One day before and 3 days after tellurid
May 14th, 2007, 07:19 PM
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One day before and 3 days after tellurid
My husband and I will be travelling from Chicago to Telluride in late August. We have reservations from Sun to Friday to stay in Telluride. I plan on hiking, maybe rafting and hanging out. I have not made our airfare reservations yet because I am trying to figure out what to do - if we fly in Saturday, for a day before we get the cabin, and if we fly out on Monday (labor day) for 3 days after we give it up on Friday. It is very easy to fly from Chicago to Denver. So one possibility is to drive on Saturday to Telluride spending the night half way - and then just wind our way back over the last 3 days seeing what there is to see. But with so many places to see, I am having a hard time deciding if we should shrink our driving time and fly in and out of Durango, Montrose of Grand Junction. Any help with an itinerary that lands us at an airport? I don't know driving times in the mountains.
Thanks
Thanks
May 15th, 2007, 05:46 AM
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I have info, but I am having a bit of a hard time figuring out what your plans are.
Telluride has some type of weekend festival almost ever weekend and it makes rooms scarce and pricey.
If I am following you correctly, you are checking out of your cabin on August 31? That is the start of Labor Day Weekend and the first day of the Taos Film Fesitival. That will make rooms difficult to come by and costly.
Flying:
Delta has a few flights a week into Telluride. United {via Denver}, Delta {via Salt Lake City} fly into Durango with stops before and it usually makes the trip very expensive.
Don't know about flights to GJ or Montrose. Typically flying into these places costs more.
Another thought would be to fly into Albuquerque.
Drive times: from DUR to Telluride would take a good 2 hours on mountain roads pretty much of the time.
Drive time from ABQ would be 5.5 hours with only the last hour on mountain road.
If you wanted to spend the time from Friday until flying back on Monday; there are LOTS of great things to see and do here in SW Colorado that sound like they would interest you. Also, in NW NM too. I can help with the plans if you'd like as I presently live mid way between DUR and Tell and lived in ABQ for 5 years prior.
Hope this helps..
Debi
Telluride has some type of weekend festival almost ever weekend and it makes rooms scarce and pricey.
If I am following you correctly, you are checking out of your cabin on August 31? That is the start of Labor Day Weekend and the first day of the Taos Film Fesitival. That will make rooms difficult to come by and costly.
Flying:
Delta has a few flights a week into Telluride. United {via Denver}, Delta {via Salt Lake City} fly into Durango with stops before and it usually makes the trip very expensive.
Don't know about flights to GJ or Montrose. Typically flying into these places costs more.
Another thought would be to fly into Albuquerque.
Drive times: from DUR to Telluride would take a good 2 hours on mountain roads pretty much of the time.
Drive time from ABQ would be 5.5 hours with only the last hour on mountain road.
If you wanted to spend the time from Friday until flying back on Monday; there are LOTS of great things to see and do here in SW Colorado that sound like they would interest you. Also, in NW NM too. I can help with the plans if you'd like as I presently live mid way between DUR and Tell and lived in ABQ for 5 years prior.
Hope this helps..
Debi
May 15th, 2007, 06:01 AM
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Here's a list of airports, distance etc for Telluride:
http://www.telluridevisitorguide.com/getting/flying.asp
Here's lots more info including festivals:
http://www.telluridevisitorguide.com/
http://www.telluridevisitorguide.com/getting/flying.asp
Here's lots more info including festivals:
http://www.telluridevisitorguide.com/
May 15th, 2007, 06:47 AM
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Debi:
I guess the problem is that I don't have plans at this point. I am trying to make an itinerary that makes sense, so I am trying to decide which airport to fly into and what to do that centers around driving to and from that airport. So for example, I know we can fly into Grand Junction and I was considering spending 3 days in and around Moab, but I found out it will be too hot at that time of year. So if we fly into and out of Denver, is that too much driving and would there be a good route that will give us 2 or 3 good places to check out on the way back. That is my goal - to pick an airport and create a 3 day driving itinerary from Telluride to that airport that would be scenic driving to something to do in nature, with nice dining at night. I know there is the telluride film festival that weekend, but we are trying to avoid crowds and festivals and stick with nature, food and wine.
Yippee. I can't wait.
I guess the problem is that I don't have plans at this point. I am trying to make an itinerary that makes sense, so I am trying to decide which airport to fly into and what to do that centers around driving to and from that airport. So for example, I know we can fly into Grand Junction and I was considering spending 3 days in and around Moab, but I found out it will be too hot at that time of year. So if we fly into and out of Denver, is that too much driving and would there be a good route that will give us 2 or 3 good places to check out on the way back. That is my goal - to pick an airport and create a 3 day driving itinerary from Telluride to that airport that would be scenic driving to something to do in nature, with nice dining at night. I know there is the telluride film festival that weekend, but we are trying to avoid crowds and festivals and stick with nature, food and wine.
