MileHighHC

Hello! My husband and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary in Colorado the last weekend in November. We live in Denver now and would love to get away for one or two nights - somewhere within a reasonable drive from Denver (since we only have a weekend) and somewhere inexpensive!!

Any suggestions for an affordable romantic weekend? We'd love it if the hotel was around $100 or under (but would pay more if it was just one night). Location suggestions (Vail? Breck? Aspen?), Dinner suggestions and stuff-to-do suggestions welcome and appreciated!!

A little about us: After our wedding, we quit our jobs, sold our stuff, and pursued our dream of living here in Denver. That said, we're adjusting but money is still very tight. We're in our late 20's, like just about anything and everything when it comes to food, and love the outdoors. We aren't interested in skiing on this trip because of the cost associated and we've never gone skiing before. We're active (love hiking, would love other cheaper snow-sports), love live music, but really just want to get away for a night or two. Thanks for your help!!

PeaceOut

The last weekend in November will be Thanksgiving holiday time, and the beginning of ski season, so quite expensive if you go to a ski resort town. Since you don't want to ski anyway, I'd avoid Breck, Vail, Aspen, etc.

If you don't mind driving about 170 miles from Denver, we have always liked the looks of the Redstone Inn for an historic/romantic place.
http://redstoneinn.thegilmorecollection.com/

I checked their reservations for Friday and Saturday nights, Nov 26 and 27. They have a few in your price range.

MileHighHC

Hi PeaceOut- thanks for the recommendation and for looking up fares! It looks really neat - have you stayed/been there personally? Either way, we'll definitely look into it! Thanks!

PeaceOut

We have not stayed there ourselves. We walked around it several years ago, and we bought a night there for a friends' honeymoon. It is very charming.

Sue878

If you want under $100.00 don't go to Aspen. We just went last weekend and the hotel downtown was $250.00 (including tax).

You might check Glenwood Springs.

Sue878

That was $250.00 a night.

louistraveler5

My husband & I LOVE Colorado especially Estes Park! We live in Austin, TX. For the last four years, we have been making a trip once a year to Estes Park. We think about living in Denver! Depending on where you live in Denver it will take between an hour or hour & a half to get to Estes Park.

We stay at: http://www.fallrivercabins.com/Index.html
The rates are more than your aim of $100 or less. We have stayed in the Bristlecone, Juniper & Pinecone. The Bristlecone & Juniper are $159 per night in the winter. The Pinecone is $149 per night. These cabins are DEFINITELY worth every penny and we ABSOLUTELY LOVE these cabins. They have jacuzzi tubs inside the cabin as well as hot tubs on the deck. The log bed, the fireplace, just everything about the cabins are amazing!

Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Sometime in October, Trail Ridge Road (if you don't already know, Trail Ridge Road is the paved hwy that goes through Rocky Mountain National Park) closes because the snow is too much to plow for the season. Even in the winter, Trail Ridge Road is open for the first 8 miles. In 2009, my husband & I went to Estes Park in late October. We went into Rocky Mtn National Park for the first 8 miles. Also within the first 8 miles there is a turnoff that takes you to Bear Lake Road (this road does not close) and it takes you to the Bear Lake Trailhead. There is a parking lot/restrooms and at the start of the trailhead is Bear Lake. It was beautiful in the snow! From the start at the trailhead, you can continue on a hiking trail to other lakes in the mountains. The trail is very visible even in the snow. If you are dressed appropriately for the cold you could possibly hike to see the different lakes. We loved doing this hike! We actually just made our 2010 trip to Estes Park this past August and did the hike!

If you do not get to Estes Park/Fall River Cabins for this trip because of your money situation, definitely remember this for another time!

Gretchen

Have an intown getaway weekend. Go to the Oxford or Monaco and let them pamper you.

PeaceOut

Note their budget is approx. $100/nite.

Gretchen

Bid on priceline. Save money on gas.

MileHighHC

Thank you for all the great suggestions!! We actually went to Rocky Mountain Park once (we've only been here a month) and drove through Estes Park on the way - very cute from the little we saw of it.

We could swing $149 and probably just do one night so we can splurge on Dinner. I like the idea of staying in-town since it's all so new to us at this point, but we may save that for another time. No we just have to narrow down but I think my husband is leaning towards RedStone Inn because of the sleigh rides and Christmasy stuff that will be going on then. Thank you!!