Our Fall trip began the third week of September from Michigan. We went south from Michigan to I-70 west with a planned stop in St Louis.

We hadn’t previously been to the Gateway Arch National Park (the smallest in the national parks system) so we planned a couple of nights at the nearby DraftKings Casino RV Park and checked it out.

We purchased a combination ticket that included the tram ride to the top of the arch and a short river boat ride on the Mississippi River.

Not sure if I would enjoy the small enclosed capsule tram cars, but it was fine. They have one of the cars on display to check out before you ride.

There is a good view from the top, including the Mississippi River, Historic Old Courthouse, and the St Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium.

The Gateway Arch Visitors Center provides history and information about the Arch being built and how it compares to other landmarks. All very interesting and I’m glad we made this stop.

On to our favorite Colorado destination – Golden. This part of the post includes a repeat visit to Golden (can’t seem to get enough), but also traveling southwest from Golden (Highway 285) to the Buena Vista and Salida area.

We stayed a week at Clear Creek RV Park in Golden and took several drives to check out the fall color, including the Dillon/Silverthorne area and Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

While we were in Golden, visits with friends Marty & Nancy Schmitke, who happen to be in town from Michigan, and Erin & Jillian Maniscalco was a bonus!

We used the Denver light rail system to go to Downtown Denver from Golden one day. Very reasonable and easy to use, we enjoyed seeing Denver Union Station and the 16th Street Mall.

On to Buena Vista (Good View) located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley with the “Collegiate Peaks” to the west (all mountain peaks over 14,000′ – Mt. Harvard, Mt Princeton, Mt. Yale, etc). We stayed at the Mt. Princeton RV Park conveniently located for day trips to Salida and Aspen.

The day trip to Aspen via Colorado Highway 82 was well worth it taking us by Twin Lakes on our way to Independence Pass and Aspen. Great Fall color along the way and views from the highway. Not an RV friendly route, but very enjoyable by car.

Salida located south of Buena Vista was a nice surprise. Again, along the Arkansas River, the town is bigger than Buena Vista with nice shops, restaurants and a beautiful river walk and park.

Heading further south, an overnight stop in Alamosa Colorado before heading to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.