Hello folks~ You all seem like a helpful bunch so hopefully I can get some good advice.
My boyfriend & I are taking our first trip together and we decided on Colorado and so far we have only booked our flight to Denver.
We are going there late October for 3 days and just want to do some horseback riding, hiking, bicycling, and relax in a cozy cabin. Any suggestions on which town to stay in (maybe Boulder?) and or cabins/lodging? Budget is modest, of course. And any must-see places near that area? Thanks for your help!

Boulder is pretty but expensive, and although biking/hiking are good, horseback riding and cabins are not.
2. Go to Rocky Mt. National Park (~1 hour away), stay in Estes Park, lots and lots of cabins (with hot tubs!) by the river, prices are great that time of year, elk are bugling, and there are two horseback riding concessions that guide within the park (and several outside the park).
2. Head for any of the ski towns in the nearby mountains (~2 hours from the airport), where hiking and biking (and probably horses?) and cabins/condos are available. It's still before ski season (for most), so the prices should be pretty good. Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper, Vail are good for starters. Aspen and Steamboat are maybe a little farther than you want to go with limited time.

You've got good advice from Sylvia, for places to stay in a cabin. I'd also suggest you stop in Boulder one day, because it's a very fun place for younger (i.e. twenty-something) visitors. It would be an easy stop on your way to Estes. Go to "the Hill" across from the CU campus, the Pearl Street Mall, or visit the campus itself. For hiking, go to Chautauqua Park.
The only cabins I know of in Boulder itself are at Chautauqua Park. But they are probably full of faculty in October. Otherwise, there are cabins in Eldorado Canyon perhaps. But Estes would offer more to do and see in general.
Enjoy Colorado!

I would second the recommendation to stay in Estes Park. This location puts you very close to Rocky Mountain National Park. Great hiking, biking, horseback riding. Estes Park is also a very cute town with lots of charm, shops and restuarants. There are lots of cabin type places to stay. Look for place along the Fall River. This is a great area and many places are wooded and within feet of the banks of the river. Be selective as you look for accomodations. Estes Park has some older motel type properties that are labeled "cabins". However just look at websites and look for those properties that are slightly newer but still in the price range you are looking for. There is quite a variety of accomodations in the area.

I would definately go to Estes Park. This is the entrance to Rocky Mountain Natonal Park. 3 days will go by in a hurry.

Boulder is a college town that seems to be stuck in the 60's....just my impression.

Sorry I can't help you with the cabin thing, I would expect that exists in the Estes Park area.

Whoops, didn't mean to be redundant. Thats what I get for starting a response and coming back to it later!

Yes, I would agree with previous posters about Estes Park. Easy drive from DIA, beautiful, and should be good time for elk bugling experience. For cabins, you might try: Valhalla Resort. Here's their web site. Book early as this is a popular time in Estes. Happy travels.
http://www.valhallaresort.com/?source=GCEP

Another vote for Estes - rates are way down for lodging that time of year, so check here and on TripAdvisor.com for reviews and suggestions. There is nothing like RMNP at this time of year - empty and beautiful!

One thing the other posters didn't mention is that hiking/biking might be unavailable due to snow! It is hard to predict, but do be prepared for cold and snowy weather during your trip. Hopefully you'll get some glorious, warm, sunny days, but the weather changes drastically here, so don't depend on anything!

Have to agree that the weather in late October can be very iffey. I'd opt for Estes/RMNP over any ski resorts just becase of the elevation. Less chance of snow interfering with your activities.

Have to disagree with Boulder being stuck in the 60's. It's just very eclectic.

Also disagree about Boulder being "stuck in the 60s". It is a college town, with 30,000 students who are on the leading edge of today's culture, not yesterday's. With all those young adults, Boulder has a progressive and open-minded attitude. Also lots of young professionals who like the outdoor life it offers. Some of the best new restaurants are in Boulder.

Because Boulder was a big infuence on 60s culture, it does still have that reputation elsewhere, I suppose. Like UC-Berkeley.

Also, because the weather is so appealing, there's a fair number of street people in the summertime, who look like burned-out hippies and who panhandle on the Pearl Street mall. But that's not to say that Boulder is "stuck" anywhere.

You guys are AWESOME! So helpful...thank you! I was thinking Estes Park also after reading my Fodor's Guidebook. We originally wanted to go to Durango but it's too expensive to fly there and too far to drive from Denver for this trip.
Any opinion if a day trip out to Colorado Springs is worth it or should we just try to maximize our time near RMNP? Also, any cool bars/pubs in Boulder you could recommend for a night out? Thanks a million again. You all are more helpful than friends/acquaintances!

Just for some perspective:

Denver to Boulder is 30 minutes.

Estes Park to Boulder is 60 minutes.

So go for the evening if you like....just make sure to wear your peasant dress. ;-)

Colorado Springs is okay but I think you'll find plenty to see/do in the Boulder/Estes Park area.

Sorry too old to recommend any good pubs/bars but Pearl Street might be your best bet.

The Mediterranean is a good bar/restaurant in Boulder. It's near Pearl Street, I think on Walnut. Lots of choices in Boulder.

Colorado Springs has the "red rock" look of Utah. I much prefer the aspen trees and evergreens of northern CO.

I second The Med in Boulder - Walnut 1.5 blocks wesk of Broadway

Placeu2, just wondering-- when was the last time you were in Boulder? (Peasant dresses are back in style, you know!)

I lived in Boulder for many years, and just recently moved due to work. In Boulder, Birkenstocks and Jimmy Choos co-exist beautifully... there's defintiely a counter-culture ex-hippie contingent, but there are just as many (if not more) Whole Foods-shopping, body-conscious yuppies. It's a great, vibrant place - and definitely should be a stop on your trip.

In addition to the Med, I would recommend the West End Tavern for a drink - they have a good rooftop bar. The Pearl Street Pub is a great dive bar in the middle of town. I'd also recommend making an afternoon stop at the Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse (www.boulderteahouse.com) for a pot of tea or a delicious (the best!) chai. For a cheap meal, Illegal Pete's is on the Pearl St. Mall (outdoor pedestrian mall) - they serve delish burritos.

For a nice (albeit expensive) meal, you must check out the Kitchen or Frasca - both were recently written up in Gourmet Magazine. In fact, Frasca was recently selected as one of the "Top 50 Restaurants in the US." Hardly stuck in the 60s...

With only 3 days, Colorado Springs is way out of your way if you also want to head up to Estes Park. Boulder is on your way and spending one night there would be fun. They have a new luxury hotel called the St. Julien with a nice Spa. The Boulderado is also nice and a little cheaper - just not as deluxe. You can rent bikes right outside the door of both and they offer hikes daily and lots of trail maps if you want to go it alone. Within steps is Pearl Street Mall with a ton of retaurants and bars. From Boulder, it's a 45 min. drive to Estes Park. Be careful when you book a cabin. Many are right on the road, so look for ones that are set back - many are on the stream. Have a great time!