Estes Park
Located northwest of Boulder, Estes Park is the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are an outdoor enthusiast this might be the place for you! My brother and I spent a week in Estes Park, hiking a different trail in the RMNP every day. All of the trails we hiked were quite strenuous, but there are much more tame trails where you can still appreciate the beauty of this mountain range. There is nothing quite like the feeling you have when you start the day at the base of the trail at 85 degrees and at the top of the trail Sky Pond is frozen and the temperature is 20 degrees.
If you prefer enjoying the scenery from the comfort of a vehicle, take in the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway or the Old Fall River Road. There are plenty of places to pull over to have a picnic by the river, watch a sunrise or sunset, or take in the spectacular views from the scenic spots.
There is plenty of lodging in the city of Estes Park, but my brother and I decided to stay at the YMCA Camp which is just outside the park. The lodging was cabins, the price was right, and there was a cafeteria so we had at least one good meal each day!
The City of Estes Park is quaint and charming and the downtown is filled with unique shops, art galleries and plenty of good restaurants. While there, make sure to check out the Stanley Hotel, the hotel that inspired Stephen King's novel “The Shining.”
You will have a great time in Estes Park year round, but I would highly recommend September when the aspen are turning colors and you can hear the flapping noise when these golden leaves rustle.
As you can see, there is so much outdoor beauty in Colorado. Check out our other favorite cities, Denver and Colorado Springs. While in Estes Park, here are just a few activities to do: