There's a particular kind of chaos that comes with preparing for a backpacking trip, and a certain satisfaction that comes with completing one. The planning, the packing, and whatever the mountain decides to throw at you; that's the fun of it all. And in Colorado, the trails make every bit of it worth [...]

For years, the Denver real estate market operated predictably. Spring brought a rush of buyers competing for yard space in Washington Park or a clean midcentury roofline in Wheat Ridge, driving bidding wars that ramped up before spring had even officially started. By June, the pace would gently yield to the lazy cadence of summer vacations and mountain weekend trips.

If you glance at the latest stats from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, the numbers look comfortingly familiar. The market is simply settling into its "usual summer rhythm."

Summer in Colorado is the season of two distinct soundtracks. Outdoors, it’s rushing rivers, chirping birds, and wind in the evergreens. Inside, it’s a frantic chorus of, “Mom! Where are my sunglasses?”

A little tactical organization is the key to turning down the volume on misplaced sunscreen and muddy flip-flops, so you can focus on the happy sounds of splashing in the pool (and the inevitable shriek of a crying kid because the splash got water in their eyes).