This entry was posted 03/12/2010

Places to Stay in Estes Park

Every year, 3 million visitors pass through the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. And Estes Park Colorado sits immediately to the East of the Entrance. So as you’d expect, the town has plenty of places to stay. If you’re headed to Rocky Mountain National Park and you’re looking for lodging Estes Park or Grand Lake are your two best options. Separated by nearly 40 miles, the two towns offer accommodations for tourists seeking everything from cabins to luxury hotels.

If it’s an old-fashioned family vacation you’re after, maybe a few nights in the wilderness is what you’re after. Most of the rustic cabins provide running water, full kitchens and fire places—everything you’d want in a cabin. Plus, if you’re lucky, you may spot an elk or even a bear.

On the other hand, if you’re more into relaxation and want to be waited upon, the full service spas can offer massages, facials and more with wine, atmosphere and slow music. No matter which type of accommodations you need, lodging in Estes Park abounds.

To learn more, visit our accommodations page and our things to do section.

This entry was posted 03/10/2010

Lodging in the Estes Park Area

Fun. Excitement. Awe. Relaxing. Those are some of the words used to describe Estes Park and the surrounding mountains. The Rocky Mountains offer so many different things, tourists are never left wondering what to do. The biggest problem is making up your mind. From backpacking and fishing to dining and shopping, Estes Park offers it all. Plus, as 3 million tourists a year will attest, the views are some of the most spectacular in the world, not to mention the great weather. Colorado is known for having more than 300 sunny days a year so bring the sun screen. Whether you’re coming in the summer or winter, plan on beautiful weather.

For lodging Estes Park offers rustic cabins, quaint bed and breakfasts, luxurious condos and more. Be sure to book early as accommodations fill up quickly, especially in the summer months. To begin planning your Estes Park vacation, check out the deals found on our home page.

This entry was posted 03/08/2010

Things to Do In Estes Park

One thing’s for sure, there’s no shortage of things to do in Estes Park. Each year, more than three million visitors flock to see the spectacular views of the snow-capped Rockies. Wild flowers, big game like deer, elk and black bears and cold streams remind people of the pristine country that most city-dwellers never see. If hiking is what you’re after, Rocky Mountain National Park has countless miles of back country trails where you can go for days without seeing another soul. Or perhaps you’re more interested in fishing. Did you know that the mighty Colorado River’s headwaters are found here, in the Park? Imagine being able to step across the same river that forged the Grand Canyon. Well, you can. Plus you can catch brook trout and even the Colorado State Fish, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout. After many years of rehabilitation, the endangered fish has seen resurgence.

Maybe you’re just looking for a little relaxation. The cool mountain breeze blowing through the pines is so calming as you sit on the deck of your condo overlooking the valley below. If you’re looking for this kind of lodging Estes Park is right for you. Click on over to our accommodations page to see a full selection of the possibilities. As the official website of the Estes Area Lodging Association, you’ll find listings for virtually all of the lodging options in the area. We look forward to seeing you soon.

This entry was posted 03/06/2010

Lodging Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Each year Rocky Mountain Nation Park sees more than 3 million visitors pass through its gates from nearly every country in the world. With the recent economic slowdown, the Park is seeing more and more visitors from Denver because Estes Park offers residents along the Front Range low-cost vacations options without the hassle or expense of air travel.

If you’re like others trying to find the best options for lodging Estes Park has everything from cabins to luxury condos. Of course, there’s always camping and backpacking in the National Park. Our accommodations section has each type of lodging grouped together for your convenience. Be sure to check out all of the things to do as well.

Summer activities include hiking, fly fishing, boating, biking and more. In the winter months, tourists enjoy snow shoeing, cross country skiing and shopping as well as things like spa treatments and reading by a crackling fire.

Check out all of the things to enjoy in Estes Park starting on our home page.

This entry was posted 03/04/2010

Lodging in Estes Park: How to Find the Best Deals

For people looking for the best deals on lodging Estes Park offers people living along the Front Range with low cost staycations. Save your money and avoid flying this summer. Instead, fill up the gas tank and be at your destination in less than a couple hours. After all, tourists travel thousands of miles from Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia just to enjoy the majestic views from atop Long’s Peak so why shouldn’t you rediscover what makes Colorado so special?

To start researching your staycation near the Denver Metro Area, check out the bargains on our specials page found on the home page.

This entry was posted 03/01/2010

Colorado Vacation Packages

Booking a Colorado vacation package is not only a great way to make your vacation dollar go further but it can also be less stressful and more complete. There is so much to do on a vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Colorado that you need to make sure you don’t miss important “must do” activities. Putting together a Colorado vacation package that has all the essential pieces is often best left to experts who can direct visitors to the best use of their precious vacation time. Estes Park lodging properties often offer these Colorado Vacation Packages at special rates. Check the accommodations’ amenities to see if a concierge is available to help plan your trip. The reservationist may also be very helpful and able to offer suggestions of how to plan your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation.

A drive over Trail Ridge Road for example is something that most visitors feel is an essential part of a Colorado vacation. A hike around Bear Lake often makes the top ten list. Horseback riding, star gazing and wildlife viewing are also high on the list of priorities. An adventure vacation might include six or seven nights in a cozy Estes Park Cabin or a luxurious riverside suite and high energy activities like rafting, hiking, rock climbing or boating. A romantic vacation might include several nights at an Estes Park Bed and Breakfast along with a couples massage, romantic dinners and evenings by the fire. Whatever a visitor chooses to include in her Colorado vacation package she is sure to create a once in a lifetime vacation in Colorado.

This entry was posted 03/01/2010

Cabins Estes Park

The cabins in Estes Park often remind me of the classic, American-style, road-trip vacation. I think of Chevy Chase in the movie, Vacation, taking to the road in the old station wagon for an adventure out west. The cabins in Estes are everything you’d imagine when you dream of a rustic old cabin. Some of them are actual log cabins with white chinking between the logs. Others are painted red, more like a cottage with shutters and flower boxes under the windows. Either way, you and your family are bound to enjoy the lodging Estes Park has to offer. Living like people did many years ago is fun no matter how old you are.

When was the last time you actually built a fire in a stone fire place? Or how about fishing with a cane pole for trout? Have you ever seen a bear other than on T.V.? If you’re looking for something different this summer that’s not the same old type of vacation you’ve taken in years past, consider the cabins in Estes Park.

During the day, when you head out the door, adventure is just steps away. Many of the resorts have horseback riding, games, stocked fishing ponds, and more. Plus, Rocky Mountain National Park is never far away. Once inside the Park, your opportunities are endless. With dozens and dozens of trails to choose from, there are great hikes for every skill level. If you want a challenge get up early and hit the trail head for Long’s Peak with towering more than 14,000 feet above sea level, the views from the top are spectacular. On a clear day, you can actually see Pike’s Peak more than 120 miles to the south near Colorado Springs. It’s not uncommon in Colorado to see more than 250 miles from the top of a fourteener.

Before you book your cabins in Estes Park, be sure to check out our cabins page listed under accommodations in the side bar. There you’ll find a comprehensive listing of all the best ones to choose from.

This entry was posted 02/01/2010

Estes Park Hotel

Estes Park Hotels are certainly abundant. With more than 3 million visitors passing through the gates of Rocky Mountain National Park each year, Estes Park has tons of choices when it comes to places to stay. If you’re looking for a rustic vacation, there are cabins nestled in the woods. Or maybe you’re looking for something that’s romantic, then perhaps one of Estes Park’s resorts is more your style. No matter what you’re looking for, Estes Park has it all, from hotels and motels to resorts and bed and breakfasts.

