Amere

Hello Fodors friends. I am planning a trip for end of April-beginning of May for 10 days (not including travel day back) from Denver to Albuquerque. Trying to figure out if this is a good amount of time in each area and if Aspen and Taos are worth a visit for our time frame. We love to see beautiful vistas, hike a bit, and just enjoy the beautiful areas. Would love to hear some good restaurant suggestions - we are up for anything - as well as must see sights. Thank you so much for your help.
Day 1 - Arrive in Denver mid afternoon
Day 2 - Denver and then drive to Colorado Springs
Day 3 - Colorado Springs
Day 4 - Drive to Aspen?
Day 5 - Drive to Ouray
Day 6 - Ouray
Day 7 - Drive to Taos
Day 8 - Drive to Santa Fe
Day 9 - Santa Fe
Day 10 - Drive to Albuquerque
Day 10 - Albuquerque
Day 11 - Fly out

martym

Is there a reason that you must come late April-early May? That time in Colorado is the 'mud season' between the winter ski season and the summertime and is when the snow melts and it is, well, muddy and usually cool in mountain locations.

Spring brings Colorado very unsettled weather most years. It can be blue-sky beautiful but snow storms can happen and the left over snowpack from the winter often makes any destination at altitude not too pleasant if you want to do outdoor activities. And, in New Mexico, that time of year is often windy--which can be quite unpleasant-especially for outdoor ativities.

But if that is the time you coming, IMHO, you are trying to do too much in 10 days. You will be staying overnight in 7 different locations in 10 days! And will be spending a good part of many of your days driving to your next destination.

For example, if Independence Pass is not open (and there is no guarantee that it will be by early May), the drive from Colorado Springs to Aspen will take about 5 hours. Aspen to Ouray is 4 hours and Ouray to Taos is 5 hours.

Plus hiking will be, most likely, extremely limited if not non-existent in any mountain area. There will, no doubt, be snow on hiking trails--in fact, as I said, snow storms are not that unusual that time of year. And if not snow, trails will be very muddy from melting snow.

Is there any way you can change the time of your vacation, so you can have better weather and better conditions for hiking and sightseeng?

DebitNM

I agree, this time frame is: 1] one of the worst, weather-wise and 2] way too much in too short a time period.

Early May in NM is windy, with lots of sand and dust blowing around. We most likely won't have fresh snow, but there could be remnants.

Renting a car in Denver and dropping in ABQ might be expensive. It may be cheaper to go the other direction.

Yes, Taos is worth a visit.

I think you should try and concentrate on either focusing on NM, with a jaunt up to Durango, Mesa Verde NP, driving The Million Dollar Highway or Denver and that area.

Folks don't tend to understand the places here are very far apart and that drive time is longer between places than it is in other more urban areas. 400 miles here can take 8 hours or more, especially if there is a freak end of season storm or if you are timid about mountain driving.

Amere

That you so much for your replies. Yes, that is when we both can get of work - so, the dates are firm - hopefully the weather will be atypical like we are having with this warm winter. If not thought, we will have to go light on the hiking it sounds like. I was thinking it might be too much driving, so I think we will forego Aspen.
I had heard about NM being windy that time of year - are there certain times of day when it is worse and so we can focus indoor activity during that time?
We do enjoy beautiful scenery and local restaurants, so hopefully those will not be affected should the weather be less than par.

martym

You could get lovely weather, that is true--so hope it happens for you.

What type of restaurants do you like and at what price? I can suggest restaurants for Denver, Colorado Springs, and Santa Fe.

Amere

Thank you Martym! We like anything except sushi. Prefer no chain restaurants - would much rather go to places where the locals go.$10-$20 for lunch is good. $15-$35 for dinner is good. Neither one of us drink, so that does not have to be a factor.

martym

Here you go--these would be in your price range and I'm pretty sure none of them are chains. Enjoy!

Denver-

Racines http://racinesrestaurant.com/
Bang! http://www.bangdenver.com/
Bones http://bonesdenver.com/
Charcoal http://www.charcoaldining.com/
Deluxe http://deluxedenver.com/welcome/
Duo http://duodenver.com/
Euclid Hall http://euclidhall.com/
Le Central http://lecentral.com/
Marco’s Coal Fired Pizza http://www.marcoscoalfiredpizza.com/
Osteria Marco http://www.osteriamarco.com/
Snooze http://www.snoozeeatery.com/
Steuben’s http://www.steubens.com/
Venue http://www.venuebistro.com/

Colorado Springs

Adam’s Mountain Café http://adamsmountain.com/
Phantom Canyon Brewing Co http://www.phantomcanyon.com/
La Baguette http://www.labaguette-co.com/
Pizzeria Rustica http://www.pizzeriarustica.com/

Santa Fe

Galisteo Bistro http://www.galisteobistro.com/
Joe’s Diner http://joesdinerandpizza.com/
La Boca http://labocasf.com/
Maria’s http://www.marias-santafe.com/
MuDu Noodles http://www.mudunoodles.com/
San Franciso St Bar and Grill http://www.sanfranbargrill.com/
Zia Diner http://www.ziadiner.com/
Pranzo http://www.pranzosantafe.com/

Amere

Wow - you are amazing! I can't wait to check out these links. Thank you!

