Thinking of traveling to Colorado in the fall but you aren’t sure exactly where to go? The town of Estes Park sits on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park with some of the most magnificent mountain scenery you can imagine, as well as an abundance of wildlife.
The autumn season brings bright blue skies and crisp clean air with breathtaking aspens and leaves of brightly colored golds, ambers and bronze. Elk are out in full force, and you can hear their loud bugle calls, as well as the sounds of Bighorn sheep butting heads as they battle on the mountainside.
Convinced? Here is your guide to a vacation in Estes Park.
Getting there
If you’ll be flying into Colorado, the Denver International Airport is usually the least expensive, and the most convenient to Estes Park.
From the Denver airport, it’s a 65 mile trek northwest to Estes Park, with much of the drive quite scenic.
Where to stay
There are a wide variety of accommodations in Estes Park, from cabins to condos and luxury hotel suites. One of the most famous is the Stanley Hotel. This historic landmark has hosted many of the rich and famous, including author Stephen King, who based his novel, “The Shining” on the Stanley after his stay there. The Unsinkable Molly Brown and President Theodore Roosevelt have also been guests of the luxurious hotel.
The Stanley offers panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains, luxurious rooms and possibly a ghost or two. Even if you don’t stay here, you should climb the steps to the grand lobby and take in the breathtaking vistas.
There are a wide variety of cabins for rent along Fall River between Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Some have private outdoor hot tubs for romantic star gazing on a clear night, as well as jacuzzi suites and cozy fireplaces.
Best places to eat
Hands down, Big Horn restaurant on the west side of town offers some of the best breakfast I’ve ever experienced. They’ve been voted “Best Breakfast Restaurant” in town, numerous times, and the apple pancakes are my all-time favorite.
There are numerous options in town for dinner, from pubs, burger joints and pizza to Mexican, steakhouses, barbecue, and more. The Stanley Hotel’s Cascades Restaurant is good for special occasion dining, and although it’s a little pricey, you can’t beat the atmosphere, or the delicious meals and desserts.
What to do
Both Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park have almost endless attractions for visitors. In town you’ll find art galleries, lots of shopping opportunities from antiques to souvenirs, apparel, crafts, home decor and much more.
For a small mountain town you might be surprised at all it has to offer. For kids as well as the kid at heart, there is a big slide, go-karts, miniature golf, bungee jumping and batting cages at the Family Amusement Park. At the Lake Estes Marina, you’ll find paddle boat, kayak and pontoon boat rentals, mountain bikes, and more.
The month of October is filled with events, and for five weekends the town will be filled with over 150 scarecrows and lots of harvest season activities. Entertainment, hayrides, contests, live music, and more will take place at the month long Scarecrows in Estes Park Festival.
With all of those options, it’s hard to believe you still haven’t heard about the highlight of what the area has to offer. Rocky Mountain National Park is the icing on the cake, and here you’ll find lush valleys with peaceful rivers and creeks, craggy mountain peaks that reach over 14,000 feet into the sky, and it’s also home to elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, and a wide variety of birds and small wildlife.
The park offers miles of hiking trails for journeys into the wilderness, and for an extra special adventure, rent a horse or take a guided tour on horseback across the forests, meadows, and trout filled streams.
K.C. Dermody is a freelance writer and a Featured Contributor for Yahoo!Travel. She has traveled to nearly all 50 states, and many countries worldwide, and has a passion for imparting what she has learned from her experiences to others.
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