One Estes Park hotel is almost as famous as the National Park itself. The historic Stanley Hotel has served as host to dignitaries from around the globe but it’s probably most well known as the scene where Hollywood filmed Steven King’s thriller, The Shining. You may recall the frightening snow storm or the long hallways with ghosts.

To book your stay at an Estes Park hotel, be sure to check out our accommodations section for a complete listings of places to stay in Estes Park.

This entry was posted 01/27/2010

Estes Park Lodging

With the slowdown in the economy many Coloradoans are looking to spend less on vacations. The term “staycation” has been heard a lot lately as more and more people are choosing to stay closer to home for their vacations. Estes Park and other small resort communities in the mountains near Denver have seen a rise in local tourists pulling people from all along the Front Range.

For those who are serious about finding low cost lodging Estes Park has tons of great possibilities. From quaint bed and breakfasts to rustic cabins, deals can be found at virtually all businesses, especially during the off-season from November to May.

Winter in Estes Park is a gorgeous. If you’re looking for outdoor activities like snow shoeing or cross country skiing, the National Park has countless trails leading to stunning views. Unlike many small tourist towns that shut down in the winter, shopping, dining, family activities and more still abound even in the winter as Estes has a nice year-round community of residents.

To begin researching your vacation, be sure to check out the specials and packages link found on the home page.

This entry was posted 01/26/2010

Lodging Estes Park

Lodging Estes Park: Tourists from across America and around the globe flock to the scenic town of Estes Park just to have the opportunity to spend precious time in the World-famous Rocky Mountain National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts travel here to enjoy hiking, biking, fly fishing, climbing, back packing, camping and more. Photographers find the majestic views of Rocky Mountain National Park’s peaks especially captivating because of Colorado’s deep-blue skies and powerful thunderheads.

Lodging in Estes Park often fills up before high season so it’s recommended that visitors book early for best selection. If you’re interested in a luxury vacation, Estes Park offers a number of sophisticated accommodations including the prestigious Stanley Hotel, first made famous in Steven King’s, The Shining. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an economical vacation, the town and the surrounding area are filled with numerous cabins for rent. The cabins in Estes are perfect for families wanting a good old-fashioned rustic vacation—the kind we all remember as kids. Imagine fishing by day and roasting marshmallows over a fire under a star-filled sky at night.

Lodging in Estes Park runs the full gamut from cabins to motels, to bed and breakfasts to luxurious hotels. Regardless of where you choose to stay, by day, most tourists choose to take advantage of at least one day in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park is filled with wild flowers, birds, squirrels, deer, elk, and even bear. Perhaps it’s the elk that are the most sought after animal in the park. During the summer months, the elk tend to move to higher elevations so they aren’t seen quite as often. As fall comes, the elk return to the lower valleys and are often spotted in the town itself munching on the aspen trees and flowers. Trail Ridge Road, known as America’s highest continuous paved road reaches 11,796 feet above sea level. The spectacular views from the summit afford average visitors who don’t hike , well above timber line. Temperatures, even in the summer are often chilly and snow fields are present year round so bring warm clothes, even in July.

Want to find lodging, EstesPark-Colorado is the first step. This website is the official website of the Estes Area Lodging Association. With more than 150 members, the association brings everything you need into one location where you can find places to stay and things to do. So to begin planning your Estes Park vacation, browse on over to the hotel and motel page, or the cabin page. Or take advantage of all of the activities listed on our recreation pages.

This entry was posted 11/03/2009

Lodging Estes Park Specials

Lodging in Estes Park can cost as much or as little as you wish it to cost. The off-season rates for lodging Estes Park can be very affordable and package rates even better. Try staying in this charming mountain community during the late fall, winter and spring months and you will not only find a relaxing atmosphere but you will also find prices that even budget strapped families can afford. Many of the accommodation properties in Estes Park have their specials listed on their websites and they are constantly changing so check back often for the most updated prices. If price is not important to you than maybe you will be excited about adding more value to your vacation in Estes Park by booking fishing or a golf package or maybe a luxurious spa package. Rocky Mountain National Park is open all winter and is a spectacular site when the leaves are changing or after a fresh snow. Spring in the park can be a site to behold with the incredible wildflowers in every color of an artists palette. A vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Colorado doesnâ€™t have to drain your finances but can truly refresh your spirit.

