Thank you Nelson. Those Breck places look perfectly casual for the fam and Fatty's has Cert of Exc from TA. Rock Cut bound too!!

The Shining was on last night! Excited for the history of King.

Tabernash2, thank you for kid-dining-confidence. They are well-mannered, but a tad picky in their eating. I'll have to check ahead for kid menus which cater to the mundane for the kids.

We're hoping for good weather on TRR. 11 days and counting which is thrilling since we usually don't fly more than once per year (a bonus year with Florida behind us). The Gateway in Grand Lake already charged my card. Hope we can make it over there!

We were in Winter Park this weekend. The aspen leaves have mostly fallen from the trees by now. It is a wonderful time to visit, as the roads are much less trafficked now. Ski area activities have closed down at WP, and restaurants at the base are closed for hiatus.

There was 2" of snow at the top of the WP ski mountain, with intermittent rain down at the base. Don't let the weather deter you, like I said before. It's always gorgeous in the mountains.

Re: picky eaters-- I know what you mean. Most places will serve chicken tenders or spaghetti something like that to suit the kids. Best to call ahead to see. Most kids' menus aren't posted on-line, I have discovered.

Enjoy Colorado!!

Post any questions while you're here.

Empire burgers is one of our regulars at Breck, usually though for dinner.

Tabernash2, Re: Post any questions while you're here
Great idea!

Thanks for the weather report. It will be beautiful!

BetsyG, Good to hear you enjoy Empire Burger.

I know everyone will be hungry after visiting the football stadium so wanted to bee-line to a recommended restaurant and thought Louisville would be easy to get to and on our way to Boulder. Has anyone been to these places?

Moxie Bread Co: delic bread, sandwiches, pizza and bakery items

LuLu's Barbecue: smoked meats, Ribs, biscuits and fried pickles, Mac N C, sweet potato tots

Lucky Pie: Bacon Peanut Brittle, heavy sands, homemade cheese and pizza

If people are really hungry, they probably won't want to wait till Louisville, which is slightly out of your way. Eat near the stadium, or snack there, and head to Boulder to eat.

You could stop halfway on Hwy 36, at Flatiron Crossing shopping mall, and find the food court.
http://www.flatironcrossing.com

PS If you like things like bacon peanut brittle, another fun place to stop in Empire (at the base of Berhoud Pass, Hwy 40), just down the street from the Hard Rock Cafe I recommended: Lewis Sweet Shoppe.

It's the most unlikely looking place: red and white single story 'shack', with crazy signs. They make BBQ in their smoker in the backyard. Also great sweet potato crust chicken tenders.

In their candy counter, they have chocolate covered bacon and other crazy things covered with chocolate. Don't be put off by their ramshackle exterior. It's family-owned and operated, with good homemade food.

This will be an off beat suggestion for a quick lunch that some here will not like - (I keep remembering you have 7 and 11 year old children) but from the stadium it is just a quick drive west along Colfax Ave. Casa Bonita - an old, old, Denver institution with indoor cliff divers, caves to explore, etc. The food is cafeteria style Mexican food that at best is so so. You don't go to the food you go for the scenery and action. I don't know any kids that don't love it. May be hard to have a quick lunch.

Casa Bonita is at 6715 W Colfax Ave in an old shopping center.

Despite the Casa Bonita haters, I am glad someone with fond childhood memories took me there, and yes, it is great for kids.

I am not a hater--for the kids. We've done it a number of times and it usually took a lot of margaritas!!. BUT it isn't a quick in and out--they'll want to see the show, do the games and climbs, etc.
Since the OP seems to like quirky places go to Little Man Ice cream shop. It is only ice cream but there are good delis and restaurants nearby.
http://www.littlemanicecream.com/

For a really good restaurant in Aspen that caters to picky kids with a great hamburger, try Brexi's www.brexiaspen.com.

Not too many margaritas, they have to drive on to Boulder later that day.

Louisville is only 10 minutes from Boulder; I'd just get to Boulder for food. We've had several days of cool temps and rain, by the way, so hope you have a TRR backup!

Oh, yes, and not at lunch really. Is it even open for lunch? The food isn't really all that bad for quick Mexican.
Is it SO necessary to eat in Louisville at a "recommended place"? ;o) There are really good places to eat in Denver also!

If you are still doing the celestial seasonings tour (a few miles outside Boulder) don't forget to pop into the Leanin' Tree Gallery of Western Art and sculpture garden (free and well worth a visit).

Tabernash2 , thank you for Lewis Sweet Shoppe tip!

fmpden, Casa Bonita sound great. I have planned it for our end of the trip because I don't want to start the vacation with greasy food and the surgeon general tells me not to drink alcohol on altitude adjustment days.

Maybe I am the picky eater? Haha. Just trying to choose an easy-to-get-to restaurant because I know we'll be weary.

Thanks historytraveler, House-Made Herb Parmesan Frites = Yum. Kobe Flatiron sounds unique as I was just reading on Internet.

sylvia3, Thanks for the reality check on TRR. Sad we won't get full refund on Grand Lake hotel if cancel.

Gretchen, Thanks for Little Man reminder. Hope to fit in. Yes, quirky indeed.

Why Louisville? My thought is, we're stopping at NCAR (it only takes one hour to see the exhibits) and wanted to drive northernly from Sports Authority. Anything on that route (hwys 287 and 36) would be great, Westminster, Broomfield (not a mall).

Day 1
Land Denver 8:30am
Sports Authority Tour 11am
Lunch on way to NCAR
NCAR 3pm
4:30 check into North Boulder hotel
Relax
At night explore Pearl Street

You would not have to cancel, simply have to get to your hotel via I70 and 40. Longer day, for sure, but doable (and it might not happen; temps in the lower 70s and sunny in Boulder the next few days. Just a reminder that all your plans can be affected by weather this time of year in Colorado!

