The Ultimate Guide to House Swapping: A New Frontier in Travel

Traveling has always been an exciting way to explore new places, experience different cultures, and create lasting memories. However, traditional accommodations like hotels and vacation rentals can sometimes be expensive or lack the personal touch that many travelers seek. That's where house swapping comes in – a unique and cost-effective way to travel the world while immersing yourself in local communities. In this article, we will delve into the world of house swapping, exploring what it is, how it works, and why it's becoming an increasingly popular choice for adventurous globetrotters.

What is House Swapping?

House swapping, also known as home exchange or home sharing, is a practice where homeowners agree to trade their houses with each other for a specific period. It allows travelers to stay in someone else's home while the homeowner enjoys a temporary stay in their house. This arrangement eliminates accommodation costs, providing an affordable alternative to traditional lodging options.

How Does House Swapping Work?

House swapping has evolved significantly with the advent of technology and online platforms dedicated to facilitating home exchanges. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how the process typically works:

1. Research and Choose a Platform: There are several reputable house swapping platforms available, such as Love Home Swap, HomeExchange, and GuestToGuest. These platforms act as intermediaries, connecting homeowners and facilitating the exchange process. Research different platforms and select one that aligns with your preferences and travel needs.

2. Create a Profile: Once you've chosen a platform, create a detailed profile for your home, including high-quality photos and a description highlighting its unique features. Be honest about your expectations and any rules or restrictions you may have.

3. Browse Listings: Explore available listings on the platform and filter them based on your desired location, travel dates, and accommodation preferences. Read through descriptions, check photos, and consider factors like amenities, nearby attractions, and public transportation options.

4. Initiate Contact: When you find a potential match, send a message to the homeowner expressing your interest in a house swap. Be courteous, provide some information about yourself and your travel plans, and ask any relevant questions you may have.

5. Get to Know Each Other: If the homeowner is interested in your proposal, you'll enter a phase of communication to get to know each other better. Discuss logistics, expectations, and any specific arrangements or concerns you both may have. Building trust is essential in the house swapping community.

6. Finalize the Swap: Once both parties are comfortable and ready to proceed, you can finalize the exchange by agreeing on dates, terms, and any additional details. It's recommended to have a written agreement or contract in place to ensure clarity and avoid misunderstandings.

7. Prepare Your Home: Before the swap, make sure your home is clean, organized, and ready for your guests. Provide clear instructions regarding household appliances, security systems, and local attractions or services nearby.

8. Enjoy Your Trip: Set off on your adventure and enjoy staying in a new place that feels like home! Take care of your temporary home as if it were your own and respect any rules or guidelines established with the homeowner.

Benefits of House Swapping:

1. Cost Savings: House swapping eliminates accommodation costs, allowing you to allocate your travel budget to other experiences, attractions, or dining options.

2. Authentic Cultural Immersion: By living in a local neighborhood rather than a touristy area, you can experience the local culture, cuisine, and daily life firsthand, offering a deeper and more authentic travel experience.

3. Home Comforts: House swapping allows you to enjoy the comforts of a fully equipped home, including a kitchen, living space, and sometimes even a garden or swimming pool, providing a more relaxing and private environment

Free things to do in Denver for March!

Denver, Colorado is a vibrant city with a lot to offer, even in the month of March. If you're looking for fun things to do in Denver that won't break the bank, then look no further. We've compiled a list of some of the best free activities and events taking place in Denver this March.

1.Explore the Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens is offering free admission for visitors on March 6th. The gardens feature a variety of plant species from around the world, including a Japanese garden, a water garden, and a tropical conservatory. In addition to the stunning flora, the gardens also offer a range of art exhibits and special events throughout the year.

2.Attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Denver hosts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, and the best part is that it's free to attend. The parade takes place on March 13th and features floats, marching bands, and dancers. The parade starts at 9:30 am and runs along Blake Street in downtown Denver.

3.Hike in the Rocky Mountains

Denver is located just a short drive away from the Rocky Mountains, offering endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. March is a great time to hit the trails before the summer crowds arrive. Some of the most popular hikes in the area include Mount Evans, St. Mary's Glacier, and Mount Bierstadt.

4.Visit the Colorado State Capitol

The Colorado State Capitol building is open to visitors for free tours. The building's architecture and history make for a fascinating tour, with highlights including the grand staircase, rotunda, and the gold dome. Tours run on weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm.

