Visiting COLO for 3 days. Where to go? What to see? (Denver: motorhome, theater)

[Vera Sillos]

I~m goingo do Colorado to visit. I'm brasilian and i"intend to stay 3 days only. What do you recomend - stay in Denver or Colorado Spring- ask. Doubt

[Sonic_Spork]

What do you like?

Museums?
Mountains?
Cute small towns with shops?

It depends what you want to do and see while you are here.

Many visitors to Colorado Springs try to go to the top of Pike's Peak mountain, that is a bad idea. You get sick if you're not used to being high up, it can ruin your trip. If you really feel the need to go up a mountain, drink LOTS of water, it helps.

Also--when are you coming to Colorado? Some of the nice things in Colorado Springs (like Manitou and Cave of the Winds) are having problems with floods and mudslides right now.

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Spork

It depends what you want to do and see while you are here.

Sonic's right, it depends... But our best local tourist attractions, in order, are probably:
Colorado Springs area:
1. Pikes Peak Cog Railway/Hwy (see Sonic's warning above, but realize that you would not be HIKING up it)
2. Garden of the Gods
3. Foothills/trails around Manitou, Woodland park, etc...
...but there are also many others.

Denver area:
1. Red Rocks Amphitheater
2. Various Museums (including the Mint)
3. Boulder/CSU (it's not immediately in the 'Denver area' though)
...but there are also many others.

However, the jewel of Colorado is our beautiful high country, especially up in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park or just about anywhere in the San Juan mountains. But to really enjoy any of those places would probably eat up your entire three days (at least).

[proveick]

I'd take your three days and do the West Elk Loop (that few Coloradans do or know about).

One of my own pics.

[davidv]

Denver has better cultural facilities (museums, zoo, etc.), sports (baseball, soccer, lacrosse), public transportation (if you need it), and bars.

Denver has better access to places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Vail, Breckinridge, etc.

Colorado Springs has better access to Pike's Peak, the Royal Gorge (decimated by a fire recently), and the Great Sand Dunes.

Colorado Springs has the Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods and a pretty good zoo.

Because Denver has access to I-25 and I-70, it is easier to travel into the mountains to see the sights. Colorado Springs has I-25, but the highway into the mountains is not as big and the places you might want to go to (Vail, Breckinridge, Georgetown) and not very accessible.

[Colorado Rambler]

Olá dê as boas-vindas!

Back when I was in my twenties I had the good fortune to spend some time in Brasil! I hope you will love Colorado as much as I loved your country, and I hope we will make you feel as welcome.

The replies telling you to come down to Southwest Colorado and see the San Juan Mountains are correcy. You will see spectacular country which you'll never see at home - as beautiful as Brasil is. Ride the train from Durango to Silverton and drive over the "Million Dollar Highway." You can see cities like Denver anywhere. There's only one San Juan Mountain Range.

Have a great visit!

PS - If the Front Range is your only choice, then visit Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. They're the nicest cities.

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by proveick

I'd take your three days and do the West Elk Loop (that few Coloradans do or know about).

I did that loop a couple years in my Motorhome, as part of a longer trip, and it is all fantastic. I didn't know it had a name. It's not much of a secret, because it's all on the map, but there were some interesting highlights called out, so thanks for that!

It seems a bit long to do in 3 days if from Denver, especially if that's not 3 FULL days (not including flight arrival/departure, etc). That's why most people just do Pikes Peak, GoG and things like that. If you want to go to the high country, maybe just pick one place like Frisco, Crested Butte, or if you have more time, Ouray (the best) and see what you see on the way. There are usually options to loop back via a different route to see even more. Still, any way you cut it, it's a lot of driving, so unless you love being on the road, you may be better off sticking to the front range.

Seja bem-vindo!

[lurtsman]

Great picture proveick