Trip to Colorado in one week, RMNP
May 26th, 2015, 01:54 PM
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Trip to Colorado in one week, RMNP
Hello fellow travelers,
Due to travel in one week in beginning of June 2015.
Myself and my wife took our trip last year to Yosemite National Park. It was the best vacation I had ever had. The Valley was breathtaking and we came across some amazing restaurants like the Narrow Gage Inn. We love the outdoors but don't want to spend our whole trip driving. We would like to stay in comfortable B&B's or Inns with good wholesome food. We love lakes and would love to do white water rafting and canoeing, horse back riding or balooning. We don't know what way we should plan our trip to Rocky Mountain NP and if we can access Wholefoods even better as we like to eat very healthy etc. We are concerned its very cold still and if its a good time to go to Colorado? Greatly appreciate your feedback and help as to how we should plan the trip and where to stay as we like nice B&B's or country inns with good food....sincere thanks Bob
Due to travel in one week in beginning of June 2015.
Myself and my wife took our trip last year to Yosemite National Park. It was the best vacation I had ever had. The Valley was breathtaking and we came across some amazing restaurants like the Narrow Gage Inn. We love the outdoors but don't want to spend our whole trip driving. We would like to stay in comfortable B&B's or Inns with good wholesome food. We love lakes and would love to do white water rafting and canoeing, horse back riding or balooning. We don't know what way we should plan our trip to Rocky Mountain NP and if we can access Wholefoods even better as we like to eat very healthy etc. We are concerned its very cold still and if its a good time to go to Colorado? Greatly appreciate your feedback and help as to how we should plan the trip and where to stay as we like nice B&B's or country inns with good food....sincere thanks Bob
May 26th, 2015, 08:07 PM
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You leave in a week and haven't planned or booked anything? Well that could make things interesting 
Here are a few suggestions.
Start in Estes Park, maybe you could find a last minute cabin there to stay in. Spend a couple days there exploring RMNP. You have access to hikes, horseback riding, and canoeing/kayaking on Lake Estes.
Trail Ridge Road over to Granby, then down to I-70. Head to Glenwood Springs, stay a couple nights there. Hanging Lake is a beautiful hike, and the hot springs there in town are enjoyable. Great food here too, Juicy Lucy's is very good, as is the Lost Cajun. Also drive over to Aspen to see the Maroon Bells, and also explore Aspen. We stayed at Quality Inn on the River here in Glenwood Springs, reasonably priced although it isn't right in town. You may be able to get a room overlooking the river. There are two hotels you could stay at that are situated right beside the hot springs, Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge or Hotel Glenwood Springs. Something else fun to do in the evenings is the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue.
Head back towards Denver, and drive over Loveland Pass (get off interstate at Silverthorne, and rejoin right after Eisenhower Tunnel). Also can drive up to see Mount Evans. There is some whitewater rafting in Clear Creek Canyon near Idaho Springs if you are interested. Maybe stay in Idaho Springs this night. You could drive Loveland Pass early, rafting, then Mount Evans that evening after rafting.
Go on back to Denver. If you are looking for a great place to eat around here, definitely try The Fort. It's expensive, but it is very good and offers wild game.
If you are wanting to access WholeFoods, then maybe get a cooler when arriving in Denver (assuming this is where you are flying into?) and make a stop at WholeFoods to stock up on whatever food you want to take with you.
Hope this helps, and that you have a wonderful trip!
Btw, I would love to hear some of your suggestions regarding Yosemite. My fiancé and I are heading there at the end of July. Short hikes, good food, don't miss sights?
Here are a few suggestions.
Start in Estes Park, maybe you could find a last minute cabin there to stay in. Spend a couple days there exploring RMNP. You have access to hikes, horseback riding, and canoeing/kayaking on Lake Estes.
Trail Ridge Road over to Granby, then down to I-70. Head to Glenwood Springs, stay a couple nights there. Hanging Lake is a beautiful hike, and the hot springs there in town are enjoyable. Great food here too, Juicy Lucy's is very good, as is the Lost Cajun. Also drive over to Aspen to see the Maroon Bells, and also explore Aspen. We stayed at Quality Inn on the River here in Glenwood Springs, reasonably priced although it isn't right in town. You may be able to get a room overlooking the river. There are two hotels you could stay at that are situated right beside the hot springs, Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge or Hotel Glenwood Springs. Something else fun to do in the evenings is the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue.
Head back towards Denver, and drive over Loveland Pass (get off interstate at Silverthorne, and rejoin right after Eisenhower Tunnel). Also can drive up to see Mount Evans. There is some whitewater rafting in Clear Creek Canyon near Idaho Springs if you are interested. Maybe stay in Idaho Springs this night. You could drive Loveland Pass early, rafting, then Mount Evans that evening after rafting.
Go on back to Denver. If you are looking for a great place to eat around here, definitely try The Fort. It's expensive, but it is very good and offers wild game.
If you are wanting to access WholeFoods, then maybe get a cooler when arriving in Denver (assuming this is where you are flying into?) and make a stop at WholeFoods to stock up on whatever food you want to take with you.
Hope this helps, and that you have a wonderful trip!
Btw, I would love to hear some of your suggestions regarding Yosemite. My fiancé and I are heading there at the end of July. Short hikes, good food, don't miss sights?
May 29th, 2015, 06:23 AM
#4
Yes, that is kind of interesting that you are going next week and still have questions about some of that basic sort of stuff. Well, good luck.
I'll just report on current RMNP conditions if anyone is interested. After an unusually cool and wet month of May there is a bucketload of snow in the high country.
Trails above 9,000-9,500 feet are mostly snowpacked. Popular trails will be beaten down enough to walk on, but might be slippery. Less used trails or off-trail travel require skis or snowshoes.
Lower elevation trails are mostly free of snow, but are wet right now. This all should start to change next week.
Here is a photo taken on Wednesday May 27 at about 10,800'. Lots of snow and some recent wet slab avalanche activity in a spectacular location (IMO).
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/p2...691f#h4849691f
I'll just report on current RMNP conditions if anyone is interested. After an unusually cool and wet month of May there is a bucketload of snow in the high country.
Trails above 9,000-9,500 feet are mostly snowpacked. Popular trails will be beaten down enough to walk on, but might be slippery. Less used trails or off-trail travel require skis or snowshoes.
Lower elevation trails are mostly free of snow, but are wet right now. This all should start to change next week.
Here is a photo taken on Wednesday May 27 at about 10,800'. Lots of snow and some recent wet slab avalanche activity in a spectacular location (IMO).
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/p2...691f#h4849691f
May 29th, 2015, 10:28 AM
#6
And there is a large and well stocked Safeway in Estes. The nearest Whole Paychecks are Fort Collins or Boulder. Also an excellent Natural Grocers (aka Vitamin Cottage) in Fort Collins.
One needs an advanced degree in Grocery Shopping these days, but that's another story.
One needs an advanced degree in Grocery Shopping these days, but that's another story.
May 29th, 2015, 01:32 PM
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The best place to stay in Estes Park is at the Black Canyon Inn and the best restaurant is the Twin Owls. However, it may well be too late to book. In fact, it may be too late to book any "nice" place. It has been cool/cold and rainy this month, but the forecast is for sun and warm-up. It may warm up and dry out, or it may not. 
