Good evening,

I will be going to Colorado to visit my mom (in Boulder) and sister (in Wheat Ridge outside of Denver)in October. I have another 3-4 nights that we can stay somewhere to recoup from the family visit

I don't want to drive more than 2-3 hours. My husband and I like to hike, fish, bird watch, and just sit around and read while enjoying a senic vista.

Any ideas?

Thanks alot!

Aspen and visit the Maroon bells.Great.Paul

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hi there!! Colorado is beautiful in October. May I suggest the Rocky Mtn. National Park, near Estes Park. Also, Steamboat is a great mtn. town.

I agree with Aspen and the Maroon Bells. Hopefully you're going in early Oct. The aspen should be beautiful and the drive to Aspen, through Glenwood Canyon, is very pretty.

Hopefully, you can take a drive through RMNP with your mom or sister.

Rocky Mt. National Park, an hour's drive away. That time of year the weather can be fabulous; there will be great deals on riverside condos/cabins (get one with a hot tub)in Estes Park. The mountain scenery is breathtaking. You will see elk everywhere, the aspens will be incredible, and there are many beautiful hikes for all abilities--plus, you'll have them almost to yourself! (Aspen will be at least 31/2 hours away, & you have to take a bus to the Bells.)

Actually, on weekdays in October you can drive up to the Maroon Bells trailhead.

Last fall aspen-viewing season we weren't allowed to drive (even with our excuse of hubbie used to be ski bum and once lived up that road [think it was during the Pleistocene]); do they open at a certain time of day, and we missed it?

thanks for the great advice. I'll take a look at the suggested places.