Help with 3 day itinery around Beaver Creek
May 6th, 2007, 05:56 AM
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Help with 3 day itinery around Beaver Creek
My husband is attending a conference in Beaver Creek mid May. My daughter (20 months) and I have decided to tag along as we have never been to Colorado. While he is at the conference (Wed to Sat am) my daugther and I can explore Beaver Creek and Vail (will have a car) but I am looking for some help as to what to do when the conferernce ends as we are taking some actual vacation all together from Saturday midday to Tuesday midday when we fly back to New York from Denver.
We are Brits living in New York for the next few years so this will probably be the only time we get to visit Colorado so really want to get it right in the short amount of time we have to spend there. I know it will not be enough! We are up for anything but have to bear in mind we have a 20 month old. A gentle hike would be nice, a nice town to stroll around, taking in some great scenery..... Not bothered about actual shopping as can do that at home.
From this site and reading some guide books I am thinking:
1) Aspen for Sat pm and Sunday - from mapquest it appers to be a 2 hr drive from Beaver Creek
2) Then thinking about going to Breckenridge but that looks like a 3 hr drive from Aspen and too sure how our daugher will like that!
3) Or should we just head to Breckenridge from Beaver Creek and stay put there?
4) Or head to somewhere else completely once the conference ends eg Boulder, Colorado Springs if Aspen and Breckenridge are all pretty similar to Vail and Beaver Creek?
As you can see I'm a bit lost! There just seems so much to do. Would be grateful for any help.
Thank you!
We are Brits living in New York for the next few years so this will probably be the only time we get to visit Colorado so really want to get it right in the short amount of time we have to spend there. I know it will not be enough! We are up for anything but have to bear in mind we have a 20 month old. A gentle hike would be nice, a nice town to stroll around, taking in some great scenery..... Not bothered about actual shopping as can do that at home.
From this site and reading some guide books I am thinking:
1) Aspen for Sat pm and Sunday - from mapquest it appers to be a 2 hr drive from Beaver Creek
2) Then thinking about going to Breckenridge but that looks like a 3 hr drive from Aspen and too sure how our daugher will like that!
3) Or should we just head to Breckenridge from Beaver Creek and stay put there?
4) Or head to somewhere else completely once the conference ends eg Boulder, Colorado Springs if Aspen and Breckenridge are all pretty similar to Vail and Beaver Creek?
As you can see I'm a bit lost! There just seems so much to do. Would be grateful for any help.
Thank you!
May 6th, 2007, 06:51 AM
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Lets take the questions one at time. Beaver Creek, itself, is very up scale resort area, There is very little to do in Beaver Creek -- it is all relatively new condos, hotels, and small shops. Vail has more activities simply because it is much bigger but still a resort area. You can arrange local jeep tours that will take you into the high country.
Ques 1. -- Aspen is probably closer to 2.5, maybe 3 hrs because of road construction on a tunnel in the canyon. Glenwood canyon is a beautiful drive and stop in the rest areas. Hanging Lake is a nice hike from the rest area. And the path along the Colorado River is nice. Glenwood Springs has a huge outdoor hot spring pool that the 20 month would probably enjoy. Aspen is interesting in part because it is Aspen. It is quiet in the summer, maybe even a bit sleepy but the summer music program can draw large crowds . Sightseeng is good and Maroon Bells a mahnificent sight. Taking the back road out of Aspen over Independence Pass to Leadville completes a great loop back to I-70 at Copper Mountain. From historical standpoint, Leadville is terrific -- old mining town, etc, Leadville has a 12 mile paved loop path into the old mining district that is like an outdoor museum. A bit much for a hike but a terrific bike ride.
Breckenridge is closer to Aspen in character than B Creek or Vail because it is another old mining town with buildings that date to that period. However, Breckenridge is more of a middle class, working, mountain town with much wide range of restaurants and lodging than any of the above.
Ques 2 -- Breck would around 4 hrs from Aspen via i-70 and maybe 5+ via Leadville -- depending on the number of stops you make.
Ques 3 -- you cannot see everything. A nice drive from B Creek would be to take the turnoff to Leadville at Midturn, go to Leadville via Tennessee, back to I-70 at Copper Mountain on to Breckenridge. A two hour trip plus stops. Again, it is very historical. You would go by Camp Hale, home of 10th Mountain Division - very important WWII site for Americans. Breck does make a good base for day trips.
