Almost scared to post this - vacationing in CO! (Denver: rent, hotel)

[COflower]

Pikes Peak Country Attractions | Colorado Activities

[houlesranch]

Salida also has a brewers rendevous that they have every summer and all proceeds go to local charities. There are hotsprings pools all over BV and Salida,horseback riding, golfing, hiking, rock and gem shows are held all over too with jewelry galore. Salida is an art mecca, with all sorts of gems that you cannot find anywhere else.

[SheridanL]

How long will you be here?? That might make a difference in how far you are willing to drive for different places of interest!

[kissmytiara]

Thanks to all of you!
We will be there July 15-20. We'll have about 5 1/2 days to do stuff - we're not afraid to drive (although it may break the bank!).
I know that Boulder is having an art festival on the 19th - I'm leaning towards NOT going to it, since I know I want to spend some time shopping there and it will be packed on that day. Thoughts on that?
The men want to go to a Rockies game, so they will do that, assuming they're in town. I haven't checked that yet!

If you were going to spend one full day in the mountains, where would you go? This trip has been left completely up to me, and I don't know anything about the mountains except that we stayed in Dillon in 1999 and I was sick for 2 days because of the altitude

[charygart]

The rockies will be playing here in denver on 17-20 of july.

[Swampy101]

Originally Posted by SheridanL

You could try the North Pole and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs! Your nephew would enjoy that!
They have a HUGE ferris wheel that is on the edge of the mountain.......waaaay up high....I couldn't get on it but, maybe you all are adventurous! Me, I'm a chicken!HA!
Then you could just go around to the other places mentioned!

Have fun!!!!!!!!!

I actually prefer the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo over the Denver Zoo. Although, I don't have kids and didn't notice what kid activities there are at either one, the Denver Zoo is too "cityish". I found the whole zoo unphotogenic meaning most of the pictures you'll take there, you can tell the animals were in their pens at a zoo. Cheyenne Mountain just gave me a better feeling all around, but you need to hit that up mid morning to early afternoon as it's in a canyon and the shade can make things not look as good. Besides, Denver Zoo is downtown, traffic, lots of people, etc. Cheyenne Mountain is a scenic drive and is located in a scenic setting.

If you're going to RNMP, go from the Boulder side, go through the park and do whatever you're going to do, then take the high pass over the top of the mountain and around to Granby lake! That drive is about as scenic as you can get in that area.

Just remember to plan things out to make the best of your time though so you're not driving the whole time.

The area around Buena Vista has some real nice scenery as well. Look for Monarch Pass down that way by Gunnison. Also, if you're going to be in that area, take a look at the Great Sand Dunes.

Again though, not sure if renting a cabin in one location was the right decision. I think you're looking at a 4-5 hour drive from CR to Buena Vista? So it's not really feasible to drive down there, see stuff and drive back.

The RNMP to Granby is quite a stretch to do in a day as well.

Edit: Almost forgot, there's a wildlife sanctuary with lions, tigers, wolves, etc. just north of Denver Airport. Nice place. 10 dollar donation per person to get in though.
http://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/index.htm

[kissmytiara]

Ha - last time we came to CO we stayed in Dillon and drove everywhere from there. I'm not doing the driving, I'm just riding I'm too chicken**** to drive in the mountains anyway.

As I get more planned, I may run it by you guys and see if I should make any changes! Thanks again for all your help, I really do appreciate it!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by kissmytiara

Thanks to all of you!
We will be there July 15-20. We'll have about 5 1/2 days to do stuff - we're not afraid to drive (although it may break the bank!).
I know that Boulder is having an art festival on the 19th - I'm leaning towards NOT going to it, since I know I want to spend some time shopping there and it will be packed on that day. Thoughts on that?
The men want to go to a Rockies game, so they will do that, assuming they're in town. I haven't checked that yet!

If you were going to spend one full day in the mountains, where would you go? This trip has been left completely up to me, and I don't know anything about the mountains except that we stayed in Dillon in 1999 and I was sick for 2 days because of the altitude

First things first: Altitude sickness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia If you google altitude sickness, you will find scads of links. Just look at the ones that seem reputable.

