Chautauqua - Boulder, Colorado?
 

Ever stayed here or had family stay?
Eaten here?

Looks unique...and like it's in a pretty location/park. 'Course not sure if arriving there late at night would be too challenging for finding one's room! ;-)

They seem to have cottages & lodge rooms...
will call for availability but thus far, having little luck w/Boulder due to it being a Friday night before a home football game. Will also ponder a stay closer to Denver airport, as suggested by some.

It's just...even the first morning, it would be nice to somehow feel more like we are in Colorado, then, the chain/airport places allow for. However, I'm guessing we WILL feel like we're 'there' whatever the case, due to potential altitude issues
coming from sea level, like we are.

Thanks for any feedback, and reviews on this unique spot, I saw mentioned: Chautauqua. (w/no reviews on TripAdvisor...not sure if that's a *bad* sign, OR, whether it simply means it's sort of a 'secret'? Any info on this mystery place welcome! :-)

Darn it!
Sold out again.
LOTS of weddings it seems, this time of year, as that's why the Alps was old out, too.

Sigh...okay...'tis looking like
a regular chain hotel soon!

Someone mentioned a place called Boulder Mtn Lodge and Foot of the Mountain Motel? Any acquaintance with them?

No matter where you stay (try the Silver Saddle motel, right at the entrance to the canyon!), have a meal at Chautauqua; breakfast on the porch (food and views) is wonderful (and very reasonable)!

Any other spots besides this motel close-by? It got pretty scary reviews on TripAdvisor...

But thanks for alerting me to trying to eat at Chautauqua, no matter what...
sounds pretty. :-)

Have you thought about a Denver B&B? If you're getting in late, you might not want to do anything in Boulder that night anyway, and your first view of Boulder during daylight hours is really special!

Foot of the Mountain/Silver Saddle are pretty funky - think motel from the 60s....you might try University Inn, but I'd be they're booked. Or shell out bucks for the St. Julien, the new hotel.

Chataqua resorts are always special. Lovely grounds, but it is a summer/educational program retreat for the main.
The airport hotels can be very cheap on Priceline--and they have a beautiful view of the mountains.

The Westin Wesminister seems to have availability for the next couple of weekends. Oct. 6 the rates are higher--is that the day you need?
It is a lovely hotel, right off the Boulder turnpike, so would be relatively easy to get to from the airport.

Thanks so much, you guys!! :-)
Appreciate feedback on some of the places I was mulling. Helps tremendously.

Re: Westin...not sure where Westminister is from its name, but will peek, since you mention it being convenient, too! Thanks for checking into its dates....no, not October 6th but previous wknd is the target. (just Friday)

Apreciate all the help...will keep tryin'! Have a great weekend. :-)

Actually, the Westin looks sold out too...that particular one, at least.
So, clearly, it really IS a big wknd for that area.

Someone mentioned Table Mtn area...
starting to wonder if I should ponder, even though not where we originally considered driving...

I'm beginning not to understand. Are you going to Boulder itself or is it on the way to somewhere else. Westminster is about 20 minutes from Boulder.

Gretchen, I don't think Daydreamer knows what she wants and is not looking at a map. She just posted a question about Niwot being in the mountains or having a more mountain feeling. She is coming in late at night so she is not going to see anything anyway.

Yes, I saw that. Just don't understand the fascination with Boulder on a football weekend (!) unless you're a part of it!!
Head for the mountains!!

Head for them; but preferably after a full night's sleep and in the daylight!

Appreciate your help but if wondering what exactly I'm seeking, plz see my thread on Niwot...as I explain there,
what I meant by even considering that
locale.

Sorry for the confusion, but truly,
the maps I have I aren't the clearest...and, anyway, it was through the lodge, I was looking for some character or mountain-lodge feel...
something to kick off our one week in Colorado, appropriately. (esp. since we'll only have about 4 nights lodging as staying w/a brother later in the week in SW Colorado) I'd love it via the town, but not sure Boulder is the place any more, since it does sound like it will be a bit crowded now.
Thanks again for all the assistance!

Scratch niwot, it's not at all what you want.

If you are going to SW colorado, just head out on I70. Boulder is not exactly en route, in my opinion, and even less so on a football week-end.

Gretchen - you need to look at Daydreamer's other threads. He's trying to work in a visit to RMNP . . . . .

Then he needs to say what he wants to do, for heavens sake.
GReat.

