We have visited this location years ago before covid hit, and fortunately, we were able to visit…read moreagain in 2026. We were unable to go on the tour because we had a baby with us and an adult would have to sit back with her, which we did not want to do. If you have children over the age of life and want to do the tour, it was $5 per ticket which seems pretty fair. Fortunately, we were able to go to the tea tasting and taste different type of teas. They did not have honey to sweeten the teas, but they did have sugar and an alternative sugar. They had three cold teas, and four hot teas. We especially liked the cold blueberry tea. They had almost eighty different type of teas to choose from on the menu and I got the iced black tea and a warm jasmine tea, both were delicious. The restrooms were clean and everyone seemed very helpful in the tea tasting area. Like I said, we were not able to do the tour, but we were able to go to the gift shop. It was a good mix of things, like snacks, tea towels and cups and measuring spoons. Everything was really cute but I wish I had more options with their name on it, and the picture of the sleeping time bear. I liked a lot of the mugs, but I wanted one that had the bear and the celestial seasoning's name on it, so I left with a magnet and of course, tea. Overall, I would definitely come back when we are in Boulder next time and recommend it to everyone to go at least once.

I cannot say enough good things about this experience. For $6, you get a 45 minute tour and the…read moreability to sample sooooo many teas before and after. The staff were all so friendly, and you could tell they knew their stuff and also just loved their job. It was truly a blast! I walked away with quite a bit of new tea knowledge. Excellent vibes all around. The hippie founders of Celestial Seasonings would be proud. And the GIFT SHOP. I think I blacked out. From every Celestial Seasonings tea you could think of to the cutest merch, there's something for everyone. I was glad the tour was so cheap, because I could really enjoy myself. Slap the sleepy time tea bear on anything and I will certainly buy it.

Loved our whitewater rafting trip with Kade at the Colorado Adventure Center! We were doubly…read moreprepared to stay safe because they explained all the safety instructions before getting on the bus and before getting on our boats. As a former educator, I get it! Paying attention is hard and staying safe is important, so thanks for the double prep. It paid off because nobody in our boat fell out and we had a blast! At first Kade was all business, but as we traveled through the rapids, he got more personable. He did a great job being the responsible leader of the group of 4 boats and taking care of us in his boat. I highly recommend taking a trip with the CAC!

We had a great time on the intermediate rapids trip. Our guide Amy was the BOMB! Highly recommend!read more

2 years ago, on the dawn of June 6th, we crossed the English Channel onto the beaches of Normandy,…read morejust like they did 75 years earlier. Except it wasn't just like they did. While we enjoyed good weather and the freedom and time to reflect on their Rendezvous with Destiny, they had faced torrential rain and life-threatening obstacles as they ran towards the artillery exploding around them and bullets flying at them; many cutting into their brave young bodies and souls. Though our experience on the beaches was very different from the Allied Forces, Brian DeToy summoned his unique ability to take us back in time to imagine what it was like for them. His military experience, research, education and love of history equip him to set the stage in every facet and mood and bring it to life. One place in particular where he did an exceptional job was upon entering the American Cemetery. As visitors were nonchalantly streaming in, Brian pulled us to the side and spoke solemn, focused words that were appropriate for revering the site and honoring, in a personal way, those who had lost their lives and were buried there. It will always be with me. Sheryl's many strengths include her meticulous administrative and organizational skills, as well as graciousness and the patience of a saint. She handled every detail beautifully - and there were many! This was truly a life-changing trip for us - our favorite - the trip of a lifetime!

Having just returned from Essential History Expeditions' February 2023 Vietnam tour, I cannot say…read moreenough good things about it! As a retired Army general, I was hoping to better understand the Vietnam War, which shaped my training and the Army which I served in from 1979-2016. I also looked forward to viewing my Dad's experience as a military advisor in 1962-63 & 1968-69 in a new light after seeing the terrain. Brian and Sheryl delivered that and more. Our tour traced the major political and military struggles of both the French and American wars, and helped to understand the Vietnamese point of view at every turn. Their approach, which incorporated both Brian's historical expertise (honed by his PhD and 12 years teaching at West Point) along with assigning voluntary "character backgrounds" presented by the tour participants, encouraged not only study in preparation beforehand but also a collaborative discussion of the issues in the long struggles of the Vietnamese people. Sheryl's precise planning and use of 5-star accommodations made the trip luxurious throughout, with meals, 4 internal flights, 12 bus trips, and a 2-day opulent boat excursion into Halong Bay all handled seamlessly. One of the best travel experiences of my life!

