My hubby & I are celebrating our ten-year anniversary in June and are thinking of going to Colorado. We live in Texas and would drive to Colorado Springs to visit Pikes Peak, 7 falls, etc. We've never been to any moutainous region and I'm just curious to know whether this would be a good place to visit for an anniversary. I do plan to visit one of these days, but should it be in June? I'd also like to visit North Carolina and tour the waterfalls there. So what would be our best option? Adventure, sight-seeing, but romance. too. I'd appreciate anyone's input on either both locations or just Colorado (since this is the colorado site). Thanks!

Hi and congratulations on the milestone. I am not a big fan of the Colorado Springs area. If you are coming all this way I would take a look at the Vail area. It will be off season so you will get great rates on lodging. Many of the resutrants will be offering 2 for 1 dinners as well.

There are tons of things to do at that time of year, hiking, biking, rafting, Take a look at www.vailnet.com for ideas.

The Telluride area might be good, too. Adventure, sightseeing, romance, AND a long waterfall.

How far are you from Houston? I ask because there are direct flights from Houston to Asheville, the largest city in the mountains of Western North Carolina and arguably the most beautiful city in the state.

There's plenty of information about Asheville here on Travel Talk, and a search will help you see what all we have to offer here, although waterfalls and things like adventure, sight-seeing, and romance are just part of what all we have here!

You could also take a look at this website, www.romanticasheville.com for a good look at how best to experience this special region with a special person.

Early summer is lovely in Colorado. Here's a vote for Aspen where my husband and I honeymooned. We return periodically, winter and summer. Fun...

I think you could visit some of those locations in Colorado Springs on your way to or from but I wouldn't stay there either. If you want a real mountain experience you should stay within the rockies. I would also give a big vote to Telluride because it sounds like it might have a lot of what you are looking for.

Every year for our anniversary my husband and I pick a place in Colorado (since we live here) for a weekend getaway to celebrate. We went to Telluride 2 years ago and it was a lot of fun. The mountains are amazing, they have some beautiful waterfalls (but you do have to hike), the town is beautiful, romantic, lots of great little restaurants and shops. Only thing is, it is a little bit more expensive than Colorado Springs, Estes Park or some other locations. Then again so is Vail and Aspen but they are great towns. If you really want something special I would check out those locations. Pikes Peak is neat but if you stay in Telluride or some other locations you will be surrounded by enormous mountains. Here's a link to my picts of Telluride from our trip (2 days just wasn't enough!).

http://community.webshots.com/album/40635707AEXnMS

http://community.webshots.com/user/lenleigh

Here's another vote for the Rocky Mountains - Colorado in particular. And I also agree there are better places than Colorado Springs. Hotels in Vail or Aspen (or Telluride) should have good rates in June. And any of those Colorado locations can give you adventure, sightseeing and romance.

What kind of weather do you like? In Colorado in June, you should have pleasantly warm days and cool nights, and very low humidity. No air conditioning needed! I don't know how warm (or humid) it is in N.C. in June.

P.S. Those photos were taken in June (2002 I think) so you can see how nice it was for that time of year.

Thanks for everyone's ideas. Some people where I live have told me to stay away from Vail and Aspen but have recommended Steamboat Springs or Durango. ? We aren't into shopping or the nightlife, we are into sight-seeing, hiking, adventure, etc. Would these places offer that? Also, Lenleigh, I'll keep trying but for some reason couldn't open that webpage.

Try this link, it should work:

http://community.webshots.com/user/lenleigh

Durango and Steamboat are nice places to stay also and each would have some of the same activities as the rest. Durango isn't surrounded by mountains but if you drive up towards Silverton you'll see some tall ones. Durango has a much more laid back feel than Aspen and Telluride and the town is bigger than both of them. Nearby is Mesa Verde, hiking, rafting if there's enough water, the durango/Silverton train and other activities. I have stayed in Steamboat Springs once but it was years ago so I don't remember a lot but it was fun. Steamboat is on our weekend getaway list, it's been so long I can't remember it. You know, another place I would mention is Estes Park which has a lot of activities, beautiful surroundings and is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes is where we went for our anniversary last June and we had a pretty good time. Saw a ton of Elk, a moose and a mountain goat through a rangers binoculars. At the link above, I have 2 albums of photos from Telluride and a couple from Estes Park as well. Both were taken in June over the last couple of years.

I love Cashiers NC. It is loaded with water falls. And the summer is the best time to be there. The weather is downright invigorating while the rest of the nation is sweltering.

Thank you lenleigh, I was able to look at those pictures finally. You have some great ones and you've been to tons of places it looks like. Any place else you (or anyone) can refer to me for a ten-year anniversary besides Colorado or NC? I'm still just looking now, nothing serious, and am open to any suggestions.

For more info on Steamboat, it's more laid back than Vail or Aspen, and a bit longer drive than Vail would be. Steamboat is a great little town, winter or summer.

While Steamboat is of course in the mountains, the mountains that surround it aren't as high as those in the Vail/Breckenridge area (and Steamboat is at a lower elevation). There is some hiking around Steamboat, but it's not snow-capped views in all directions that you get in the Vail/Breck area. I think Steamboat has an alpine slide, as does Breck, and I think the Steamboat gondola runs in the summer (as does Vail's). There's probably an equal amount of other activities - jeep tours, and the like. (My last time to Durango was years ago. I'd suggest that for you only if you want to see Mesa Verde as well.) Why were you warned away from Vail or Aspen? Breckenridge is another idea, cheaper than Vail/Aspen, and close to pretty much anything that the other two have, though Breck isn't as cute as Vail (though it's more real, being a former mining town).

I don't have any other suggestions if you want to visit mountains only, but if you're open to other ideas, Santa Fe is great. Lots of romantic places to stay, great places to eat, and there is hiking, etc. in the area.

Glad you could see the photos. As for other ideas, I personally love San Francisco. Last time I was there in Sept and it left me wanting to go back. Great food, romantic, lots of places to walk and explore (loved Golden Gate Park!!!), history, beautiful scenery...and you are very close to Muir woods and wine country. For that matter, San Fran to Monterey and down to Santa Barbara is beautiful and lots of neat places to stay.

Live in Colorado - moved from N.C.. and you can't compare the two. Asheville is fine - but Colorado is spectacular. I actually think you would enjoy Aspen (maybe more than Vail)Crested Butte, or Telluride. I tend to like the real towns vs. the manufactured ski areas (though I have a home at Keystone - so go figure). Really, don't worry too much... you can't go wrong.

All ski towns are great in summer, but that's exactly what they are: ski towns. Except I'm biased for Steamboat having lived there. Colorado Springs and area have a different feel to them than the ski towns. Ski towns think too highly of themselves, but are in close proximity to great wild places, too. Colorado Springs area is great for families, but we spent a romantic wknd. in nearby Manitou Springs at The Cliff House hotel (thecliffhouse.com) so you can get romantic in Colo Spgs area,too! Seven Falls is pretty, but falls at Telluride are more so. If driving from Texas, Steamboat will be too far. You'd enjoy Pagosa Springs, Lake City, Ouray which won't have the yuppie feel of the big ski towns. You'd enjoy Salida and possibly Canon City,too. June is chilly in mountains once the sun goes down, but it's a wonderful time to visit.