There is a reason why this luxury resort is called Garden of the Gods: if the Gods lived in the resort, they would never want to leave because of its breathtaking beauty! This resort features a golf course and full spa. Spend a romantic day getting pampered or walking in the gardens. Later, you can treat yourselves to fine dining at Kissing Camels Grille, where you can enjoy fresh local ingredients used to prepare the superb meals.
Nature lovers can go hiking, white water rafting, horseback riding or climbing in one of the surrounding national parks, or you could choose to explore historic archaeological sites such as Hovenweep, Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a highlight of any visit and you can combine various adventure sports packages with your scenic train ride. Keep reading for more Colorado points of interest. Things to Do in Durango
The best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is from June to September when the snow is (mostly) melted and the hiking trails and attractions are accessible. Still, these four months are also the most popular times to visit, so if you'd rather experience RMNP in relative isolation and while wearing snowshoes or cross-country skis, visit between the months of October and May. Whether snow or sunshine, the park is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, though some parts may be inaccessible.
Fall River provides a beautiful backdrop for our lodging resort. After your hiking, snowshoeing or back-country skiing adventure, spend an intimate evening in a luxurious Spa Suite or relax in a spacious 1 Bedroom Suite. Enjoy sounds of the river from your private cabin/condo deck. All the conveniences of home in each suite. Boulder Brook on Fall River Details
From 9,000 ft (2,700 m) to 11,000 ft (3,400 m),[72] the montane forests give way to subalpine forests.[69] Forests of fir and Engelmann spruce cover the mountainsides in subalpine areas. Trees grow straight and tall in the lower subalpine forests, but become shorter and more deformed the nearer they are to the tree line.[72] At the tree line, seedlings may germinate on the lee side of rocks and grow only as high as the rock provides wind protection, with any further growth being more horizontal than vertical. The low growth of dense trees is called krummholz, which may become well-established and live for several hundred to a thousand years old.[72]
Enos Mills, the main figure behind the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoyed walking to Lily Lake from his nearby cabin. Wildflowers are common in the spring and early summer. In the winter, the trail around the lake is often suitable for walking in boots, or as a short snowshoe or ski. Other lakes in the Wild Basin include Chasm Lake, Snowbank Lake, Lion Lakes 1 and 2, Thunder Lake, Ouzel Lake, Finch Lake, Bluebird Lake, Pear Lake, and Sandbeach Lake. Many of the lakes have backcountry campsites. Waterfalls include Ouzel Falls, Trio Falls, Copeland Falls, and Calypso Cascades.[47]
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a fabulous, rugged looking canyon, and it's remote enough that it has the feeling of being undiscovered. Steep cliff walls rise up from the Gunnison River, creating a narrow and dramatic canyon. The depth of the canyon is around 2,000 feet, with Gunnison Point and Chasm View at just over 1,800 feet and Warner Point at 2,722 feet.
The park has a total of five visitor centers[9] with park headquarters located at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center—a National Historic Landmark designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West.[10] National Forest lands surround the park including Roosevelt National Forest to the north and east, Routt National Forest to the north and west, and Arapaho National Forest to the west and south, with the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located directly south of the park.[5]
The Western Slope has plenty of charms, including being a dinosaur mecca with plenty of hands-on science, and is the heart of Colorado’s agricultural region. At the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey, visitors can get up close and personal with dinosaur skeletons, a working paleontology lab and realistic robotic dinosaurs. Dedicated to “putting science in the hands of kids,” the Western Colorado Math and Science Center features interactive exhibits in biology, physics, earth and space science, and electronics. From June through October, orchards are laden with some of the sweetest harvests around: cherries, grapes, apples, plums, pears, apricots and peaches. Take an orchard tour or check out the myriad of roadside stands selling fresh produce, jams and ciders. For great biking or strolling, the Colorado Riverfront Trail winds for more than 18 miles through the city of Grand Junction’s picnic grounds, botanical garden, protected wetlands and fishing pier. Buy one/get one free passes are available for six major attractions from the Grand Junction Visitors Center. This “Map to Adventure” includes Dinosaur Journey, Museum of the West, Cross Orchards, the John McConnell Math & Science Center, The Art Center and the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens.