5.Explore the Denver Art Districts

Denver has several art districts that offer free galleries walks on the first Friday of every month. These include the Art District on Santa Fe, RiNo Art District, and Tennyson Street Cultural District. Explore local galleries, meet artists, and enjoy free refreshments while taking in the vibrant arts scene in Denver.

6.Tour the Denver Mint

The Denver Mint is the only mint in the United States that offers free tours. Visitors can learn about the minting process and see coins being made in real time. Tours are offered on weekdays from 8 am to 3:30 pm, but tickets must be reserved in advance.

With these free activities and events, you can make the most of your time in Denver in March without spending a dime. From outdoor recreation to cultural experiences, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this dynamic city.

Colorful Leaf Peeping Drives in Colorado

Come September the aspens begin to glow! Fall is one of the best times to tour the Rockies. The leaves usually begin changing in early September and last no longer than mid-October. It all depends on the weather, so be flexible and ready to travel.

The display begins high up in the mountains and works its way down in elevation as the temperature gets colder. Splashes of yellow, orange and red all mingle along rolling alpine roads. Each year the timing of the fall colors changes by a little bit, either sooner or later, based on when the cold temperatures first strike. Learn more about when autumn foliage starts in Colorado.

Best Places to See Colorado’s Fall Colors

Autumn colors on Kebler Pass near Crested Butte.

The best places to go are almost anywhere in the mountains. Some scenic drives are better than others, but even a little fall gold will brighten your day. Make sure you take an annual trip into the mountains to witness unmatched autumn in the Rockies.

The following autumn drives are all excellent, but they are only a handful of fall pilgrimages available. These are ones that offer camping nearby and a chance to see a vast amount of colorful trees.

In Northern Colorado

Aspen grove on Buffalo Pass.

1. Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road winds high through the alpine countryside in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colors fill the hillsides and valleys nearly the whole way.

While not soaking up the scenery, there are numerous things to do in the park and around Estes Park and Grand Lake. Both towns offer charming historic districts lined with shops and restaurants.

Another perk to the park is the fall elk rut, which generally lasts from mid-September to mid-October. Hundreds of elk gather in one spot, with bull bugling heard from afar.

There’s an entry fee on this one, but on September 24th, 2022 it’s free since that’s National Public Lands Day.

• Trip: Estes Park to Grand Lake, 48 miles, 2WD, car fee good for 7 days.

• Camping: Numerous campgrounds on both sides of the park.

• Nearby Drive: Peak To Peak Byway, from Black Hawk to Estes Park, combines well with this route.

2. Buffalo Pass

Situated in Steamboat’s backyard, Buffalo Pass offers remarkable views of the rolling Routt National Forest. It begins winding through aspen groves almost immediately on its way up to 10,400 feet at Summit Lake.

The road begins as a 2WD dirt road but gets progressively more bumpy as you near the top. If going all the way to Walden, it’s best to have higher clearance and 4WD, but you could probably manage with 2WD if you go slow.

Steamboat Springs is loaded with year-round recreation, including two hot springs, Old Town and Strawberry Park, as well as several state parks located in the county. Fish Creek Falls is only a ten-minute hike, and another chance to experience the season close-up.

• Trip: Steamboat Springs to Walden, 15 miles (~40 miles to Walden), 2WD/4WD

• Camping: Free camping is permitted on Buffalo Pass, just look for preexisting sites. There are also two campgrounds on the pass, one at the bottom and top. Each is first-come, first-serve. They’re open until mid-October.

• Nearby Drive: If you make it all the way to Walden, you can continue east on the Cache La Poudre North Park Byway. It winds 101 miles back to Fort Collins.

3. Flat Tops Trail

Get away from the crowd on the Flat Tops Byway. This long stretch of remote highway passes through two national forests on its way from Yampa to Meeker. During the journey, you’ll pass by lake after lake, and have ample chances to see the leaves.

Trappers Lake is a short detour from the byway and a worthwhile stop, though there won’t be too much color due to past forest fires. Open through October, Trappers Lake Lodge has cabins for rent, horseback riding, and a restaurant/bar.

• Trip: Yampa to Meeker, 82 miles, 2WD

• Camping: You can camp nearly anywhere on the byway. Campgrounds can be found at most of the nearby lakes and dispersed campsites are everywhere.

• Nearby Drive: Take CO 13 south toward Rifle for 38 miles, then left onto CO 325 N. From here you’ll shortly reach three state parks, Rifle Gap, Rifle Falls, and Harvey Gap. The drive between them leads through beautiful landscapes, with a chance to circle back to I-70.

In Central Colorado

Dispersed camping on Kebler Pass.

