Have you ever wanted to visit Estes Park, Colorado, and stay at the Stanley Hotel or take one of its ghost tours?

As a Colorado native, I was excited to finally spend a night at this historic hotel in Estes Park. In this episode, I share memories of staying there with my husband almost twenty years ago, then returning on my own last year for a different ghost tour.

From watching The Shining on a loop in our room to exploring tucked-away basement spaces, both visits gave me something to remember. I also share a little researched history and some of the ghost stories associated with the hotel.

🎙️ In this episode, I share:

• What I enjoyed about staying in the historic main building

• How my two ghost tours differed

• Stephen King’s stay at the Stanley and the inspiration for The Shining

• A little history about it's founders

• The Concert Hall legends and the spaces we explored

• Why a guided tour can be a fun activity to try on your own

Whether you love ghost stories, historic hotels, or exploring Colorado, join me for a visit to the spooky side of Estes Park.

Estes Park in the Fall: Blog Post

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What happens when you stop trying to plan every detail of your trip and leave a little room for the unexpected?

In this episode, Angela talks with Kristy Halvorsen, author of Perfect Unfolding, about embracing uncertainty, balancing travel planning with spontaneity, and learning to trust yourself when things don't go according to plan.

Kristy has been traveling full-time in an Airstream since 2017 and shares her philosophy of “cottywampling”, moving through life without always knowing exactly where you're going. She explains that confidence comes from experience, not from having every detail figured out ahead of time.

Kristy also shares the memorable story of getting stuck in the sand while traveling in Maine and how accepting help from strangers changed her perspective on independence. Sometimes being a confident traveler isn't about handling everything yourself; it's about trusting that you can figure things out, ask for help, and adapt when plans change.

If overthinking or trying to plan the perfect trip has been keeping you from traveling, this conversation is a reminder that you don't need to know exactly how everything will unfold before you begin.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

• How to balance travel planning with spontaneity
• What “cottywampling” means and how Kristy applies it to travel and life
• Why confidence comes from experience, not over-planning
• Learning to become more comfortable with uncertainty
• What to do when travel plans don't go as expected
• Trusting your instincts while traveling
• Why asking for help doesn't make you less independent
• How unexpected experiences can become memorable parts of a trip
• Taking the first step even when you don't have everything figured out
• Permitting yourself to pursue the life and travel experiences you want

💬 Connect with Kristy Halvorsen:

• Website: ⁠⁠https://kristyhalvorsen.com/
• Instagram: @kristy.halvorsen

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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss a new one!

📩 Grab your FREE Solo Resource for Women 40+ → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠traveltheworldconfidently.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📅 Ready to plan your trip with support? Book a free planning call → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌍 Follow along for more solo travel tips, destination inspiration, and real talk about traveling confidently:

Instagram & Facebook & Pinterest: @traveltheworldconfidently | TikTok: @angelaagranoff

📖 Read the blog → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠traveltheworldconfidently.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ✈️

Have you ever checked into a hotel and immediately felt like your vacation had officially begun?

A good hotel can be more than just a place to sleep. In this episode of Travel the World Confidently, I’m talking about what I enjoy about staying in hotels, from familiar chains to boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. I also share a few memorable stays, including a charming B&B in Savannah and a Wichita hotel with a hidden room.

🎙️ In this episode, I talk about:

• Choosing accommodations that match your preferences
• Hotel amenities and personal touches that make a stay special
• Asking for a quiet room or anything else you need
• Communicating with hotel staff when you need help
• Feeling comfortable in a hotel when traveling solo
• Enjoying your accommodations as part of the vacation

You don’t need to book the most luxurious room to have a memorable stay. Choose a place that helps you feel comfortable, and allow yourself to enjoy the hotel as part of your travel experience.

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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss a new one!

📩 Grab your FREE Solo Resource for Women 40+ → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠traveltheworldconfidently.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📅 Ready to plan your trip with support? Book a free planning call → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌍 Follow along for more solo travel tips, destination inspiration, and real talk about traveling confidently:

Instagram & Facebook & Pinterest: @traveltheworldconfidently | TikTok: @angelaagranoff

📖 Read the blog → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠traveltheworldconfidently.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ✈️