Sloan Lake, Denver, Colorado

When I landed in Denver, Colorado last Monday this was what the street near my son and daughter-in-law's house looked like. It had snowed overnight! There was about one to two inches on the ground. It was a surprise because only rain had been predicted.

I was so happy to see my grandson and see how big he had grown! He is so strong and holding his head and shoulders up so well for a four and a half month old baby.

He was even able to sit a little unsupported! Babies grow so quickly and I was thrilled to be able to spend this time with him.

The next day the snow had all melted and the temperature was in the high 60's and sunny. My daughter-in-law dressed Leo up in his cute orange hoodie and we drove over to Sloan's Lake to take a three mile walk around it's perimeter.

Denver has 205 parks, which is the nation's largest city park system. Outside of the city the Denver Mountain Parks Department maintains an additional 20,000 acres and its own buffalo herd and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

My daughter-in-law's friend met us carrying her baby girl in a sling carrier. My daughter-in-law is on the right pushing my grandson in his stroller.

The sky was so blue and the sun was very warm. Denver averages three hundred sunny days a year -- more than San Diego or Miami Beach!

This land was once an arid prairie, traversed only by a stagecoach and wagon track that connected Denver with the mountain gold fields. In 1861, however, farmer Thomas Sloan excavated a deep well to help water his livestock and the next morning found a growing lake filling his property, as he inadvertently tapped into an underground aquifer! The ensuing lake was then named after him.

The Sloan Lake Park contains hiking, jogging and bicycling trails which surround the lake, plus basketball and tennis courts. Fishing and boating are allowed on the lake itself.

There is a nice view of downtown Denver skyline from the western loop of the lake's walking trail.

After our three mile walk we stopped for lunch at Heidi's Brooklyn Deli, voted the best deli in Denver! They began with one little store and now have a franchise store operations in many states. Our soup and sandwiches were delicious!

The babay was such a good boy and enjoyed playing with some toys while we had lunch. As you can see in the short video below he was talkative but sleepy when we came back home.

( Please turn off my blog's music before viewing the video by going to the right side bar and clicking on the two heavy lines in the top portion of the purple Playlist box)

Tomorrow I'll be delighted to show you some very cute cottage houses we saw while on a walk in northern Denver. There were so many I wished I owned!