BigRuss

Better yet:

SF: Cowgirl Cafe - funky scene = http://www.cowgirlsantafe.com/
Don't miss Tomasita's (no website found)

fmpden

No such thing as atypical weather. Remember you live the extremes to have an average. Yesterday in Denver it was 50. Now it is in the 20s, a foot of snow is on the ground with at least another six inches or more are expected over the next 24 hours. I-70 on the eastern plains is closed as is a good portion of the city. During our first year in Denver, the only snow day for the local school district was May 9th. April is our snowiest month and May is the wettest. So realize you are coming during a period when we have wide swings in weather so you need to be prepared both clothing wise and driving. You have planned a lot of mountain driving over secondary roads so you need to have some alternative plans.

DebitNM

La Choza in Santa Fe for authentic New Mexican food, which is not the same as Mexican. We have wonderful red and green chile and it can be hot, so ask for it on the side.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...tnms-picks.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm


National Hispanic Cultural Center and Pueblo Indian Cultural Center are worth a visit.
http://cabq.gov/visiting

http://www.innofthegovernors.com/thi...fe/attractions

In Ouray, Box Canyon Falls are great.

http://www.ouraycolorado.com/ouray-a...Falls-Park.php

Amere

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. If we took Hwy 50 from Colorado Springs to Montrose to get to Ouray and then when heading to NM taking 550 to 160 to 64 to get to Taos - do they not keep these roads clear? I am not really seeing another way to get to Taos.I see that we could backtrack a bit from Colorado Springs to Ouray by taking I-70. Does anyone know if any of the Jeep trails will be open around Ouray at the beginning of May? I have researched some companies, but not seeing much about dates.
Also, some suggestions for things to do in Denver? I am seeing alot around Colorado Springs. Thank you in advance.

fmpden

Doubt if any of the Jeep trails open around Ouray. You would still have heavy snow down to at least 8,000 and perhaps lower. At that level it is still winter and you need appropriate clothing. What do you want to do? see? The Denver metro area will have much more to do than Colorado Springs. Spring time in the Rockies doesn't come until late May, early June.

DebitNM

As fmpden states, the jeep trails surely wont be open.
http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm

And if by some chance they are open, have you done this before? This is not something to try for the first time when there could be mud etc. Be sure you know how to drive on steep, NARROW trails that are one lane only and how to yield properly.

martym

As fmpden says, what are your interests? That would help us give you suggestions for Denver--which offers much more to do for the visitor than the Springs. Here are a few things that come to mind (plus you're going to have barely 24 hours in Denver--so you aren't going to be able to do much).

Denver Art Museum http://www.denverartmuseum.org/home

Museum of Contemporary Art http://www.mcadenver.org/index.php/about

Clyfford Still Museum http://clyffordstillmuseum.org/

Denver Botanic Gardens http://www.botanicgardens.org/

Red Rocks http://www.redrocksonline.com/ Has hiking trails which probably will be open--unless we're had a snow storm.

Colorado Rockies Game http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=col

Amere

Well, I know we would like to go to the Olympic training center (my friend went to the Olympic trials for track, so I thought this would be a neat place for her to see), Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak Cogway,maybe the US Mint tour. We love the theatre, so we could take in a show. It seems like a lot of those places were closer to the Springs, so that is why I was thinking another day there. I have had several friends tell me that Ouray is really beautiful, hence the couple of days there - will there be things to do in the area since Jeep trails will not be open.
Has anyone been to afternoon tea at the Brown Hotel(Palace?) in Denver? We aren't huge museum people - so we could do one - which do you enjoy most? Good to hear that we may be able to hike around Red Rocks - I was looking that up yesterday.

martym

If you want to see pennies being made, the US Mint tour in Denver is for you. The building itself is kinda interesting. To me, it was not really worth the time it took to do it.

The cog railway will take about 1/2 a day so if you want to tour the Olympic Training Center and visit Garden of the Gods, the extra day is a good idea.

If you would like to go to a play--here's the website for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. http://www.denvercenter.org/home.aspx

As to which museum I enjoy most--that would be the Denver Art Museum--the newer Hamilton wing was designed by Daniel Libeskind--and is quite striking.

As to what there is to do in Ouray in late April-early May--as others have said, it still will probably be rather chilly/wintry there. They do have a nice hot springs pool http://www.ouraycolorado.com/discove...rings-pool.php and some of the shops in the downtown will, no doubt, be open.

DebitNM

FWIW - On my first visit to Denver area [before I lived here in NM] the only place I had altitude sickness was doing the Cog Railway. Ruined the whole day and the next one too. Be aware of the symptoms, remedies etc. Not everyone experiences it, but knowing about it is a good thing. This is especially true if you are coming from sea level.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...pikes-peak.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...e-sickness.cfm

Amere

Shoot, I was really looking forward to seeing the beautiful sights of Ouray, but wondering now if it is worth it. Do you think most things will be closed and there will be nothing to do except the hot springs?
Thank you for the heads up about altitude sickness, we will schedule the Cog Railway after we have been there for a few days and acclimated. I will check out the performing arts center and the museum as well. Thank you!

martym

You would call some shops and restaurants in Ouray and ask if they will be open on the days you are there. Same for Telluride--which you could do as a day trip.

The scenery around Ouray will still be gorgeous.