Dream Vacation Locations: Rocky Mountains to Utah’s Iconic Arches!

ello, my friends — and welcome back to The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday™ as we continue the mini series, called Lifestyle and Why It Matters, and highlight yet another in a stream of Dream Vacation Locations!

This is Episode # 90, and the first of the bonus episodes of the Lifestyle and Why It Matters mini series. From time to time, when it is appropriate, I intend to add lifestyle-related episodes to this mini series.

If you’ve been following the mini series, you know that success in business allowed my wife and I to take a month long vacation that was quite the ride — we went from the waterfalls of Kauai to the cozy family dinners in New Jersey, to more family in Florida and then the sunsets in Cancun.

This brought us to another in a series of dream vacation locations. This time, it was the breathtaking mile-high altitudes, snow-capped peaks, and red rock deserts of the Rocky Mountains

Yep. Welcome to our “Lifestyle and Why It Matters” bonus episode — coming to you straight from the great American West.

Stopovers on the way to our dream vacation locations

Before we even hit the Rockies, the latest in our dream vacation locations, our adventure started with — believe it or not — a stopover story.

We were sitting at JFK airport, on our way to Denver, and we got a message to go outside to the terminal, and there was our amazing daughter Tova. She’s got this big smile, a tote bag full of new books for our trip — and she’s there to pick up her presents from us.

It’s moments like that — the quick airport hugs, the between-gates catch-ups — that remind me lifestyle isn’t just what you do when you arrive somewhere.

It’s how you show up in the in-between moments, too.

Business tip: Great leaders — and great livers of life — use the “in-betweens.” Waiting for a flight? Read. Reflect. Text someone encouragement. Make notes for your upcoming podcast. Don’t waste the pauses — invest them.

Denver — Finding Kosher Gold in a Dream Vacation Location

We landed in Denver, and I’ll be honest — the first thing on my mind wasn’t the altitude. It was the food.

We drove straight to the East Side Kosher Deli, where we loaded up on meat, deli, and takeout so good it made us question if we’d ever cook again. And for your dream vacation, for my non-Jewish listeners, then please replace our kosher delicacies with something that is right for you—any type of favorite food supplier or restaurant.

Then, just to make sure we were fully prepared for our week ahead, we made a strategic stop at Brooklyn Kosher Pizza — because let’s be real: no matter where you go in the world, a slice of New York somehow makes you feel grounded.

That’s another lifestyle tip right there: Always anchor your adventurous trips to your dream vacation locations with something familiar. Whether it’s your morning coffee, your journal routine, or your favorite song — small consistencies create big peace.

Rocky Mountain Majesty

From there, we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park.

The mountains were blanketed in snow — the kind that looks like a great artist was recently there and painted that white fluffy stuff on.

Then … the Elk showed up. Not one, but a whole herd!

They calmly walked across the road like they owned the place, and yes, I managed to capture that moment on video, including the friendly Elk that came right up to us!

It was humbling. It reminded me of a business truth, too:

The higher you climb, the quieter it gets. The people making the most impact are often not the loudest — they’re the ones standing tall, steady, and grounded.

Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From in The Mountains of Vail

That night, we reached our hotel — the Marriott in Vail — and I have to tell you, I opened the curtains and literally said out loud, “Baruch Hashem.” “Blessed be the Almighty!”

The view was so magnificent!

The peaks were dusted with snow, the air was crisp, and for a moment, I thought — this is what living in alignment looks like.

Not rushing. Not proving. Just being.

And as I watched the sunset over the mountains, I thought — this is why lifestyle matters. Because if you don’t build a business that gives you not only money but the time to travel to dream vacation locations and watch such a sunset, what’s the point of all your success?

Too many value success as money and never get to take a month-long vacation. In fact, many so-called successful people restrict themselves to one week because they are afraid of losing money at work, which means they are not truly living.

Aspen & the John Denver Sanctuary

The next day, we drove through the mountains — literally, through tunnels carved into them — until we arrived in Aspen.

There we found something special: the John Denver Sanctuary.

A peaceful, stone garden filled with song lyrics and quotes about love, nature, and gratitude.

I sat down by the river, read a few of the inscriptions, and felt this sense of calm I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. Again, I was reminded that success is not just money but a business that allows you to take time off without hurting that business.

