a lovely week in Grand Lake
 

Here is a brief, long overdue trip report on the week we spent in July in Grand Lake. First of all, a word about driving routes as that has been controversial. We took the route 285 drive up from New Mexico and it was an excellent choice. It was exquisitely beautiful and easy driving. There were some mountain passes on the way - but if you are going to Northern Colorado I'm not sure there is a way to avoid them. I don't like heights, but didn't find them too bad ( I found the road in the Rocky Mountain National Park much scarier, and don't think I would take it all the way across).

We stayed in a very nice home we found through VRBO - the owners were very accommodating and the house was quite comfortable. There were five of us (my husband, myself and three grown sons, and for two nights a friend as well). Grand Lake is a sweet vacation town, easy to drive in, everything is close, and lots of non-chain places to eat and shop which I love (a coffee and ice cream lovers paradise). We ate out two nights and had good though not necessarily top notch dinners.

Mostly we loved the national park and managed to hike every day. My favorites were Lake Irene, the Colorado River Trail and Green Mountain trail. The young ones climbed one of the taller mountains, and tried the hot springs as well which they raved about (in Granby). We also went kayaking one day - the lake is beautiful and I would have loved to do it more.

So all in all - I highly recommend Grand Lake if you are looking for a Colorado mountain/lake vacation. Happy to answer any questions.

Did you eat at the Grand Lake Lodge, or visit it

no we didn't - we were advised that the food wasn't that great, although the view is supposed to be lovely. We ate a birthday dinner at the Terrace in town which was quite good, and lunch at Fat Cats (I hear brunch is really the meal to go there, but it didn't work for us and the Backstreet Steakhouse which was a good family meal

Your trip sounds divine. We're trying to decide to overnight in Grand Lake or Winter Park after driving through RMNP from Boulder in October. Did you visit Winter Park? If so how did it compare?

Is there a difference between the sulphur springs (Grandby) and the hot springs (Glenwood Springs)?

I don't really know the answers to your questions Googs - the hotsprings were right outside of Granby on route 40, and we haven't been in Winter Park - but Grand Lake was truly perfect for us - beautiful, unspoiled and friendly. enjoy your vacation

Grand Lake sounds like a neat place to spend the night. We are dependent on Trail Ridge Road being open October 15.

It's funny, there's a Lake Irene and an Irene Lake in RMNP.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in the north-central region of the U.S.

Split the difference between Grand Lake and Winter Park. Stay at Devil's Thumb Ranch, a special place.

Tabernash2, Devil's Thumb looks divine! If we check in I wouldn't want to leave. Haha.

Googs, it's as good as it looks!