best things to see in CO
 

Have never visited CO and planning a short 3 day trip in October. What town/area has the best scenery as well as fun shopping/good dining?

Colorado, while not Alaska or Texas, is still very large and diverse.

The scenery is going to be very good in most areas of the mountains but with only 3 days, you won't have time to visit all of it. Mountain colors should be pretty good in early October but might be gone by late October.

Shopping and "good" dining will be a function of either size or popularity. Places like Vail, Aspen, or Winter Park will have a range of both.

The later in October, the more likely there will be snow in the high passes while you're driving. Many years, they have none at all by the end of the month but some years they have a bunch.

Durango/Mesa Verde is an option

Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park is another

Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak might be nice

Then there are all sort of places like Vail, Apsen, Crested Butte, Breckenridge, etc. Other places like Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes.

I've enjoyed all of those places and skiing a few times there in the winter. I would say Mesa Verde, The Great Sand Dunes, Zipline/Durango Train combination, Rocky Mountain National Park all stick out in my mind as really awesome places to visit. I like Estes Park, Pikes Peak, Royal Gorge-but they are really commercialized-several nice places to eat though.



October isn't winter,but isn't summer either, so a lot of things won't be at their prime and it will most likely trees will be past fall colors.

If you're only going to be in the state for three days, you have to take into account getting from Denver to your ultimate destination. You also must be prepared for snowy travel - although it's not quite winter, October snow could delay you even on the interstate getting up into the mountains. But other times, it's sunny and warm - you never know here!

I'd recommend Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park as a very easy drive (less than 90 min) from Denver Int'l Airport and a very scenic area. Estes is a cute town, maybe not the height of cool fashion, but fun, I'd say and has decent dining and lots of lodging choices. The park is spectacular, especially if you're there early in the month. My husband and I have a tradition of visiting for a long weekend in mid-October for my birthday, and it's perfect for us. Sometimes, we get good fall color, other times, it's past peak. This is elk rutting season, and those guys put on a great show, bugling and jousting. There are plenty of hiking choices if that interests you, or just driving around, sightseeing. I think you might like it!

Do you have 2 nights or 3? What time do you arrive in Denver and what time do you leave? Is this a weekend? Are you looking to spend all nights (2 or 3) in one hotel or are you willing to take a scenic loop? Are you more interested in the shops and resturants or sightseeing and hiking?

Around Colorado Springs, see the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Climb a fourteener.