We have a limited budget for our honeymoon next year (probably late May or early June 2008) and would like to spend it in the mountains. Initially we wanted to go to Jackson, WY, but flights are very expensive. Now we are thinking Colorado and we need some suggestions!
We don’t want to spend a whole lot of time in a car, but we don’t mind driving a few hours from Denver. We’d like to have a of good choice of restaurants and plenty of shops and things to see. I’m sure one of the ski towns like Vail or Aspen might fit the bill; problem is, I really have no idea which one.
Any suggestions on hotels, cottages or cabins (especially with fireplaces) would also be appreciated!
Weather considerations are possible snow in May and often it can be rainy in May/June. However, it might well be glorious.
It depends on traffic, but Vail is approximately 2 hours from DIA.
It’s pretty expensive, but if you plan ahead you work things out. cottage rentals, Colorado
I especially love southwest Colorado, but that would involve more driving.
There’s Crested Butte.
Strawberry Hot Springs in Steamboat is divine.
Other hot springs: Durango, Ouray, Glenwood or Pagosa Springs.
Ouray and Telluride are beautiful and have preserved the feel of old mining towns. Both have some pretty decent restaurants, quaint shops and aren’t that far from each other or some nice drives, hiking trails, etc.
I second southwest Colorado: you can fly into Durango, or drive about six hours from Denver.
There’s camping, hiking, lots of shopping, amazing Ancestral Puebloan stuff at Mesa Verde. You can take the Silverton train from Durango to Silverton up through the canyon. Sit in the hot springs at Pagosa Springs. Ouray and Telluride aren’t very far away, either. I’ve driven all over the state for work, and have spent time in quite a few places, but if you want a beautiful place with a ton of stuff to do, I recommend Durango/southwestern CO.
And splurge on a night or two at the Strater Hotel!
All good recommendations. Also, you don’t indicated how limited your budget is, or what your priorities are. If you’re looking for a cute town with shopping and dining, either Vail of Aspen will fit the bill, although I like Aspen better. It can be pricey, though, depending on when you go. If you’re looking for outdoorsy activities, then the locations others mentioned will be great.
But based on your “We’d like to have a of good choice of restaurants and plenty of shops and things to see”, I’d recommend Aspen. It’s really going to depend on your budget, though.
Don’t they still have that cool train ride through the mountains? I don’t think it’s the extensive trip it was years ago, but I seem to remember you can still do a short trip. Anyone know what I’m talking about?
EstesPark. A couple of hours from Denver Airport, close to Rocky Mountain National Park, shops, hotels, restaurants. I’ve only driven through and stopped at a couple of shops, but thought it would be a great place to hang out for a long weekend.
It looks like the train is 3.5 hours each way, plus a 2:15 layover in Silverton. Mixing in a going or return bus leg shortens it, but I don’t see by how much. A train/train is 9:15, total.
My folks live about 40 minutes away from Durango, and my wife (then girlfriend) and I rode the Durango/Silverton train one fine January day, right after a new snowfall. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more winter beauty in my life. Everything was so beautiful, peaceful, and unspoiled, under that new white blanket…and the mountain streams with ice shining in the sun…it was breathtaking.
That being said, keep in mind that the train doesn’t move very fast, and going to Silverton and back in one day is a long, long trip, and despite the beauty, you may get bored going over the same ground twice. In winter, the train doesn’t go all the way to Silverton, so our trip left at 9 AM and returned at around 3 in the afternoon, which was quite tolerable. What some people do is, get someone to drop you off at the station in Durango, and then have them drive to Silverton and meet you there.
There are loads of other little towns in southwest Colorado that are very pretty and nice to just hang around in and look at stuff. Dolores is nice. Cortez is a little bigger, and there’s an Anasazi museum near there. It’s also close to Mesa Verde National Park, which if you’re into Native American dwellings has a lot to see. Pagosa Springs I’ve never stayed at, but it seems nice enough. And I really wish we’d stopped at South Fork rather than driving over Wolf Creek Pass in a blizzard…it looked quite isolated and tranquil.
There are some places along the stretch between the western edge of Estes park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park which are nice for singles / honeymooners. I’ve stayed at Sunnyside Knoll a few times and really liked it.
Near Durango, there’s a place called Wit’s End that is perhaps more of a dude ranch, but is in a gorgeous setting on Lake Vallecito. may be too pricey, but worth a look.
Estes Park was my first thought when I saw this thread. My wife and I spent a great weekend there–we stayed at the Stanley (that gorgeous old pile of frame construction is an experience in itself and we will be back), explored the shops, and in general, just kicked back and relaxed. Worth looking into for a honeymoon, I’d say.
Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is nice. Hot springs/pool right there, historic hotel (some say it’s haunted, wooOOoo!), shopping, neat caves just up the hill. One of our favorite places to go to get away for a weekend.
Great suggestions, thanks everyone! Southwest Colorado sounds wonderful, but unfortunately the flight prices into Durango are a bit scary. Not sure if we want to drive that long from DIA either.
Other than hiking we are not big into outdoor physical activities. We just love the scenery. We will definitely look into Aspen, Breckenridge and Estes Park. The Sunnyside Knoll looks fantastic.
I’ll second the suggestion for the Summit County area. I’m partial to Frisco but Breck has more and better restaurants. My wife and I go for a 10 day hiking vacation up there every other year. We know it quite well. There are lots of nice condos for rent. Summer prices are reasonable and you can get really good deals contacting owners direct through the city’s website. There are several good restaurants in the area and lots mountain shopping. You can sail or canoe on Lake Dillon and of course hikes of all levels within a 20-30 minute drive. There’s nothing quite like getting up and going for a 4 hour hike followed by a leisurely soak in a hot tub and then dinner out. Repeat this for 5 days and you’ll forget the rest of the world exists. Now I’m realizing that I have to wait until September before I go back.
Given your schedule options, early June may be better than late May. If you go to Estes Park, Trail Ridge Road (the road over the pass in the national park) is typically not open until Memorial Day weekend. That’s how high the snow gets. If you’re into sightseeing, waiting for Trail Ridge to open up for the summer is probably worth waiting the additional few weeks.
Independence Pass, east of Aspen, likewise is closed in the winter. I don’t remember when they open it up, but it’s probably not much earlier than Trail Ridge.
They keep Hoosier Pass, south of Breckenridge, open all year, but it’s not as high or scenic a drive (IMHO) as the others. South Park is on the other side, where they kill Kenny every week. On the way to Breck from Denver, though, even I-70 is a gorgeous drive.
Glenwood Springs is beyond Summit County and Vail. Glenwood Canyon, which you would traverse just before arriving in town, is this great gorge of the Colorado River. In addition to the hot springs, there is a lot of rafting there. If you end up on a Whitewater Rafting Company raft trip, ask for Ben as your guide. You can hike to Hanging Lake in the canyon, and take day trips to Maroon Bells and/or Aspen without paying nearly as much for a hotel room.
On the way to Breck from Denver, though, even I-70 is a gorgeous drive.