Visit Colorado
Jan 13th, 2013, 08:52 AM
#22
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Willmax1 - back to your question... I suggest you make a loop connecting RMNP, Breckenridge and Colorado Springs. You can start at either COS or DEN, wherever you can get the best flight/car deal. RMNP so they can experience a western NP, Breck for slide, biking, hiking, rafting opportunities and the old west feel of the town. Colorado Springs for Melnq8's suggestions above. I would do RMNP 3 nights, Breck 4, and CS 2. If you can add a night do so to Breck for a day trip to any number of interesting places.
There are other great CO loop trips, one being Durango/Ouray/Telluride/Mesa Verde/Durango.Beautiful scenery, hiking biking, NP etc.
I would definitely include at least one ski town as they have great summer activities and endless lodging options.
Have fun, Colorado is an amazingly beautiful state.
There are other great CO loop trips, one being Durango/Ouray/Telluride/Mesa Verde/Durango.Beautiful scenery, hiking biking, NP etc.
I would definitely include at least one ski town as they have great summer activities and endless lodging options.
Have fun, Colorado is an amazingly beautiful state.
Jan 13th, 2013, 09:52 AM
#23
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I agree with taking in at least one ski town, b/c they have lots of fun summer activities. We've rented mountain bikes at several places (including Keystone and Breck) and a mountain scooter at Copper. My boys like the big hot springs at Glenwood Springs - they also have a mountain coaster there. We also ride at least one alpine slide when we're in the Colorado for the summer.
We've also done white water rafting and jeep tours. One year we drove ourselves - over Cinnamon Pass from Lake City, and up to Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray.
We've also done white water rafting and jeep tours. One year we drove ourselves - over Cinnamon Pass from Lake City, and up to Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray.
Jan 13th, 2013, 10:22 AM
#24
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Personally, I would avoid Colorado Springs and Boulder. Neither is 'in' the mountains. They are fine basecamps for a weekend getaway, but for 8-10 days you will want to be deeper into the mountains instead of having to drive every day to get to them. At most I would use either of them as a place to stay overnight to help adjust to the altitude, then move on and go to RMNP and/or a ski town.
Jan 13th, 2013, 12:30 PM
#25
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Well, hope Willmax1 has been gathering in the varied advice. Colorado certainly does have a lot of options to enjoy/explore.
As for renting bikes - in the summer at Vail - we enjoyed renting bikes and riding the ski lifts up the hill - and then bicycling down the mountain trails and then over to Beaver Creek. Great fun that and believe you can do that at other ski resorts also.
BTW - Newsflash for LOLs and Grad Assts: Teenage boys today still like to go places where there are girls, and Boulder certainly qualifies.
As for renting bikes - in the summer at Vail - we enjoyed renting bikes and riding the ski lifts up the hill - and then bicycling down the mountain trails and then over to Beaver Creek. Great fun that and believe you can do that at other ski resorts also.
BTW - Newsflash for LOLs and Grad Assts: Teenage boys today still like to go places where there are girls, and Boulder certainly qualifies.
Jan 13th, 2013, 12:48 PM
#26
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Please stop obsessively talking about college girls, it's getting creepy. OP said the boys love the outdoors and wanted an active vacation for them and their parents, not a trip where they could walk around a college town and lust after young women.
Jan 13th, 2013, 01:57 PM
#27
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Hey - sorry to say - IMO - it's not creepy at all. Mentioned it once - and then the Boulder resident who doesn't think much of Boulder chimed in - and then of course - janis had to add her two half-a-pennys.
And then you other LOL's (formerly over-protective mothers? - have to also weigh in.
Guess it's typical of how PC some of us have become.
And then you other LOL's (formerly over-protective mothers? - have to also weigh in.
Guess it's typical of how PC some of us have become.
Jan 13th, 2013, 02:10 PM
#29
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Tom, you are really getting creepy with this reiteration of how much teen boys just want to ogle females.
I NEVER said I didn't "think much of Boulder"; I said I thought there were much better options for a bunch of teen boys.
"how PC some of us have become"
You are certainly not PC; not even close. And in this case, being PC by not being sexist is far preferable.
I NEVER said I didn't "think much of Boulder"; I said I thought there were much better options for a bunch of teen boys.
"how PC some of us have become"
You are certainly not PC; not even close. And in this case, being PC by not being sexist is far preferable.
Jan 13th, 2013, 05:20 PM
#31
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Well, this is getting interesting.
I can't imagine Boulder being that interesting for anyone really. It's a great town and is between Denver and RMNP and of course the University. But, really not somewhere I would spend a vacation, I don't think.
I can't imagine Boulder being that interesting for anyone really. It's a great town and is between Denver and RMNP and of course the University. But, really not somewhere I would spend a vacation, I don't think.
Jan 13th, 2013, 05:22 PM
#32
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I always stay at the Whole Foods Store(smack dab on the HWY), when we go through there to RMNP. It's a really big WF's
Oh, one other major thing I like about Boulder. Montbell has their only Flagship store there. I like their outdoor gear much better than any other that I have found.
Oh, one other major thing I like about Boulder. Montbell has their only Flagship store there. I like their outdoor gear much better than any other that I have found.
Jan 13th, 2013, 06:00 PM
#34
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"sylvia: Are you one of those so stuck in Academia that you just don't seem to enjoy life?"
What a bizarre comment. What makes you think I'm stuck in Academia, and that I don't enjoy life?
Simply bizarre.
Have yourself tested.
What a bizarre comment. What makes you think I'm stuck in Academia, and that I don't enjoy life?
Simply bizarre.
Have yourself tested.
