Colorado trade and day trips suggestions

[pcgirl54]

Would love to visit Colorado see mountains, walk around town,light hikes, dine out and day trips. Which area is best that is affordable and what do you suggest as best things to do for 60 year olds. Likely spring ,summer or early fall. Breckinridge,Steamboat Springs or Vail I think were the choices with II and what resort. One person has some mobility issues walking distances.

Many thanks,
pc

 

[RunCat]

Personally, I enjoy Avon/Vail/BC. But I have usually stayed in Avon/BC. Around Avon/BC, I have stayed at the Westin RiverFront (going there next weekend) , Sheraton Mtn. Vista (next summer), Falcon Point (Summer '21), St James Place, Poste Montane, Christy Lodge and a few in Vail as well. I find the town of Avon and Vail Village to be very walkable. There are some nice easy trail in Beaver Creek. And the walking/bike path along the Eagle River is paved. Vail is a short drive away if you want to visit there. Glenwood Springs is about an 1 hour west. Breckenridge is a bit over 1 hour east if you want to visit. Steamboat is about 2 hours away. There are wineries in Palisade, about 1 hour past Glenwood. So, Avon/Vail/BC, IMO, would be a good base for exploring.
I do like Breckenridge and Steamboat. (Been to Breckenridge about 4 times this year so far) But with the mobility issues that you described, and with Breckenridge being above 9000', I'm not sure that would be an ideal spot. (Vail/BC/Avon is around 8000')
I have stayed in Steamboat as well. And it is a very nice town and a bit more town like than Vail. I'm not sure if the day-trip options are as good.
Most of the resorts in the Vail Valley are good. I found Falcon Point and Christy Lodge to be a bit less nice than the Marriott/Westin/Sheraton. Also, if you go in the summer, be aware that some of the older timeshares may not have AC. Probably not an issue in the Spring or Fall.

 

[PigsDad]

I would add Estes Park to your list. Great little town, entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and plenty to do there.

Kurt

 

[rickandcindy23]

Steamboat Springs is now my favorite place. Staying at the Sheraton there is a great location for the mountain coaster. I loved the lift up the mountain as well. Our granddaughter just loved it, too.

There is a nice hike to see a waterfall. It's a National Park so we were free with our senior pass. We enjoyed a few restaurants in the area, but restaurants are limited hours because once laid off, people aren't going back to their jobs. Help wanted signs everywhere.

What resort did you trade into? I would go to Estes Park through RMNP as a nice day trip, but it would be a lot of driving from just about everywhere.

 

[RunCat]

I would add Estes Park to your list. Great little town, entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and plenty to do there.

Kurt

I like Estes as well. . . Albeit, it reminds me a lot of Avalon CA. I also live within 40 minutes of Estes but we sadly don't visit very often; usually only when people visit from out of town.

 

[pcgirl54]

Thanks everyone for your input so very helpful. I do want to visit RM and Estes have a NP pass sounds just great. Nice to know towns are 1-2 hrs apart.

 

[Krteczech]

In Colorado, Spring time till mid-April is a ski season and is followed by mud season till around Memorial Day. Based on my own experience living here full time for four years, mud season is better some place else…

 

[RunCat]

In Colorado, Spring time till mid-April is a ski season and is followed by mud season till around Memorial Day. Based on my own experience living here full time for four years, mud season is better some place else…

I think it depends on where you go and what you intend to do. The low seasons in the mountains (mid-April May, & Oct-late Nov) can be met with occasional snow and perhaps snow on the ground. You may also see some businesses closed due to the lack of traffic. Weather will also be much cooler. If you are prepared for the idiosyncrasies of a CO Spring, it can be enjoyed.

FWIW, in 2020, it snowed at my home, near Hygiene, CO, in every month except Jul/Aug. And, yes, it snowed around Labor Day in 2020.

 

[pcgirl54]

Thanks for the weather info I had no idea so a summer week may be best.

 

[Krteczech]

Depends what you are looking for. Weather can be unpredictable, but to cross RMNP on Trail Ridge Rd from Granby to Estes generally not possible before Memorial Day weekend Due to snow. Beautiful wild flowers don’t come out till about second week of July and full bloom lasts till mid August. Aspen trees are usually turning gold late September to end of October depending on elevation. If you decide to stay in Vail/Avon/Beaver Creek area, there is Aspen about two hours west for nice walkable mountain town experience. Also day trip to Colorado National Monument ( not overrun by tourist) near Grand Junction with short stop in Historical Glenwood Springs may interest you.

