Traveling to Colorado November 11-17th
Sep 29th, 2017, 06:32 AM
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Traveling to Colorado November 11-17th
We are flying into Denver for a conference for our son but we have 5 days to get out of Denver and explore. What would be your suggestions to do with 5 days outside of Denver? We are big outdoor people and I have been looking at Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, etc.? We are not into skiing but do like hiking! I love history, nature, exploring, and would love to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset someplace very cool! I do not want to stay at hotels but have been looking at renting cabins or places with great views near the mountains. Thoughts?? Go! 
Sep 29th, 2017, 07:21 AM
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By that time it will be winter in the mountains and many of the ski resorts will be functioning unless it is a unusually warm fall. Trail Ridge Road, Independence Pass, Mt. Evens, etc. will all be closed. Don't know about Pikes Pike. Hiking opportunity will be very weather dependent. Best chance will be the front range (Boulder, Golden, Idaho Springs) provided we have not had a heavy snow but in all likely hood the trails will have some snow. So you need to be prepared for a wide range of weather. November is our third snowiest month.
What places/locations have you looked at?
What places/locations have you looked at?
Sep 29th, 2017, 10:18 AM
#6
"I love history, nature, exploring, and would love to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset someplace very cool! I do not want to stay at hotels but have been looking at renting cabins or places with great views near the mountains."
Chautauqua Park in Boulder fits all your requests.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/chautauqua-park
It is a favorite of ours, when we want to take a day-trip from Denver.
The cabins there are historic, the Dining Hall there is very good, the views of the Flatirons are gorgeous, and the hiking is excellent. If there's snow, there probably won't be enough to deter your plans there, as it's in the foothills.
Chautauqua Park in Boulder fits all your requests.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/chautauqua-park
It is a favorite of ours, when we want to take a day-trip from Denver.
The cabins there are historic, the Dining Hall there is very good, the views of the Flatirons are gorgeous, and the hiking is excellent. If there's snow, there probably won't be enough to deter your plans there, as it's in the foothills.
Sep 29th, 2017, 10:22 AM
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Sep 29th, 2017, 10:27 AM
#8
Yikes-- how cute is this place?
https://reservations.travelclick.com...mmodation/room
https://reservations.travelclick.com...mmodation/room
Sep 29th, 2017, 10:35 AM
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MoBro, I know you are having problems with dates in your other postings, but they will be here the third week of November. The probability of snow at that time of year, even in the foothills, is high. The better question is how deep will the snow be. And at that time, weather is very variable. It is winter in the mountains.
Chautauqua Park is a good recommendation. The Flagstaff restaurant further up the mountain would a good sunset location.
The UMCA's Snow Mt. Ranch at Tabernash has nice cabins - a bit rustic but suitable. A little harder to reach since Trail Ridge Road will be closed by then.
Chautauqua Park is a good recommendation. The Flagstaff restaurant further up the mountain would a good sunset location.
The UMCA's Snow Mt. Ranch at Tabernash has nice cabins - a bit rustic but suitable. A little harder to reach since Trail Ridge Road will be closed by then.
Sep 29th, 2017, 10:52 AM
#11
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We have been looking at everything on airbnb from places in Colorado Springs, Boulder, Vail, etc. I want something with an amazing view (I am from Chicago and now live in Indiana and there are NO amazing views from my house unless you want to look at the fields). This is our first time coming to Colorado so we would like to see the beauty. We will be in Denver for two nights but would like to spend the rest of the time (5 nights) someplace else. Oh and I hate snow and being cold so this should be awesome!
Sep 29th, 2017, 11:02 AM
#12
The headline says Nov 11 - 17. I missed it, if those dates changed.
Even with snow, Chautauqua will probably have some trails to hike, unless it's a blizzard.
Also, the OP might like driving up Flagstaff, to see the Continental Divide, and possibly hike. Flagstaff House is so over-priced, we haven't eaten there in years.
Chautauqua Dining Hall has awesome views, especially at sunset.
kjsharp, I recommend Boulder & surrounds over the CO Springs area. Just my preference.
