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Denver vacation late summer
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Tri3
Apr 29, 12 8:04
Post #1 of 18
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Denver vacation late summer
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Headed out to Denver end of summer for a conference and want to stay an extra week for vacation, hiking focused. Won't bring the bike, but will be running and getting swims in to the extent possible. Will be one conference attendee and one triathlete, probably booking through VRBO.
1) Conference is at the convention center. Any suggestions on an area of the city or nearby suburb to stay for about 4 days?
2) Can we stay based in Denver for the following week and be within a close start to hiking day trips?
3) Or is it better to head somewhere close (we don't want to spend an entire day driving out, and then another day driving back) and rent something for a week? Any suggestions on where to look (as it seems there are many choices). Looking for something moderately priced, more on the rustic side, less on the tourist side. There must lots of good running, hiking, and even OWS not actually in Rocky Mt park, right?
Thanks for any suggestions.
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colinlaughery
Apr 29, 12 8:48
Post #2 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Boulder is a 45 minute drive. Just stay there after the conference. Tons of good hikes from here!
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just jack
Apr 29, 12 9:57
Post #3 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Tri3 wrote:
Headed out to Denver end of summer for a conference and want to stay an extra week for vacation, hiking focused. Won't bring the bike, but will be running and getting swims in to the extent possible. Will be one conference attendee and one triathlete, probably booking through VRBO.
1) Conference is at the convention center. Any suggestions on an area of the city or nearby suburb to stay for about 4 days?
2) Can we stay based in Denver for the following week and be within a close start to hiking day trips?
3) Or is it better to head somewhere close (we don't want to spend an entire day driving out, and then another day driving back) and rent something for a week? Any suggestions on where to look (as it seems there are many choices). Looking for something moderately priced, more on the rustic side, less on the tourist side. There must lots of good running, hiking, and even OWS not actually in Rocky Mt park, right?
Thanks for any suggestions.
1.) I'd stay downtown... the Curtis hotel is very swank, with themed floors. It's close to everything downtown.
http://www.thecurtis.com/
2.) No, not really. It will be a longish drive to whatever you want to do. Find something up in the hills, lots of choices ... too many to list.
3.) I'd try Winter Park. It's touristy, but this time of year it won't be over run with tourists (a la Estes Park ... which I would recommend avoiding). Unlimited options for hiking, trail running, mtn biking. Close enough to Denver that it's convenient, but not too close.
Another option ... check out my town, Fort Collins ... it's not a mountain town, but it's close to everything you mentioned and has a cool vibe. Lots of topnotch breweries, if you like beer. Very close to the Poudre Canyon. There are a few B and B's, and a cool downtown hotel (the Armstrong).
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Chris Athey
Apr 29, 12 11:00
Post #4 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Deer Creek canyon would be a good hiking option.
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ike
Apr 29, 12 11:19
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I would spend the extra week in the hills, such as the Dillon/Silverthorne/Breckenridge area. It will be significantly cooler (Denver can be hot in August) and you'll be close to a wide range of hiking. There is certainly plenty of hiking easily accessible from Denver, too. It's partly a matter of whether you want hikes in the foothills or want to get into the higher peaks. If the latter, then I'd go to the areas I mentioned. Also depends on how much night life you want. If good restaurants and other night life are important, then stay in Boulder or Denver and just drive to the mtns. The foothills are adjacent to Boulder. The closest high peaks are maybe an hour away. And, yes, a huge portion of the best hiking is not in Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park.
darrin80403
Apr 29, 12 11:36
Post #6 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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I'd recommend getting a room at the Best Western in Nederland - just 20 minutes from Boulder. It's right at the base of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, which is some of the best and most scenic hiking and trail running in Colorado. You can be on a fantastic alpine hike with just 5-15 minutes of driving to reach the trailhead. Nederland also has an amazing selection of local restaurants, with great food - all within a 5 minute walk of the hotel. It's a funky little town, but I'm up there at least once a week all summer long!
Tri3
Apr 29, 12 16:14
Post #7 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [darrin80403]
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Thanks for all the suggestions. Night life is not that important, although a good brew pub nearby would be a plus.