 

[Bunk]

I would add Estes Park to your list. Great little town, entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and plenty to do there.

Kurt

HI Kurt and everyone else: We are booked for Grand Timber Lodge in Breckenridge this summer. Planning on spending about a week visiting other places in Colorado

Thinking of spending one or two nights in Estes Park so we can see Rocky Mountain National Park. Can you recommend a place to stay?

Also have the same question about your recommending a place to stay near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for one night.

Next thinking of spending one or two nights at a Marriott Hotel in Grand Junction so we can tour Colorado National Monument. Looks like there are four Marriott hotels there, all of which are Category 4. Do you have any recommendations?

Also, we're looking to go to Colorado Springs to see Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Do you think that's too much for a day trip from Breckenridge? If so can you recommend a Marriott hotel in Colorado Springs?.

Finally, we might have a midnight flight out of DIA. Can you recommend a place near the airport to spend half a day in the afternoon of our flight home? Not looking for anything that is strenuous.

Thanks everyone.

 

[RunCat]

Depends what you are looking for. Weather can be unpredictable, but to cross RMNP on Trail Ridge Rd from Granby to Estes generally not possible before Memorial Day weekend Due to snow. Beautiful wild flowers don’t come out till about second week of July and full bloom lasts till mid August. Aspen trees are usually turning gold late September to end of October depending on elevation. If you decide to stay in Vail/Avon/Beaver Creek area, there is Aspen about two hours west for nice walkable mountain town experience. Also day trip to Colorado National Monument ( not overrun by tourist) near Grand Junction with short stop in Historical Glenwood Springs may interest you.

If you are visiting RMNP after July 4th or so, I would recommend taking the Old Fall River Road from Estes to the Visitor Center It is a well graded dirt road. One-way traffic only going up. You can drive it with a 2-wheel drive.

 

[PigsDad]

HI Kurt and everyone else: We are booked for Grand Timber Lodge in Breckenridge this summer. Planning on spending about a week visiting other places in Colorado

Thinking of spending one or two nights in Estes Park so we can see Rocky Mountain National Park. Can you recommend a place to stay?

I live only about a hour away from Estes Park, so I have never looked into staying there. However, check out the iconic Stanley Hotel (it was used for the outside shots in the movie "The Shining". It would be a very unique place to stay, and I have seen them advertise some package deals at times.

Also, we're looking to go to Colorado Springs to see Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Do you think that's too much for a day trip from Breckenridge? If so can you recommend a Marriott hotel in Colorado Springs?

That would be a fair amount of driving in a single day (it is a 2+ hour drive each way), but it is a quite scenic drive (no interstate). Personally, I would want to stay an night in Colorado Springs instead of spending 4-5 hours driving in the same day as touring the area.

Finally, we might have a midnight flight out of DIA. Can you recommend a place near the airport to spend half a day in the afternoon of our flight home? Not looking for anything that is strenuous.

Nothing really close to DIA, IMO. You could spend some time in LoDo / 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver.

Kurt

 

[Krteczech]

West entrance to RMNP is from Grand Lake, also very picturesque town. You cannot go wrong with accommodations either in Estes or in Grand Lake. RMNP is fairly small and the drive between these two towns is less than one hour.

 

[RunCat]

Also, out of Breckenridge, you may want to consider a drive over Boreas Pass. It is the old train route. Some historical stuff at the top. The South Park Museum in FairPlay is worth a 1-2 hours; history of mining and some old buildings.

 

[Laurie]

Also have the same question about your recommending a place to stay near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for one night.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is wonderful, and so under-rated, under-visited. We ended up going there almost spontaneously because of an unexpected snowstorm near Denver on a cross-country trip in 2017. We saw most of it even tho we arrived mid-late afternoon, and I think we walked all the little trails to the overlooks.

Looking back thru my ressies, here's where we stayed, and it was fine:

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www.tripadvisor.com

 

[Laurie]

Looking back at the map, due to our limited time we only drove the South Rim road of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and walked all those little trails. You may have more time to see both sides.

This was a late April 2+-week road trip thru desert CA, AZ, UT, and CO, visiting many parks, bringing my father's car back east from CA after he died, and leaving a sprinkling of his ashes at beautiful (and uncrowded) overlooks, since he enjoyed visiting our western parks. This park was actually one of the most memorable, partly because it was so unexpected and unplanned, and just different, and almost NO other people. The late afternoon gave us opportunity to see the changing light on the cliffs. Hope you enjoy.