resource for adventures.
Top 5 Memorable Craft Beer Travel & Adventure Podcasts of 2022
- 467 Colorado Breweries, 97 Countries, 40 Days of Beer, 1 Guy! – a conversation with Paul Myhill, the Colorado Beer Guy
- Brain Tumor Pushes Full-Time Sailing Dream Aground – a conversation with Danielle and Conor from Sailing Pivo
- Gettin’ Punky with BrewDog’s Martin Dickie – a conversation with Martin Dickie from BrewDog
- Learn Why Good Beer Matters: A Passion & Purpose – a conversation with Jeremy Storton from Good Beer Matters
- Finding Wisdom and Experiences in a Craft Beer Journey – a conversation with Wayne and Laura from Burns Family Artisan Ales
Top 5 Memorable Breweries of 2022
- Barrel + Beam – Marquette, MI
- Blackrocks Brewery – Marquette, MI
- Peach Barn Farmhouse & Brewery – Sister Bay, WI
- Oskar Blues Brewery – Brevard, NC
- Green Bench Brewing Co – St. Petersburg, FL
Top 5 Favorite Standing Colorado Breweries
Home is Colorado, there’s no way in hell we can choose one brewery from Colorado; therefore, Colorado has its own category. You would think narrowing the choices down to one state would help…Nope! Also, these are our standing favorites. Anyone want to try and bump somebody out?
You’ve gotta lot of work to do in order to do so. And yes, we know the fifth spot on our list isn’t technically a brewery, but they are one of our return-to-again-and-again places, with a phenomenal beer list, and terrific people!
- Guanella Pass Brewery (Georgetown and Empire, CO) – These quaint little mountain towns, both just off of I-70 and close to the front range, not only have great beer, but their beertenders are the absolute best. We say it often, breweries are about the people, and Guanella Pass has some of the best people on this planet.
- Broken Compass Brewing (Breckenridge, CO) – Breckenridge, Colorado! Do I really have to say more? Fine! Using old ski lifts as chairs and views of the mountains, and with a coconut porter to die for, this place is home anytime we are in the mountains. Actually, we often make a trip to Breck, just for this brewery.
- Woods Boss Brewing Company (Denver, CO) – Can’t get to the mountains today? Hit up Woods Boss instead. Crafted after the beauty of the mountains, the ambiance will draw you in, and the 15 some taps with some of the best beers in Denver will keep you there for hours. Plus, Jordan, the owner, is an actual woods boss.
- Strange Craft Beer Company (Denver, CO) – Tim, owner, and OG in the Denver beer scene has created a unique space in the middle of an industrial neighborhood smack right next to I-25. While the neighborhood may not be inviting, the beer, the brewery, and the people, definitely are.
- Jake’s Brew Bar (Littleton, CO) – One of the best beer bars on the planet. From the moment you walk into this place on Main Street in suburban Littleton, you’ll feel home. It’s cozy taproom is stock full of pillows on the benches, plenty of chairs to cozy up to the bar with, and some of the best taps in the nation. With food trucks out back to accompany the backyard patio, complete with fire pit, this is a place that if you visit once, you’ll know you’ll be back again.
Top 5 Memorable Mountain Biking Areas of 2022
- Dupont and Pisgah Forest – Brevard, NC
- Bent Creek – Asheville, NC
- Marquette South Trails – Marquette, MI
- Whitefish Trails – Whitefish, MT
- Sweetwater Preserve – Tucson, AZ
Top 5 Memorable Adventurous Places (Besides MTB Trails) of 2022
- Voyageur Island Park in St. Mary’s River for SUP – Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
- Flathead Lake – Bigfork, MT for SUP and more!
- Lake Michigan in Manitowac and along Door County, MI for SUP and more
- Snowboarding at Monarch Mountain in Salida, Colorado
- Snowboarding at Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Montana
Top 5 Memorable Camp Spots of 2022
- Perkins Park & Campground – Big Bay, MI
- The many Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome sites – Door County, WI
- Davidson River Campground – Brevard, NC
- Salida, Colorado where we rented a room in a house for two months
- Flathead Lake Resort – Bigfork, MT
Top 5 Memorable Beer Events of 2022
- Camp Carpe Diem (CCD) The coolest adult camp ever, hosted by the coolest people ever – Us! Join us for CCD 2023!
- Beer Festivals – We hit up two of our favorites in 2022: Collab Fest in Denver and Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous in Salida.
- Collab Brew Days in Colorado – as beer media, we got to attend several brew days in preparation for Collab Fest in Denver.
- Collab Brew Day at Oskar Blues for CCD 2022 and our opening night party at Oskar Blues!
- BrewDog’s Annual General Mayhem (AGM) – a party for shareholders!
Looking Ahead to 2023
Now that we’ve looked back on 2022, it’s time to look ahead to 2023! At the end of 2022 (going into Jan 2023), we made the decision to sell our long-time family home in Denver, Colorado. Of course, there’s a bit of melancholy surrounding that, but in all honesty, it was time, and we are less tethered than ever to a physical structure!
Combine that with being on the road for five years this summer, it’s time to expand our travels. While we don’t have any plans of RVing in other countries, we do have plans of visiting them.
Starting first with Medellín, Columbia. Our tickets are booked. Our apartment is rented. Stay tuned for adventures, lessons, and much more from South America. Yes, it’s only a month, but it’s the beginning of so much more.
We’re back at it with Camp Carpe Diem 2023 (CCD), the coolest adult camp ever! This is our 3rd annual event and will be held in Kalispell, Montana, September 28 – October 1, 2023. If you’re an RVer or traveler and love meeting new friends on the road, this is the event of the year! We also focus on mountain biking, craft beer, photography, hiking, and more.
We’re heading to CBC (the Craft Brewers Conference) in Nashville in May. This is the largest conference in the industry, and thanks to Malteurop Malting Co (on of our clients) we get to go represent them and us, all while drinking some great beer, learning great shit, and meeting great people!
What will you all be doing in 2023?
A Few Words of Wisdom for 2023
“I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary.” (Anthony Bourdain)
And of course, this one, from Mr. Bourdain, himself, as well…
“Drink heavily with locals whenever possible.”
WANT MORE?
Previous Year’s Favorites
Check out our favorites from last year, as well as 2020, 2019 and 2018.
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Tips on how to find the best place to camp.
There’s so many places to stay overnight. Here’s our take on how to find some of the best places.
Tips on how to find the best breweries and biking trails.
With so many breweries to choose from, how do you choose? We’ve got some tips for you on that plus an entire map of breweries paired up close to mountain biking trails.