Colorado get away

[Brock]

Lake City used to be nice. Haven't been there in a long time. Most of the places I used to go in Colorado are now covered in million dollar houses with a walmart down the road.

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Long story short......

Wife & I's anniversary is coming up next month. Looking to take her away for a couple days to Colorado. I've been looking at Vail, or Estes Park, etc. Just not sure what's a good semi romantic place to go. Looking for some quiet together time, but a place with some decent food & nightlife.

Hoping some of you can give me some suggestions.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Sofa King

I thought you were dead.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

I thought you were dead.

No he just took the season off.

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

I thought you were dead.

Not quite. Working on it though.

[COchief]

Short and sweet just for you:

Estes Park: Absolutely dead this time of year, seasonal town. Would get my highest recommendation if you were talking May-Sept. Winter is a ghost town.

Vail: Holy shit get out your checkbook, if you aren't skiing I can't imagine why you'd want to stay there. I would heavily suggest if your wife likes to shop to NOT take her there.

Glenwood Springs is where I'd tell you to go. Absolutely beautiful town with enough shops and restaurants to keep you entertained and a much more reasonable rate. Plus if you get antsy, Vail is not too far of a drive.

[HC_Chief]

Originally Posted by COchief

Short and sweet just for you:

Estes Park: Absolutely dead this time of year, seasonal town. Would get my highest recommendation if you were talking May-Sept. Winter is a ghost town.

Vail: Holy shit get out your checkbook, if you aren't skiing I can't imagine why you'd want to stay there. I would heavily suggest if your wife likes to shop to NOT take her there.

Glenwood Springs is where I'd tell you to go. Absolutely beautiful town with enough shops and restaurants to keep you entertained and a much more reasonable rate. Plus if you get antsy, Vail is not too far of a drive.

She'll love it; your wallet won't.

[DaFace]

Are there any specific activities you're looking to do other than "be romantic"? In other words, we know that a nice hotel and places to eat are requirements, but how do you envision spending the day?

(shopping, hiking, local events, etc.)

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Are there any specific activities you're looking to do other than "be romantic"? In other words, we know that a nice hotel and places to eat are requirements, but how do you envision spending the day?

(shopping, hiking, local events, etc.)

Hmmm......don't really have any requirements. I'm sure the wife will want to do some shopping.

I'm sure like most people, our day to day lives are hectic. Especially with 4 kids. When we get away, we generally just waste the days wandering around at a kid free pace, seeing some sites without answering 100 questions, eating a meal without being interrupted, shopping without chasing a kid across the store - but not usually putting much effort into being at X place at 10am to do Y.

We don't need much to do, but it's always nice to have some options if the mood strikes.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Hmmm......don't really have any requirements. I'm sure the wife will want to do some shopping.

I'm sure like most people, our day to day lives are hectic. Especially with 4 kids. When we get away, we generally just waste the days wandering around at a kid free pace, seeing some sites without answering 100 questions, eating a meal without being interrupted, shopping without chasing a kid across the store - but not usually putting much effort into being at X place at 10am to do Y.

We don't need much to do, but it's always nice to have some options if the mood strikes.

Got it. After thinking it through a bit more, I think I'll change my recommendations a bit (partially based on good points by others in this thread).

Estes Park is going to be boring this time of year. Unless you want to go for a snowshoe hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, there's just not going to be much to do up there. You can burn an afternoon shopping, and there are enough restaurants that you're not going to have to go shoot an elk or anything, but I wouldn't go there.

Breck is a neat little town, and it's still on my suggestions list. However, it's one of those things where you're just not squarely in its target market this time of year. Like Vail, Breck is going to be dominated by ski traffic. There's no problem with that, but unless you're going to ski, you can probably do better.

If I were you, I'd seriously look into the Colorado Springs AREA (note that I didn't necessarily say Colorado Springs itself). Look into the cog railroad train to the top of Pike's Peak. Zero effort, and you get to be at the top of a 14er. You can also visit Cave of the Winds if you're into that kind of thing. If you're up for a little drive, it's about 1.5 hours from there to the Royal Gorge.

Think about staying in Manitou Springs rather than in Colorado Springs itself. It's only about 15 minutes from town, and it's much quieter and relaxing. There are a handful of restaurants there, or you can always drive into town for a much larger selection.

(Glenwood Springs is an OK place as well. They've got a big hot springs pool that is fun. I just can't see burning more than a day in the town itself.)

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Got it. After thinking it through a bit more, I think I'll change my recommendations a bit (partially based on good points by others in this thread).