Jan 13th, 2013, 06:44 PM
#35
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Yo Sprio: I know I know. Since Boulder doesn't have a slot canyon to explore - it doesn't rank with the top attractions.
Hey - I have a novel idea. Why not ask the graduating lads what they want to do? Perhaps having them read this thread will give them more input? And maybe they would like to visit the largest University in Colorado?
Hey - I have a novel idea. Why not ask the graduating lads what they want to do? Perhaps having them read this thread will give them more input? And maybe they would like to visit the largest University in Colorado?
Jan 13th, 2013, 06:45 PM
#36
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What planet is he on? Tomsd comments are just off the wall. Sylvia3's is pretty much on target. I have never fully understood the fascination that some people have with Boulder and Estes park. CU is a beautiful campus but not more so than many other colleges/universities in this country. And it is a college town. And Estes tends to be an over run, in the summer, tourist town with tourist oriented shops. The many more authentic old towns in Colorado. RMNP is pretty but so is many other parts of the states.
Jan 13th, 2013, 06:59 PM
#37
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I would vote for Estes Park and RMNP. Stopping in Boulder might be ok, but I just wouldn't stay there as a base. I've never seen so many bicycles as Boulder and even on the HWY(that includes any city like Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle).
Jan 13th, 2013, 07:16 PM
#38
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Here are a few reviews of Boulder/Colorado Univeristy, the first noting it's beautiful setting next to mountains - the next one ranks it #2 for foodies - the 3rd one - from Parents and Colleges - has it #2 also, and the 4th has this quote from Sunset magazine - with a great pic:
"If Heaven has a college town - it's probably as beautiful as Boulder".
But of course, some think otherwise. Are they perhaps trying to steer tourists away?
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandre...r-1370/reviews
http://www.thebestcolleges.org/the-1...-true-foodies/
http://www.parentsandcolleges.com/to...ts/list07-bct/
https://www.nmnathletics.com/pdf3/82...&DB_OEM_ID=600
"If Heaven has a college town - it's probably as beautiful as Boulder".
But of course, some think otherwise. Are they perhaps trying to steer tourists away?
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandre...r-1370/reviews
http://www.thebestcolleges.org/the-1...-true-foodies/
http://www.parentsandcolleges.com/to...ts/list07-bct/
https://www.nmnathletics.com/pdf3/82...&DB_OEM_ID=600
Jan 13th, 2013, 08:07 PM
#39
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"Well, this is getting interesting. "
Best summary of a thread I've seen in a long time.
Boulder is a great town to live in. Certainly worthy of a day or so. But there are far better towns to use as a base for an 8-10 day trip to the mountains. Steamboat, Estes Park, Breckenridge, Aspen, Vail, Durango and Telluride come to mind.
There aren't many times that teenagers can take a week long trip to the mountains with their friends, paid for by their parents. I think that in the overall scheme of life, going to the mountains and enjoying the outdoors is going to be a far better graduation present than hanging out in Boulder and checking out the women.
Put that last sentence in the 'things that shouldn't need to be said' file.
Best summary of a thread I've seen in a long time.
Boulder is a great town to live in. Certainly worthy of a day or so. But there are far better towns to use as a base for an 8-10 day trip to the mountains. Steamboat, Estes Park, Breckenridge, Aspen, Vail, Durango and Telluride come to mind.
There aren't many times that teenagers can take a week long trip to the mountains with their friends, paid for by their parents. I think that in the overall scheme of life, going to the mountains and enjoying the outdoors is going to be a far better graduation present than hanging out in Boulder and checking out the women.
Put that last sentence in the 'things that shouldn't need to be said' file.
Jan 14th, 2013, 04:17 AM
#40
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FYI - never meant they should base their whole trip in Boulder but a day or two would be great.
If I was planning the trip - I would lobby for 10 days - and assuming flying into Denver - then would start off with a night in Denver - and then get out to see the state.
Boulder is close - and good for a night or two (if you arrive later in the day - maybe two nights) - then a couple nights in RMNP - and/or two or three nights at the Summit (Frisco/Breckinridge).
Then - choose to then perhaps add Aspen or if you want to see more of the state - drive down the middle (beautiful drive from Breckinridge to Colorado Springs) and check that out - possibly staying at Manitou Springs for a few days.
From there - it's an easy trip up Pikes Peak (cog railway or drive) - and a visit to the nearby Garden of the Gods (maybe walking/hiking around there)- and also close to downtown C. Springs and also the AF Academy.
From there - you are within an hour plus of the Denver airport - but not during afternoon rush hour.
There are of course - other ways to do it, staying longer in one place - but if you have an energetic group - I think they might like to get around and see a fair amount of beautiful Colorado.
If I was planning the trip - I would lobby for 10 days - and assuming flying into Denver - then would start off with a night in Denver - and then get out to see the state.
Boulder is close - and good for a night or two (if you arrive later in the day - maybe two nights) - then a couple nights in RMNP - and/or two or three nights at the Summit (Frisco/Breckinridge).
Then - choose to then perhaps add Aspen or if you want to see more of the state - drive down the middle (beautiful drive from Breckinridge to Colorado Springs) and check that out - possibly staying at Manitou Springs for a few days.
From there - it's an easy trip up Pikes Peak (cog railway or drive) - and a visit to the nearby Garden of the Gods (maybe walking/hiking around there)- and also close to downtown C. Springs and also the AF Academy.
From there - you are within an hour plus of the Denver airport - but not during afternoon rush hour.
There are of course - other ways to do it, staying longer in one place - but if you have an energetic group - I think they might like to get around and see a fair amount of beautiful Colorado.
