Colorado Vacation: Day 5.

Today we packed up the hotel room, kids took a dip in the hotel pool one last time, and we checked out. Took a quick lunch break with Darin at WAHOO'S!! Then the kids and I had a few hours until Darin was done for the day. We headed for the Hammond's candy factory. They are well known for most of the candy canes we all buy at Christmas time, the ribbon candy, and those round tins of multicolored holiday hard candy. They specialize in large candy canes that they put labels on for all different companies. They also make all those fun, huge swirly-colored lollipops.

We watched a movie about the company and took a tour. Every candy they make is pretty much corn syrup, sugar and water, plus a little color and flavor.

This is a very different factory and tour than the one we are used to in Salt lake at Sweet's Candy Company. They are way laid back here. They take up to 45 people in a group, no hair nets required, and the equipment is ancient. In fact, the way they make the ribbon hard candy is with a hand crank that is about 100 years old (really). Pretty fun atmosphere. Candyland!!! 

Everyone gets candy-makers hats and a free large candy cane.

Isn't this candy so FUN!!!? Guess what it is....the floor!!

They had these fun candy tiles all over the floor!! Just so cute!! 
And here's our stash we came home with. (Plus what the kids already ate.)

Then we headed to downtown Denver and drove around taking in the sights. We went into a book store I had read about, "The Tattered Cover". I wish i had taken a picture of the children's department! I love book stores! We bought a Shel Sylverstien poetry book for the kids. They think his stuff is so hilarious!

We hit Red Mango for fro-yo, stopped by this awesome water fountain and statue at City Park, and then headed to get Darin from his conference.

It was time to head for the hills!!! yippee!! We took the one hour drive up to the mountains, and we so happy to get back here......

.....Silverthorne, Colorado. We ate outdoors and it was 60 degrees!! I love this place already!! We got all settled in to our fabulous condo.....four bedrooms, backs the Blue River, hot tub on the deck.....yep, we are here to stay!