Here are a couple of favorite song quotes that were there:

“Annie’s Song,” the heartfelt sentiment of “All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go” from “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and the iconic chorus of “Take Me Home, Country Roads”.

“You fill up my senses like a night in the forest, like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain, like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean.”

“Come let me love you, let me give my life to you, let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms.”

And of course:

“But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky

Shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby

Rocky Mountain high, Colorado”

Business tip: If your schedule is so packed that serenity feels like a luxury, you’re doing it wrong. Busy-ness is not a badge of honor. Balance is.

The next in our Dream Vacation Locations: Arches National Park

I talk about “Actually Building a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From” and Arches National Park in Utah, with over 2000 natural sandstone arches, which has to be one of the highlights.

The beauty of this place is punctuated with glowing shades of red and gold under the sun.

Watch this video of the amazing formations called “Park Avenue.”

The most famous one — Delicate Arch — is so iconic, it’s literally on Utah’s license plates. Standing there, looking at it, I thought: the Almighty doesn’t need to prove He’s creative — He just is.

Here is a video of the Delicate Arch.

And that’s the takeaway for us in life and business:

 Stop trying to prove who you are.
Just be who you are — authentically, naturally, powerfully.

The Journey to Salt Lake City 

The last of our dream vacation locations came after the drive to Salt Lake City, where we attended our annual business convention.
It was a time to celebrate, to learn, and to reconnect with dear friends and business partners who’ve been part of our journey from the beginning.

It reminded me of something I always tell new entrepreneurs:
Your network is not just your net worth — it’s your lifeline.
Don’t just collect contacts. Build connections.

10 Lifestyle Lessons from visiting the Dream Vacation Locations

1. Plan less. Experience more. The best moments aren’t scheduled.

    

2. Bring joy into ordinary places. Even an airport terminal can become a memory.

    

3. Never travel hungry. Deli and pizza can save marriages.

    

4. Don’t just see — pause to feel. Beauty heals stress faster than strategy.

    

5. Use downtime intentionally. Read, think, or reach out to someone you appreciate.

    

6. Build systems that buy you freedom. Your business should fund your life, not run it.

    

7. Laugh often. Especially when your GPS insists the Elk are “road hazards.”

    

8. Share gratitude daily. Gratitude keeps your mindset in abundance mode.

    

9. Reinvest in relationships. They’re the most rewarding ROI you’ll ever get.

    

10. Design a lifestyle worth coming home to. That’s where real success lives.

     

Why Lifestyle Matters

Lifestyle isn’t about money, miles, or Michelin stars.
It’s about meaning.
It’s about waking up — whether it’s in Vail, Aspen, or your own home — and feeling grateful that you get to live another day aligned with your purpose.

When you build your life with intention, business becomes more joyful, relationships deepen, and success feels lighter.

Summarizing what it meant to visit these Dream Vacation Locations

This trip — from Denver to Vail to Utah — reminded me that lifestyle isn’t what you escape to.
It’s what you design every day.
It’s the rhythm between work and wonder.
The flow between purpose and play.
And when you live like that, success doesn’t just follow. It multiplies.

Weekly Challenge

Challenge Theme:
Bring the peace, joy, and wonder of vacation into your everyday life.

Challenge Steps:

1. Choose one “vacation mindset” habit to bring into your week — something simple but powerful, like eating breakfast outside, taking a scenic walk, or watching the sunset without your phone.

    

2. Schedule one “mini adventure.” It could be exploring a new café, visiting a park you’ve never been to, or reconnecting with an old friend over a meal.

    

3. Take one business action from vacation mode. Ask yourself: What if my work felt more like travel? Maybe it’s automating a process, delegating, or infusing more creativity into your day.

    

4. Journal for five minutes at the end of each day: What did I notice? How did slowing down, noticing beauty, or being present change my energy?

    

5. Share your reflections with me or tag me on social media with the hashtag #richrabbichallenge — I’d love to hear what you discover.

Share it with me!
Tag me online or send me a message through TheRabbiWhoGotRichOnSunday.com.
Tell me how you’re creating your own Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From.

Because this journey — like every great trip — gets better when we travel it together.

Until next time, my friends — live your life by design, not by default.
And remember — your lifestyle is your legacy.

See you on the next adventure in Punta Cana.

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