I've been on countless safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, and me and the two friends I was traveling…read morewith randomly stumbled upon Breakdown Safaris while in Iringa trying to plan a trip to Ruaha National Park. Since we'd been on so many safaris before, we know what we want and expect out of a safari - and Fanuel and Kathy exceeded our expectations (and we were only their second clients!) Comfortable refurbished land cruiser with no maintenance issues, picked us up from our hotel RIGHT on time (you don't really expect that to happen too often when you're on East African time), a few breaks for tea and lunch (they even brought hot water, tea/coffee, mugs, plates, silverware, hot napkins, etc. - everything was thought out to perfection), reasonable price, help with planning other aspects of our trip/recommendations, and an overall awesome safari where we didn't feel rushed. A lot of safaris we feel the pressure to spot an animal, take a few pictures, and then move on to make sure you get through the whole park. But Fanuel and Kathy did what only good guides do - they took notice of what WE wanted.. which was to enjoy the animals that we did see (you can't expect to see everything, it doesn't matter how "good" the guide is). Also, Fanuel is super knowledgable about the animals, especially birds, and he won't ramble on about information if you're not listening. Like I said, both Kathy and Fanuel were really perceptive - it was about what WE wanted to learn about the animals and about what WE wanted out of the whole experience. 5 stars! :)

(I reviewed "city of Golden" but this is more precise.)…read more Loved walking in the downtown area and exploring a couple places including the Humble House Cafe and the Golden Guild Game store. Could've spent all day here easily, only had 2 hours. Fun place to visit!

The best part was the Welcome To Golden sign and the mountains. Otherwise, Golden is a pass for me…read more The main strip of the historic downtown has some shops and restaurants. The shops were all very similar and touristy. The selection of restaurants wasn't too exciting either. Parking was challenging in the area. There was some free parking and some paid lots, but all options were full. I stopped by the Visitor's Center as well. Half the lot was reserved so parking here was a challenge also. They could use some *something* to make it more of an experience and a welcome to the town. Everyone was nice, but it felt empty and the amount of fliers for things felt too sell-y. I wanted to enjoy Golden so much, but it really felt like a tourist trap to me.

Five stars all day long! Jason was fantastic and somehow managed to keep 8 people entertained while…read moreshowing us Red Rocks, buffalo, Lookout Mountain, and Golden, no small task! He answered every question, shared tons of interesting facts, threw in some jokes, and somehow made us feel like Denver experts by the end of the day. If Jason is your guide, congratulations, you already made a good decision.

Rocky Mountain Experience: Very disappointing. The guide immediately did an upsell when we got in…read morethe van to include a gondola ride for an extra $27. Four of the 9 ppl in our van took advantage of it - which meant the tour went an hour beyond the allotted time and we were rushed through the sites we paid to see. It ruined our last night in town as we missed our dinner reservation and after dinner plans - which didn't concern the driver in the least. Other lowlights were listening to the guide drone on and on about his life and opinions, pulling over THREE times as one lady thought she maybe saw some wildlife waaaayyy in the distant woods, and spending much too long in a small town where half the stores were closed so the gondola opters could have their unscheduled fun and the tour company could grab a few extra dollars.

I'm not going to lie, it started a little slow and we discussed escape plans about 2 mins into it…read moreBUT by the end, we were totally engaged and found ourselves repeating our new knowledge to friends at the bar the next day. Kevin may have skipped the "hi, my name is Kevin" part and I feel like there could have been a little, "hey, any of you from Denver?" chat but ok, he just got down to business. We took the Denver Wildside tour. I know Denver pretty well but don't really know anything about the history. At some point (somewhere around 15th and Market), I caught myself laughing at the jokes and getting into the stories. Once we got past the awkward beginning we really enjoyed the stories of murder, ghosts and "ladies of the night". I'd recommend it to those of us who are looking for something to different to do and like hearing about the more salacious parts of history. Insert your own jokes about how "Stranglers Row" includes the old real world house and Lodo's or how Gaslamp is where the cheaper women could be found.

I've lived in Denver for 16 years and why did it take me so long to do this? Even if you are from…read morehere you will learn a lot about Denver. It is fun and interesting and if you're looking for something to do with your family members, try this out.

We stopped in after snowshoeing above the town. There is still a lot of charm in Central City - as…read morethe town is not totally overrun with Casinos. Blackhawk, on the other hand, is mostly casinos - with just a bit of the old Victorian homes. The visitor center in Central City is a worthwhile stop. It's along one of main roads (there aren't many!). The gentleman in the center was very knowledgeable and helpful. For example - the fire code adopted in the late 1800's focused buildings made with stone - to resist fires. As a fire in the late 1800's (1874?) destroyed almost all of the wood frame buildings and homes. They also have quite a few historical pictures of Central City. Recommended!

I wish I had the name of the person working there, but he was extremely knowledgeable about this…read morehistory of the city. What's more, he gave us a lot of insight about the future of the city, as well as the neighboring city of Blackhawk. I'm glad I stopped by. This city has a rich history and so much promise beyond casinos. Don't hesitate to stop by. You'll have a greater appreciation of Central City.