Yippee. I can't wait.
May 15th, 2007, 07:39 AM
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Arrive on Saturday, August 25th. Check in to our cabin in Telluride on Sunday. Check out Friday morning and fly home on Monday morning. So 5 days in Telluride, 1 day before and 3 days after.
May 15th, 2007, 07:55 AM
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Have you ever been to SW/ Four Corners area before?
Have you priced out airline tickets? That may be the deciding factor to where you fly to and the resulting 3 days trip back.
I really think you need to concentrate on the flights first. There is plenty to do in the area to make good use of the 3 days. As I mentioned before, flying into regional airports [unless you are using FF mile, but it is probably WAY too late to do that] is going to add alot of $$ to cost of flights. I would price out your various options using kayak.com or similar site. Once you have that part clear, the rest will come together.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Have you priced out airline tickets? That may be the deciding factor to where you fly to and the resulting 3 days trip back.
I really think you need to concentrate on the flights first. There is plenty to do in the area to make good use of the 3 days. As I mentioned before, flying into regional airports [unless you are using FF mile, but it is probably WAY too late to do that] is going to add alot of $$ to cost of flights. I would price out your various options using kayak.com or similar site. Once you have that part clear, the rest will come together.
Hope this helps...
Debi
May 15th, 2007, 08:37 AM
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That should work just fine for you, a nice drive to Telluride and GJ has a great park: Colorado NAtional Monument. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a leisurely 23 mile drive, which will take a good part of the day. Bring lots of water, it will be hot. GJ will be pretty hot to as it is not as high up as Telluride.
I was in GJ last year and did a trip report; there a great link on it for info on GJ:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34852993
Also, if you type in Grand Junction in the search box, you will find info. Also, if you do a new post with Grand Juntion in title, GJLinda will be happy to answers as she lives there.
Hope this helps..
Debi
I was in GJ last year and did a trip report; there a great link on it for info on GJ:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34852993
Also, if you type in Grand Junction in the search box, you will find info. Also, if you do a new post with Grand Juntion in title, GJLinda will be happy to answers as she lives there.
Hope this helps..
Debi
May 15th, 2007, 08:52 AM
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I would spend the first night in Ouray where you can check out the natural hot springs in town. From there it is an easy drive to Telluride.
From Telluride I would go to Moab. It will be hot during mid-day, but morning and afternoon are really not too bad. Stay at a hotel with a pool and plan on hitting Arches/Canyonlands in the early morning or later in the day and head back to your hotel during the heat of the day and relax poolside. You can also take the La Sal mountain loop up to about 11,000 feet where it is considerably cooler. There are lots of places to picnic and hike up there.
We were in Moab last year in late August and it really was not that bad. There is lots to see and do in this area. I wouldn't let the heat scare you away. There is even a water park on the main road just north of town.
From Telluride I would go to Moab. It will be hot during mid-day, but morning and afternoon are really not too bad. Stay at a hotel with a pool and plan on hitting Arches/Canyonlands in the early morning or later in the day and head back to your hotel during the heat of the day and relax poolside. You can also take the La Sal mountain loop up to about 11,000 feet where it is considerably cooler. There are lots of places to picnic and hike up there.
We were in Moab last year in late August and it really was not that bad. There is lots to see and do in this area. I wouldn't let the heat scare you away. There is even a water park on the main road just north of town.
May 15th, 2007, 09:12 AM
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The Black Canyon of the Gunnison near Montrose is a nice stop on the drive either to or from GJ.
You may also want to spend a night or two at Mesa Verde.
The following National Park Service website has information on Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde.
www.nps.gov/state/co/
I agree with the Ouray recommendation. I also enjoyed the Durango-Silverton railroad. Beautiful scenery and relaxing. I don't think you'll have any problem filling your extra days.
You may also want to spend a night or two at Mesa Verde.
The following National Park Service website has information on Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde.
www.nps.gov/state/co/
I agree with the Ouray recommendation. I also enjoyed the Durango-Silverton railroad. Beautiful scenery and relaxing. I don't think you'll have any problem filling your extra days.
May 16th, 2007, 10:19 AM
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I spent 4 days in Telluride 2 summers back. We stayed at the Mountain Lodge, which is above the town and above the Mountain Village. You can take the gondola to ither place. We drove from Boulder and it took about 7.5 hours. On the way back we spent 2 days in Vail to break up the drive back. It is about 2.5 hours from Vail to Denver. Vail is a good place for 2-3 days.
