Estes Park; My Home Away From Home.

 

I never get tired of visiting Estes Park. It is the first place I longed to visit when I first moved to Denver ten years ago. And it is the place where I continue to return.

 

 My fascination with Estes (the nickname used by many Coloradoans) began when my parents shared that it was a camping spot they used on their first road trip together back in the 70's. As a child of divorce, I treasure tiny nuggets of my parents lost nostalgia...and therefore believe I was drawn to Rocky Mountain National Park like a lost camper retracing their steps.

Nowadays, I come back month after month simply to be, to rest, to play. It is a familiar stomping ground of which I have grown quite fond of its beauty, wildlife, and amenities.

There are alot of other places in Colorado I still want to explore. But when I need a quick, refreshing, intimate getaway I continue to return to Estes Park.




Helpful Links:
http://estes-park.com/

http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

http://www.rockymtnresorts.com/

Crested Butte--Colorado's cutest, overlooked little town!

Crested Butte is officially my vote for cutest Colorado town!

I'm sure the locals probably don't mind if most of the tourists overlook their adorable ski
 town....but....I simply must express  regret of only just now learning about this incredibly
endearing old mining town! Situated north of Gunnison and southwest of Aspen, Crested Butte is nicely secluded away from it all....the downtown historical area is rustically charming (built in the 1800's)  with a clean, fresh coat of paint exuding an aroma fit for both modern trendsetters and those of the nostalgic pioneer spirit.

Like most Colorado mountain towns there is much to do by way of skiing, snowboarding, fishing, 4x4ing, nature watching....but once you visit....you will see that there just isn't another Colorado town quite as charming as Crested Butte.



 (But if you do find one as cute....I guarantee the people just aren't as friendly).


Nearby:

-Kebler Pass (great for viewing fall foliage)
-Gunnison (nearest supply town, Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
-Mt. Crested Butte (where the skiing happens)
-Several campgrounds nearby

Town website: http://www.visitcrestedbutte.com/

My Favorite Colorado Towns...and Why

Well, I have revised my list of favorite Colorado towns and will also expound more on WHY these towns are my favorite.

**(I would ask for a drum roll here but that seems a bit pretentious for such a tiny blog as this.)

My Favorite Colorado Towns:

1) Telluride
This town sits perched amidst some of the most breathtaking mountain peaks in all of Colorado. I felt like I was in the bottom of a bowl looking up... The downtown area is cute, rustic, quaint, and caters to the wealthy but also can accommodate those on a budget. I picked this town as number one because of the ambiance of the town...the feel...the vistas...the western, rustic charm...it really seemed to epitomize the Colorado experience.

2) Ouray
Of course, since I picked Telluride for the number one spot then I had to pick Ouray for the number 2 spot...since they share the same mountainous backyard basically. Ouray also is surrounded by majestic peaks on all sides it seems...has a western, rustic charm...and offers several main attractions besides the views. For instance, there is Box Canyon, Ouray ice fields (in winter), and hot springs.Ouray is nicknamed "Colorado's Little Switzerland". When you drive in you will see why...There is something for everyone in this cozy hideaway.

3)Estes Park
You can't visit Colorado and not go to Estes Park. Its just the thing to do really. Estes Park is probably one of the most visited towns in Colorado, if not THE most popular tourist town in Colorado. Mostly in part because it is the main thoroughfare for Rocky Mountain National Park. There are a ton of places to stay, eat, and play in this nature-lover's paradise.

4)Steamboat Springs
This town has it all with a little less of the ritz that perhaps Telluride may have. Steamboat Springs offers fabulous skiing and snow activities during the winter. As well as, a myriad of activities during the other seasons....such as; hiking, biking, fishing, shopping, dining, sightseeing, etc. Steamboat, like most other towns in Colorado, is absolutely beautiful and charming. It is also home to my favorite hot springs in all of Colorado; Strawberry Hot Springs.

5)Salida
This little, cozy, artsy town is a precious gem. It is quite small but it is hugely popular among Colorado fans..especially among kayakers, campers, and artists. It sits upon Colorado's most popular area for rafting...the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. It is close to some of the best four-wheeling, hiking, and outdoorsy activities around. There is so much to do in and around this town if you do your research. There are 2 hot springs less than an hour away, one old ghost town, atleast one waterfall hike nearby, and obviously tons of open space to hike or go 4x4ing. The area between Salida and Buena Vista is my favorite place during the summer...I have written about this in other blog entries.

6)Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a great summer and winter destination. The ski slopes are directly in this towns backyard...as well as the breckenridge brewery. This town is quaint, cute, and makes a great day trip from Denver. There is a main strip of shops, restaurants, and a new historical museum that rests along a rushing river that winds through downtown.

7)Colorado Springs
This town is home to Garden of the Gods and several other popular attractions. There are alot of sites to see in this town...several waterfall destinations nearby, hiking and shopping. What else I enjoy about Colorado Springs is that two other cute cities are adjacent to it...Old Colorado City (which takes about 5 minutes to drive through but has several cute, rustic shops) and Manitou Springs (a VERY cute and tiny town...alot of excellent shopping and eating...kinda has a hippie feel at times).

8)Ft. Collins
A mountain college town that has an adorable downtown strip...the town has a cute, peaceful, old-school feel about it...It feels very relaxed. It is home to the popular New Belgium Brewery; voted one of the best companies to work for in the Unites States. It is also home to the Horsetooth Reservoir; a winding lake that lies beside a rock canyon. This western-feeling town is great for summer activities and shopping.

9)Grand Lake
This secluded mountain town is basically the backdoor of Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park would be considered the front door...of course depending on where you are coming from...but Grand Lake is typically the less popular entrance...but don't take that to mean that it is not full during the summer...because it definitely gets filled up!). Grand Lake is great for summer kayaking, hiking around Rocky Mountain National Park or surrounding area, boating, fishing, shopping, etc. A beautiful drive along the way as well. Also, the Hot Sulphur Springs in Grandby is not far either.

10)Durango
This would be a great town to live in if you preferred the southwest part of Colorado. Durango feels like a family town surrounded my mountains...kinda spread out...yet not too big. It has a historical, western type of downtown section...very cute. Alot to see and do. It also is part home to the Durango-Silverton Railroad. Also, Mesa Verde National Park is not too far from Durango.

(I did not include Aspen in this list because it felt too posh for my style. But I'd say it is an interesting place to drive through if you have never been there.)