Anybody familiar with Buena Vista? That's another suggestion.
And any areas good for OWS? Not a priority but in the "it would be a plus" bucket.
Tri3
Apr 29, 12 16:18
Post #8 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [ike]
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Ike,
Any hikes in particular you would recommend?
Chris Athey
Apr 29, 12 17:54
Post #9 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Then I'd definitely recommend littleton. There are 2 good open water swim venues in littleton and it's rather nice. Boulder has the reservoir and amazing hikes as well. Plus it's fun to be out running and see matty reed or benno or many of the other top athletes who call boulder home out training as well.
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Jodi
Apr 29, 12 18:10
Post #10 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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1. Look for places right around the Convention center. Mostly on the 16th street side. Lots of swanky nice lofts on VRBO in that area
2. I live in Denver and go on day hikes all the time. Even RMNP is less than 1.5 hours drive.
3. I would go Golden, Boulder or Vail
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jwbeuk
Apr 29, 12 19:19
Post #11 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Tri3 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. Night life is not that important, although a good brew pub nearby would be a plus.
Anybody familiar with Buena Vista? That's another suggestion.
And any areas good for OWS? Not a priority but in the "it would be a plus" bucket.
I wouldn't recommend staying in BV. If you want to hang in the Collegiate Peaks area stay in Salida. Better yet, if your going to travel that far from Denver come over Cottonwood Pass to Crested Butte. We offer numerous, beautiful uncrowded hikes and the best mountain biking in the country. Oh, and lots of great food, beer, concerts and seriously fun people to hang with.
If what your looking for is some great hiking minus the crowds stay away from the western suburbs of Denver (aka: Summit County) and avoid RMNP.
Tri3
Apr 29, 12 19:25
Post #12 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [jwbeuk]
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Thanks,all, for the ideas. It's our first vacation in years, so really appreciate the help in finding a good place to have fun.
valygrl
Apr 29, 12 19:46
Post #13 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Leadville, if you don't mind a lot of altitude.
Great hostel there, small town vibe, tons of outdoor athletes, peak bagging everywhere.
Don't forget the Pro Cycling Challenge is the week of 8/22. That will affect lodging availability, and it will be incredible to watch.
Pooks
Apr 29, 12 21:17
Post #14 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Availability might be tough, but a cottage at Chitaqua park would be an awesome vacation.
http://www.chautauqua.com/...p?category=1+bedroom
Beachboy
Apr 30, 12 5:33
Post #15 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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It'll be like sucking on a tail pipe all week......head up into the mountains. Vail, Beaver Creek or Aspen.......couple hours down I 70. Your lungs will love Ya...the front range is just a dirty city with homeless on evey corner, sleeping on eveybike path (I used to make a game of b-hopping them on the Cherry Creek trail) and a brown cloud of smog that hangs over it most days.
ike
Apr 30, 12 15:04
Post #16 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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A nice moderate hike is doing Loveland from Loveland Pass. For 14ers, doing Democrat from Kite Lake is a very good moderate hike -- nice flowers down near the lake -- which also allows you to add one or two more 14ers while you are up on the ridge, before descending. Quandary is a classic 14er in that area. Not super hard, but a good solid hike. And, if you want something harder with fewer people, you can do Mount of the Holy Cross. I am not a fan of hiking Mt. Evans -- it's better as a ride or as a technical climb.
Hope that helps.
iO4
Apr 30, 12 15:10
Post #17 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [Tri3]
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Buena Vista is beautiful if you wanted to bag a couple of peaks and be out of the way (longer drive). However I'd go to a place like Breckenridge. It's 2 hours from Denver and there are tons of hikes and some good places to grab a beer. You can rent mountain or road bikes up there as well with some great riding.
http://www.14ers.com/...p;peak=Quandary+Peak
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Tri3
Apr 30, 12 18:55
Post #18 of 18
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Re: Denver vacation late summer [jO4]
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Thanks all. Not sure where it will be yet, but it does sound like up in the mountains is the way to go
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