Though named for steamboats that once ran down the river, Steamboat Springs is actually famous for its skiing, so bring your gear to the Steamboat Ski Resort to hit the slopes or take a lesson. If ski trips (or apres ski festivities) aren’t your thing, don’t worry. There’s also the Yampa River Core Trail, Strawberry Park Hot Springs, and craft breweries like Butcherknife Brewing Company to keep you entertained.
Owners Wendye Sykes and Shelley Powers came to Estes Park from San Francisco looking for an escape from the grind of everyday city life — and that’s exactly what they’ve created at River Spruce. Offering nine different cabins, you’ll find lodgings suitable for couples and families all nestled amidst the scenic Rocky Mountain wilderness and along the Big Thompson River.
It’s hard to beat the majestic setting at The Peaks Resort & Spa in Telluride. This property is surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Rockies in the southwestern region of the state, and is particularly renowned for its spa. Here you can indulge in a variety of rejuvenating treatments like hot stone therapy, soak in the eucalyptus-filled Jacuzzis or take advantage of personal training sessions. Enjoy your days taking part in outdoor adventures like mountain biking or hiking the spectacular trails and then come back to enjoy a
A sanctuary just for mature audiences all year long, Stonebrook Resort on Fall River offers plenty of peaceful settings, from secluded outdoor hot tubs overlooking the river to private hiking trails that lead to Rocky Mountain National Park, just 2 miles away. Downtown Estes Park, with snug restaurants, breweries and wineries well-suited for a couples’ night out, is just 2 miles the other way.
During the winter most of Trail Ridge Road is closed due to heavy snow, limiting motorized access to the edges of the park.[68] Winter activities include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing which are possible from either the Estes Park or Grand Lake entrances. On the east side near Estes Park, skiing and snowshoeing trails are available off Bear Lake Road, such as the Bear Lake, Bierstadt Lake, and Sprague Lake trails and at Hidden Valley. Slopes for sledding are also available at Hidden Valley. The west side of the park near Grand Lake also has viable snowshoeing trails.[68][88] Backcountry skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed after climbing up one of the higher slopes, especially late in the snow season after avalanche danger has subsided[89], and technical climbing remains also a possibility, although typically differing in style from the summer months[90].
Another benefit of staying in an Estes Park lodging is the proximity to a number of diverse restaurants. Everyone on your vacation will be sure to find something appealing. Try Himalayan Curry & Kebob, which offers authentic Indian food, or Nepal's Cafe for Nepalese food. Pasta lovers should pay a visit to Mama Rose's, with all manner of Italian dishes accompanied by an extensive offering of wine, beer, and spirits. Mama Rose's is also great for diners with food allergies or those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.
There are multiple scenic trails to hike and challenging cycling paths to discover as well as many more activities like zip-lining and horseback riding. You can explore the history and architecture of historic sites like Miramont Castle and Manitou Cliff Dwellings, visit the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, or enjoy some pampering at a day spa before catching a show at the Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Theatre.
Enjoy LUXURY mountain cabins at our resort with outstanding VALUE. "A Home Away from Home Getaway." 1, 2, and 3-bdrm condos available with fully applianced kitchens, living room fireplaces & private decks overlooking Fall River. Private hot tubs & spa suites are also available. Located only 1 mi. to RMNP, 3 mi. to Downtown. FREE: Stocked river fishing, Wi-Fi, local calls, movies, games, indoor & outdoor activities. Estes Park Condos Details
Another one of the state’s most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations, Steamboat Springs may be a winter wonderland during the chillier months of the year, but the summer brings an endless landscape of green dotted with brilliant wildflowers. This is when this Wild West town really comes alive, with visitors enjoying fly fishing, inner tube rides and rafting trips on the Yampa River, endless scenic hiking and mountain biking trails, and natural hot springs that are ideal for soothing sore muscles afterward. If you can be here around late June/early July, you can attend the legendary annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park festival which boasts an extensive display of colorful hot air balloons along with some 50 artist vendors, live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and an interactive children’s art area.
With many peaks and granite rock formations, there are lots of rock climbing opportunities. Some favorite climbs include the aptly-named Lumpy Ridge and Longs Peak. Whether you prefer bouldering, mountaineering, rock climbing, or ice climbing, the park has something for climbers of all levels. In the winter, opportunities for snowshoeing, skiing, and sledding draw all levels of explorers. If you're in the western part of the park, visit Grand Lake. This breathtaking lake is the state's largest natural body of water, promising scenic views and plenty of outdoor fun.
