In two weeks I am taking a business trip to Denver. My husband is going to join me for the weekend but I'm not sure how to make the best use of our time. We have no desire to spend time in Denver but don't want to spend too much time in the car to get to the mountains. We just want to relax, enjoy the scenery and have a few good meals. I see that Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park doesn't open till Memorial Day - we'll be there the weekend before. Is the area around the park - i.e. Estes Park - the prettiest scenery or should we head to the Vail/Leadville area? Also, any advice on nice B&Bs would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Mary Sue. For a B&B you may want to look at Muggins Gulch Inn, near Breckenridge, only about 5 miles from town but sits in National Forest and has the Colorado Trail running thru the property for great Hiking. http://www.colorado-bnb.com/muginn/

The mountains will be pretty quiet until mid june so for relaxing and scenery it cannot be beat. They have a great oputdoor hot tub that looks over a meadow for elk viewing. Be sure to ask if its working though.

In Vail look at the Cascade resort, not a B&B but has a very nice spa, outdoor heated pool, tennis, on the bike path and river. They may have specials this time of year so be sure to ask. They sometimes do not "offer" them up until you ask. http://www.vailcascade.com/
We typically pay about 100.00 a night for off season rates.
You will find the resturants much better in Vail.

Not a big fan of Estes Park. it is beautiful but the town is a bit lacking.

From Denver it will take you about 90 min to Breck and 2 hours to Vail, pretty easy drive at this time of year.

Just read a report that Trail Ridge Road opened TODAY! (Earliest opening day in history)

This doesn't mean it won't close temporarily due to a spring storm, but I guess the snowpack has been light this year, allowing them to plow early.

There are so many beautiful places in that area. IMHO Trail Ridge Road isn't even in the top 20-get more into the mountains-ski resorts are really beautiful in spring (pricey though)...

Actually, mary sue, you're in luck. Trail Ridge Road opened early this year -- may 7 -- because we have so little snow this year. It's definitely worth the drive to estes park and rocky mountain national park, especially if you like to hike.
And i wouldn't totally discount Denver. There's lots of great stuff to do here -- Denver Art Museum, rockies games, etc. Rockies games are cheap ($5 for the cheapest tickets, but since they suck you could get pretty much any tickets cheap) and some fantastic restaurants in downtown denver (Vesta Dipping Grill, chophouse) ...

Hve you looked into Glenwood Hot Springs. About 2 1/2 -3 hour drive. And it's very relaxing and beautiful.