Estes Park is going to be boring this time of year. Unless you want to go for a snowshoe hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, there's just not going to be much to do up there. You can burn an afternoon shopping, and there are enough restaurants that you're not going to have to go shoot an elk or anything, but I wouldn't go there.

Breck is a neat little town, and it's still on my suggestions list. However, it's one of those things where you're just not squarely in its target market this time of year. Like Vail, Breck is going to be dominated by ski traffic. There's no problem with that, but unless you're going to ski, you can probably do better.

If I were you, I'd seriously look into the Colorado Springs AREA (note that I didn't necessarily say Colorado Springs itself). Look into the cog railroad train to the top of Pike's Peak. Zero effort, and you get to be at the top of a 14er. You can also visit Cave of the Winds if you're into that kind of thing. If you're up for a little drive, it's about 1.5 hours from there to the Royal Gorge.


Think about staying in Manitou Springs rather than in Colorado Springs itself. It's only about 15 minutes from town, and it's much quieter and relaxing. There are a handful of restaurants there, or you can always drive into town for a much larger selection.

(Glenwood Springs is an OK place as well. They've got a big hot springs pool that is fun. I just can't see burning more than a day in the town itself.)

Did the Cog as a kid and was not impressed. My husband and I always drive up to Pikes Peak. Weather permittingm it's all paved and a great drive. Just make sure you check the conditions and don't use your breaks alot on the way down. It's a scary as shit drive but really cool.

Garden of the Gods is amazing and if it's open I'm sure it's gorgeous in the winter. I second the Manitou Springs recommendation. Such a quaint little town. If you do stay in the CS area the Homewood Suites close to the AFB is really nice and reasonable. Great buffet in the morning but also has kitchens incase you want to pack a lunch or store whipped cream or lots of adult beverages.

I also second the Glenwood Springs recommendation. Really cute little town right off the highway and like 40 miles from Aspen. You could stay in GS and then head up to Aspen to window shop and maybe star search for the day while not paying the ridiculous prices in Apsen.

[COchief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

If I were you, I'd seriously look into the Colorado Springs AREA (note that I didn't necessarily say Colorado Springs itself). Look into the cog railroad train to the top of Pike's Peak. Zero effort, and you get to be at the top of a 14er. You can also visit Cave of the Winds if you're into that kind of thing. If you're up for a little drive, it's about 1.5 hours from there to the Royal Gorge.

(Glenwood Springs is an OK place as well.

Good call on the Springs, also would be very easy to get to VS any of the Mountain options.

Disagree entirely on Glenwood (as do 3 other recommendations following your post), I have been to many places in my 16 years here and the Royal Fork Valley is like nothing else in CO, stunningly beautiful. I have been there several times with ladies and it is perfect for the type of fugg/eat/sleep vacation the OP seems to be looking for. Hanging Lake and Rifle falls are amazing, not sure how doable they would be in the winter though.

One must do if you do go to Glenwood is to have the beer-cheese soup at the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co right downtown next to the river, I'm not typically one to go on and on about restaurants or their dishes, but this is a can't miss.

[DomCasual]

Man, I have great memories of Glenwood Springs, from my childhood. As someone mentioned earlier, it might be tough to stay there more than a day, or so. But it is beautiful. And the hot springs this time of year is pretty cool.

Another thing I've always wanted to do is to rent one of the many cabins in Colorado. It would be secluded, and probably pretty reasonable. The Denver Post ran an article about a year ago about private cabins around Colorado that almost made me salivate. There were some absolutely incredible properties. Sorry, I tried to find the article for you, but I didn't have much luck. But if you Google "Colorado cabin rental," I think you'd find some pretty incredible stuff.

Also, if you get near Dove Valley, Broncos headquarters is always a fun visit!

[007]

Shopping - Vail
Romantic - Estes Park

[EagleRob]

Near Breck is a cool little town called Frisco. Seemed like the kind of town wives like. Me personally, I was enthralled with the Juevos Rancheros at a little place there called the Log Cabin Cafe. Food of love thing. Other than that, there's this big hayfield up near Buxton. You know where Buxton is? Lots of hayfields there. One in particular. Got a long rock wall with a big oak at the north end. Like something out of a Robert Frost poem. It's where I asked my wife to marry me. We'd gone for a picnic. We made love under that tree. I asked and she said yes. Promise me, find that spot. In the base of that wall you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a hayfield. A piece of black volcanic glass. You'll find something buried under it I want you to have.