4. Independence Pass

A seasonal shortcut to Aspen, Independence Pass climbs to 12,095 feet, providing stunning vistas around every turn. It’s the second-highest pass with an improved road in Colorado (behind Cottonwood). It generally closes in early November.

Tucked almost halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista, the tiny village of Twin Lakes is home to two giant lakes and an old ghost town. There’s not much commercialization, just a general store, restaurant, and some lodging.

Aspen, on the other hand, is teeming with activity, especially around this time. Maroon Bells is a must-stop in the fall, as well as a great place to camp. On the Aspen side of the pass, the ghost town of Independence is a perfect place to stretch your legs.

• Trip: Twin Lakes to Aspen, 36 miles, 2WD

• Camping: There are campgrounds near Twin Lakes and on the Aspen side. Dispersed camping is easy to find in the San Isabel National Forest by Twin Lakes.

• Nearby Drive: The pass is on the Top Of The Rockies Byway, which heads north past Leadville, over Tennessee Pass, and onto Minturn, by I-70.

5. Kebler Pass

Secluded in the center of the Rockies, Kebler Pass features lush hillsides of color. You’ll find the most fall foliage on the Paonia side of the pass, although Crested Butte is a town known for its natural beauty. The pass is part of the West Elk Loop, a 205-mile journey through the heart of Colorado.

Considered “Colorado’s last great ski town”, Crested Butte is an impeccable place to spend a few nights. The town is surrounded by some of the most stunning peaks in the state and offers a plethora of dining, shopping, and lodging.

On the western end of Kebler Pass lies Paonia State Park. It’s a quiet park, with access to a 337-acre reservoir open to motor boats. The picturesque town of Paonia is hidden about fifteen miles south of the park, a mile off CO 133.

• Trip: Crested Butte to Paonia, 33 miles, 2WD

• Camping: Lost Lake CG (non-reservable) and Lake Irwin CG (reservable and open through September) are located on forest roads just off Kebler Pass Road. Free dispersed camping is available throughout.

• Nearby Drive: Either before or after Kebler, take Cottonwood Pass, which features wonderful color and both dispersed camping and designated campgrounds. It connects Buena Vista with Almont, just south of Crested Butte.

• Nearby Drive: From Paonia, you can head north on CO 133 over McClure Pass to Carbondale and back to I-70. Also part of the West Elk Loop, this alpine road winds through a canyon forged by the Crystal River. A good detour before Carbondale is the town of Marble, a mining village stashed a few miles off the highway. There’s a solid BBQ joint in town, and a winding road through the aspens up to the marble quarry.

Sea of golden leaves on Independence Pass. Photo by: Gene

6. Grand Mesa Byway

The largest flat-topped mountain in the world looks great in the fall. One of the best drives on the Western Slope, Grand Mesa Byway rises quickly to around 11,000 feet above sea level, where it then meanders past lakes and forests. A detour west to Land’s End Overlook, (take Forest Road 100 to 105 for 10 miles/40 minutes) offers expansive views of the colorful valley floor.

Cedaredge has a few nice places to eat and stay and it’s also not too far from Delta, one of the region’s bigger towns. Mesa, to the north, is a sleepy mountain town with another few places to dine and slumber. From Mesa, you can reach Vega State Park in twenty miles.

• Trip: Mesa to Cedaredge, 63 miles, 2WD

• Camping: Free and paid campsites can be found on the byway.

• Nearby Drive: If you have another night to spend on the road, take the West Elk Loop, south of Cedaredge. Highway 92 passes Crawford (maybe detour at the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison) and snakes through the Curecanti National Recreation Area, home of Blue Mesa Reservoir. This will lead you to Gunnison where you can continue east.

In Southern Colorado

Fall color along Last Dollar Road.

7. Highway Of Legends

Highways Of Legends rolls through the southern foothills of Colorado. It’s an often overlooked destination for those up north, but it’s one of the most scenic and welcoming parts of the state. At its peak on the Cuchara Pass, it reaches 9,938 feet, offering fantastic views of the Sangre de Cristos and Spanish Peaks.

Make a point to stroll through all the historic towns on the way. Situated by I-25, Walsenburg is considered a gateway to the Southwest. In La Veta, you can catch a ride aboard the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, which has stops in Alamosa, Fort Garland, and La Veta. Catch fall colors by train that you’d not see from your car.

Cuchara is a delightful mountain village, with a picturesque center of town. You’ll find a couple of good restaurants, a coffee shop, a general store, an inn, and mini golf. At the tale end of the drive, Trinidad’s hillside streets are waiting to be explored.

