Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

[Fresh Tendrils]

Hey guys,

We're in the preliminary stages of planning a vacation to Colorado with another couple. This is definitely a next year thing so we have plenty of time to save, plan, book, etc.

Unfortunately, I have no idea about Colorado other than it looks absolutely beautiful and has plenty to do outdoors. When is the best time to go? Where to stay? What visit and see? Where to eat and drink? Etc.

Can any fellow OSers offer up some suggestions?

[kehlis]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Are you flying into Denver or driving to the state?

I visit my grandparents in Colorado at least once a year and lived in Colorado Springs for about five years so I can help a bit.



First suggestion for you though (still on my bucket list) is to find a way to stay at least a night at The Stanley.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

We would definitely fly in. That is the one thing I do know for sure.

[Jr.]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Depends greatly on what part of the state you'll be in. There's a lot of cool stuff in the state, but a lot of nothing in areas too

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[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

I think we would most likely stay around Boulder/Denver, but I was recommended Breckenridge for something a little bit more calm especially if we want to do a ski trip.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Are you flying into Denver or driving to the state?

I visit my grandparents in Colorado at least once a year and lived in Colorado Springs for about five years so I can help a bit.



First suggestion for you though (still on my bucket list) is to find a way to stay at least a night at The Stanley.

Depends greatly on what part of the state you'll be in. There's a lot of cool stuff in the state, but a lot of nothing in areas too

Sent from my SM-G970U using Operation Sports mobile app

Went a couple years ago and had a blast with the help of these two.

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[Jr.]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

I think we would most likely stay around Boulder/Denver, but I was recommended Breckenridge for something a little bit more calm especially if we want to do a ski trip.

Breck is pretty awesome. Keystone is similar and might be a bit cheaper, Breck can get expensive.

If you do during the Summer, Lake Dillon is close by and is good for water sports stuff (though the water will be freezing even in the summer).

In the Denver area, there's so much to do, you'll have to be a little specific with what you're looking for. Rockies games are always a good time, Coors is one of my favorite stadiums to watch a game. There are microbreweries everywhere downtown, great food spots, comedy clubs, good bars (sports and more nightclub style). Lots of things to do outdoors just an hour or so drive away.

I'm not as familiar with the Boulder area

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Obviously hiking is a thing to do in Colorado. Driving over the mountains--the locals call them the 14'ers. Surviving the pop-up downpours and mid-afternoon summer thunderstorms. Microbreweries. Live music at night out on the patio on extremely starry nights. All good things.

Seems like there's some helpful locals that know the Denver/Boulder area pretty well. I've been to both Boulder and Denver before but don't know it well enough to suggest anything the locals don't already know. I would second taking in a game at Coors Field though.

I actually spent a week out in the southwestern part of the state back in August of 2005 and the Cortez/Durango/Telluride area is pretty good for hiking, camping, drinking, and sightseeing (Mesa Verde and the 4-corners region are both pretty cool). I drove 7 hours from one corner of the state to the opposite corner and one thing I remember really vividly was it being like 50 degrees and rainy and then descending down into Pueblo where it was like 95 degrees and sunny. Some pretty interesting terrain/climate for those of us from flatter parts of the country.

Some parts of the state seem kinda hipster-ish, but no state is perfect. lol

[kehlis]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Jr. is going to be the Denver expert. While I've been there often, it's often been with family and not necessarily been to go have fun.

I would third Coors field as a must.

My only other suggestion if your staying in the Denver area would take a day trip down to Colorado Springs to see Pike's Peak. There is a lot of fun things to do in Manitou Springs, and you can stop by Garden of the Gods which is absolutely stunningly beautiful.

Not anything to do there that you can't do in Denver as far as food, drinking so I would plan it as just a day trip. It's only about a 45 minute drive (depending on what part of Denver you are staying in).

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

If you are staying in Denver -

Last time I went I stayed on what they call the 16th St. Mall and that's pretty cool. It's near Coors Field and the central transportation hub.

A good quick day trip is taking the train out to Golden. Cool little city in a valley with the Coors brewery (note that there are no tours on Tuesdays), a little microbrewery called Golden City Brewery: The 2nd largest brewery in Golden. Plus a cool hiking trail right along the river that flows through downtown, which has a lot of restaurants and bars to choose from.

You can also take the bus or rent a car and head to Boulder. There's a really cool outdoor mall in the city center there. Also, take a walk around the University of Colorado campus and University Hill neighborhood - eat at The Sink. If you rent the car, make sure to take a side trip to Avery Brewery.

Next time I go, I'll definitely hit up the mountains. That's the one thing I haven't done on my trips out there yet.

Oh, and if you're planning on visiting the....shops....make sure you have a current, non-temp form of ID. If you just renewed your license and only have your clipped old one with the paperwork, that doesn't fly. I learned that one out the hard way on one of my trips.

[kt-od]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes also has the Stanley Hotel. Which is the haunted hotel that inspired Stephen King's book, The Shining. It's a must see, imo. I'm actually going to be in Estes the 1st week of June. My brother in law is proposing to his girlfriend. He wants the whole family there to celebrate. We're staying in the Stanley that night.

Red Rocks is cool too. The ampitheater is great. A lot of great bands have played there.

My suggestion is go in the summer. It's beautiful. I hate the cold, so I'm biased. But there is just something about Colorado in the summer that's surreal.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Haven't been able to pin down any dates yet. I was leaning towards August because I don't really want to play in the snow the whole time. Unfortunately, August vacations are pretty much out since my wife will be working for UVA soon.

What time of the year do you guys suggest? Our friends want to do "later in the year" (November/December), but I'm afraid it will be nothing but snow and not much to do see/do. I'd rather get some hiking in, maybe some kayaking, etc. I've never skiied or snowboarded so those things don't really interest me as much as the other things.

[jeremym480]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Anybody ever been to Pagosa Springs?

[Jr.]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Snow isn't bad until January. The last few years have stayed pretty mild into November. The mountains will have snow but Denver likely wouldn't have much. October is a really nice time of year

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[Blzer]

Re: Trip to Colorado: Suggestions & Recommendations

Cinzetti's (all you can eat buffet) lives in Colorado.

Just avoid the sushi.