Colorado People

[eb777888]

What's a good summer vacation spot? We'll have David, 9 y/o. We love to hike, H likes to mountain bike, we love good food but also want some beautiful scenic views. We've asked around to people that have spent a lot of time there and we keep hearing a mix of Colorado Springs, Telluride, and Denver. We definitely want to stay in one spot. We'll be going for about 10 days and are renting a house.

Anyone have any recommendations?

ETA: going in the first half of July.

[jennysmitten]

Mar 9, 2018 20:42:18 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

What's a good summer vacation spot? We'll have David, 9 y/o. We love to hike, H likes to mountain bike, we love good food but also want some beautiful scenic views. We've asked around to people that have spent a lot of time there and we keep hearing a mix of Colorado Springs, Telluride, and Denver. We definitely want to stay in one spot. We'll be going for about 10 days and are renting a house.

Anyone have any recommendations?

ETA: going in the first half of July.

We go to Silverthorne each summer to hike and trout fish. The giant outlet mall doesn't hurt either. We always air bnb an apartment and cook most meals. Frisco and Breckenridge are near by as well. They have more restuarant options.

[jennysmitten]

I did not meam to quote. It's been a long ass week.

[eb777888]

Mar 9, 2018 20:48:46 GMT -5 jennysmitten said:

Mar 9, 2018 20:42:18 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

What's a good summer vacation spot? We'll have David, 9 y/o. We love to hike, H likes to mountain bike, we love good food but also want some beautiful scenic views. We've asked around to people that have spent a lot of time there and we keep hearing a mix of Colorado Springs, Telluride, and Denver. We definitely want to stay in one spot. We'll be going for about 10 days and are renting a house.

Anyone have any recommendations?

ETA: going in the first half of July.

We go to Silverthorne each summer to hike and trout fish. The giant outlet mall doesn't hurt either. We always air bnb an apartment and cook most meals. Frisco and Breckenridge are near by as well. They have more restuarant options.

Oh, yes, Breckinridge is another place people keep saying we should consider. 

[jennysmitten]

We usually spend a few days in Denver as well and drink and eat all the things.

[eb777888]

Mar 9, 2018 20:50:41 GMT -5 jennysmitten said:

We usually spend a few days in Denver as well and drink and eat all the things.

That's what my niece said about Denver! I hear the food is amazing. Ideally we'd hit a couple cities without moving hotels. But good food is very high on our list, it's about 90% of why we travel! The other 10% is the view.

[AutumnRose25]

Afternoon in Boulder.

Rest of time in Breckenridge.

Be liberal with sunscreen.

[namasteak]

YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park

[lynn07]

Born and raised here. I personally wouldn’t want to spend 10 days in Co Springs. I know you say you want to stay in one place, but to get the most out of the different activities in CO, I'd do a couple of days in Denver, and then the rest in a mountain town. Our personal favorites are Breck or Keystone. So many beautiful hikes and bike rides in those areas. Better food in Breck. Glenwood Springs is also a favorite for our kids because of the activity park and the hot springs. In Denver, I’d do a Rockies game, tube down the river in Golden, and hit up the zoo or one of the museums. So many good places to eat in Denver!

[calmcosmo]

Breck has all of that. We live in Colorado Springs and I can vouch for the hiking and mountain biking, but I think Breckenridge has a more laid back mountain vacation vibe. We actually went there for a week last summer with family and had a great time. You can rent boats on Dillon Lake too which is great.

[RoxMonster]

No kids, but last year we did two days in Denver, one day (just the day-no overnight) in Boulder and 4 days in Estes Park/RMNP. It was a nice mixture of city and mountains. We did tons of hiking and were very active (even part of our time in Denver was spent hiking at Red Rocks), but we got to explore Denver and eat delicious food there (and drink!) We got an AirBnB over by Cheesman Park and it was such a neat area (and VooDoo Donuts in walking distance!)

It was our first trip to CO and we only had a week. I'd love to also check out some of the ski towns and check out the other national parks. It was a good intro to CO for us, though.

[jennysmitten]

The views are good, but the foods better. Lol

[eb777888]

Mar 9, 2018 21:02:08 GMT -5 lynn07 said:

Born and raised here. I personally wouldn’t want to spend 10 days in Co Springs. I know you say you want to stay in one place, but to get the most out of the different activities in CO, I'd do a couple of days in Denver, and then the rest in a mountain town. Our personal favorites are Breck or Keystone. So many beautiful hikes and bike rides in those areas. Better food in Breck. Glenwood Springs is also a favorite for our kids because of the activity park and the hot springs. In Denver, I’d do a Rockies game, tube down the river in Golden, and hit up the zoo or one of the museums. So many good places to eat in Denver!

Hmmmm, I think we'll do Denver and Breckenridge. Just from pictures, I'm leaning towards Breckenridge because it looks so beautiful.