• Trip: Walsenburg to Trinidad, 82 miles, 2WD

• Camping: There are plenty of campgrounds on the drive, starting in Walsenburg at Lathrop State Park. Heading south on the byway, you’ll pass Bear Lake and Blue Lake campgrounds, Monument Lake, a private resort with cabins and campsites for rent, a couple of state wildlife areas with campgrounds, and lastly Trinidad Lake.

• Nearby Drive: For those looking to complete the whole byway, you can take a detour over the Cordova Pass (peak 11,243 feet). It breaks off east from the Cuchara Pass on its way to I-25 and the town of Aguilar. There’s a campground near the beginning of this rocky, dirt road. Afterward, take I-25 south to Trinidad and take the byway back up to Walsenburg (to get the full tour).

• Nearby Drive: Frontier Pathways Byway goes west from Pueblo and runs beside the Wet Mountains, before looping back southeast to Colorado City. It lies only a little bit north of Walsenburg, so it’s a good drive to tack on before or after the Highway of Legends.

Beautiful fall colors surround a small waterfall on the Alpine Loop. Photo by: Larry Lamsa

8. Alpine Loop 4×4

The rugged Alpine Loop climbs over two 12,000-foot passes, Engineer and Cinnamon, as well as by numerous ghost towns and mining camps, including Capitol City and Animas Forks. The one-of-a-kind route was originally used by 19th-century miners working in the remote San Juans.

It’s the only drive on the list that’s designated for high-clearance 4x4s. You can begin in either Lake City, Silverton, or Ouray, and you can also rent a Jeep in any of those places. The whole trip takes between four and six hours.

All three towns make a great base camp, each with numerous restaurants, hotels, and attractions. Ouray is known for its giant hot springs swimming pool. The Durango & Silverton Railroad departs Silverton daily through late October. And Lake City is home to one of the largest historic districts in the state.

• Trip: Lake City to Ouray to Silverton to Lake City, 63 miles, high clearance 4WD

• Camping: Ample camping opportunities exist around all three towns.

• Nearby Drive: If beginning in Lake City, you’ll have the pleasure of driving the Silver Thread Byway, which passes by Slumgullion Pass (11,361 feet) and Spring Creek Pass on the way to Creede.

9. Last Dollar Road

A remote backroad from Ridgway to Telluride, Last Dollar Road is the perfect choice for the adventure seeker. It peaks at 10,600 feet on a bumpy, narrow, dirt route through the majestic San Juan Mountains.

The drive takes between two and three hours and can be impassable when wet (so avoid it if rain is forecasted). A 2WD drive vehicle with high clearance would be okay if it’s dry. It’s also open to unlicensed vehicles, so bring an ATV or dirt bike if you got one.

While in Ridgway, be sure to relax at Orvis Hot Springs, or trek ten miles south to Ouray and soak there. After reaching Telluride, you can ride a free gondola high above the valley floor for incredible aerial views of Telluride’s box canyon.

• Trip: Ridgway to Telluride, 21 miles, high clearance 2WD

• Camping: Free primitive campsites can be found at various points on the drive. Campgrounds can be found in Ridgway, at Ridgway State Park, or around Telluride.

• Nearby Drive: The standard route from Ridgway to Telluride is on the San Juan Skyway, a 236-mile excursion around the Southwest. The main route is to take Highway 62 from Ridgway to Highway 145, and then onto Telluride. On Highway 62 you’ll pass over Dallas Divide, a phenomenal pass for seeing color and if you keep going south on Highway 145 past Telluride, you’ll climb over Lizard Head Pass, and eventually onto Dolores and Cortez. Drive back east to Durango and you can venture north on US 550, a stretch known as the Million Dollar Highway.

Close To Denver

Yellow aspen grove on Guanella Pass.

10. Mestaa’Ėhehe Pass

Previously called Squaw Pass, Mestaa’Ėhehe is ideal for those Denverites short on time. You can begin in either Idaho Springs or Evergreen, via CO 103 and Mestaa’Ėhehe (Squaw Pass) Road, respectively. The road is likely still called Squaw Pass Rd.

The drive passes by Echo Lake and Mount Evans Byway (which usually closes in October). Evergreen and Idaho Springs both have nice downtowns with plenty of places to relax and eat during your trip.

