Latest news with #KarthikaGupta
Forbes
29-07-2025
- Forbes
Colorado's Coolest Trio Of Front Range Towns You May Been Overlooking
Colorado Front Range town of Loveland Karthika Gupta If Colorado conjures images of packed trailheads, bustling breweries, and reservation-only national parks, you are not wrong. But you also might not be looking far enough north. Tucked along the foothills of the northern Front Range lies a triangle of towns—Loveland, Fort Collins, and Estes Park—that deliver classic Colorado charm, access to epic outdoor adventure, and vibrant local flavor without the throngs of peak-season crowds. Each town has its own distinct personality, and together they almost form a loop for a laid-back road trip. Whether you're planning a summer hike, a fall foliage escape, or a winter weekend getaway, this trio offers a lesser-known path to Colorado where mountain views meet indie shops, sculpture gardens, paddling spots, and elk traffic jams. Art, Nature, and Industry Coexist in Loveland Loveland Colorado Karthika Gupta Just an hour north from Denver, Loveland has long flown under the radar, but locals know of it as a cultural hub hiding in plain sight. Nicknamed the 'Sweetheart City' for its famous Valentine's Day remailing program, Loveland is also home to one of the largest concentrations of public sculptures in the country. The Benson Sculpture Garden and Chapungu Sculpture Park showcase large-scale works in bronze and stone and many of them cast locally in the town's active art foundries which also offer tours. Sculpture garden in Loveland The town's creative energy blends seamlessly with outdoor access. Just a 10-minute drive from downtown, the Devil's Backbone Open Space offers 12 miles of hiking trails along a dramatic ridge of jagged sandstone, offering views that rival any national park overlook. And after a morning of hiking, travelers can grab coffee at Dark Heart Coffee Bar, a locally owned café or browse through Loveland's growing number of boutique shops and galleries. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, head to Sylvan Dale Ranch to explore the surrounding hills on horseback. Sunset horseback riding in Loveland Colorado Karthika Gupta Bikes, Brews, and Reservoir Views in Fort Collins A short drive north brings you to Fort Collins, a college town known for its laid-back vibe, abundant bike lanes, and strong craft beer scene. It's home to Colorado State University and more than 20 breweries, including nationally known names like Odell and New Belgium. But Fort Collins is much more. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to love at Horsetooth Reservoir, just 15 minutes from downtown, where you can paddleboard, kayak, hike, and even cliff jump with a view. For cyclists, the 21-mile Poudre River Trail offers smooth, scenic riding through cottonwood-lined paths and farmland or explore Well Gulch within Lory State Park for a self-guided hiking trip. Viewpoints along Well Gulch self-guided trail One of the highlights of Fort Collins is the historic Armstrong Hotel, a 100-year-old boutique property that blends art deco elegance with modern touches. But fair warning, some claim it is haunted. Just ask your bartender downstairs at Ace Gillett's Lounge for some bone chilling tales. Rocky Mountain Magic in Estes Park West of both Loveland and Fort Collins, Estes Park is best known as the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. But even without venturing into the park, the town offers enough to justify a standalone visit. Its downtown is lined with riverfront shops and restaurants, with elk often making an appearance right on Main Street, especially during the fall when it's elk rutting season. Driving from Fort Collins to Estes Park Lake Estes offers kayaking and fishing with a front-row view of alpine peaks, while stargazers will appreciate the low light pollution that makes the area ideal for spotting constellations, planets, and meteor showers. In summer and fall, you can sign up for night hikes and telescope sessions via Rocky Mountain National Park night sky programs or visit the observatory just outside town. For a dose of history (and perhaps a ghost sighting), check out The Stanley Hotel—best known as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining and now a luxury property with a calendar full of concerts, film festivals, and wellness retreats. Elk can be found all around Estes Park Karthika Gupta As Colorado continues to battle issues like overtourism, housing affordability, and trail erosion in high-traffic destinations like Boulder and Denver, these smaller towns play a crucial role in offering a unique visitor experience. The best time to visit is September and early October for fall foliage without summer crowds. And for travelers, the appeal is obvious: mountain views without gridlock, small-town charm without sacrificing amenities, and enough variety to fill a long weekend (or more).
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I stopped drinking when I turned 50. Learning to travel sober was the hardest part.
