Vacation Suggestions

[M.T. Pockets]

Hello everyone, I'm planning a vacation with the wife & kids (10 & 8) later in August. The past couple years we've spent a few days in Wyoming, I love the entire state.

This year the wife wants a change of scenery and suggested Colorado. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay, what to see for 2 or 3 days in Northern Colorado (North of Denver). We like to stay in small, out of the way towns and not the faster paced tourist areas. I like to find a motel or cabin in a small town where we can visit with the real, local people.

I'm all ears and appreciate any suggestions on where to go, stay & see (and maybe what to avoid too). Thanks.

[Nulle]

Well I can see Mountains out my window so I will throw my 2 cents in: While going to Colorado take a little time to tour the Black Hills but don't hit it when motorcyle Rally is going on.
I love the Denver Zoo and sure to be a hit with the kids.
Colorado Springs also had a nice zoo + Garden of the Gods but it has been many many years since I have been there ummmmm Maybe I might make that trip lol

[M.T. Pockets]

Hello Nulle, I've got a good friend outside of Custer. We drive there the first day and spend some time on his ranch and explore the Hills. Nice country. Thanks for the heads up on the rally, that's a week I'll definitely want to avoid. Nothing against the bikers, but that's there week and I don't want to get in their way.

Zoo's are always good, I don't know if we'll get into Denver but if we do that will be my suggestion. I'm trying to get us over to Estes Park, then Steamboat Springs and hang around the National Park around Granby. Smaller the town the better for me.

[Mil Dot]

You're coming right through the 'hood. Estes Park is about an hour up the Big Thompson Canyon from the house. It's a beautiful mountain valley and the gate to RMNP and Trail Ridge Road which will take you to Granby. EP is a bit of a tourist trap. All the Gnode shops, handcrafted goods, shot glasses, art studios etc. I was up there a couple of weeks ago and played 18 on the city course. They have rules for play around the Elk which wander the course. It's the home of the Stanley Hotel (The Shining). Trail Ridge Road has some exceptional vistas and has a section which is over 12,000'. There are a number of small cabin type places going up the Big T. Once you hit the Park the next stop is Granby.
Are you planning on hiking, fishing or just doing the drive?

If you are looking more kicked back, small town Walden, Co. in the Colorado North Park basin. National Forest east and west and surrounded by BLM.

Let me know if I can get you any info. Send me a PM.

Mil Dot

[M.T. Pockets]

Thanks for the information, I'm going to look into Walden & Granby. I'm a poor tourist, I like small towns where I can have coffee with the people who live there and visit with them and just fit in. I would like to see what's in the area and do some driving & hiking. The wife likes those tourist shops and I try to do what I can to accomodate that without going crazy myself. I like to kick back at a local motel with a local brew or two and watch the kids swim in the late afternoons, then walk to a local cafe for supper.

[Nulle]

When I lived in Colorado years agoe it was at the base of the Big Thompson = just had moved before that BIG flood or probably would not be here today.

[Mil Dot]

Nulle,

They just had a revamp article about the Big T flood in our paper. It's hard to imagine the wall of water coming through the Narrows just before getting to the Dam Store. Tall enough to take out the water supply tube that comes from Granby. This tube stands probably 30' over the road at least. Lots of folks didn't make it through that one.

MD

[muledeer]

I lived in Steamboat Springs back in the early 60's for approx., 8 months. Minus 43 was too cold for my parents so we moved back to Malibu. I've been through there several times in the late 90"s on my way to elk hunt in Kremmling. Steamboat has grown but it still has the small town atmosphere. The "Harbor Hotel" is old but a great place to stay.
muledeer