Snow-fed rivers tumble over granite boulders in the Rocky Mountains, creating an ideal environment for fly-fishing and whitewater rafting. The state's most famous river -- the Colorado -- flows from headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, with alternating stretches of heart-pounding hydraulics and quiet areas where you can wade out and cast your fly. Stay at a Bureau of Land Management campground along the shore, or at private riverside cabins such as those found at Colorado Cabin Adventures 3 miles from Grand Lake. For a more remote experience, stay at Cottonwood Cove, tucked along the banks of the Rio Grande just downstream from the picturesque mining town of Creede.
Owners Wendye Sykes and Shelley Powers came to Estes Park from San Francisco looking for an escape from the grind of everyday city life — and that’s exactly what they’ve created at River Spruce. Offering nine different cabins, you’ll find lodgings suitable for couples and families all nestled amidst the scenic Rocky Mountain wilderness and along the Big Thompson River.
Keystone is the ultimate year-round outdoor playground. Families will discover a wealth of things to do to keep the kids, and themselves happy, with everything from a Kidtopia Play Park, Keystone Science School Day Camps and the summer snow tubing hill to stand up paddle boarding and boating on the lake, miniature golf, GPS Geo-Cache Adventures and dinner wagon rides. Then there are the festivals, like the Model Boat Regata, the Snake River Festival, and Cirque D’Wheels. If you stay at Keystone Resort, the Kidtopia Children’s Theatre hosted in the Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre is free every Friday.
Hilton Denver Inverness in Englewood is set at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Located 20 minutes from Denver, the resort is a fun weekend getaway. Hotel activities include golf, tennis, walking and jogging. There is also an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, whirlpools, saunas and massage services. The Golf Course is a 18-hole PGA championship course, open an average of 300 days per year. There are 284 luxury guest rooms and 18 suites. The 32 Club Floor Rooms offer exclusive access to the Mountain View Lounge for continental breakfast, and scenic views of the Rocky Mountains from the top floor of the hotel.
Known for its prominence in the movie ‘The Shining,’ the historic Stanley Hotel is the centerpiece of Estes Park. But for a more secluded, romantic stay, choose an intimate place like the Dunraven Inn, where a friendly and casual ambiance puts a soul at rest. If you’re looking for a place in the woods with fabulous mountain views and a warmly bubbling jetted tub that’s just a short walk to town, choose a Prospect cabin. Just outside the door of your vacation rental and along the scenic drives, you’ll catch wildlife frolicking in the fresh air.
The Centennial State is dotted with cool little towns, in the heart of the Rockies, as little as 1 hour and up to 3 hours from Denver. This is where I discovered the historic and romantic Palace Hotel in Salida, a boutique hotel that stole my heart — and it will do the same to you. Located steps from the banks of the Arkansas River, the newly renovated Palace Hotel is in a red-brick building located across from the Riverside Park. Think edgy Victorian and recycled furniture, an eclectic mix of old and new. Photovoltaic panels line the roof of the historic building, providing renewable electricity.
Dinosaur National Monument, in northwest Colorado, combines dramatic scenery with natural and cultural history to create one of Colorado's most interesting sites. Dinosaur remains embedded in exposed rock walls reveal evidence of the giants that once roamed these areas. Petroglyphs offer insight into the cultures and people that lived here long ago, and surrounding it all are cliff walls and the Green and Yampa Rivers snaking through the otherwise dry landscape.
Morrison is not a very far drive from Denver, but you’ll still feel like you’ve escaped for a special weekend away for two. This bed and breakfast is a beautiful spot to celebrate Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or any special occasion. You’ll love the amazingly breathtaking views from the hot tub suites, with stunning panoramas of the Colorado evergreens covered in snow. Plus, Arrowhead Manor is just a short drive to The Fort restaurant for an incredibly romantic meal. There are also many other fun things to enjoy during your escape for the weekend, as you’ll be close enough to enjoy any of the entertainment options in Denver, or even catch a show at Red Rocks, depending on the season.
Trail Ridge Road is 48 miles (77 km) long and connects the entrances in Grand Lake and Estes Park.[92][93] Running generally east–west through many hairpin turns,[5] the road crosses Milner Pass through the Continental Divide[93] at an elevation of 10,758 ft (3,279 m).[92][94] The highest point of the road is 12,183 feet (3,713 m),[93] with eleven miles of the road being above tree line which is approximately 11,500 feet (3,505 m).[92] The road is the highest continuously paved highway in the country,[93] and includes many large turnouts at key points to stop and observe the scenery.[92]
Home to the Steamboat ski resort, Steamboat Springs is a city in Colorado’s Yampa Valley. One of the main attractions here are the geothermal hot springs, which people come to experience for its healing properties. The Old Town Hot Springs also has water slides and swimming pools, while the ski resort has six peaks including Mount Werner for the serious snowboarding and skiing enthusiast.
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]
