As soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the Lodge we booked in Estes Park we were surrounded by Elk.

Needless to say the dogs went NUTS.

I was super excited to find wild game nearby and ordered ahead of time to pick up for dinner. 

Elk, pheasant and wild boar. All delicious!

After our yummy meal, we took the dogs on a sunset hike to Mary's Lake.

Meanwhile back at the Lodge, we went looking for the Elk...

They moseyed over to the golf course.

 We had sometime and The Stanley Hotel was only 5 minutes away so I was able to knock another haunted hotel off my bucket list.

Our tour guide was fantastic and funny. Stephen King came to write the Shining after his stay of only one night in the hotel at the end of the season, staying the the presidential suite with his wife. He spent hours talking to the bartender, Lloyd Grady, whom inspired two characters in his book.         

The tour was not just of The Shining but also included several haunted spaces and paranormal tales. Our guide was fantastic. We are still quoting some of his quips.