donnie61

were going on march 10th, looking for tubing areas, were not much on skiing. Also where is good food in the area? also checking out canon city, salida, leadville. what else can you suggest? is there snow this time of year?

Gretchen

LOTS and LOTS of snow.

yale

Buena Vista is a really small town. Where are you traveling from? Tubing? I've only ever rafted from BV. And not at this time of year. Way too cold and a lot of snow like the other poster said. There are a few rafting companies down there if you're interested in coming back closer to summer - they can take you to Browns Canyon - some of the best rafting in CO. You also have great access to the Collegiate Peaks in Buena Vista. My husband has been know to camp and hike there this time of year, but you have to be outfitted correctly and know what you're doing. There's not much in Canon City (a jail, Royal Gorge) or Salida (my brother fishes there in warmer weather). Coyote Cantina is a Mexican restaurant we've been to several times at the main intersection entering Buena Vista. Sorry I don't have more to add.

virginia

yale i believe donnie61 meant tubing with an inner tube or specially covered inner tube on SNOW. and donnie its been too long (sigh) for me to tell you where to go but i'm sure ppl in bv can suggest places.
the best mexican food in the state is in leadville at 'the grill' on elm street. as you are driving into town from bv, you will see the driveway to the clg on your right. look to your left and you will see GRILL painted on their rooftop. these folks roast their own chiles, which they travel to new mexico to select each year. not fast, not fancy - just excellent.
the view in leadville is truly stunning. you are surrounded almost 360's by 14,000 ft peaks.
instead of canyon city which is oh so dull and unattractive (imho) why not head over monarch pass to gunnison. a lovely drive and more interesting area to visit. you could go to black canyon of the gunnison which is incredibly picturesque with snow!
also in bv find the mt. princeton hot springs. a unique place with some manmade pools and others sort of built into the river.
if you want to ski just a little go to ski cooper just north of leadville on hwy 24. it's the small leadville town ski area. 1/2 day tickets are 25/18/15, rentals 13/11/5.
i don't actually know if anyone in leadville,bv,salida area is running sled dog trips but that might be fun for your family. in leadville you could ask for info at a place on the main street called the dee hive.

seasweetie

Got to agree with Virginia about Canon City - although Royal Gorge is near there, and it's worth a visit. I Canon City itself to be a bit depressing. Leadville is a really charming little town, it's got a lot of the old mining town feel, a great cemetary, a classic bar (that I think used to be a brothel?), an Opera House that still has productions, and there's a train you can take up into the mountains which is a lovely ride. It's REALLY cold in Leadville. Buena Vista is pretty quiet - I, too, love the Coyote Cantina, and my FAVORITE Hot Springs is Cottonwood, up towards Cottonwood Pass - I think it's a little more hippie-esque than Mt. Princeton.

virginia

there are several historic bars in leadville. the silver dollar on harrison ave (the main street) has been there forever. owned and operated by donnie and pattie mcmahon since forever. pattie was once a "real" showgirl in vegas - but i digress. the place seasweetie mentions is the pastime on west 4th st. actually the connected building one closer to harrison ave was the brothel.
re the actual bars. the wooden back structures with mirrors. very nice example at silver dollar with a couple pieces of original glass still in place. i remember the night larry d threw something and broke one section. pattie was heartbroken (well, and mad) also the one in the pastime in nice but i don't think it has old glass. also at the grill i think the top part is old.
when you are in leadville remember that this is where the unsinkable molly brown was from, also horace and baby doe tabor (big in co history) - on the side of the opera house you can still see where the blding had a walk-way to the hotel next door. rumor goes that horace would attend the opera through the front door and baby doe (she was young & cute - augusta his wife not so much) would sneak in through the special entrance and join him in his box. doc holidays last gun fight was there and it was once the largest city in co and was almost the capitol.
can't think of a single reason not to go to cottonwood and mt princeton!