Hi! We are Lai and Jon, a Denver-based couple who love to explore all things Colorado and beyond. In the spring of 2023, Jon got a rooftop tent for his 4Runner, which has taken our adventurous lifestyle to the next level. Our first trip with the rooftop tent featured tons of awesome stops, including Mammoth Mountain and the Oregon Coast. (you can find those blogs here soon). Since then, we’ve doubled down on exploration, and spend most weekends from the spring to the autumn camping. We even camped near Penn State when we went back east in the fall. As much as it doesn’t beat our bed at home in comfort, the rooftop tent is pretty damn comfy, and a true camping game-changer. I love sleeping in that thing, and as winter winds down I start to yearn for the tent.
So, why is our blog called half an hour away? This is based on something a friend of ours has said before: “Denver’s great because Colorado is only half an hour away”, it’s a pretty funny and accurate statement! Denver itself is not in the middle of the mountains, but it’s way more accessible to all of this awesome stuff than, say, Pittsburgh, where I grew up. It depends on where we want to go, of course, what the actual distance our adventures will be. Golden, for example, is about 20 minutes away and has plenty of perfect hikes that can easily be tacked on to the evening after a workday. But then there’s Telluride, a truly incredible and classic mountain town that is more like 6.5 hours away. We also love going even further west, to states like California, Utah, Montana, and more. Each blog post will list how far away the spot is from Denver. And sometimes, we may even be doing something cool IN Denver.
I moved to Colorado in the summer of 2021. I’ve always liked hiking and skiing, as I was lucky enough to be exposed to those things at a young age. The first hike I remember loving was at McConnell’s Mill. I grew up skiing at resorts like Seven Springs and Snow Shoe. Shout out to my parents for spearheading those outings. They truly ignited something in me. I knew I wanted to live somewhere that allowed me to do those things more often and at a larger scale. That was the lifestyle I craved. After living at home for three years following my graduation from Florida State, I moved out here, along with my sister and a couple friends.
I met Jon a little over a month after moving here. We met at a bar on a rowdy Saturday night, and learned we were both from PA. (Him, from Philly). We started hanging out, and never stopped. He’s my best friend, my #1 adventure buddy, and the all-around perfect partner, and he’s going to share a little bit about himself now!
From Jon: Hey there! I’m not going to have a ton more to add on top of what my gifted writing partner has already conveyed. 🙂 As of September 2024, I’ll have been in Denver for 7 years (minus a brief stint in San Diego, but more on that later). For as long as I can remember, I’ve also had a deep love and appreciation for nature (also, thanks to my parents). I’m also what could be classified as an “adrenaline junky” with a deep desire for self improvement. Each year I’ve spent in Colorado, I’ve pushed the limits on what I can accomplish physically whether that be learning to 360 on a snowboard, climbing and descending steep skiing objectives, tackling dangerous no fall zones on a mountain bike, or training for a half marathon. I am beyond grateful to have Helaina in my life, as not only does she support and encourage me in such pursuits but she joins me in many of them as well!
Thanks Jonathan! Alright, I’m back.
I’ve always loved to express my creativity through writing. When I was a kid, I enjoyed writing stories. In one particular story, the details I included almost eerily relate to life decisions I ended up making. The couple in this story lived in Florida (I went to school there) and had met skiing in Colorado (where I live now). I guess even at age 11, I knew there was something special about those states. Foreshadowing! These days I enjoy writing articles, especially in the pop culture and lifestyle space. I’ve thought about starting a blog for a while, but had my hesitations (soo many people blog) and didn’t get around to it for a while. But we’re here now, and I’m so happy! This is a really fun creative outlet for me and an awesome way for Jon and I to document all of our adventures.
So, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy reading and exploring through our blog, and I hope you enjoy exploring in your own life 🙂