My son and girlfriend and I are meeting my husband in Colorado Springs on the evening of July 27. Need motel for that night...that will pick us up because he can't...and then we will rent a car and be off until our return to C. Springs on August 3. The last time we went down toward Gunnison...down the $$ Highway..Ouray, Teluride, Mesa Verde and back up along Utah and then across to C.Springs. Greatest trip ever. But...not sure to do the same...or change it to get some of the Rocky's in there and less desert. Son loves the water and would like to kayak...neither of them have ever been out west...so want them to get a good feel for the place. We love the parks and some hiking...grand vistas...not so much on the shopping and touristy stuff. So...if you have favorites, please post them.

Here is a list of hotels/motels with airport shuttles:

http://www.springsgov.com/AirportPage.asp?PageID=4848

I would suggest heading to Glenwood Springs. They have the world's largest outdoor mineral water pool. I know there are several rafting companies there also that might be able to direct you to kayak rentals. There are also great hikes, one of which is to Hanging Lake. It is also close to Aspen just in case.

I don't know a motel that will pick you up, so get a shuttle to the Springs. I guess your husband has the car already, otherwise you could rent at the airport and drive.

Hi there,

How about Steamboat Springs? Know it's a hike from the C.S. airport, but great scenery on the way. Great town, always so green--music, small shops and bookstores, condos, and a river runs through it. Another great river runs through broad valleys north of town. Check the town's web site for info on kayaking, etc.

I also suggest making Glenwood Spings your mountain destination.
From Colorado Springs, go to the Buena Vista area, spend the night, go river rafting on the Arkansas the next day. There are lots of outfitters who can take you. We've always used River Runners--http://www.riverrunnersltd.com/ Visit or stay at Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort if you can http://www.mtprinceton.com/ The pools are very nice (especially after a day on the river). You could visit St. Elmo, a ghost town just down the road from Mt. Princeton.

Then drive to Glenwood Springs via Independence Pass and Aspen. Independece Pass (http://www.independence-pass.com/) does have some very narrow though short sections near the top--but going this way, you will be on the inside which is less scary. Gorgeous, gorgeous scenery and I have always loved the contrast between the pass road and the cosmopolitan town of Aspen http://www.aspenchamber.org/. You could have lunch in Aspen before continuing on to Glenwood Springs http://www.glenwoodchamber.com/. Get a table outdoors on the mall and enjoy the sun, blue skies and the people watching.

An interesting and beautiful area to explore close to Glenwood Springs is the Redstone/Marble area-- http://www.redstonecolorado.com/

http://www.marbletourismassociation.org/

Lots of fantastic scenery along the Crystal River and you can hike to the Yule Marble Quarry--now abandoned. It was the source of the marble for the Lincoln Memorial and the Tombs of the Unknown Soldier among other public buildings.

Head back toward Colorado Springs on I-70 to experience Glenwood Canyon (and do the hike to Hanging Lake, if you would like), past Vail to Breckenridge. Stay the night in Breckenridge--always lots going on there in the summer.

Then go over Hoosier Pass, through South Park and back to Colorado Springs.

That should give you a really good feel for another part of Colorado.

Thanks...after talking more with my son...and him looking over the pictures from the trip my husband and I made...he has decided to go somewhat along that route. So...we will settle in Buena Vista area to raft the Arkansas first. He really wants to end up in Arches at some point...which will give him a really good idea of the West.

I agree, Steamboat Springs is amazing!