That should get you started.
Ques 1. -- Aspen is probably closer to 2.5, maybe 3 hrs because of road construction on a tunnel in the canyon. Glenwood canyon is a beautiful drive and stop in the rest areas. Hanging Lake is a nice hike from the rest area. And the path along the Colorado River is nice. Glenwood Springs has a huge outdoor hot spring pool that the 20 month would probably enjoy. Aspen is interesting in part because it is Aspen. It is quiet in the summer, maybe even a bit sleepy but the summer music program can draw large crowds . Sightseeng is good and Maroon Bells a mahnificent sight. Taking the back road out of Aspen over Independence Pass to Leadville completes a great loop back to I-70 at Copper Mountain. From historical standpoint, Leadville is terrific -- old mining town, etc, Leadville has a 12 mile paved loop path into the old mining district that is like an outdoor museum. A bit much for a hike but a terrific bike ride.
Breckenridge is closer to Aspen in character than B Creek or Vail because it is another old mining town with buildings that date to that period. However, Breckenridge is more of a middle class, working, mountain town with much wide range of restaurants and lodging than any of the above.
Ques 2 -- Breck would around 4 hrs from Aspen via i-70 and maybe 5+ via Leadville -- depending on the number of stops you make.
Ques 3 -- you cannot see everything. A nice drive from B Creek would be to take the turnoff to Leadville at Midturn, go to Leadville via Tennessee, back to I-70 at Copper Mountain on to Breckenridge. A two hour trip plus stops. Again, it is very historical. You would go by Camp Hale, home of 10th Mountain Division - very important WWII site for Americans. Breck does make a good base for day trips.
That should get you started.
May 6th, 2007, 08:45 AM
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I always recommend Aspen, because there's really no place like it. Especially in contrast to the newer style of Beaver Creek and Vail. The scenery is more open around Aspen, because you don't have the freeway running right through things. I prefer Aspen's ambiance to anywhere else, at least to stay within a relatively short drive to the Denver airport. There's so much to do in Aspen, I think you'd be happy there for the remainder of your trip. What month will you be in Colorado?
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May 6th, 2007, 11:25 AM
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First of all, while the drive over Independence Pass is breath-taking, I wouldn't imagine that it will be open in the next couple of weeks.
Since you are going to have to be in Denver on Tuesday for a mid day flight I would recommend Breckenridge over Aspen (though I love Aspen). You would get to Aspen from Beaver Creek by late afternoon on Saturday and you would have Sunday there. Since your flight out of Denver in Tuesday mid day and it takes a miniumum of 4+ hours to drive from Aspen to Denver, you might want to leave Aspen on Monday and stay closer to Denver or in Denver Monday night. If you go to Breckenridge, you will be there less than an hour after leaving Beaver Creek and the drive from Breckenridge to the Denver airport would be more like 2 - 2 1/2- hours, allowing you to stay Monday night there.
Since you are going to have to be in Denver on Tuesday for a mid day flight I would recommend Breckenridge over Aspen (though I love Aspen). You would get to Aspen from Beaver Creek by late afternoon on Saturday and you would have Sunday there. Since your flight out of Denver in Tuesday mid day and it takes a miniumum of 4+ hours to drive from Aspen to Denver, you might want to leave Aspen on Monday and stay closer to Denver or in Denver Monday night. If you go to Breckenridge, you will be there less than an hour after leaving Beaver Creek and the drive from Breckenridge to the Denver airport would be more like 2 - 2 1/2- hours, allowing you to stay Monday night there.
May 6th, 2007, 11:32 AM
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I LOVE Beaver Creek. My parents have a home there and I got married there last September. You will love it with a 20 month old. Don't know where your staying but guessing the Hyatt. May is off season so you may miss the miniature golf and bungee jump but do try to take a trip up the mountain (chairlift). I would skip Breck in May. I would DEFINATELY go to Aspen. Glenwood Springs also a good option and on the way to Aspen. Stop at the Hot Springs Pool and then head to Little Nell or the St. Regis. Be sure to pack layers b/c the weather is very iffy in May. Good news: most restaurants in Vail and BC do 1/2 price during the off season!! Don't know what they do in Aspen.
