Christmas in Colorado

Old Oct 15th, 2017, 09:00 AM
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Christmas in Colorado

My family and I are arriving to Denver Colorado on December 23. We will be in Colorado for seven days. I would like any recommendations of places to stay, see/visit, activities to do, and where to eat. I would also like to know where is a good place to eat Christmas dinner preferably in Aspen. We have rented a car to be able to drive around Colorado to see as much as we can since it is our first time there.
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Old Oct 15th, 2017, 09:48 AM
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Arrange your lodging as soon as possible, Christmas (and ski season) is extremely popular in the mountains. You might not be able to do a lot of driving around (snow, passes, etc.) that time of year, so if your intent is an Aspen Christmas, you should probably nail that down.
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Old Oct 15th, 2017, 10:38 AM
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sylvia is right. Make your reservations now.

If Aspen works for you, the venerable historic Hotel Jerome would be the perfect place for a Christmas dinner. It looks like they will have buffets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

https://hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com/resort/
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Old Oct 15th, 2017, 12:12 PM
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If you can't make it to Aspen for some reason, then another option is Boulder's Boulderado, which also puts out a nice spread.

Ditto on advance reservations.
http://www.boulderado.com/event/chri...ffet.aspx#gref
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Old Oct 15th, 2017, 07:12 PM
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The week of Christmas and New Years is the busiest two week in the mountains. You need to have reservations - both lodging and meals in place now especially if going to Aspen. Aspen is four hours from Denver in good weather and traffic. While Dec is a light snow month - generally - it is good to have a plan B should it become snowy.

But to give you a better answer we need to know a few more details about what you want to do or trying to do.
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Old Oct 16th, 2017, 02:26 AM
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Are you going to ski?
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 08:56 AM
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We have never skied before but would like to learn. We would prefer more of a course meal instead of a buffet. Has anyone had experience in Fort Collins?
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 10:38 AM
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Why Fort Collins? It's a nice town, but not in the mountains.

In December at Christmastime, you might want to minimize the amount of driving you do. Weather can be iffy, and roads can be busy.

How many members in your family are traveling?

Devils Thumb Resort & Ranch in Tabernash, CO, is excellent. They will be serving holiday dinners at their Ranch House Restaurant, which will be seated courses served. Their Heck's Tavern will be serving a buffet. Take your pick.

http://www.devilsthumbranch.com

Rooms are pretty expensive the week of Christmas, though. Like $399 to $499.
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 04:36 PM
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I'm in Fort Collins. Great town but I don't have any Christmas dinner recommendations. If we are here and not at friends or just at home, then we typically wind up at an Asian joint since they are open. (We have no family around.)

The town has changed a lot in the last few years and no doubt there are options I'm not aware of, but you'd be better off in Denver / Boulder environs, or a mountain town.

We've eaten at Heck's Tavern on MoBro's rec, not for Christmas, but it is quite nice and memorable. You can probably find cheaper accommodation in nearby Winter Park (for skiing), Granby, or even Grand Lake, which is still within driving distance.
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 06:24 PM
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With your reference about Fort Collins and Aspen, really beginning to think you don't have a clue about Colorado. You need to come back and describe what you are trying to do. Cannot help without more information.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 02:46 AM
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Fmpden said it rather abruptly, but we do need to know what your plans are--how many in the family, how many may want to learn to ski, is this a "tour" to see colorado.
First, Colorado in the winter is absolutely beautiful with the snow. It is also enjoyed by MANY others at Christmas, principally to ski, so the ski areas are heavily booked, with premium holiday rates. There will be places to have Christmas dinner to serve all these visitors, also at premium rates.
Learning to ski is wonderful, but it is also a commitment of at least a couple of days and a goodly amount of money per person per day.
So maybe you can help us help you more with some info.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 07:53 AM
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Nelson is right. I'd forgotten to mention that Devil's Thumb Ranch owns two less-expensive hotels in Winter Park, which give you use of the facilities at the Ranch:
http://www.devilsthumbranch.com/find...ccommodations/

Please clarify what you're looking for in Colorado, ariescarla.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 11:53 AM
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Hi all thanks for your replies! It will be our first time in Colorado and we wanted to see as many cities as we can. We were planning on going to Aspen, Vail, Glenwood, Fort Collins and Boulder. It will be four of us traveling and also a dog. We would like to do fun activities like tubing and snow mobiling, etc. What is the best city to spend Christmas? I would like somewhere that has lots of Christmas spirit.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 12:46 PM
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Uh oh. Reality check.

