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Ugh. A 5 hour car ride. My sister and I slouched in the back of our run-down suburban, legs burning against the hot leather seats. It was July in Colorado- this year's temperatures broke records with highs reaching 103+ degrees. My sister wiped back her sweaty bangs out of her face just so I could see a dramatic eye roll. We were headed to the Great Sand Dunes, a national park and preserve in the Southern end of our colorful state. Supposedly, it was 'a magical experience' with beautiful views, but all I could see online was what looked like a giant sandbox. My sister Liv and I were both past the age of 18 at this point, so you can imagine being a teenager trapped in a car with your singing parents might not seem like the idea way to travel. For a little bit of context- I LOVE travelling. Growing up in the small but competitive sport of synchronized swimming enabled to travel across the US and to other neighboring countries and meet all kinds of fascinating people. I found that was my favorite part of the whole experience. Once my swimming career came to an end, I wanted to kick up the travel as much as I could. When my family received news of a 3 day weekend, I found the quickest weekend trip we could stuff in. Though an unusual pick for my beach loving self, I was willing (yet nervous) to explore it. When we arrived, the world stopped. 700 ft. high towers of sand loomed over us. In the middle of a Colorado mountain rage, this desert landscape seemed so out of place. It was art. It was heavenly. The wind was warm but vicious- it danced in our hair, like a twirling tango across our faces. The sides of the slope had ridges carved into them like deep rooted trench. Even with thousands of people at the Dunes on this hot summer day, when you climbed to the top of a peak you were immediately lifted high above the Earth- alone in a peaceful solitude. I felt free. My mind quieted down and it allowed me time to rest my racing mind and instead pump my racing legs. I let my hands sink into the ground beneath me and let the sand fill between my toes. It was a truly amazing experience- I'd go as far as calling it therapeutic. Although the Sand Dunes are a calm and relaxing place, they also allow for fun. There are options to backpack overnight, check out the information center for more local events, but best of all, there was the opportunity to rent sand boards and sand sleds. Rolling down the slope I realized I couldn't even remember the last time I had that much fun trying something new. Nearby, there was also river you could wade in to cool off. We walked in our keens along the rocks to find a waterfall hidden behind a carved out cavern. There were unique tiny towns with UFO watch towers and alligator farms... around every corner was a new adventure. The photo opportunities were beyond my expectations (and definitely taken advantage of). I could not BELIEVE how cool this place was. I truly underestimated the dunes. No, it was not countries away or an epic, month long excursion or anywhere near your usual idea of a grandeur trip. But the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve may have just made it to my favorite destinations list. This trip pushed me to want to go on excursions that sound outright weird and try new things. 10/10 would recommend. The Great Sand Dunes- you've got my 5 star review.