Summer Vacation Location Suggestion

[jdavid93225]

You might want to consider Glendo Reservoir in Wyoming. I know a lot of people from the Denver area head up there for recreation, and there are cabins near the lake. I don't know too much about the lake, such as whether or not swimming is allowed, but it is lower elevation (<5000 ft.) than many lakes in Colorado, and is not terribly far away (about 3 hours from Denver by car).

[NewAgeRedneck]

There are more than 200 lakes ( small ones ) on the Grand Mesa ( about an hour east of Grand Junction ), but I'm not sure that they are swimmable lakes. The elevation is over 10,500 ft so the water stays rather cold even in the summer. You should have no trouble finding a cabin to rent, and there's plenty of outdoor activities available. The wildflowers can be quite spectacular, but the mosquitos are rather prolific until late July. Many hiking trails too. It's not a highly developed tourist area like many of the popular vacation spots in Colorado. For some reason the Grand Mesa reminds me of the Poconos of Pennsylvania in the 60's & 70's. I guess that's because both places have lots of small lakes, but the Grand Mesa is more spectacular.

blessings...Franco

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

There are more than 200 lakes ( small ones ) on the Grand Mesa ( about an hour east of Grand Junction ), but I'm not sure that they are swimmable lakes. The elevation is over 10,500 ft so the water stays rather cold even in the summer. You should have no trouble finding a cabin to rent, and there's plenty of outdoor activities available. The wildflowers can be quite spectacular, but the mosquitos are rather prolific until late July. Many hiking trails too. It's not a highly developed tourist area like many of the popular vacation spots in Colorado. For some reason the Grand Mesa reminds me of the Poconos of Pennsylvania in the 60's & 70's. I guess that's because both places have lots of small lakes, but the Grand Mesa is more spectacular.

blessings...Franco

I spent a lot of time up there in years past. Too cold for swimming. I remember some years with snow still laying under the trees in June. One particular year I have a photo of me standing next to a Chevy Blazer up on Grand Mesa on the first day of summer (June 21st). The snowbank next to the Blazer (they had plowed the road open) was higher than its roof. First day of summer!

Yes, the mosquitoes can be voracious. I was up there one time when the fishing was just spectacular. But, I had to quit fishing because, even though I had covered myself in 100% DEET, I was INHALING so many mosquitoes that I was choking from them. No fish was worth that . . .

[donaldsc]

Originally Posted by donaldsc

I am looking for suggestions for a location in Colorado where I can find a place to rent for a summer vacation. We are a 3 generation famiily with 2 grandparents, 2 kids and spouses and 2 grandkids aged 2 and 6.

Want a place on a lake which has lake (not pool) swimming suitable for the grandkids, outdoor activities, boating. We are not into fishing.

We have already done Maine, Door County, Cape Cod, and Oregon and are looking for a place which is closer to my daughter who lives in Denver.

DON

Looks like I do not have too many options in Colorado. Any suggestions for surrounding states.

I am trying to save on plane fares (4 of them) for my daughter in Broomfield.

DON

[vfrpilot]

We vacationed in Steamboat Springs before we moved to CO. We had a blast. The summer weather was great. Our then younger daughter was playing in a national softball tournament. Her older sister got to attend a classical music festival. Our son went tubing down the Yampa River that flows right thru the middle of town. There was also a national mountain bike race and a rodeo. All this going on while we were there. We did this 2 years in a row. The second year there was a bunch of hot air balloons also. If I could ever afford to buy a second home it would be in Steam Boat.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by donaldsc

Looks like I do not have too many options in Colorado. Any suggestions for surrounding states.

I am trying to save on plane fares (4 of them) for my daughter in Broomfield.

DON

Lake Powell in Utah. Be forewarned, the lake is still far below its normal level, thanks to the multi-year drought. They rent houseboats there comfortable for up to 10--early reservations are usually a necessity.

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by donaldsc

Looks like I do not have too many options in Colorado. Any suggestions for surrounding states.

I am trying to save on plane fares (4 of them) for my daughter in Broomfield.

DON

I thought I'd mention Glendo again. It's only about three to three and a half hours from Broomfield. Here are a couple links to sites with some info:

http://www.usbr.gov/gp/recreation/glerrec.htm
http://www.wyomingtourism.org/cms/d/...state_park.php

Several of the sites I viewed indicated that the lake was open to Water Sports. While that is a very broad term, one of the water sports indicated was swimming. On the usbr site I posted above, they included an icon for swimming there, so I believe you should be able to find a place to do so if you're still so inclined. One of the other sites I viewed indicated that there was no swimming beach or other swimming facilities, however.

[FromBroomfield]

Maybe Granby?