Brian eventually caught one small trout in the Moraine creek - success! - and many more in the other rivers that flowed through the park, both that afternoon and the next day. We gazed at fellow monoliths from the top of tundra trails, and spooked a red fox along a riverway. All the time, my small knitting project lay safe and secure in my pack, ready to emerge anytime we sat for more than a few moments.
The romance of Highland Haven will embrace you the moment you cross the bridge over cool Bear Creek at the entrance to this fairytale lodging. Located on the foothills of the charming town of Evergreen just a half hour drive from Denver, Highland Haven offers almost decadent luxury, total privacy, and outstanding amenities. You can choose between Luxury Suites, Junior Suites, Cottages and Guest Rooms. All are exquisitely decorated with a mix of antiques, luxury textiles, and superbly crafted rustic wood.
There is also plenty for you to explore in the surrounding areas. If you head south, you’ll reach Red Rocks Park, which is known for its red rock formations. Head east, and you’ll find yourself in Denver, where you can experience a taste of the city, complete with shopping and dining options. Head west, and you’ll be in the Rocky Mountains, with options to ski.
A geographical anomaly is found along the slopes of the Never Summer Mountains where the Continental Divide forms a horseshoe–shaped bend for about 6 miles (9.7 km), heading from south–to–north but then curving sharply southward and westward out of the park.[5][27] The sharp bend results in streams on the eastern slopes of the range joining the headwaters of the Colorado River that flow south and west, eventually reaching the Pacific.[5][28] Meanwhile, streams on the western slopes join rivers that flow north and then east and south, eventually reaching the Atlantic.[5][28]
Rocky Mountain National Park is home to many species of animals, including nearly 70 mammals and almost 300 species of birds. This diversity is due to the park's varying topography, which creates a variety of habitats. However, some species have been extirpated from the park, including the gray wolf, the wolverine, the grizzly bear, and the American bison.
The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park – Just a few minutes away from Echo Canyon River Expeditions office, you’ll find Colorado’s Natural Wonder – the Royal Gorge. In 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge was built across the gorge and still stands as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. Buy tickets online or as a rafting package to save a few dollars. The newly rebuilt attractions and visitor’s center enhance your experience of this amazing chasm and expansive view of the Wet Mountain range. There are also trails, located just before the gates of the park at the rest area, that allow visitors to walk or bike a few miles along the rim of the Gorge.
What could be more romantic than enjoying a candlelit dinner for two as you gaze out over the elegant natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains? In Colorado, this is an occurrence that happens on a regular basis thanks to the close proximity to these majestic peaks. The Antlers at Vail has luxurious condos and vacation homes for a great private retreat. Enjoy your proximity to Vail Mountain and curl up by your gas fireplace. The Osprey at Beaver Creek, A RockResort is your perfect romantic getaway with steam showers and stunning fireplaces in your luxurious accommodations. And for a great experience, Mt. Prince Hot Springs Resort has the elegant Princeton Club and gorgeous hot springs to warm and relax you and your sweetheart in bliss. Start planning your own romantic rendezvous to Colorado today!
Cripple Creek / Victor – If you’re a history buff, a wild west fanatic, or a fan of quintessential Colorado scenery, you’ll love the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. Both towns offer a number of easy and fun hikes (we love the Vindicator Valley Trail) that showcase the area’s rich mining history. Visit the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine for a unique trip through 1,000 feet of rock and into a real mine. There are also a number of enchanting local hotels that warrant a night’s stay (or two!) on your authentic Colorado vacation.
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Images of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, ColoradoEnjoy winter in all its beauty and head for the mountains on this incredible 8-hour tour to Rocky Mountain National Park. Around each corner are breathtaking views, alpine lakes and wildlife in a serene setting. Wintertime is the perfect to head to the park as the snow capped mountains are truly breathtaking with the peace and tranquility the mountains have to offer.Duration: 5 hours
Disclaimer: We have attempted to ensure this website is as accurate as possible. However, Excellent Romantic Vacations accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify important information regarding all travel documents, health and safety, customs, and transportation with the appropriate authorities and agents before you travel.
