songlf99

Hi, four of us have never been to CO, and we’re going to CO in late June for a mini vacation (4 nights and 5 days). I already bought the air tickets, now I need some help to finalize my itinerary. After read quite a lot forum threads posted on this website, I came up with two options:

1. Since our flight will arrive at Denver in early morning (8am), we may drive directly to the rocky mountain to make a one-day trip (enter the park from the east side, drive along the I-34, exit at the west side). Then, spend that night somewhere near the grand lake or shadow Mountain Lake. On the next day, drive to one of following places (depends on lodging availabilities in those places) to spend the rest of our time there.
Aspen
Vail
Breckenridge

2. Skip the rocky mountain trip, pick one of the above places as our base and make some side trips during our stay

Now my questions are:
1. I’ve been to the Canadian rocky mountain, the scenic drive along the way from Banff to Jasper is just breathtaking. If compare rocky mountain park scenic drive to the Canadian one, which one is more beautiful? I would love to go to check it myself; however, since my parents whose age are around 63 will be traveling with us, I’m a little worried whether they will get sick when we drive through those high elevation places along the I-34

2. If we go for option one, is it possible for us to make a one-day rocky mountain trip. If so, any suggestion on a good, clean hotel/BB nears the grand lake or shadow Mountain Lake or other places along the I-34 between the grand lake and Granby? I’ve checked it on tripadvisor web site but haven’t found anything interested.

3. I’ve checked quite a few hotels in Aspen, the ones (hotels, rental house) I’m interested are either sold out or require minimum 4 nights stay. Since I’ve been heard the wonderful things about Aspen, I really like to spend some time there, just wondering if there is any good, clean hotels/BB in or near Aspen we can stay, otherwise I guess I have to go to stay in Vail or Breckenridge

Thanks in advance!

rm_mn

In the Canadian Rockies you (mostly) travel in a glacial valley between the peaks. In Rocky Mountain National Park, you go up over the mountains. (Trail ridge road) The roads in the Canadian rockies have mostly easy grades with few switchbacks. In Colorado you better get used to switchbacks.

sylvia3

Trail Ridge Road is very driveable, and gorgeous. Your plan for the day is good, plenty of time. Grand Lake and Granby are part and parcel of the same tourist area; look also to condos at Sol Vista ski/golf for lodgings, or head up toward Winter Park (you'll be going that way to get on I70 for Breck, Vail, or Aspen). If you go to Aspen via I25, go through Leadville to Independence Pass; great place to visit, lovely drive. Another route to Aspen is via Glenwood Canyon, very scenic (and great hotsprings pool), BUT major construction may delay traffic this summer. Or, take 40 from Granby and go to Steamboat Springs.

BetsyG

Just a few comments - If you don't get suggestions for Grand Lake here, see if you can get a book called The Colorado Guide by Bruce Caughey, should have lodging ideas. Breckenridge would not be a bad place to stay either & less driving.
Betsy

dfr4848

Either option would be very nice. With only 5 days (and while I'd be tempted to do option 2 just because we've been there many times) option 1 is very doable and since you've never been, I think I'd pick it.

Under either scenario, I'd definitely pick Breckenridge as a base and make trips from there. (Vail is an easy drive from there.) We've done that many times and it works very well. Since you're going next month, the housing options will probably be better in Breck as well. Summer is very busy in the places you've picked. Breck is closer to RMNP and Aspen would take quite a bit longer to get to. I think staying in Aspen under option 1 would be pushing it a little.

Some general comments. Hwy 34 is not interstate (it appeared from your post that you thought it might be) so it's not a fast drive, but is very scenic. I agree with rm - the Canadian Rockies are very different IMO than Colorado Rockies. CN Rockies have broader vistas in general and the roads aren't as winding. Still, we haven't encountered any difficulties in driving in CO - and we've taken our parents there many times up until they were in their mid-80s [In fact, up until 3 years ago the folks would spend a month every summer in either Breck or Banff].

