We'll be visiting family in Boulder for several days (and enjoying the things there) and then we'll be setting out on our own for a 3 day holiday. What we're interested in is beautiful scenery (I know there's an abundance out there), fine, peaceful accommodations, and lots of wonderful walks. (We're 70-somethings and in pretty good health, but real "hiking" is not an option.)
We'd like not to have to drive more than a couple of hours to get where we're going, and hope the place isn't too far from Boulder or the Denver airport.
We've been to Colorado Springs/Valley of the gods and loved it. This time we'd love to be in the mountains if possible. I'm hoping that knowledgeable people can guide me towards some places to look into since our Colorado family are not much outdoors people (and we are). Thanks very much!

of course you are right down the road from rocky mountain national park but the question is when will you be there. trail ridge road which is spectacular, usually doesn't open until memorial day. that part of colorado gets snow thru april. if you are there in the summer, you can not only enjoy trail ridge road but easy walks and hikes in the bear lake area on the east side of the park. you might also enjoy grand lake on the western side that is more laid back than the east side but there are plenty of nice places to stay in estes park. many folks think it's pretty touristy but that has it's pluses, more lodging and food to choose from. but timing is important.

Thanks for your prompt and already-helpful reply.
We'll be doing the relating part of the trip Aug 10-12, and we'll be off on our own either for a couple of days before that or after that.

Often when we travel, we choose the accommodations first, since we very much do find our lodgings an important part of our pleasure in traveling. We don't enjoy B&B's, but do like terrific lodges and hotels. Don't care for Victorian.

I'm hoping we can find a place that has upscale and quiet accommodations, in the midst of wonderful scenery, with a number of lovely walks/hikes nearby. Not interested in golf or spas. Do enjoy great food.
Thanks!

if you google either estes park or grand lake, that will give you a way to get to the lodging sites. you might want to consider the longer drive to aspen as i know you can get great B&B places to stay and not as expensive as ski season.

but you should also search vrbo.com and see if you can get less than weekly rentals, some folks will take 2 and 3 night minimums here is one place i saw http://www.vrbo.com/77548 looks nice...

I wouldn't suggest Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in August, because of the crowds. (And I personally don't care for Estes, especially in high season.)

Within a couple of hours from Boulder you can reach a number of mountain resorts. Unfortunately, Aspen is at least 4 hours' drive and I wouldn't suggest that if you're driving directly to the airport from there.

Winter Park is less than 2 hours from Boulder, and is beautiful and relatively quiet in August. Lots of hikes/walks. Good restaurants, not a lively night scene, though. Try Destinations West for an agency which specializes in higher-end rentals.

The best and most atmospheric (and expensive) restaurant in that area is the Ranch House at Devil's Thumb Ranch. It's in a very nice, newly re-done log building. Devil's Thumb Ranch also has cabins and rooms for rent, but I'm not sure of the price and quality. We've eaten at the restaurant several times, never stayed there. You might give it a try. I think it's under new ownership. It's just a couple of miles north of Winter Park itself, off the highway a bit, in beautiful country. You would have lots of peace and quiet there, and really good walking country.

Or you could look into Vail or other Summit County spots, like Lake Dillon or Breckenridge. Lots of options. Have fun looking.
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Here's the site for Devil's Thumb Ranch
http://www.devilsthumbranch.com/index.cfm/page/Home

In reading the text, they've done a lot of upgrade the property since I saw the lodging. They've moved some buildings, and are creating a whole new lodge for 2007. Don't know if it will be open in August, but I'll bet they'll sure try. The cabins look really nice, too, if you like log homes. It's very eco-friendly.

And the restaurant will pamper you. They also have special events, like wine seminars, etc.

From Devil's Thumb, you can easily dri
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Posted accidentally:

From Devil's Thumb you can easily drive into Winter Park. Even to Grand Lake if you want to drive am hour or so. You'd have a nice, secluded place to stay.
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I would definitly say Breckenridge. It's a beautiful town with great restaurants, hiking, accommodations. http://breckenridge.snow.com/summerhome.asp

If you have a car you don't mind taking down a dirt road driving over Boreas Pass to Como and Fairplay is a magnificent day (the cherry pie at the Fairplay hotel is fantastic!)