Be the first to stay in one our NEW Estes Park cottage cabins! This Estes park cabin rental is a one bedroom cabin with a queen bed in the bedroom and loft with one queen and two twin mattresses. Don’t worry about the linens, we’ve got that covered at our lovely new Estes park cabin. There is a bathroom with toilet and shower. Satellite TV/DVD player. Full kitchen with oven, fridge, microwave, coffee pot ,along with dishes, pots and pans. Also enjoy a pic a nic table, fire pit and grill just outside your front door.
Boasting a rich history, cozy accommodations, delicious cuisine, and spectacular mountain views, the Baldpate Inn is a traditional mountain getaway that has been enchanting visitors for nearly 100 years. Built in 1917, the inn is located seven miles south of Estes Park next to the Rocky Mountain National Park and offers a variety of things to see and do. Well-appointed guest rooms are decorated with country mountain flair. You’ll find niceties such as handmade quilts and calico dust ruffles, and rooms also feature en-suite bathrooms and spectacular views.
Situated on Vail Square, The Arrabelle sets the standard for luxurious lodging, while its jaw-dropping setting reflects the romantic heritage and ambiance of the European Alps. Here you’ll find architectural touches of Salzburg, Innsbruck and Prague, along with high-end amenities such as personal butler service, ski valet and even grocery delivery. Look forward to heading to the rooftop for laps in the pool and soaking in the whirlpool together while taking in magnificent Rocky Mountain views. You can also relax and unwind together while indulging in treatments at the property’s RockResorts Spa, which offers even more stunning Rockies vistas. Each one of the spacious suites host impressive features like a living room area with a fireplace, ideal for toasting to your new life together while cuddling up next to its warmth.
Explore the nearby great outdoors at the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space or get your adrenaline pumping by rafting on Cache La Poudre River with the Mountain Whitewater Descents Company. Visit Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures to learn about folk art from all over the world. Take the kids to the Farm at Lee Martinez Park to learn about the farm life and play with baby farm animals.
Located in Lions Gate Drive in Winter Park, Winter Park Chateau is a boutique Victorian-style bed and breakfast ideally placed, as it allows visitors to easily explore the surrounding area. The Chateau offers well appointed, comfortable accommodation in the form of eight guest rooms, which feature king, queen, or double beds, designer décor, private bathrooms, and amenities such as flat-screen televisions and wireless Internet. Some of the rooms have fireplaces, jetted spa baths and private balconies with stunning views.
The first week of the park shutdown brought little financial impact, said town manager Frank Lancaster, probably because most tourists had already booked their Christmas stays and couldn't cancel. Along the town's main street Wednesday, tourists peered in candy store windows, shopped for T-shirts and rented snowshoes, and there was little sign the nearby park is largely inaccessible.
Still haven’t packed enough into your Colorado vacation? Make time to see some of the great Colorado mountain attractions — tour a ghost town near Aspen, sail above the mountains in a balloon over Breckenridge, rock out at a music festival in Telluride, check out the nightlife scene in Vail and try your luck at a casino in Black Hawk, Central City or Cripple Creek.
In winter you can try cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails and after an energetic day out there is nothing better than a soak in one of the natural thermal springs. You can visit the Buena Vista Heritage Museum or go on a Ghost Town adventure, visit several working art studios and galleries, or quench your thirst at a local brewery. Things to Do in Buena Vista
After facing near extinction last century, the bighorn sheep population is currently thriving: there are roughly 300–400 of these striking animals in the park. Look for them at the aptly named Sheep Lakes from May through mid-August, when the bighorns descend to eat soil and obtain minerals not found in their high mountain habitat. Their visits generally occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Nature lovers can go hiking, white water rafting, horseback riding or climbing in one of the surrounding national parks, or you could choose to explore historic archaeological sites such as Hovenweep, Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a highlight of any visit and you can combine various adventure sports packages with your scenic train ride. Keep reading for more Colorado points of interest. Things to Do in Durango
Be the first to stay in one our NEW Estes Park cottage cabins! This Estes park cabin rental is a one bedroom cabin with a queen bed in the bedroom and loft with one queen and two twin mattresses. Don’t worry about the linens, we’ve got that covered at our lovely new Estes park cabin. There is a bathroom with toilet and shower. Satellite TV/DVD player. Full kitchen with oven, fridge, microwave, coffee pot ,along with dishes, pots and pans. Also enjoy a pic a nic table, fire pit and grill just outside your front door.
