No matter the season, Crested Butte is one of the best weekend getaways in Colorado. It has some of the region’s most challenging ski runs in the winter at the Nordic Center or Crested Butte Mountain Resort (plus beginner and intermediate-level options), and offers a mix of hiking and water sports in the summer. Feeling lazy? One of Crested Butte’s most popular activities is driving down Kebler Pass for stunning mountain views—no walking required.
Escape from the city with a romantic getaway just 30 minutes west of Denver to the Highland Haven Creekside Inn in Evergreen. This family-owned and operated Colorado Mountain B&B will charm you upon the moment of entering the wooded grounds. Their website describes it as an opportunity to create your own “Colorado Woodland Fairytale.” And it is that adorable. Rustic. Quiet. Charming. And far enough away from it all to feel like a romantic getaway.
Located one mile from the main entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and two miles from Estes Park, Rams Horn Village Resort offers 46 luxury cabins, a heated outdoor swimming pool in the summer, three outdoor, year-round hot tubs, a fitness center and a playground on over seven acres of landscaped grounds. Every amenity at Rams Horn is free to use with your reservation and every cabin will turn into a second home.
Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark, is a unique landscape of jagged stone towers and fins jutting up 300 feet from the earth, and giant balanced boulders and rock piles dotting the landscape, with distant mountains completing the scene. Fifteen miles of trails, most of which are short and easy, allow you to get up close to the dramatic rock formations and wander through the surreal scenery. The park is a popular area for rock climbing, but other activities in the park include road biking in designated biking lanes, mountain biking, horseback riding, and Jeep and Segway tours.
“This isn’t a furlough for us,” Oropeza said. “There are definitely folks who, if this continues into next week, they’ll have to forfeit their commitment. Some are exploring applying for other jobs. They have student loans, they have car payments and other bills. …There are ripple effects this is having down the road. Our seasonal contracts, we have to have our contracts for summer seasonal work signed soon. All these things are getting backlogged.”
Fishing was a popular pastime for early visitors to the park, and it remains so today, with anglers catching several types of trout, including brown, brook, rainbow and cutthroat. Note: A valid Colorado fishing license is required for all persons 16 years of age or older to fish in Rocky Mountain National Park. For current Colorado fishing license fees visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife website.
“The law is clear: if the federal government is shut down, our National Parks must also be closed to protect public safety and pristine spaces. It is not acceptable to use FLREA (Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act) funds to keep the parks open, and the Department of the Interior’s actions likely violate appropriations law,” McCollum said in a statement.
Colorado Springs, nestled at the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains, offers spectacular scenery and amazing opportunities for a private, quiet, and romantic getaway. Book a murder mystery or wine and dinner trip in the Scenic Vista dome car on the Royal Gorge Railroad. This glass-topped car skims along the base of the narrow canyon along the Arkansas River. For an intimate view of the astonishing grandeur of this area, spend some time at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park soaring in a gondola or on a zipline. For a bonus adrenaline rush, take a hand-in-hand stroll over the quarter-mile Bridge, suspended 955 feet over the tumbling river. Stop for breakfast or lunch at the French-inspired La Baguette Bakery and Cafe and enjoy a seasonally inspired menu. Share some sweet and savory fondue dipping sauces over an amorous dinner in the intimate interior of The Mona Lisa.
Rocky Mountain National Park, established in 1915, is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. Located outside Estes Park, Colorado, Rocky Mountain is a great family vacation destination, offering outdoor experiences for all—from easy nature hikes around crystal clear mountain lakes to daring rock scrambles up waterfalls and mountains.
Overlooking the scenic Beaver Creek Mountain, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is a luxury Colorado resort and spa where guests can experience the vacation of their dreams. From breathtaking mountain views to championship golf courses to exquisite cuisine, Hyatt’s Beaver Creek ski resort offers the perfect year-round Vail Valley mountain escape with premium amenities, such as ski in and ski out access, a year-round heated outdoor pool, and an outdoor fire pit for roasting s’mores.
Region 5, known for waterfalls and backcountry, is south of Estes Park and contains Longs Peak—the park's iconic fourteener—and the Wild Basin area.[35] Other peaks and passes include Lily Mountain, Estes Cone, Twin Sisters, Boulder-Grand Pass, and Granite Pass.[47] Eugenia Mine operated about the late-19th to early-20th century, with some old equipment and a log cabin remaining.[47] Sites and trails include Boulder Field, Wild Basin Trail, and Homer Rouse Memorial Trail.[47]
When it comes to the best weekend getaways in Colorado, Colorado Springs is a top choice with a little bit of everything—numerous hiking trails, interesting museums, an artsy historic district, and plenty of restaurants and breweries. It’s also home to Garden of the Gods, a National Natural Landmark featuring hiking, climbing, and stunning views at the foot of Pikes Peak.
