Estes Park

The ‘downtown’ is a bit touristy but the natural surroundings are lovely!

Stayed the night here, sadly, I don’t remember much about it, except that it is the gateway to the wonderful Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you have the chance to be in Estes Park for their annual Christmas Parade, I would definately make the trip. It is a small town parade at heart, but it really gets you into the holiday season on the right foot. I always feel part of the community there and love just walking around the downtown browsing the shops. Don’t miss the taffy shop, best one around! I recommend the chocolate flavor. Also, be sure to visit during the fall when the elk are mating. There is nothing like hearing their buggeling echo off the mountains around the town. Amazing.

I lived in Denver for 6 months and a co-worker planned a trip to Estes Park for us. This place reminded me a lot of my hometown. It was cozy and so very cute. The mountain views are spectacular, considering you have to drive right thru and all around them. It’s a very beautiful, calm, and sareen place. It’s practically in the middle of no where and if you blink you’d miss it and drive right thru the town. It’s great for hiking.. those “14’ers” are BEAUTIFUL.

I went during the summer so I could only imagine what it would be like during the winter. Snow capped mountains.. Ahh.. I will be going back someday.

the views alone are worth it.

My aunt and uncle live here. It’s beautiful. There’s some easy hiking. And cute shops. I’ve been inside the Stanley Hotel too!

I used to live here … wish I were back …

It was beautiful, but I fucking hate mountains. I did get to see the hotel that Stephen King based the Overlook Hotel in the Shining on, though. I spent the entire time I was there altitude sick, and was with my crazy in-laws. That could be why I was miserable.

But it was very lovely.

Wonderful place to spend a day or two… the area is a definite tourist trap, but you get all the benefits that come with that, i.e. great restaurants, shops, etc. I highly recommend the Sweet Basilico Cafe, which is very small (reservations are needed), but has excellent italian food, and has a great atmosphere—I also recommend DeLeo’s Park Cafe for more deli-type food and atmosphere. The area is beautiful – the city is down in a sort of valley, so it is surrounded by mountains on all sides, very pretty! As another poster mentioned, the elk wander down from the mountains in the summertime, and tend to lounge around the city as they please. This place can be very diverting, I suggest you try it out!

In the Summer, the Elk come down from the mountains and take over the fields and the town. I remember one elk on a porch – eating the flower baskets!