Thoughts on these 3 spots for Estes Park lodging?
 

Golden Leaf Inn
Estes Park Condos-Antlers Point
Boulder Brook

Early-mid August. 7 days in and out of Denver with first 2 nights at the wedding hotel in Littleton. Considering just basing in Estes for the remaining 5 nights and doing day hikes in RMNP, but open to nearby sights and breweries and food experiences not to be missed in nearby area... Boulder, Ft Collins?? Flight home is a little after noon so thought the time to drive down from Estes might be doable. Second time to CO which included drive-thru of RMNP, but first without the (grown) kids, so want to avoid rushing around just to check items off of our list.

Do I understand correctly that you will be staying in Estes Park for five nights and that you want to drive into Boulder or Fort Collins from Estes Park for sightseeing and night life?

If so, they are both about an hour from Estes Park. One day you could go to one, and another day you could go to the other.

I cannot advise on what to see or do in either city.

If I wanted to get some ideas about what to do in Boulder, I would Google "things to do in Boulder CO trip advisor." And, If I wanted to know about favorite breweries there, I would Google "breweries Boulder Co yelp."

HTtY

Not exactly. I was probing whether doing a loop of sorts with overnight stays in either or both of those cities (or other places nearby) would be worth our time or simply be content with a day in Boulder on the drive north to Estes and then enjoying a longer, more relaxing one-stop stay focused on hikes in the park.

Google has worked quite nicely so far in providing me travel times, lodging, food and drink, and entertainment suggestions. I was simply under the impression that this forum could prove yet another source of cordially offered first-hand opinions. So far, not so much.

Fort Collins has a lot of breweries besides the biggies like New Belgium so if breweries are of interest, Fort Collins and nearby ares could be worth your time. Maybe keep that as an option if you get rainy or stormy weather in Estes one day? Easy enough to just drive down for the day if you want to leave it flexible and stay in Estes.

You might consider going further into the mountains - Breckenridge, Frisco, etc. Depending on you exact dates in August you could be bumping to the return student crowd in both Boulder and Ft. Collins and that can be a real zoo. Fort Collins sits out on the plains and is really just a good college town. Nothing overly attractive. Boulder is a little different setting in the flatirons. Boulder has a well known shopping area - Pearl street - and the university is pretty. Not sure it is worth a whole day. Golden and the Coors Brewery is worth a visit as well as a swing through Idaho Springs or even further along I-70 at Georgetown. I would consider going as far as Glenwood Springs.