so we booked our tix last night!! got a great deal on Fronteir.. woot!
We get in Thurs evening July 3rd and the plan is as follows-

- July 2 pick up rental car at DEN 7:40pm and drive to Boulder
-July 2nd night, July 3rd night- Boulder/Rocky Mountain National Park
-July 4th evening drive to Denver..
- Send July 4 night fireworks, 5, 6, 7 Denver
- Fly back July 7th late evening.

We figured it's better to stay in Boulder as opposed to Estes (a) because of the potential real high rates for July 4th weekend and (b) we want to check out Boulder too...from google maps, it doesn't seem that far of a drive from Boulder to RMNP.

Thoughts on this? Thanks!

I'm a little confused.

You say you're going to arrive on Thursday July 3rd, and pick up your car on July 2nd..... and then spend the nights of the 2nd and 3rd in Boulder.

???????????????????????

I like the idea of spending your first night in Boulder. On the 3rd of July (or 2nd) it should still be light out/dusky until 9:00 p.m. making your drive from DIA to Boulder more scenic than it would be in the dark.

You'll love Rocky Mountain National Park. It's not that long of a drive from Boulder to RMNP, but because it is 2 lane road, plan on an hour from the door of your hotel in Boulder to the entrance of the park.

I can also understand your desire to see the 4th of July fireworks from somewhere in Denver. Just about every suburb of Denver has its own particular celebration, generally starting off with a parade in the morning, activities at some town park all afternoon and early evening, and then the fireworks generally starting around 9:30 p.m. Any idea of where you want to be come fireworks time?

I'm also wondering about your desire to spend the 5th and 6th in Denver. It's going to probably be HOT (90's, maybe even 100) at that time of year in Denver.
Sure you wouldn't like to spend it somewhere cooler..... like up in the mountains?

Don't forget to go to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival! It's always on the 4th of July weekend, and it's a great place to walk around. Tons of wonderful local artists, and the area is fun too.

This is a bit confusing. Hopefully you meant to say you're flying out on the 2nd. Otherwise, you've only given yourself part of a day (the 4th) to see RMNP. Since it's a holiday weekend I'd bet it'll take longer than an hour to drive up there from Boulder. The park will be more crowded than usual and it'll take longer to get around once you get there.

Estes has a good fireworks show - might be worth your time to check out the rates in town that weekend just to see if they are really high or not.

Is Estes park different from RMNP? I've heard Estesis prettier? Can you suggest some nice drives or easy hikes in the area?

We are not spending any nights in the mountains so it will be day trips from Boulder and/or Denver.

The plan based on my first post is

July 2nd evening- spend time in Boulder .. eat dinner.

July 3rd- Drive to Estes/RMNP
Return to Boulder in the evening.
Any suggestions for evening activities in Boulder?

July 4th- Another trip to RMNP or spend time sightseeing in Boulder.
Evening- drive back to Denver.

Where is a good place to enjoy 4th fireworks in Denver?

July 5th, 6, 7- Denver and/or day trip to the mountains.

Any recommendations for vegetarian restaurants in either of those places? Thanks!

Estes Park is the town just outside the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lee Ann