^ This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress document: "Majestic view from the old, one-way, dirt Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in the Front Range of the spectacular and high Rockies in north-central Colorado". Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
The St. Regis Resort offers castle-like grandeur and a staff that will treat you like royalty. It also has a menu of romantic vacation packages that are perfect for honeymooners, and all can be customized just for you and your new spouse. You can choose things like in-room dining, spa gift certificates for its decadent Remede Spa, as well as having flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries and sparkling wine delivered and waiting in your room upon your arrival. The property sits at the base of Aspen Mountain, just steps away to many of Aspen’s top restaurants and shops. The resort has its own eatery onsite too, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as hosting live music at night.
Not everyone wants a honeymoon on the beach or has the time to make it out to a tropical location. Colorado is an amazing destination for a honeymoon. Imagine dipping into a steaming outdoor hot tub right outside your honeymoon cabin, or spending time cuddling next to a cozy fireplace inside. Here are some inviting and romantic cabins all around Colorado that are perfect for a honeymoon.
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Fall River Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoEnter into Rocky Mountain National Park for the day of adventureStop At: Alluvial Fan, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoWalk down the trail and take in the fresh air withness the power of destruction along your walk to a waterfall and alluvial fan. See boulders the size of cars deposited onto the valley floorDuration: 35 minutesStop At: Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoEnjoy a picnic lunch nestled into a picturesque mountain valley next to a streamDuration: 40 minutesStop At: Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoTravel 11 miles into the Alpine along this scenic drive on the highest paved road in North America stopping to take photos and walk down the overlooks and enjoy the majestic views and wildlife sightings.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Alpine Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoVisit the Ranger Station and Gift shop or enjoy a walk up to the highest point on Trail Ridge Road taking in the 360 degree breathtaking mountain viewsDuration: 40 minutesStop At: Many Parks Curve Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoSee the many sides of the park on this short walk with views of Long's Peak and the mountain valleysDuration: 20 minutesPass By: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoExit the park through Beaver Meadows looking for wildlife along the way.Stop At: Downtown Estes Park, Estes Park, ColoradoStroll down Elkhorn Avenue grab a drink or ice-cream and pop into the local shops or visit the historic Stanley Hotel while in this quaint mountain town.Duration: 45 minutes
Sleep helped the altitude sickness, and after a full night in one of the research site’s cabins, I felt much revived. Brian fished in the morning and I scrambled up a rocky outcropping with a graduate student studying pikas through their poop (a non-invasive way to analyze stress levels of this small mammal that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a mouse): but our afternoon was free. What to do?
As of 2010, the preceding one hundred years of records indicated an increase in the average annual temperature of approximately 3 °F (1.7 °C).[48][52][a] The average low temperature has increased more than the average high temperature during the same time period.[48] As a result of the temperature increase, snow is melting from the mountains earlier in the year, leading to drier summers and probably to an earlier, longer fire season.[48] Since the 1990s, mountain pine beetles have reproduced more rapidly and have not died off at their previous mortality rate during the winter months. Consequently, the increased beetle population has led to an increased rate of tree mortality in the park.[53]
Beginning in Durango, the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway is a complete loop that will take you up to Silverton, along the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, over to Placerville, south to Telluride, Dolores, Mancos, and back to Durango. If you have less time or are only planning on heading in one direction, you can do the Silverton to Ouray section beginning from Durango, up to Silverton, over the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, and beyond to Montrose or further north to Grand Junction.
From 9,000 ft (2,700 m) to 11,000 ft (3,400 m),[72] the montane forests give way to subalpine forests.[69] Forests of fir and Engelmann spruce cover the mountainsides in subalpine areas. Trees grow straight and tall in the lower subalpine forests, but become shorter and more deformed the nearer they are to the tree line.[72] At the tree line, seedlings may germinate on the lee side of rocks and grow only as high as the rock provides wind protection, with any further growth being more horizontal than vertical. The low growth of dense trees is called krummholz, which may become well-established and live for several hundred to a thousand years old.[72]
In winter you can try cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails and after an energetic day out there is nothing better than a soak in one of the natural thermal springs. You can visit the Buena Vista Heritage Museum or go on a Ghost Town adventure, visit several working art studios and galleries, or quench your thirst at a local brewery. Things to Do in Buena Vista