[mrspez07]

Born and raised here. Some time in Denver and a drive to Crested Butte for the rest of the time. July will be wildflower festival in CB. The drive there is a good cross section of the mountain scenery you'll Find in CO, so part of the experience, especially if you drive over Cottonwood pass.
Denver for the food/culture. CB for the chill hiking/outdoor activities. I like it better than Breck and summit county, but it is further.

[shopgirl07]

I was in Boulder this past July and I thought it was stunningly beautiful.

[isabel]

I'll go against the grain and suggest Steamboat Springs. It's about 3 hours from Denver (about 1.5 from Silverthorne/Dillon, which is where Breck is). It's a great small town with tons to do, great hiking, and there are often outdoor concerts. There's a creek that runs down the slopes at the base of the mountains that's fun for kids to play in and you can grab drinks and hang out on the "beach." The hot air balloon festival is so much fun. We go every year. It's July 14-15 this year. If you end up going, let me know! Food recs up there: cinnamon roll at Winona's, brunch at Creekside Cafe, and dinner at Cafe Diva.

I really like Telluride, but it's pretty remote and not easy to get there. You're better off a little closer in if you want to see Denver.

eta: Absolutely spend your trip in a mountain town. Don't stay in Denver for 10 days. It's a good city, but people live here because of the mountains.

[Deleted]

I would not spend a week in Denver or Co Springs! They'd be fine to add for 2-3 days at the beginning or end of the trip.

Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Estes Park are all great places in the mountains.

[pugz]

Breckenridge and add on Denver. Estes/RMNP is great but crowded

[egishere]

I love Vail! Especially if a festival is going on there.
Breck is beautiful too. I personally don’t like the town of Estes other than visiting the park there. Agree to do a day in boulder and one in Denver. I love the zoo in CO Springs if you go there.

Steamboat, Telluride and CB are still on our list to check out. We have lived in CO six years and there are still so many places we need to go.

[eb777888]

Thanks everyone for all of your help!

We did Breckenridge- One Ski Hill Place, four nights.

Denver- Ritz-Carlton, four nights, one day trip to Boulder.

There's so much to see in Colorado. I feel like we could spend a month exploring everything. I'm just googling pictures and reviews trying to figure out what looks like something that would be right for us. I really want to go in the fall/winter. I think we'll go back later this year during ski season. It's just so beautiful.

[isabel]

Mar 9, 2018 22:47:01 GMT -5 egishere said:

I love Vail! Especially if a festival is going on there.
Breck is beautiful too. I personally don’t like the town of Estes other than visiting the park there. Agree to do a day in boulder and one in Denver. I love the zoo in CO Springs if you go there.

Steamboat, Telluride and CB are still on our list to check out. We have lived in CO six years and there are still so many places we need to go.

Highly recommend going to Steamboat during the hot air balloon festival during the summer. It's so much fun with kids and they always have activities set up at the base of the mountain.

[tigress]

We did Steamboat Springs last summer and it was a wonderful vacation. My 8 year old says its her favorite place in the world (which she is like a beach bum so that's saying something). Loved it.

[walterismydog]

I travel this state for work.

I would spend your first week in the mountains and then your last 3-4 days in Denver.

Steamboat would be my rec based on what I know of you, though it’s kind of out on it’s own - not a lot nearby. It’s beautuful, relaxing, plenty of great activities and restaurants. It’s small and not pretentious. Texans love it.

Breck is just OK to me. The nice thing about Breck over Steamboat, though, is that it’s a bit closer and there are quite a few cool towns within an hour or so of there to explore. It’s a good central location to experience the Rocky Mountains.

I am absolutely in love with Telluride/silverton/ouray (southwest CO) but it’s a pretty far journey, about 6 hrs from Denver. Durango is also great. I also happen to love Grand Junction and that whole area, but it’s a lot more heavy on outdoor activity than anything else.

Once back In Denver I’d definitely visit Golden, Boulder, the Denver zoo or botanic gardens, and definitely a Rockies game. Red rocks (you don’t even need to go to a concert there, but if there’s a good one while you’re in town that isn’t sold out already I’d try to do that). Our art museum is pretty nice. The Kirkland museum.

Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m constantly trying to entertain myself in this state so I’ve explored a LOT of places.

[eb777888]

Mar 10, 2018 16:08:01 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

I travel this state for work.

I would spend your first week in the mountains and then your last 3-4 days in Denver.

Steamboat would be my rec based on what I know of you, though it’s kind of out on it’s own - not a lot nearby. It’s beautuful, relaxing, plenty of great activities and restaurants. It’s small and not pretentious. Texans love it.

Breck is just OK to me. The nice thing about Breck over Steamboat, though, is that it’s a bit closer and there are quite a few cool towns within an hour or so of there to explore. It’s a good central location to experience the Rocky Mountains.

I am absolutely in love with Telluride/silverton/ouray (southwest CO) but it’s a pretty far journey, about 6 hrs from Denver. Durango is also great. I also happen to love Grand Junction and that whole area, but it’s a lot more heavy on outdoor activity than anything else.