I think it would be OK to go to Boulder on July 19. If it's a nice day, it'll be packed, no matter what festival is in town. It may be 100 degrees, in which case people will probably be trying to keep cool. Are you planning on shopping on Pearl Street?

[msjustms]

I live in the Canon City, Colorado area and from the sounds of your group this could be a great place for you to spend some time. How about rafting on the Arkansas river? Echo Canyon Rafting is who we used 2 years ago and it was GREAT! Another fun thing to do is Buckskin Joe's which is right by the Royal Gorge which is also a wonder to see. From Canon City it's only 53 miles or so to Cripple Creek an old mining town that also has gambling and there is a mine tour there too which is educational and fun...lots to do in this area and only 45 miles from Colorado Springs and about 30 miles from Pueblo. Pueblo has the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and of course you know about what all COS has to offer.......Hope you have a great trip!!

Originally Posted by kissmytiara

I'm from Texas, and me and my family are going to be in Colorado in mid-July for our first family vacation since 1999 (which, incidentally, was in CO!).
My husband wants to do all the touristy stuff in COS - all the things he did as a kid when they went - but the rest of us just aren't that interested in it, so 3 of us are going a day early so my husband can get his fill

We are staying in Castle Rock, we rented a house/cabin since there are 8 of us (one being a toddler). Dad loves to drive, so any beautiful drives you can recommend would be appreciated! He keeps saying he wants to go to Buena Vista - thoughts on that? We've done RMNP, so I'd like to do something a little different this time.

My brother is deadset on going to Ft. Collins for the New Belgium brewery. Is there anything to do there besides drink beer? (Shopping area - not chain stores, more boutiques?)

I've been reading your board for a couple of weeks now and writing down tons of ideas - but it's been so long since I've been to CO I am a bit overwhelmed! I'm planning our trip since I'm the OCD one in our family - no one else seems to concerned about what to do!

Any suggestions for great non-chain restaurants/neat shopping areas (especially jewelry - I work for James Avery Craftsman and I HAVE to buy jewelry everywhere I go!)/places for pretty picture-taking would all be appreciated. I will take all the help I can get!

I hope this post isn't too annoying - don't shoot me!!

[momof2dfw]

Too bad you can't stay up in Woodland Park outside of Colorado Springs and out in the mountains. Vacationed in Colorado EVERY summer as a kid as did my father. I'm from Texas as well . I've been on EVERY backroad (or as my dad referred to them - shortcut) in Colorado there is. Here are some high points to do in Colorado that you can ONLY do there:

1. Pikes Peak. Take the tram up. j

2. Garden of the Gods. GO EARLY!!! That place is PACKED now. Nothing like when I was a kid.

3. Love the NorthPole outside of Colorado Springs up by Green Mountain. Small amusement park w/ rides, Santa and reindeer.

4. Drive out of Woodland Park the back way to Evergreen and drive up Mt. Evans. The highest paved road in the United States. VERY COOL!!! After this drive my husband was unimpressed when we got out over the pass at The Continental Divide. Oh, and you will see snow up on Mt. Evans. Nothing up there anymore as when lightening struck the building up there it burnt down and has not been rebuilt and no plans to.

5. Lake Dillion. Go shop and walk around Breckinridge. There is the Alpine Slide here as well. You ride up the ski lift and then use a sled on a concrete "tube" to ride down. Really fun. You can also go up the lifts and bike ride down. I would not w/ a 1 year old though. Of course in Silverthorne you have the "outlet mall". Same as anywhere else.

6. Royal Gorge. This is outside of Canon City and you can drive across or take the tram down to the bottom. I remember walking across it and not being afraid to stand next to the rail. NOT ANYMORE!

7. If your driving up from Texas then add a night onto your trip and stay in Canyon outside of Amarillo and go see Palo Duro Canyon. You will NOT regret it. You will wish you had more time.

8. Air Force Academy in COS.

9. I would skip Denver on this short trip. We have big cities here in Texas and there is not much there that we don't have here. Sure the Rockies might be better than the Texas Rangers but that is a full 1/2 day EASY for just that. No way! Too many other good things to do.

10. Up out of Trinidad there are more lakes in the mountains. Not as hectic as COS or Denver or crowded like other vacation hotspots in Colorado.