I am doing a little research for our next trip to CO the past few days. We will be flying into Denver (but nothing firm yet)--could fly into Grand Junction? Plans are very, very loose at this point, but am trying to determine the best "base of operations" where we can make shorter day trips and town(s) where we can also do a little exploring. We will have 7 days, and I am thinking of a split something like this for 3-4 nights each...again, everything is flexible at this point--we are planning for next June.

I kind of have the base point for the first half of the week more firm than the second base point. I am thinking if we stay in Breckenridge the first 3? nights, we can day trip to Steamboat, Leadville/Aspen and/or Glenwood Springs via I-70 (Aspen or Glenwood Springs are up in the air for the second base point, so the day trip would be determined where we are moving to later in the week). So we would have two day trips from Breckenridge depending on where we decide to stay for the last half week of the trip.

For the 2nd half of the trip, I am thinking day trips to Gunnison and Crested Butte whether the base is Glenwood Springs or Aspen, which will be 3-4 nights. The main thing I am trying to determine is where the better base would be for the 2nd half.....

Are any of these places I am planning to day trip deserving of more than a visit, such as Gunnison? Is Crested Butte worth the drive for a day-trip? Other base suggestions will be appreciated if there is a better way!

Your day trips are really not reasonable. Of course Crested Butte is worth the drive, but it's NOT a day-trip from Aspen. It may be just over the peaks, as the crow flies, but it ain't that close to drive there and back in a day. Not sure why you'd want to fly by the Colorado scenery in a car, with your day-trip ideas.

You only have 7 days. Choose one area and stay there, would be my suggestion. Maybe two. There's so much to do in Colorado, you don't have to drive far and day-trip, really.

I suggest you post your preferences for activities, nightlife, lodging, budget, etc. to get better suggestions for base areas.

We love Aspen, and I'd go there for a full week myself. Vail is another world altogether. Breckenridge still another type of place. Crested Butte is spectacular, but a tad isolated. Then there's Telluride, Steamboat, etc. You get the point. Research them and see which appeals to you, and your budget.

What do you want to do while you're in Colorado?

P.S. Fly to Denver for the best flights and prices, I think.

Your day trips seem to be to ski areas. There's a lot in Colorado that isn't ski towns, although I dearly love them also.
There's the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde. Glenwood Canyon is really worth a trip through, and Aspen is a lot of fun.
Breckenridge is a cute town but I'd probably stay somewhere else. I could let Steamboat go, in favor of Leadville, for example.
What kind of "exploring" are you wanting.
AND of course, there is that great big gorgeous PARK!!

We are going more for scenery and the outdoor activities will be mostly hiking, walking and/or running, depending on the town. We are completely flexible right now with where or when. So no, I don't don't want to fly by the scenery in my car which is why I am asking for advice. What looks doable on a map may not be, again my reason for asking. We don't need nightlife, we tend to be very active during the day. Budget for hotels/condo is about $200/night. Food is whatever tempts us.

We will not be heading SW--i.e., Mesa Verde, Telluride. We were just there last month...but we are looking for more Colorado flavor. So opting to find out, again, a good base for exploring west of Denver (we've also already done RMNP and Boulder) and what is doable in a week.

Gretchen, if not Breckenridge, where would you stay instead? Are the Great Sand Dunes doable as a day trip from Glenwood Springs? or is that a separate stayover?

I would suggest you stay with your original plan and stay in Breckenridge or consider staying in Glenwood Springs. Lots of what you like to do is available in and around both places. Aspen is a day trip from Glenwood Sprngs as are Redstone and Marble. Vail is a day-trip from Breck, as is Leadville and the river rafting around Buena Vista. (BTW-when will this vacation be?)

Also the Great Sand Dunes are about a 4 hr drive-one way-from Glenwood Springs--not really a day trip.

Hi - as an Aspen resident, I am biased...but here's my suggestion. Do stay in Aspen. There is SO much going on in Aspen in the summertime you will wear yourself out. The Music Festival offers multiple concerts every day and if it's not raining, you can picnic outside the tent for free. Theater in the Park sets up shop in a big 'tent' and offers plays every night. Or just wander the streets after dinner and enjoy the students playing on the streets, the jugglers etc etc. Lots of fabulous hikes in the area. The forest service office in town has free hiking one-page sheets. Here's a few examples: get thru the entrance gate to Maroon Bells by 8:30 and spend a good 5-6 hours hiking up to Buckskin Pass. Bring food and gear for being out above tree-line. Clean up and see if there's a concert in the tent - if so, grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and cheese and sit outside and enjoy the free music. There are at least 12-15 great day hikes around Aspen. Wednesday nights go to the rodeo in Snowmass for an authentic rodeo. Saturdays are the Farmers Market in downtown. Take the gondola up to the top of Aspen Mtn and hike along the ridge line. You can go white water rafting from Aspen; fly fishing; fabulous mountain and road biking (watch for Lance sightings!) horse back riding, opera, ballet and on and on. If you must leave town, do a day-trip over to Leadville, or to Redstone. You could always hike to Crested Butte, spend the night and hike back. There are transportation services that will bring you back. Of course you can go to Glenwood Springs for the day, too. I've been to the Sand Dunes and it's cool, but there is NOTHING to do around the area. Vail offers alot too, but it lacks the authenticity of a real silver mining town with lots of bldgs from the 1800's. There are some small lodges left in town that are affordable - by far, the best deal in town is the Mountain Chalet. It is smack in town and you can walk everywhere. It's also right in front of the St. Regis Hotel but will be anywhere from 50-75% less. A good website is www.stayaspensnowmass.com. Hope that helps! you can also see a view of aspen at www.liveaspencam.com.