A few months ago, my mom won tickets for the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Apparently, she was watching a Colorado morning show on TV when a contest was announced, she called in and answered a trivia question correctly. Bam! Free tickets for the Georgetown Loop. Well, shoot.

Free tickets? Extras, you say? We agreed to go with them.

So, here's the thing. You think this post is full of photos? There are a HUNDRED photos from our adventure in Georgetown here at my Flickr account. But for the sake of my blog, its readers {hi Mom}, and the loading time, I'll just post a fraction of them. You're welcome. Unless you want to see more, then by all means: click here yo.

Like this photo, here's me and Dad, looking smart. {Thanks for carrying our diaper bag, Dad.}

My Violet Child. My mother and I are very entertaining, that's true worried constantly about Violet falling out the open window of the train. So alike, her and I.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a historic railroad loop that served the mining towns, and it still travels from Georgetown to Silver Plume and back again each day. Several times each day, actually. You can ride in open top cars or open air cars. There is also a dining car.

They have different types of engines that change with their schedule. We were on the steam engine, which I'm glad for since apparently the diesel is stinky.
It was, if nothing else, a great day for fall photos. Wow, my mother and I look alike, don't we? Check out our little photo bomber in his bomber hat. I finished crocheting that hat while we were driving up to Georgetown--kid. you. not.

The girls adored their train ride. In fact, two weeks later, they are STILL talking about the train with anyone who will listen to them.
The best part? The end of September meant that the aspens were turning in the mountains. This is Colorado. My love, my home. It was cool fresh mountain air with gorgeous views, all the way up, and all the way back down to Georgetown.

If you have little ones, but would like to take a mountain train ride with your family, the Georgetown Loop has to be your best choice. It's a short enough train ride for the kids, but long and beautiful enough to make it worth it.
This guy liked cuddling with his grandma on the way up...
Do dress warmly, if you go any time other than summer.

{Doesn't it look like my mom is about to whack my dad in the face here?}

We explored Georgetown a bit. This is one of my favorite mountain towns. I like that it's not too touristy like Breck and such. It's got tons of character {the old homes here are absolutely incredible}, and it's got such history. It's cradled in a valley between steep mountains, and you can take I-70 or Guanella Pass to access/leave.

I stopped at this "antique store" in Georgetown, bought a fake piece of jadite {they didn't try and fool me, admitted it was from China, which was admirable} and got a history lesson on the brothels of Georgetown during the days when it was a booming mining town. Nice!
Georgetown is unlike other mountain towns, unadulterated in a way. It's not all touristy and fixed up to be something that pleases the masses. Georgetown is still very much a quirky little mountain town, from it's old railroad to it's grocery store:
We asked around and were pointed down the road for dinner. Glad we asked, this pizza joint, the Alpine Restaurant & Bar, was really good. The Broncos game was on, we ordered Mexican pizza and beers, they had crayons, and trains on display for the kids. We were all satisfied.

See? Satisfied people right here. It was a good day.

I'm not kidding... {I might have also brought homemade whoopie pies with me, complete with marshmallow cream filling, to please the masses during our Georgetown excursion. Note to self: always.bring.whoopie.pies! Just look at the love!}

With our train ride complete and our bellies full of pizza & beer {& whoopie pies}; the only thing left to do in Georgetown was to head to their elaborate playground. This little mountain town has the most incredible playground ever. It's modeled after our wild, wild west culture.

Totally pulling your leg about that Wild Bill Hickcock/tire swing thing. Fun fact: my great-grandpa was Wild Bill's deputy. Kid you not.

While the kids played, I wandered up the road to take photos of houses. I'm feeling "the call" again, folks. I mean, the call to paint another painting and I needed a muse.

Georgetown is full of them. Painted ladies, mini-Victorian mansions. There are some famous homes here, all nestled up in the Rockies. I'm proud to call this gorgeous state, with all its secrets to explore--from the sand dunes and cliff dwellings to the prairies and the frosted mountain tops--my home.

Georgetown is just one little piece of Colorado. Definitely worth visiting.

Aspens! Don't be jealous. Move to Colorado. Wait...don't. We're full. Ahem...

Cheers,
Heather

P.S. Thanks for being so smart and winning us free tickets, Mom! Love you.