We have lots of experience at Snow Mtn Ranch, and it's wonderful. As is the spectacular Devil's Thumb Ranch nearby. But I thought the OP didn't want to go into the mountains, per se.
Even with snow, Chautauqua will probably have some trails to hike, unless it's a blizzard.
Also, the OP might like driving up Flagstaff, to see the Continental Divide, and possibly hike. Flagstaff House is so over-priced, we haven't eaten there in years.
Chautauqua Dining Hall has awesome views, especially at sunset.
kjsharp, I recommend Boulder & surrounds over the CO Springs area. Just my preference.
We have lots of experience at Snow Mtn Ranch, and it's wonderful. As is the spectacular Devil's Thumb Ranch nearby. But I thought the OP didn't want to go into the mountains, per se.
Sep 29th, 2017, 03:08 PM
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Chataqua really is a lovely lovely place.
I'd go on up into the mountains, and in spite of wanting to find a cabin (if you can, great), stay at one of the ski resorts and look out at their mountain.
YOU could go on to Aspen or those surrounds pretty easily for 3-4 night stay.
I am no fan of the CO springs area--lots of prettier part of Colorado to me.
I'd go on up into the mountains, and in spite of wanting to find a cabin (if you can, great), stay at one of the ski resorts and look out at their mountain.
YOU could go on to Aspen or those surrounds pretty easily for 3-4 night stay.
I am no fan of the CO springs area--lots of prettier part of Colorado to me.
Sep 30th, 2017, 07:35 PM
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What about staying at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, lovely views, close to hiking and all kinds of activities you mentioned. It is a hotel, but a fabulous one. We have stayed there several times and loved it.
Oct 1st, 2017, 11:17 AM
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Fly to Moab and hike in Utah, if you can afford the flight.
That might sound dumb but it checks all the boxes except for "great views near the mountains" - and that seemed to be more of a lodging preference than anything else. If you're looking at Garden of the Gods, the red rocks in Utah are absolutely 100X better.
$200 roundtrip per person for 1.5 hour flight. Take off at 8:30 am, land at 10 am - you aren't wasting much time traveling. If you'd prefer to drive, it's at least a 7 hour trip. Driving is doable since you have 5 days, and at least you'd get to see the mountains as you drive through Colorado.
If you want to stay near Denver, I'd vote for Colorado Springs or Estes Park. You'll get views of the actual mountains, not the foothills.I don't recall any great mountain views in Boulder although there is definitely plenty of hiking. For the record, I don't consider foothills to be mountains so looking at the Flatirons doesn't cut it for mountain views in my opinion. They are nice but the mountains are much more beautiful.
That might sound dumb but it checks all the boxes except for "great views near the mountains" - and that seemed to be more of a lodging preference than anything else. If you're looking at Garden of the Gods, the red rocks in Utah are absolutely 100X better.
$200 roundtrip per person for 1.5 hour flight. Take off at 8:30 am, land at 10 am - you aren't wasting much time traveling. If you'd prefer to drive, it's at least a 7 hour trip. Driving is doable since you have 5 days, and at least you'd get to see the mountains as you drive through Colorado.
If you want to stay near Denver, I'd vote for Colorado Springs or Estes Park. You'll get views of the actual mountains, not the foothills.I don't recall any great mountain views in Boulder although there is definitely plenty of hiking. For the record, I don't consider foothills to be mountains so looking at the Flatirons doesn't cut it for mountain views in my opinion. They are nice but the mountains are much more beautiful.
Oct 2nd, 2017, 03:23 PM
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This is our first time coming to Colorado so we would like to see the beauty. We w
You are from the flat lands now and chicago formerly. You live in a place that has high wind and cold and all that.
Can you possibly bundle up a little in order to see the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, OR you could just get t hotel somehwere and look in someone else's high rise window!!
Why even go? I ask that really seriously.
BUT fine. Go to Boulder, get a room at chataqua.
You are from the flat lands now and chicago formerly. You live in a place that has high wind and cold and all that.
Can you possibly bundle up a little in order to see the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, OR you could just get t hotel somehwere and look in someone else's high rise window!!
Why even go? I ask that really seriously.
BUT fine. Go to Boulder, get a room at chataqua.