That's 6 cities counting Denver, in 7 days. Four people in a vehicle with a dog.
Don't do it.

Plus, lodging is already tight over the holidays. You'll want a condo, and you won't be able to rent one for just a single night. They will require a longer stay.

It's expensive, too. You didn't mention your budget for lodging.

I did a quick peak at VRBO, for a 2 bdrm condo in Aspen that allows dogs, Dec 23 - Dec 28. One available, at $1500/night.

Vail, same dates, about $500/night.

Dillon, about $440/night. One condo left.

You didn't mention Steamboat Springs, but there it's at least $300/night on VRBO.

Glenwood Springs, Basalt or Carbondale would be cheaper, but they lack the wow factor you want.

Fraser, which is near Winter Park, has a couple of condos for around $300/night.

Trailhead Inn in Winter Park has openings, for about $350/night. They allow dogs, but I don't know if that increases the price. Vasquez Creek Inn is full.

So, your decisions have narrowed down to what place has the lodging you can afford, and allows pets.

Better find someplace quickly.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 01:13 PM
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Have you looked at a map of Colorado?? Aspen is four hours or more in a SWesterly direction, Fort Collins is about an hour and a half north of downtown Denver at the peak tourist time in the Denver area. What you propose is not making a lot of sense. My vote for best city for Christmas (we done it twice) is Breckenridge. It is an old Victorian mining town that dresses up nicely for Christmas/New Years. But it will be crowded. I would throw Aspen in there also but it is over run by super rich at that time of year. Trump's children will probably be there. Frisco is not too bad either and it is close to Breckenridge. Also Georgetown at the foot of the climb up to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels is very nice at Christmas. You might find some housing in that area and Loveland Valley/Basin at the tunnels is not a bad place to try skiing if you want just a taste.

Not sure why Ft. Collins is on your list. It is a nice college town but nothing special as to location. Boulder Mall is pretty at that time of year but again nothing special beyond the university. I would drop both from your list.

As mentioned earlier you will have encounter 7 day min rentals in most of the ski areas. So it will be difficult to find single nights except at the last minute if lucky. Most of the better properties will be rented by now.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 01:14 PM
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PS ---- where are you coming from?????
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 01:48 PM
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Here's an option that might work: YMCA of the Rockies, in Estes Park, just outside Rocky mountain national park, and the Y north of Winter Park, Snow Mountain Ranch. Both have cabins and rooms and many recreational options. There's a minimal fee to join YMCA, and you might be able to get reservations still (I've been lucky twice).
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 02:50 PM
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Great idea, sylvia.
We are very familiar with Snow Mountain Ranch, and it’s a wonderful and affordable place.

But their website says they are full over Christmas! Surprising, since they have so many options.

It’s worth calling them to double-check,for sure.
You can stay there, even if not a member of the Y, but you pay a slightly higher rate. Very fun place at Christmas. Cross country skiing, sleigh rides,

I’m getting concerned about your trip for you!
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 03:05 PM
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If all else fails, you could consider this little cabin, which looks much cuter inside than out, and has great reviews.

https://www.vrbo.com/422249#reviews

If you don’t need much nightlife, and like solitude.
You could ski at Eldora, which is where the CU ski team practices. Visit Boulder, and other day trips.

Just an idea outside the box.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 07:07 PM
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If you haven't made plans for Colorado, there is very little chance you will have a prayer in getting hotels for Vail, Aspen, Winter Park, Telluride..
It sells out in summer.
Maybe hang in Denver and do day trips..
Best to you!
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