These Colorful Towns Are a Gateway to Colorado’s Most Trippy National Park

• [Great Sand Dunes National Park Is Adorable and Otherworldly All at Once](#toc_item_0) • [Explore](#toc_item_1) • [Chef Sujan Sarkar Shares His Mango-Chili Sorbet Recipe](#toc_item_2) • [Sorbet all day](#toc_item_3) • [Drag Race Alum BenDeLaCreme Is Going Deep with Puppetry](#toc_item_4) • [She’s not your puppet](#toc_item_5) • [You’re Gonna Have to Pay a Fee Just to Get Into Europe Now](#toc_item_6) • [Learn more](#toc_item_7) • [Airbnbs Near National Parks](#toc_item_8) • [⛺](#toc_item_9) *Header 728x90 [] Well, I’ve failed. I said I was going to start waking up with the bakers and the air traffic controllers, but I did the opposite. I went to Queens late last night, had a few light beers in a music venue tastefully peppered with plants and neon lights, and slept in until nine today. I take full responsibility for my actions and I want you to know that I’m sorry. The truth is, I’m not great in the morning and I’m not really great at night either. I think my true sweet spot in the day is for about 15 minutes at about 7:20 pm, when I really light up and have a lot of dynamic energy to spread around. Other than that, it’s pretty much me Googling, “How to stimulate the thyroid through deep breathing.” Today’s stories will dazzle and delight, I just know it. An absolutely psychedelic national park in Colorado, mango-chili sorbet, BenDeLaCreme’s exploration of puppetry, the new fee to enter Europe, and the best Airbnbs near national parks. Well, that’s my cue! It’s the weekend! See you Tuesday! [-Ned Riseley, Senior Copywriter]( [ [( travel [] [Great Sand Dunes National Park Is Adorable and Otherworldly All at Once]( You can have it all! Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve offers some truly out-of-this-world natural wonder, but with a dash of culture and cuteness to go along with it. You could rock climb in Del Norte, then sandboard through the famous dunes, then get lunch in Buena Vista, and stay at a cute hotel filled with macrame. The dunes are your oyster. We really have so many ideas for how to make the most of your visit… [] [Explore]( [( [( food & drink [] [Chef Sujan Sarkar Shares His Mango-Chili Sorbet Recipe]( Kolkata-born chef Sujan Sarkar has opened five Indian restaurants across the country since moving to the US in 2016. We chatted with him about his mission to bring Indian cuisine and flavors to the States, while also experimenting and implementing culinary innovations in the process. The best part is, he shared his mango-chili sorbet recipe with us, which you’re definitely going to want to make this weekend. [] [Sorbet all day]( [( *Sponsored Ads List [( entertainment [] [Drag Race Alum BenDeLaCreme Is Going Deep with Puppetry]( You might know BenDeLaCreme from her star turn performing for the multinational conglomerate RuPaul’s Drag Race. On the third season of All Stars, she eliminated herself, in one of the most stunning public acts of boundary work ever recorded in reality television. Well, call her Geppetto, because she is really making a name for herself as a puppeteer now. Read an interview with BenDeLa about how she pulls the strings and what inspired her to abandon “real boy” antics and embrace the Jim Henson of it all. [] [She’s not your puppet]( [//groupninemedia.createsend.com/campaigns/content/edit/DE0CA41E849921082540EF23F30FEDED?origin=CampaignCreationChecklist#]( *720x300 Ad Banner [( travel [] [You’re Gonna Have to Pay a Fee Just to Get Into Europe Now]( Having recently taken a European vacation myself, I can assure you that a trip “across the pond” is not exactly without expense. Well, it’s only getting more expensive, because Europe is adding a new fee to your tab if and when you do decide to visit the continent. It’s part of a whole thing, with an application and everything. Nothing’s easy anymore! Maybe you should just take that money and use it to buy a [mini mermaid flip sequin pillow]( on Etsy. On second thought, maybe you should use it to go to Europe. [] [Learn more]( [( [( travel [] [Airbnbs Near National Parks]( Whether it’s Great Sand Dunes or another one, there’s no denying that national parks are beautiful spots to soak in some natural wonder and connect with the cosmic beauty of the universe. Here are some really perfect Airbnbs near national parks, from Acadia to the Great Smoky Mountains to Saguaro National Park. In fact, Airbnb now has a new national parks category that lets you search for abodes based on their proximity to national parks. Here are some of our favorites. [] [⛺]( [( *Footer 728x90 Thrillist Editorial - Favorable reviews cannot be bought. Read our [Terms & Conditions](, [Privacy Policy]( Delivered by Thrillist.com, 568 Broadway, Suite 507, New York, NY 10012 [212.966.2263]( Sent to {EMAIL}. Add themove@newsletter.thrillist.com to your safe-sender list so our emails get to your inbox. [View On The Web]( [Content Settings]( [Unsubscribe](