• Trip: Evergreen to Idaho Springs, 30 miles, 2WD

• Camping: Echo Lake Campground closes in early September, but West Chicago Creek Campground stays open through late September. Dispersed camping can be found on both W. Chicago Creek Rd and ​Hefferman Gulch Rd, north of Echo Lake on CO 103 near Idaho Springs.

• Nearby Drive: The Lariat Loop connects Golden, Evergreen, and Morrison. From Evergreen take CO 74 either north to Golden or east to Morrison. If you end in Idaho Springs and still want more, you can head up to Georgetown for Guanella Pass, or over to Black Hawk for the Peak To Peak Byway.

11. Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass is full of autumn color on its hour-long journey from I-70 to US 285. It peaks at 11,670 feet, where Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt hover in the distance.

Historic Georgetown has numerous restaurants and is home to the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a memorable way to see the sights. In Grant, there’s usually a BBQ stand open at the start of the pass and a seasonal cafe to grab a bite at.

• Trip: Georgetown to Grant, 22 miles, 2WD

• Camping: Campgrounds and dispersed campsites exist on both sides of the pass.

• Nearby Drive: At Grant take a right on US 285 for a fifteen-minute trip up Kenosha Pass. It offers a tremendous view of the valley. Continue west down the pass and you’ll quickly reach Como, a tiny dot on the map. It’s connected to Breckenridge via Boreas Pass (23 miles), another incredible fall trip.

Thanks for checking out our list of favorite spots to see the fall foliage! Remember you can’t go wrong if you drive west into the Rockies at the right time of year. You’re bound to see extraordinary fall colors that’ll make you pause and savor autumn.

"More Winter!" Says Punxsutawney Phil.

There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.

Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not.

Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message he said Phil had told him earlier in the day: “After winter, you’re looking forward to one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen.”

Another member of the “inner circle” noted the uniqueness of the past year.

“People have been referencing Groundhog Day. It has felt like at times we’re all living the same day over and over again,” one of the members said. “Groundhog Day also shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.”

“Today actually is Groundhog Day, there’s only one,” he added. “There is quite literally a new day coming over the horizon.”

The spectacle that is Groundhog Day still went on, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, revelers weren’t able to see Phil and celebrate in person: This year, it was all virtual and included cardboard cutouts to represent spectators.

A livestream, which had more than 15,000 viewers at one point, played footage from previous Groundhog Day’s ahead of the big reveal.

Then of course, the prognosticator of prognosticators emerged at dawn. The lore goes that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.

Wearing top hats, members of the club summoned Phil from a new tree stump.

“You look beautiful,” club president Jeff Lundy told Phil, who directed members to one of two scrolls.

A club member announced, “We have all passed through the darkness of night, but now see hope in morning’s bright light. But now when I turn to see, there’s a perfect shadow cast of me.”

The livestream from Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, is made possible by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s Holi-stay PA. The event there — always Feb. 2 — dates back to 1887.

Phil this year, like many years in the past, gave his forecast during a major snowstorm that hit the entire Northeast.

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The 2020 forecast called for an early spring — however, Phil didn’t say anything about a pandemic.

In its 135-year history, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and spring 20 times, the club said. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.

Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer but he’s certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile “imposters,” as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls them, in the region.

Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog making the prediction after the state’s official groundhog, Chuckles X, died last year. Like Phil, Phoebe predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing its shadow at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

New York City’s Staten Island Chuck disagreed, predicting an early spring in a video shown on the Staten Island Zoo’s Facebook page.

“We’re going to have an early spring! Spring is coming,” Brian Gomez, of event sponsor Investors Bank said in a video message.

Winter Park now requiring reservations.

Winter Park Resort announced Tuesday that it will start requiring reservations for pass holders on Dec. 19 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and manage the volume of visitation.

Pass holders may start reserving days beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.

For individual lift ticket holders, their ticket is dated and serves as their reservation, so they do not need to access the system and make a reservation, according to the Tuesday announcement from Winter Park resort. Ikon Pass and Winter Park Pass holders can access the system and make reservations through their pass account.

“Winter Park has long been a place to escape and recharge, and this year is no different. The health and well-being of our employees, guests and community remain paramount, and we must manage the number of people in the resort in order to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Sky Foulkes, Winter Park Resort President and COO. “We’re asking for everyone’s patience and cooperation this winter as we navigate ever-changing restrictions, while still offering an excellent guest experience. We have planned for many contingencies, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to help stay safe and stay open.”

Pass holders can book up to 10 days at a time and can make additional reservations as they use their bank of 10 reserved days. Pass holders should logon to their account and visit this page to learn more.