Drinking used to help Karthika Gupta connect with friends or loosen up in unfamiliar places. Last year, when she turned 50, she decided to go alcohol free. She often misses drinking while traveling, but appreciates waking up clear-headed. I didn't start drinking until I was 25 — late by many standards — but once I did, alcohol quickly became both a social and professional currency. As a management consultant, drinking was part of the job — be it wine during team dinners or Champagne toasts for successful product launches. It was also how I connected with friends, loosened up in unfamiliar places, and celebrated the highs of life on the road Over the years, my passport filled up with stamps from trips where the days often followed the same pattern: explore by day, enjoy a drink or two at night. Warm sake in Japanese izakayas, a pint of Guinness in Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and a cold beer after hiking in Patagonia weren't just drinks; they were part of how I celebrated traveling the world. I saw it as a way to immerse myself in local culture. But something shifted the year I turned 50. At first, it was a personal challenge where a "dry trip" extended a little longer to see how I felt. But the longer I stayed alcohol-free, the more curious I became about what else might shift. Could I still feel joy at a celebratory dinner with friends without a glass of wine? Would I feel left out while traveling? Would people look at me differently, or worse, would I look at myself differently? The first test came during a work trip to Switzerland. One night for dinner, we visited Fiescherblick, a boutique hotel in the Bernese Alps. I was surprised to find out they offered a non-alcoholic pairing menu. That night, as the Eiger North Face glowed pink in the evening light, I sat down to one of the most memorable meals of my life. Each course arrived paired with a thoughtfully crafted elixir, like the rhubarb-kombucha aperitif that tingled on my tongue or a chilled berry and basil infusion with a root vegetable medley. Each sip was as intentional and layered as any wine pairing I'd had in the past. I felt more aware and noticed how I slowed down during the meal, relishing every bite and sip. My body felt satiated but never dulled, and there was no fuzziness or brain fog — just the clarity of a crisp Alpine night and the satisfaction of enjoying every bite. Since then, I've continued to travel alcohol-free. Some trips have been easy, but others have been really hard. On an outdoor adventure-filled trip through Northern Ireland, known for its whiskey and beer, I felt discombobulated, like I was missing out on a big part of the local culture. The hardest one was a two-week solo Antarctica cruise, during which the feeling of FOMO was very strong, especially when South America's best wines were served complimentary at dinner. Almost 9 months have passed, and there are still moments when I'm handed a drink and feel a pang of awkwardness or worse, when someone asks, "Why not just have one?" with a puzzled smile. Social drinking is so normalized in travel that choosing to opt out can feel like rebellion. But my choice has also been liberating. I've learned to start my days earlier and with more energy and to find other ways to connect with locals, like asking servers at restaurants about their favorite hangouts or listening to traditional Irish music at a local bar in Derry. I no longer plan my evenings around drinks; instead, I look for live music, tea houses, night markets, or just quiet spaces to reflect. Oddly enough, I feel more adventurous than I did before. Not drinking has pushed me to be more creative and intentional about how I seek joy. It's also helped me be more honest with myself and with others. I've realized how often I used alcohol as a shortcut to connecting with people when what I really needed was genuine curiosity and vulnerability. I'm not here to make a case for sobriety or to say I'll never drink again. I'm simply in a season of exploring what it means to be fully awake to my experiences and how that changes the way I travel. Going alcohol-free at 50 started as a personal experiment, but it's evolved into a new way to move through the world. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
26-05-2025
- Business Insider
I stopped drinking when I turned 50. Learning to travel sober was the hardest part.
Drinking used to help Karthika Gupta connect with friends or loosen up in unfamiliar places. Last year, when she turned 50, she decided to go alcohol free. She often misses drinking while traveling, but appreciates waking up clear-headed. I didn't start drinking until I was 25 — late by many standards — but once I did, alcohol quickly became both a social and professional currency. As a management consultant, drinking was part of the job — be it wine during team dinners or Champagne toasts for successful product launches. It was also how I connected with friends, loosened up in unfamiliar places, and celebrated the highs of life on the road Over the years, my passport filled up with stamps from trips where the days often followed the same pattern: explore by day, enjoy a drink or two at night. Warm sake in Japanese izakayas, a pint of Guinness in Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and a cold beer after hiking in Patagonia weren't just drinks; they were part of how I celebrated traveling the world. I saw it as a way to immerse myself in local culture. But something shifted the year I turned 50. At first, it was a personal challenge where a "dry trip" extended a little longer to see how I felt. But the longer I stayed alcohol-free, the more curious I became about what else might shift. Could I still feel joy at a celebratory dinner with friends without a glass of wine? Would I feel left out while traveling? Would people look at me differently, or worse, would I look at myself differently? Sober travel The first test came during a work trip to Switzerland. One night for dinner, we visited Fiescherblick, a boutique hotel in the Bernese Alps. I was surprised to find out they offered a non-alcoholic pairing menu. That night, as the Eiger North Face glowed pink in the evening light, I sat down to one of the most memorable meals of my life. Each course arrived paired with a thoughtfully crafted elixir, like the rhubarb-kombucha aperitif that tingled on my tongue or a chilled berry and basil infusion with a root vegetable medley. Each sip was as intentional and layered as any wine pairing I'd had in the past. I felt more aware and noticed how I slowed down during the meal, relishing every bite and sip. My body felt satiated but never dulled, and there was no fuzziness or brain fog — just the clarity of a crisp Alpine night and the satisfaction of enjoying every bite. Since then, I've continued to travel alcohol-free. Some trips have been easy, but others have been really hard. On an outdoor adventure-filled trip through Northern Ireland, known for its whiskey and beer, I felt discombobulated, like I was missing out on a big part of the local culture. The hardest one was a two-week solo Antarctica cruise, during which the feeling of FOMO was very strong, especially when South America's best wines were served complimentary at dinner. Line of defense Almost 9 months have passed, and there are still moments when I'm handed a drink and feel a pang of awkwardness or worse, when someone asks, "Why not just have one?" with a puzzled smile. Social drinking is so normalized in travel that choosing to opt out can feel like rebellion. But my choice has also been liberating. I've learned to start my days earlier and with more energy and to find other ways to connect with locals, like asking servers at restaurants about their favorite hangouts or listening to traditional Irish music at a local bar in Derry. I no longer plan my evenings around drinks; instead, I look for live music, tea houses, night markets, or just quiet spaces to reflect. Oddly enough, I feel more adventurous than I did before. Not drinking has pushed me to be more creative and intentional about how I seek joy. It's also helped me be more honest with myself and with others. I've realized how often I used alcohol as a shortcut to connecting with people when what I really needed was genuine curiosity and vulnerability. I'm not here to make a case for sobriety or to say I'll never drink again. I'm simply in a season of exploring what it means to be fully awake to my experiences and how that changes the way I travel. Going alcohol-free at 50 started as a personal experiment, but it's evolved into a new way to move through the world.