Hez

Cioincidentally, i will also be staying in Boulder for 3 days and then traveling for 5 days. I have done this before and have stayed in Vail and Breckenridge each about 2.5 hours away +/-. If you want to go farther, Aspen is about 3.5-4 hours away. Stay away from Estes park it is horrible. This year we are going from Boulder to Crested Butte 3.5-4 hours away. I find Aspen to be the most interesting of the three I mentioned, followed by vail and Breckenridge.

question for mrt: We adore Aspen/Snowmass (have visited in the summer on two occasions) and liked Vail also (not nearly as much as the other.) But we've got only a short time for this trip, i.e arriving Denver late, and then 3 days later need to be in Boulder for a couple of days. We've never been to Estes Park or RMNP so I assumed it'd be a good place to go for 3 nights/2 days. Is it really that horrible? Isn't the scenery handsome in RMNP? Are the walking trails not handsome/interesting? I suppose we could stay in Denver that first night and then make a long drive to Vail or Breckenridge. But we're in our late 70's and not real interested in drving all over the place anymore. But we're also not interested in visiting awful places. I wonder why so many people seem to like Estes Park/RMNP? In short, more in-put appreicated. I need to decide what to do. (This will be August.)

poss....RMNP is great albeit crowded. Estes Park is crowded and anything but great. IMO Winter Park would be your best bet.

I would not stay in Denver. There is nothing interesting to do or see. At best you are saving about 30-45 minutes of drving time. Estes park is good for about one hour. As I recall, there was not even a good place to get icecream. It is about 3/4 mile long with tee shirt shops and a few bad restaurants. It is nothing like Aspen. As best, it is a poor man's version of Beeckenridge. While RMNP is beautiful. you will only drive aroungd for a while and walk around for a while and then you will be back in Estes park for 2-3 days. The mere fact that you liked Aspen indicates to me that you won't like Estes Park.

I have never been to Winter Park and know nothing about it. I I believe it is about an hour closer than Vail. Breckenridge is a nice town -better than Estes Park and not as nice as Aspen. However, it has a higher altitude than the towns you discussed. I have been told by some older people that the altitude gave them severe headaches. It did not bother me and it may not bother you either.

Actually mrt is wrong. There is plenty to see and do in Denver. However, for your purposes a drive to Winter Park (about 2 hours from DIA) or Boulder is probably best.

Thanks for continued in-put--very helpful, indeed.

There continues to be a major aspect of all this that I'm simply not understanding. Is RMNP not at all like the great many other National Parks that we've absolutely flipped over? The 8 or so that we've been to we've felt that we could spend days and days and days in, happily walking/hiking, exploring. What we loved about Aspen, by the way, was the fantastic scenery and hiking (the great bike paths, wonderful Maroon Bells, etc). We're not at all interested in shopping or boutiquey things. Love good food, but can do without it on these kinds of trips.

In short: Isn't there several days worth of great hiking (easy-moderate) in RMNP? Are the trails and scenery better in Winter Park? This is what I'm trying to get a handle on. Also: we'll be getting into Denver late, so I don't want to have to drive too far. Isn't Estes Park a good deal closer than Winter Park? Or no? (We'll be exploring Boulder for 2 days after this other part of the trip.)

Many many thanks.

Of course, there are making trails/hikes in RMNP and the scenery is glorious--http://www.rocky.mountain.national-park.com/hike.htm#hik. I think people are recommending other places because the park has lots of visitors in August and because there may not be accommodations and restaurants that are what you say you like in Estes Park.

It's not that RMNP is suspect, it's that the rest of Colorado is equally spectacular. I personally much prefer Central & Southern Colorado- The Black Canyon, Crested Butte, Aspen, Telluride.
Stunning.

martym is correct in the assessment of RMNP. The scenery is spectacular and there is plenty of hiking. It's just that the park gets very crowded and Estes park is one of the most 'touristy' places I've ever visited. It is about 1 1/2 hours from DIA.
There is a lodge( I think it's called Lake Mary) a few miles from the town of Estes that might work for you as well as several cabin sites. Sorry I can't give you any more information than that.You should try the Estes Park or RMNP website and locate something several miles from the town center. What you want to do is avoid the town itself.

The main drawback I see to Estes Park are the crowds in August. It can be difficult to eat dinner out without a reservation. And traffic can be bad. But it's very close to Boulder and RMNP and is charming-very pretty. Mary's Lake Lodge has nice rooms and a super restaurant. Twin Owls Steakhouse at The Black Canyon Inn is another good place for dinner, though pricey. And Sweet Basilico for Italian. The Malt Shop has good ice cream.

I like Aspen as well, but it's alot farther and not as down-to-earth and laid-back as Estes Park.

For lodging check out vrbo.com, as some others have recommended. I've not stayed at all of these but have bookmarked them because they look nice--40729, 26155, 17508, 57718 & 74604. Also www.anniesmountainretreat.com (in Glen Haven, I think), Riversong (www.ponderosainc.com)and the Anasazi (www.estesparkrealestate.com).

Sue

I had said the main drawback to Estes Park in early August (and July) are the crowds--but isn't that true of all the places we're discussing?

Sue