Clicked on your question because I stayed at Chataqua in Aug, but looks like you've moved beyond that. Took a quick glance thru your other thread and just wanted to comment on your itinerary and hotel search.

After our night in Boulder, we headed into RMNP and saw elk and a moose, but we had to go deep into the park. IMO, you'd have to allow yourself a whole day to get thru the Park and a 2nd night before heading to SW Colorado. Then, from there, you'd be spending lots of time in the car. We had difficulty finding a hotel for one night and the options we got from thru the Chamber of Commerce were pretty dismal. If you have your heart set on the Park, I'd just go thru priceline and look for something in the longmont area and get on the road early the next day.

That being said, I think you would have a much less stressful vacation if you just head out to the western part of the state from the airport. I went down to Ouray last summer--I far enjoyed that vacation to this years where we went to Estes Park and Steamboat. SW Colorado is beautiful. Its alot of driving to get there, but worth every minute. BTW, I saw deer on that trip, but no elk or moose.

Gretchen that was not nice or helpful. Daydreamer's previous threads have been clear about what she wants to do. Putting it all together is the difficult part. I've been in the same situation with my travels.

Thanks wtm. Appreciate the support and understanding...it's the final planning that's the toughest. (esp.
when so many gorgeous areas to explore in an area like this!) :-) Plus, the trip is being planned rather last minute for us...but wanted to visit my brother who recently re-located to SW Colorado, and has been through a very rough year.

Anyway, thanks to all. And, Jackie...
it's not too late to share on Chautauqua, as I've requested to be on a Wait List there, altho' odds are poor for them, as I believe there's a wedding going on. (booking out the place, pretty much)

Thanks for sharing your experience w/wildlife in RMNP & elsewhere. Never having been in SW Co, but having been in RMNP..gosh almost 20 yrs ago! (can't believe it's been so long)...anyway, the comfort of what you know, called a bit. And last time, we definitely had little time for RMNP. It was part of a long driving trip from the West Coast.

This time, we plan on 2 nights in Estes Park (found space at Boulder Brook). Hope to have a full 2 or 2+ days there for hikes, and gen'l exploring. Will get there midday on Saturday...and need to leave midday on Monday. That's when we'll head south & aim for Aspen, I think. (the Maroon Bells are calling!) :-) Will only have a day in that region, as I'd like to reach my brother's area (Ridgway) by end of day Tuesday...or maybe Wed morning. Thanks again for everyone's help & advice!! :-)

Just to clarify...
in my earlier threads, I thought we'd only do one night in Estes Park, but like Jackie shared here, found it too tough to find anything for one night.
Soon figured out, that was WAY too short a stay, anyway, so that's how we arrived at what we have now.

Less time for Aspen area, but I think that's okay for now. Just was what we needed to do since it's a wknd in Estes Park, and was *very* difficult to find space, anywhere! Of course, I'd love to have 2 nights for Aspen, as well, but need to get to my brother's. Will have about 5 days for SW Colorado, including a quick trip to Mesa Verde. Everyone, have a great week! :-)

I did not read the other thread until now. This thread hasn't been exactly forthcoming. Even on the other thread someone suggested Idaho Springs for a "mountain feel". I finally understand but it has been by reading TWO threads and a whole lot more explanation by the OP.

Daydreamer, we thought the best parts of Chataqua were the location/setting and eating outside on the porch at the Lodge. On the grounds, they have a very nice meditation park and an outdoor yoga area. The community nestles up against the Flat Irons and has lots of hiking paths.

We had a tiny 2BR, 1 bath house. I think it was about $180 a night bfore taxes. We were there in August and it was really hot with no AC. The house had a strong gas odor and I wouldn't have wanted to use the kitchen if I were staying there an extended period. It was okay, but I wouldn't stay in that particular house again. I overhead a woman saying they had a really nice place, so I guess the houses must be of different qualities. As I recall, they opened up the houses and lodge to students in late August--that may be another reason there are no vacancies. There was a post or 2 on trip advisor about chataqua--I seem to recall there were 3 tabs for Boulder lodging;it is reviewed in the tab on the right.

In EP, my favorite thing to do (when not hiking, of course) was sit on the porch at the Stanley with a nice glass of wine taking in the view. You can probably see a trend here...love sitting on porches taking in the view

Enjoy your vacation.

Thanks, Jackie! Will keep fingers crossed for a last minute opening here.
Appreciated the helpful details, most esp! :-)