Have you considered lunch at the NCAR cafeteria (they post their weekly menus on line)? That way you could get there, let the kids blow off steam on the (simply gorgeous) easy parts of the trail system (right outside the building), and enjoy lunch in a truly beautiful and unique setting. (If you're lucky, it will be Yorkshire pudding day!)

.....not to drink alcohol on altitude adjustment days.....

Then you will not be drinking during the trip. On average it takes one day to adjust a 1000 feet.

We have had snow in the mountains above 9,000 feet, but the weekend is back into the 80s in Denver so the cycle could be changing a bit. It takes a significant dump in the range of a foot or more to finally close trail ridge. As much as anything is the wind. The upper part of trail ridge is so exposed that a foot of snow can make 10 foot drifts along the road. Plus some areas of the road are so tight that there is no place to put snow when removed.

The probability of trail ridge still being open for you is very high.

You can definitely drink, just drink less alcohol than normal and drink a lot of water. The higher you go the more that holds true. But Denver should not be a huge issue, it hasn't been for me in a dozen or so trips and I'm coming from Minneapolis (I believe you are also from Minnesota so the elevation change is the same for both of us).

sylvia3, Lunch at NCAR - brilliant idea!

fmpden, Yay, the weather looks great next week too.

WhereAreWe, Yes, MN. Good to know.

I'm seeing the great weather CO is having, super-sweet!

Unfortunately NCAR lunch ends at 1:30, so will try the deli suggestions (Uber Eats and Masterpiece Delicatessen) near Little Man Ice Cream as it'll be on way to NCAR from Sports Authority Field.

Questions about the Maroon Bells... Now that bus service has stopped and you can pay $10 to drive the road, I hear that it’s still busy. What if there are no parking spots? I don’t think we can get there till late-afternoon. Is it still worth it?

Frisco, Silverthorne or Georgetown?
Driving from Glenwood Springs to Golden, which is best for interesting architecture, lunch, and window shopping? Thanks!

Georgetown. Frisco a little less so. Silverthorne is really not a town. It was the workers camp for building the dam and sort of evolved into a town area after the dam was finished.

The Maroon Bells are ALWAYS worth it. (We didn't have to pay anything last fall)

Georgetown would be my choice. We had a good lunch at the Euro Grill.

Georgetown has cute architecture. Frisco more eating options and shopping, IMO. I can't remember names of places along the street, but there are a lot.
There are places to eat in Dillon (Silverthorne sort of) up on the hill, but it is really just strip malls.

Thank you fmpden, sylvia3, vttraveler, and Gretchen! I'll get all into plans.

Holy Denver traffic Batman! Took us nearly an hour from airport rental car to Sports Authority Field. We find it funny with all the signs alongside the road that say move over for accidents. And right now I'm watching accidents on local news.

I am missing the humor of moving over for accidents. It is state law that you must give clearance for accidents and especially if a cop is on the shoulder with flashing lights. You have to give a lane.

If a bus is at a stop and the yellow light on the bus is flash you must yield to that bus. It is an expensive ticket if you don't.

Denver traffic is much more congested than it used to be.

But Colorado weather is really showing off for you, Googs! I have been in Winter Park with guests since last Friday. We have had sunny blue skies every single day. Some precipitation is in the forecast beginning Sunday, but not snow. (You never know, though.)

My friends loved Grand Lake. We stopped in the stores that are open now, like the Art Gallery and the homemade fudge shop across the street.

We also stopped at the Grand Mountain Trading Company in Granby, looking for Pendleton wool products. It's an authentic western store with a room in the back for sale items like boots, coats, etc. Right on the main street in little Granby.

They also loved touring around Devil's Thumb Ranch. We had burgers at Heck's Tavern, which they raved about.

Have fun! Please report back.

For once I agree with Tabernash2. It has a lot to do with the 200,000 folks that have moved here in last few years. The I-70 corridor from I-225 to I-25 can be a real problem. But still nothing like I-80, 90 around Chicago. Piece of cake in comparison.

My son lives in Denver. They often go to the mountains to hike, etc. He says be careful about the traffic returning to Denver as well, especially if it is the weekend. The highway back to Denver is often filled on late afternoons and evenings, especially weekends, with folks returning from their mountain fun. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport! Enjoy your trip.

Apparently Googs hasn't driven in an urban environment with major interstates.
In the 20 or so years I've been visiting my kids in Denver in various parts, at any given time on any given interstate--or University or whatever--there is a traffic jam!!
I actually have found (WHEN we have been there) that a little patience getting back to Denver on Sunday works pretty well.

Timing your drive on 70 is important.

We usually leave Winter Park after dinner on Sundays, around 8pm, to return to Denver. By then, the traffic is not likely to be heavy.

We don't drive up on Saturday mornings, with the hordes. Much better to drive West on 70 late Friday night.

I know we are spoiled, because we don't have to abide by hotel check-in and check-out times, we plan around them.

(It's still blue sky weather in Winter Park.)

We're having a superb trip and awesome weather except for a bit of rain in Breck today. IMO Empire Burger rocks!

The accident signs seem unnecessary as all in MN abide by law but don't have signs.

Fun to hear where you've been Tabernash2. We were close by.

Luckily traveling I70 leisurely on Monday and sleeping near airport.

Googs, I'm glad youre having fun!

We had some high clouds yesterday, but no rain in Winter Park. Today there are more clouds. It could rain this afternoon. I'm heading to Denver mid-afternoon.