Colorado in Winter?
 

My wife & I recently met up with an uncle we hardly know who has lived in Ohio many years, but also has a house in Colorado Springs. He invited us to visit him there in Colorado, & we are hoping to take him up on the offer. We live in Ireland, have been to USA once, only NY and Niagara area. (On a special free Hoover offer - perhaps some of you remember - it was 1994.) We have a son now living in London Ontario. Our son plans to get married next May, and said uncle may come to wedding (in Ontario). We may go to Colorado after the wedding, but we also plan to be in Ontario this December, and were considering going to Colorado then instead. Would it make sense for us to visit Colorado in December/January, or would the weather be too bad? (We are 50 & 50+, healthy, enjoy walking & hiking but have never skied) Would it make sense to travel overland from London ON to Colorado Springs? Greyhound, train, even hire car would all be considered. I know I'll have to do more research, but if any of you can kindly throw a few comments my way I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Two quick thoughts:

1. I would not suggest you consider the overland idea, from Ontario to Denver, especially in Dec/January. It's a long haul in wintertime. Better to fly.

2. Do come, though, because Colorado in December and January is beautiful. (Can you tell I live here?)

Since you live in a lovely green country, you might not enjoy Colorado so much in the summer, because it's not as lush as Ireland in most parts. But, our wintertime in the Rocky Mountains is magical. Blue skies, brilliant white mountains. Amazing.

Come to Colorado! So, what else do you need to know?

You will love Colorado in the winter! There are plenty of snow things to do, even if you don't ski. You can drive into the mountains and go do sledding...or snowmobiling...or just wander around some of the ski towns. There may be no snow at all in Colorado Springs, actually, but certainly will be in the mountains.

Seconding the idea of not driving.

You would be driving across the most boring section of the USA (what are known pejoratively as the 'flyover states') and the weather can be severe any time from the end of November.

Scenery starts just west of Denver and Colorado Springs and will be beautiful at that time of year.

also, the Colorado Springs airport is small and will be easy for you to be picked up. The drive from Colroado Springs to Denver International Airport is more than an hour, but your uncle may be happy to do it.

You'll love Colorado at that time of year!

Incredible sunshine, yada yada. You won't be sorry you visited!

Sometimes in Colorado it can be sunny in January. Sometimes it can be deep in snow. Either way, prepare for cold.

You will enjoy it. Go skiing or cross country skiing. Take short snowy hike with your friends.

Drink Starbucks or the local coffee.

If you get a chance, go to the Air Force Academy. Beautiful!

Garden of the Gods is going to be beautiful during the winter months as well.

Even when it's deep in snow, Colorado is usually sunny.

Sounds idyllic! It's hardly stopped raining here (in Ireland) for weeks. Last year was bad, (rain mid May-mid Aug) this year looks like something similar. If Wimbledon had been played here we would still be on round 3. So thoughts turn to anywhere out of the rain. Thanks for all your suggestions so far, at least I have plenty of time to research our trip.

Ricardo, here in Denver, we pray for rain! It's an arid climate here and in our plains. Gives us beautiful blue sky days, for sure.

I think Colorado is a great choice for you to visit, because it's so different than Ireland. Many Americans have Irish roots, so I think you will be treated like royalty when people hear your Irish brogue!

Hmmm. Interesting idea, PeaceOut, must work on the brogue. Despite living here 28 years we are not natives! Still, some Americans probably wouldn't know we are English. But any Irish we met would know!

So are you thinking about coming? What is happening with your plans.

I would add that driving could be very interesting--and economical, particularly since our gas prices are decreasing. The weather can be a disruptive element, but if you keep track of snow coming east, it isn't impossible. It would be a sort of long two day drive for you, and if you drop further south to the I70 corridor, you may have better chance of avoiding bad weather than on I80.
Colorado mountains in winter is absolutely magical--unlike anywhere in the world.

Yes I'm still here!
Well, we didn't manage to go in winter, but have yesterday booked flights from Toronto to Las Vegas on May 20, and also booked for the trip home Colorado Springs (COS) to Dublin on June 1st. In between we have ten days and hope to visit the Grand Canyon, and stay in relatives' holiday home in Colorado Springs. There'll be four of us: my wife, our 26 year-old son, and 71-year-old mother-in-law along with me.
I would imagine the best thing is to hire a car & drive to the Grand Canyon, the big hole in the ground as Uncle calls it. We all love camping, normally wild in west of Ireland, is that sort of thing possible there? (& can you hire the equipment?) Maybe we shall just try hotels or motels. You can't do everything in 10 or 12 days. I was really hoping to do Amtrak from the canyon to COS, but it seems that you can't take a train all the way. Would a better option be to fly from Las Vegas or somewhere nearby to COS (about €75 or $100 single) & then hire another car? Or is it a pleasant drive along the Rockies? How long would it take?
I don't really think any of us would want to be in a car all day even in the best of scenery. We prefer to get out and walk in it. Can you walk down into the Canyon? Excuse my ignorance, please. Now somewhere i have a national geographic mag all about it. And this internet thingy should give me some info. Sell yourselves! Thanks

Sounds like you have a great trip ahead of you. You certainly can hike and camp in Grand Canyon NP. There are trails down to the bottom and also one that goes several miles along the rim. Do be aware that you are at altitude at the top and it takes a little while to get used to the lack of oxygen. Check the other threads on the Canyon by typing Grand Canyon into the search box at the top of the page.

The Grand Canyon a "big hole in the ground"?? That's funny. It's spectacular, and like nothing you have ever seen. You will love it, especially since it's so different from your Irish landscape.

If you rent a car in Las Vegas, you can drive to Colorado Springs and pass through some beautiful scenery, spending a couple of nights camping, if you'd like.

Would you be interested in getting a suggested driving itinerary from fodorites here? I think you would get lots of good advice. Maybe post another question about that specifically.

Thanks for these suggestions. I found another thread on fodors, also the Grand Canyon's own website, which is helpful. Yes I must compose a request for an itinerary, perhaps mapquest or mappy or some such site will be helpful to me as well.

I have had problems with mapquest routes, and would suggest you get Fodorites' recommendations for stop-overs and itinerary instead. Nothing like getting advice first-hand from someone who has been there.

Have fun planning your trip.

Driving in the American west is a really amazing sight--there may not be the equivalent in the entire world. You could drive from the Grand Canyon and see several other national parks and sights. You could go to New Mexico and experience the Indian country around Santa Fe.
Camping can be done at the GC, but as much as I love it--and we did camp there long years ago--it does take time to get the equipment and set it up which might be too much for your time span.
I might suggest you google for a map that will show you the parks and monuments around Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. One that comes to mind that is a real destination is Mesa Verde--the home of the ancient Anasazi Indians. You will have no shortage of possibilities. Have fun!!

Great - more homework to do. The Anasazi were mentioned in a National Geographic article - I found it, January 2006, my appetite is building, and I do enjoy planning trips. Thanks.