Just back from 10 days vacation in Colorado (Grand and Summit Counties). As so many of you promised me Colorado knocked me out with its beauty and wonderful people. I plan to write in next couple of days a complete trip report--so be on the watch for it. I want to thank so many of you for excellent tips and help. H

We LOVE Colorado, too. I'm looking forward to your trip report. We're heading back for our 4th visit next summer.

So glad you enjoyed your visit.

Hello Reeder: I had my vacation planed and payed to go to NO for the first time...and my mother was coming all the way from abroad. As you can imagine I have to do a full change in my plans. I wated to know more about Colorado. I always thought it was great. But what is there to see, were to go... What king of vacation will it be? My mother and I are not the hikking type...not that sportie...but we would really apprecitte the wonderful landscapes, good food etc. Do you think it is for us? Were should we go???

i love colorado too. i had an aunt who lived out there for years and only someplace like colorado and the mountains could take her away from the beaches.

We went to Colorado for the first time last summer. We just LOVED it. Can't wait to go back.

Mikesmom: hello1 I wanted to ask you were in CO did you go and how many days and what did you do. Thans! it will help me to figure out if it something for my mom and I (60 something and 30 something...)

To Cscaro - it would help to know what you're looking to do. Colorado is a very large state with plains, mountains over 14,000 ft, deserts, large cities and indian/dinosaur ruins.

Any of the mountain resorts (Breckenridge, Vail/Beaver Creek, Aspen, etc) are a great intro to Colorado (scenery, shopping, restaurants). The southern part of the state is wonderful as well - Durango, Ouray, Telluride (Mesa Verde, narrow gauge train,spectacular scenery, mountains) but its not as accessible.

My report is yet to come. However in quick response to a couple of questions. We flew to Denver, stayed the night in Boulder, packed a picnic and drove to east side of Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park_ and drove throught the park to the west side (Grand Lake) where we stayed for two nights and then moved on to Lake Dillon where we rented a really great condo (vrbo.com/5839) (I heard about it here) and it was just what I was hoping for. The absolute best views of Lake Dillon with a mountain backdrop--picture postcard perfect!!Condo was nice too, two bedroom,s, 2 baths, very large deck, gas fireplace etc. It was perfect and a great price. My son joined us and the boys played four of the wonderful golf courses nearby. Everything was convenient--and there is some outlet shopping right there too if your Mom enjoys that. I am not athletic but found the views so peaceful. Wherever we went in Colorado I was knocked over by its beauty. I think it would be a wonderful place for a mother -daughter vacation most especially if you have never been to Colorado. Both of you would love the drive through Rocky Mountain National Park as well--it is absolutely spectacular!! MY report is coming soon and it will be in great detail so watch for it. Meanwhile don't hesitate here with any questions. Before my trip I got the best suggestions and info here. H

Csacaro:

My husband and I spent six days in Vail last July (beautiful weather). We spent four nights in Vail Village at the Sonnenalp (pricey, but fabulous) and two nights at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch/Beaver Creek. Also very nice. My husband and I enjoyed the shopping, restaurants and the fabulous scenery. We took a drive to Glenwood Springs, which was great. We spent the day walking around Breckenridge. We just had a great time and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

By the way, this is something my mother and I would have enjoyed doing together.

FYI--Breckenridge is a ten minute if that drive from Dillon. We drove through it a couple of times during our week there and I commented how much a couple of gals would enjoy lunch there and checking out the shops. For me it reminded me of downtown Hyannis Ma in the middle of the summer so I didn't browse. I drove to Vail by myself one day and again it didn't do much for me--perhaps too congested and busy. Everything seemed an arms length away from my wonderful spot in Dillon. I planned to read a lot and stare at the water. I read little on Dillon Lake and stared at the view most of my time there. It was that good. It all comes down to what you are looking for and enjoy most. h

Reeder... .so very happy you enjoyed your trip. We used to vacation here - until I changed my job so I could live here. We like happy visitors.

HI REEDER! I am so glad you got to enjoy the condo/location I recommended in an earlier post about VRBO...I knew you would LOVE the location. One of my all time favorite views! As I stated before I had not stayed in that particular unit & was wondering which unit you ended up in - 303 or 304??? Did you have good weather? Or any big storms blow over the lake in the afternoon? Looking foward to the trip report...we just got back from 2 weeks in Teton/Yellowstone and had to bypass Dillion this yr. unfortunately. Maybe next yr!

Disneynan--I sure owe you one!! The Point Dillon condo was so perfect and we were so-o pleased! We had 304--and loved it but I think we would have been happy with either one. Even my son who has been traveling all over the country this summer for ESPN's 50 states in 50 days was quite impressed. Some people had sort of discouraged me on Dillon in favor of Grand Lake. We did both and we all loved the Dillon location. Staying at the Grand Lake Lodge for two nights --I actually found to be more touristy than our private, quiet and "view to die for" condo! Thanks. And I sure can understand why some of you choose to live there. H More later

We also vacationed in CO but it wasn't nearly enough, so we moved here. Not one regret.
I just wanted to say--we just got back from a great trip to Dinosaur Natl Monument. It was way better than I expected, and there was hardly anyone there. (Not as name worthy as so many national parks in the area.) Besides the dinosaur bones, there is a great canyon and beautiful scenery. It reminded us of Moab.
Another drive we recently made which is utterly fantastic, is the Cache de Poudre canyon between Fort Collins and Steamboat via Walden. I'm definitely going back there!

I forgot to respond to the question of storms blowing over? WOW!! They sure did and what a picture it was to sit there and see the weather patterns move in front of your patio. We LOVED it!--even caught a beautiful rainbow after one of them. Anyone know what monsters hang out in Dillon Lake? My husband thought maybe otters but noone we could find there seemed to know. H

Reeder, glad you loved our fair state. It sounds like you had a great trip. Did you eat at Grand Lake Lodge, on the patio with a view? I know how busy it gets, so it felt touristy. Sometimes the best places get overrrun, don't they. Guess I shouldn't recommend it anymore!
I'm wondering if the critters in Lake Dillon are beavers. We've seen them at Keystone for sure.

Beavers are certainly a great possibility. My husband asked several people in Dillon those fishing there and some at the marina and no one had a clue. One lady at the condo said she had seen them as well and liked to think it was like Lochness monsters??

We did eat at the Grand Lake Lodge and were rather disappointed. MY recommendation to them when we left on suggestion card was to lose the buffet. The food might have been excellent when put out but after sitting there for awhile???-ie the broccoli au gratin had sort of congealed. I thought the soup and salad bar were great and they called it steak but it was a roast they sliced was also good. Everything inbetween was sort of yuck. We heard several people complain about the new 2.50 pp charge to sit on the porch. Also they were short staffed as kids had left for college and that was their constant excuse for slow everything. The nightly rate was the same though as when they were fully staffed in July. We met lots of people though who had been coming for years and just "LOVE" it! Lots of talk about the place being on the market as well. They are developing the adjoining land into building lots. Hey I am writing my report bit by bit here and won't have much to say when I sit down to write it. I AM glad we went to Grand Lake and stayed at the Lodge. It was a different experience. H

I know what you mean about the buffet and the $2.50 charge. Both are new this season. My family isn't wild about them, either. The food used to be better when ordered from the menu. I know it's for sale, so hope for the best. Still the best front porch in Colorado IMHO!

THE best front porch in America for sure!! h