Once back In Denver I’d definitely visit Golden, Boulder, the Denver zoo or botanic gardens, and definitely a Rockies game. Red rocks (you don’t even need to go to a concert there, but if there’s a good one while you’re in town that isn’t sold out already I’d try to do that). Our art museum is pretty nice. The Kirkland museum.

Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m constantly trying to entertain myself in this state so I’ve explored a LOT of places.

Thanks so much! So much good advice. We already booked so we're set with Breck and Denver but I'm really excited to explore some of the towns outside of Breckenridge. 

[walterismydog]

Mar 11, 2018 0:09:59 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Mar 10, 2018 16:08:01 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

I travel this state for work.

I would spend your first week in the mountains and then your last 3-4 days in Denver.

Steamboat would be my rec based on what I know of you, though it’s kind of out on it’s own - not a lot nearby. It’s beautuful, relaxing, plenty of great activities and restaurants. It’s small and not pretentious. Texans love it.

Breck is just OK to me. The nice thing about Breck over Steamboat, though, is that it’s a bit closer and there are quite a few cool towns within an hour or so of there to explore. It’s a good central location to experience the Rocky Mountains.

I am absolutely in love with Telluride/silverton/ouray (southwest CO) but it’s a pretty far journey, about 6 hrs from Denver. Durango is also great. I also happen to love Grand Junction and that whole area, but it’s a lot more heavy on outdoor activity than anything else.

Once back In Denver I’d definitely visit Golden, Boulder, the Denver zoo or botanic gardens, and definitely a Rockies game. Red rocks (you don’t even need to go to a concert there, but if there’s a good one while you’re in town that isn’t sold out already I’d try to do that). Our art museum is pretty nice. The Kirkland museum.

Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m constantly trying to entertain myself in this state so I’ve explored a LOT of places.

Thanks so much! So much good advice. We already booked so we're set with Breck and Denver but I'm really excited to explore some of the towns outside of Breckenridge. 

I’m happy to put together some ideas for you if you’d like!! Don’t get me wrong - Breck is beautiful! I especially like riding bikes around the Dillon reservoir. And one of my favorite breakfast places in the world is in Frisco, about ten minutes from Breck, the Butterhorn Bakery. My friend also owns a bar (kid-friendly) in Breck.

Also, once you’re back in Denver, if you guys want a date night and I’m around, I’m happy to watch D for you! There’s a bunch of people here who can vouch for me.

[isabel]

Ditto walterismydog’s offer for a sitter for date night while you’re in Denver. But she is a wonderful person and will do cool crafts with your kid.

If you want food recs in Denver, let us know.

Hit Arapahoe Cafe while you’re in the mountains. There’s usually a wait, but there’s an awesome playground that overlooks Lake Dillon right next door.

[pagas]

Drive in to Vail one night from Breck, have dinner at Sweet Basil. It is the best.

[egishere]

Mar 10, 2018 11:23:10 GMT -5 isabel said:

Mar 9, 2018 22:47:01 GMT -5 egishere said:

I love Vail! Especially if a festival is going on there.
Breck is beautiful too. I personally don’t like the town of Estes other than visiting the park there. Agree to do a day in boulder and one in Denver. I love the zoo in CO Springs if you go there.

Steamboat, Telluride and CB are still on our list to check out. We have lived in CO six years and there are still so many places we need to go.

Highly recommend going to Steamboat during the hot air balloon festival during the summer. It's so much fun with kids and they always have activities set up at the base of the mountain.

That sounds fun! I’m looking up places on vrbo for that weekend! I’ll ask you for food recs before we go.

[eb777888]

Mar 11, 2018 8:22:32 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

Mar 11, 2018 0:09:59 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Thanks so much! So much good advice. We already booked so we're set with Breck and Denver but I'm really excited to explore some of the towns outside of Breckenridge. 

I’m happy to put together some ideas for you if you’d like!! Don’t get me wrong - Breck is beautiful! I especially like riding bikes around the Dillon reservoir. And one of my favorite breakfast places in the world is in Frisco, about ten minutes from Breck, the Butterhorn Bakery. My friend also owns a bar (kid-friendly) in Breck.

Also, once you’re back in Denver, if you guys want a date night and I’m around, I’m happy to watch D for you! There’s a bunch of people here who can vouch for me.

You are so sweet :-). Thank you so much for the Breckenridge food recs. We'll definitely use them. Do you live in Denver? Or can you recommend places to eat there? We LOVE food, good restaurants, anything from cheap to fine dining. We aren't picky, we like all types of food.


Also, David is a huge dessert person so I also try to check out cool places with desserts especially for him, whether it be a bakery or an actual restaurant that has good desserts.  Know anywhere?

[eb777888]

Mar 11, 2018 9:18:02 GMT -5 isabel said:

Ditto walterismydog ’s offer for a sitter for date night while you’re in Denver. But she is a wonderful person and will do cool crafts with your kid.

If you want food recs in Denver, let us know.

Hit Arapahoe Cafe while you’re in the mountains. There’s usually a wait, but there’s an awesome playground that overlooks Lake Dillon right next door.

Yesss!! Food recs, please!! We pretty much travel to eat, lol.