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July in Denver + xx?
Posted on 6/30/20 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 6/30/20 at 3:06 pm
Wife and I are looking to take a trip to CO end of July out of Denver. Was thinking 2-3 nights each in Denver and 2-3 in another spot, but I'm having trouble deciding. Most info I search is for families (including on here), but I'm wondering what the best fit would be for a couple in 20s. Would like a day of white water rafting and a day of hiking for sure, but aren't HUGE hikers so are also looking at a nice town to eat/wine down as well. I was looking at Vail, Estes Park, Colorado Springs. Skied CO many times but never gone in warm weather, and obviously COVID restrictions.
Vail has good options for Hyatt hotels, city seems charming that the wife would like, and I see many options for hikes/rafting online. A little farther than the other two.
Estes Park obviously has RMNP, but any rafting I see seems to be for >3 people I suspect due to COVID, and doesn't appear to be rapids. A little overwhelmed at the options of just driving around RMNP vs what would be "must see," and the COVID restrictions on entering the park. Wondering if the town would be too sleepy for us?
Colorado Springs has Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods which seem like great "must-do" easy trips during the day, and I find many rafting options online. Seems like the city itself would be really similar to our time in Denver though.
I wouldn't be opposed to doing more than one if they all weren't opposite directions, but I really don't want to spend all our time in the car. Thanks in advance for any recs.
Vail has good options for Hyatt hotels, city seems charming that the wife would like, and I see many options for hikes/rafting online. A little farther than the other two.
Estes Park obviously has RMNP, but any rafting I see seems to be for >3 people I suspect due to COVID, and doesn't appear to be rapids. A little overwhelmed at the options of just driving around RMNP vs what would be "must see," and the COVID restrictions on entering the park. Wondering if the town would be too sleepy for us?
Colorado Springs has Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods which seem like great "must-do" easy trips during the day, and I find many rafting options online. Seems like the city itself would be really similar to our time in Denver though.
I wouldn't be opposed to doing more than one if they all weren't opposite directions, but I really don't want to spend all our time in the car. Thanks in advance for any recs.
This post was edited on 6/30/20 at 3:49 pm
6
Posted on 6/30/20 at 3:35 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
I though you were going to be asking about a swingers club in Denver
Posted on 6/30/20 at 4:07 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
St Mary’s glacier is a hike I read about on here that I’d def recommend. it is pretty close to downtown denver. 45 minutes. You could do it on your way heading west.
This post was edited on 6/30/20 at 4:11 pm
Posted on 6/30/20 at 6:32 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
We opted for Colorado Springs for my daughter’s senior trip. Lot to do within driving distance and a great downtown.
Posted on 6/30/20 at 8:42 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
Was thinking 2-3 nights each in Denver
Why? You aren't going to a concert at Red Rocks this year. I love living here but Denver is an unremarkable city. All of us live here for the mountains. You should spend all your time there.
Late July plus all of our snow has melted already means your rafting will be limited. I would look into running the Numbers in Buena Vista on the Arkansas River. They dam it in Leadville so they usually ensure flow into late July or early August. If you stayed in BV you are close to rafting obviously, but you also have hot springs(I recommend Mt Princeton), Independence or Cottonwood Passes for hiking and sight seeing, Salida has a cool river water park in town, plus you are only about an hour or so from Vail or Aspen. You are also 1.5 hours from Crested Butte or Breckenridge.
Covid restrictions are always changing things so all this could change. You should be prepared to wear a mask when out and about. I know Aspen expects you to always have it on in public.
Posted on 6/30/20 at 9:42 pm to 8thyearsenior
I agree with the Denver part.
I had a similar trip with Denver for 2 nights for red rocks at the end of July. I’m cancelling Denver. Not a good time to go.
Instead, flying into Denver redeye and staying the night. Rafting in Fort Collins on the way to Estes the next day. A few days in RMNP then making the trip to Colorado Springs for Garden of the Gods. We like hiking and the outdoors so we good with it.
Back to Red Rocks for a show next year. RMNP doing timed entry so be aware of that.
I had a similar trip with Denver for 2 nights for red rocks at the end of July. I’m cancelling Denver. Not a good time to go.
Instead, flying into Denver redeye and staying the night. Rafting in Fort Collins on the way to Estes the next day. A few days in RMNP then making the trip to Colorado Springs for Garden of the Gods. We like hiking and the outdoors so we good with it.
Back to Red Rocks for a show next year. RMNP doing timed entry so be aware of that.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 12:59 am to kciDAtaE
Honestly a lot of my reasoning of Denver vs elsewhere I don't want to be in the car the whole time. We want to enjoy the outdoors and then relax, but I (my wife) don't want to take a 3 hour flight then a 5 hour drive and then backtrack the next day. Never been to Denver but always heard great things, and obviously will be flying out of there so would want to spend last night there but open to suggestions. Maybe split time between Vail and Breck and then last day in Denver.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 6:45 am to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
Honestly a lot of my reasoning of Denver vs elsewhere I don't want to be in the car the whole time.
Rocky Mountain National Park is less than 90 minute drive from the airport. Plus the good thing about driving in most parts of Colorado, the drive is amazing. It’s not like driving from Lafayette to Houston.
This post was edited on 7/1/20 at 6:46 am
Posted on 7/1/20 at 8:57 am to TheChiefHasArrived
I’m in Vail now but spent the last 3 days in Aspen. So far we did rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and horseback riding. All good activities for a couple in their 20s. Skip Denver...fly in, rent an suv, and head west. Glenwood springs has some hot spring pools that are nice or an amusement park up on top of the mountain.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 9:54 am to yellowfin
yellowfin - we are heading there next week. How is it with restrictions? Stores, bars and restaurants open? Mask everywhere?
Posted on 7/1/20 at 10:10 am to skewbs
Masks are required pretty much anytime you’re indoors but most restaurants are open. The shopping in aspen was about 50% open but I wasn’t planning on buying any $500 jeans anyway. 
Some of the more popular trails require reservations like maroon bell and hanging lake.
Some of the more popular trails require reservations like maroon bell and hanging lake.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 2:01 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
I live in Denver and I recommend skipping denver. Spend the entire trip in the mountains. There’s plenty of places in the mountains 3 hours or less from the airport.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 3:18 pm to Boomshockalocka
quote:
St Mary’s glacier is a hike I read about on here that I’d def recommend. it is pretty close to downtown denver. 45 minutes. You could do it on your way heading west.
It's a fun little hike to the Glacier. Only 1.5 miles or so. Bring big trash bags to walk up and slide down the Glacier like a sled. Last year had a ton of snow. In June, there was so much snow on the Glacier that teens/college age were hiking up there and snow boarding down. We did trash bag thing. Lots of fun!
Posted on 7/1/20 at 5:24 pm to yellowfin
Appreciate the scolding, will skip Denver. Now I have to decide Vail->Aspen and fly out of Aspen or Estes Park -> Vail and fly out of Denver.
Posted on 7/1/20 at 9:17 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
Do aspen to vail then fly back out of Denver. Vail to airport is 2 hours. Denver to aspen is 4 but it’s a great drive if you take 82 past twin lakes
Posted on 7/2/20 at 6:59 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
fly to Denver
drive to buena vista, stay here
LINK
go rafting on the Arkansas and enjoy the hot spring
drive to aspen past twin lakes and thru independence pass
enjoy aspen
drive back to denver
drive to buena vista, stay here
LINK
go rafting on the Arkansas and enjoy the hot spring
drive to aspen past twin lakes and thru independence pass
enjoy aspen
drive back to denver
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