You'll enjoy either option.

fmpden

While Aspen has a lot of "reputation", it a bit remote and five to six hours from your first night stay. I think at that time of year the summer music festival is underway and sucking up the space. You could try Snowmass for lodging or Glenwood Springs. But if you are trying to get a good view of Colorado you don't need to go to Aspen. Breckenridge would work very well and it would be only a couple of hours from your first night plan. Some great day trips from that base. A loop over Tennessee Pass and Leadville is great. A long day trip would be a loop to Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, through Aspen, over Independence pass, through Leadwill, Copper Mt and back to Breck. I think Breck would provide the most options without a lot of mountain driving.

tovarich

Do the Rocky mountain trip.It's not so overwhelming as the Jasper/Banff road but very nice.THen stay in Aspen.The St Moritz lodge 334 W. Hyman ave is a very nice place and wont kill your budget.Paul

fmpden

I believe the OP was unable to find short stay reseervation in late June. Don't know what late June means --- BUT --- the music festival starts on June 21 and runs for six weeks, a Parrott Head party on the 23rd and Women's Mt biking event on the 24th. My guess is that Aspen is packed the last week of June.

songlf99

Thank you so much for your input. They are all very helpful. I appreciate it. We’ll arrive in Denver on June 30, return to Dallas on July 4th. Now I’m tempting to go with option 1. But having difficulty to find a place for us to stay one night in Grand lake area, most hotels require 2-3 nights minimum stay during that time. I don’t mind spending that night in some other nearby place. After a long day in Rocky mountain, will it be a little too much if we drive to Granby or winter park to stay overnight? since I don’t know the road condition between Rocky mountain west entrance and Grandby (winter park). sylvia3 mentioned that some major construction may delay traffic. Is there any web site I can go to check the road condition?

dfr4848

Granby should not be a problem. Winter Park might be pushing it. As for road conditions, Google "Colorado Highway Dept" or similar and you should be able to find their web site which has road condition info.

fmpden

song99, you are adding complications. Should have given your dates earlier. You are in the 4th of July week -- one of the busiest times in the mountains. Even the locals go to the mountains over the 4th. We have the good sense to let the touist have the mountains over Christmas and New Years but not the 4th. Also, that is why you are bumping into the 3 and 4 night stay requirement.

I would try for a place in Breckenridge or Frisco as a base. You could easily drive from the airport through RNNP, trail ridge road, pass Winter park and to Breckenridge in one day. The is major road rebuilding project on Trailridge. It could add an hour. Good luck

songlf99

Sorry, fmpden. I should have listed my travel dates earlier. The reason I choose to go to CO during July 4th week is that I have to save all my remaining vacation time for my trip to Tibet and Mt. Everest (just sightseeing not climbing though) in Aug. I would like to get some acclimation; actually, I want to see how I will be doing at a high elevation place. If I can’t get over with it, I might have to cancel Mt. Everest trip.

Although we'll be starting our first day early, will it be in a little rush if we drive from the airport through RNNP, trail ridge road, pass Winter park and to Breckenridge in one day? We do want to make some stops while through RNNP

fmpden

Remember you will have sunlight to 9 PM. It would be a long day but it is doable. I don't think you get much acclimation or even a good test of altitude. With the exception of Trailridge, Breckridge is around 9,000 ft. You could drive over Loveland Pass at 12,000 but still not a good indicator. I think Tibet is a lot higher.

Altitude sickness is very difficult to predict and not well understood. You can be fine at altitude three times and sick as a dog on the fourth trip. It takes approximately one day for every thousand gain to adjust. And you lose it at about the same rate. But come and enjoy Colorado. We are always glad to take your money.

I have had a second thought that will probably will get me in trouble with some of the other locals on this site. But -- skip Estes and Trailridge. RMNP is great but it not any greater than any of our other national forests. And the scenery over Loveland or Tennessee passes, around Leadville is just as great as you would see in RMNP. Just go to Breck. Probably will take some heat for those comments.

songlf99

Thank you very much for your suggestion and the clarification on the high-altitude sickness. I will definitely think about it. Speaking of lodging, last nigth I booked the Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge at Breckenridge, according to their website, it is going through guest room renovation right now and will be completed in mid-June, and there will be no charge as long as the reservation is cancelled 7 days before arrival. Now I just found another place called Park Avenue Lofts which has higher rating than the marriots on the tripadvisor Breckenridge hotels rating list. It has almost the same room rates as Marriot but its room looks nicer. Any suggestions?

flygirl

bkm