Thanks for the links - those will be very helpful! I'll check them out in detail. If others do not chime in, I will address some of your other questions about Estes/RMNP later. I always find the traveler room tips and traveler photos helpful.Īnd do check sites like vrbo, homeaway and flipkey as there are some wonderful vacation homes in Estes Park.Įstes Park is not that large so almost all lodging is both close to town and close to RMNP. Note cabins and condos are usually under specialty lodging. Do you want a riverside cabin or condo, great mountain views, private outdoor hot tub or in room 2 person spa, rustic or luxury? There are so many choices (hotels, cabins, condos, vacation homes, B&B's) and almost all are under $250 night. The other good thing about the timing of your visit is you will get lower lodging rates in Estes Park than the peak summer season. If you have miles/hours/difficulty per hike in mind, we can make suggestions. To get you started on planning your hikes, these are 2 very good sites. Estes Park does have a variety of festivals and events on weekends in September which bring people to town, but not like the summer season. The weather is just about perfect for hiking as temperatures are good and afternoon thundershowers are less likely. That means no crowds in town or on the hiking trails. Once you get past Labor Day (September 2 this year) and before fall foliage/elk rut (starting around September 21), RMNP and Estes Park experience a bit of a lull in visitation especially during the week. Other favorite vacation spots: Asheville, NC, Ithaca, NY, Olympic Peninsula & Seattle, WAĮarly September is a great time to visit RMNP and Estes Park. Not interested in: amusement parks, crazy adventurous stuff (sky diving, white water rafting, etc.), watching sports, skiing, boating, fishing, super tourist-y stuff Other things we generally like: museums, art, history, books, gardens, animals, relaxation, shopping, music, movies, theater, scenic drives, mini golf. Our budget is flexible - we don't need to be super cheap about everything but we're not millionaires either. In other words, we don't really want to be sleeping in a different place every night.
We want to see and do a lot, but without feeling manic about fitting it all in. We don't need a lot of fancy amenities, so I think location will be the big factor here. $250/night or less would probably be ideal. Scenery and internet are huge pluses! I'm not a bed & breakfast person, but if there's a GREAT one I might consider it. So tell me, where is the best food in the Denver / Boulder / Estes Park area? We're willing to splurge if the food is good enough.Īs far as lodging, I'm thinking it might be best to split up our trip, spending a few nights in the city (Denver / Boulder?) and then a few nights closer to RMNP (Estes Park / Grand Lake?). Also, I LOVE chocolate (and sweets in general) - especially the really good stuff! We both appreciate some excellent coffee too. I'm more a hard cider / spirits kind of girl. My husband is really into beer, so breweries would be fun to visit. Not really interesting in chain restaurants or fast food. We like places that focus on local, farm-to-table type food, but we'll eat just about anywhere as long as the food is fantastic. Are there any can't-miss spots? Any recommended hikes? Any hiking guide books we should pick up before our trip?Īside from hiking and photography, the other thing we're really into is good food! We're omnivores, not too picky, with no big food restrictions. Also, I'm a nature photographer! So I would love to see great vistas, waterfalls, wildlife and all kinds of other beauty. I have no idea how altitude will affect either of us. I love national parks, so Rocky Mountain National Park is high on my list of things to see! We both love hiking, though we're used to hiking in Shenandoah National Park and I'm sure hiking in RMNP is a whole different ball game. How feasible is it to drive between Denver / Estes Park / RMNP? On the map it doesn't look too far, but maps don't take traffic into account! I assume Denver is the best airport to fly into? We'll probably rent a car. I have some family near Boulder I would like to pay a visit to, so I'm thinking we'll end up in the Denver / Boulder / Estes Park general area. We'll be there for one week in early September. Colorado is such a big and beautiful state, though, I'm a little overwhelmed by all the choices! I was hoping you could help us narrow down some places to go, things to do, and food to eat.
My husband and I (in our 30s, no kids) are planning our first trip to Colorado in early September.
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