This entry was posted 10/17/2009

Colorado Vacation

Fall in Rocky Mountain National Park

Fall in Rocky Mountain National Park

Late September and October are great times to take a â€œminiâ€ Colorado vacation. The only real issue is whether on not you might run into SNOW!

The weekend of September 26^th and 27^th was a perfect example. Early in the preceding week, Trail Ridge Road was closed for a few days due to an early snow. By Saturday however the drifts had been cleared and the road was open once again.

What a couple of spectacular days! No clouds from horizon to horizon, reasonably warm temperatures and that electric blue Colorado sky!

The aspen were a beautiful gold and other types of trees were a range of colors from still green to crimson. As those of us who live here know it takes just a hint of a breeze to make the aspen leave move and as they do their gold color appears to be glimmering.

Since the road is a steep winding climb all but the drivers had an opportunity to watch the magnificent scenery go by. There are many turn-outs for those that wish to take pictures or just gaze at the amazing sights.

Wildlife and bird watching can be spectacularat this time of year as well. Along the way a few herds of elk can be spotted and the experienced Rocky Mountain National Park travelers as well as those who thoroughly read the pamphlet handed out at the entrance keep their eyes peeled for the elusive moose that also inhabit the Park

Amazingly enough we even saw a bicyclist or two making the trek over the top!

Once down from that always (at least for the driver) somewhat stressful drive you have the option of going in several different directions. We elected to go to Steamboat Springs since we had a wedding to attend. It was mid-afternoon and in the low 70â€™s when we reached the â€œSpringsâ€! Enjoyed the wedding and associated goings on, spent a restful night and headed back to the Park on Sunday morning.

Same magnificent weather, a whole lot more visitors and another unbelievable drive. Trail Ridge Road is one of those day trips that every time you take it you see something new and different and it never gets to be routine or boring.

Contributed by David Wagner of Evergreen Colorado

This entry was posted 10/06/2009

Winter Festival Coming to Rocky Mountain National Park

Estes Park Colorado is excited to announce the 1st annual Estes Park Winter Festival on January 15,16, 17 and 18. Just a few of the activities planned for the weekend are:

Cowboy poetry & ghost stories
Rocky Mountain National Park in the Winter
aquatic center activities
tours at the observatory
snowman making in Bond Park
scavenger hunt for the â€œprize elkâ€
chili cook-off
horse & carriage rides
private photo tours
spa promotions and specials
live music

Come experience Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter!

This entry was posted 10/01/2009

Estes Park Colorado

Estes Park Colorado is a charming resort community nestled against the backdrop of the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park. Hosting visitors from as close as the Colorado front range as well as from around the world, this picturesque town has much to offer. Whether a visitor is looking for a wildlife tour, a boat rental, a night on the town, or something simpler like a bike ride, fishing in a stream or maybe just a warm bed, Estes Park Colorado offers so many things to do it will be hard to choose. Once you spend a day in Estes Park you will feel drawn to return and experience the amazing scenery and adventure that only this unique mountain destination can provide. Come soonâ€¦Stay longerâ€¦â€¦Come back.

This entry was posted 09/01/2009

Colorado Vacations

Colorado Vacations In Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Colorado are a dream come true

Colorado Vacations shouldnâ€™t be a trip to just dream about but should be a trip to plan and look forward to. Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Colorado are a must see on your Colorado vacation. You should plan to spend at least a week in order get the most out of your trip. This website will be a tool to help you realize this dream and to make sure you see and experience much of what this magnificent destination offers.

Whether this is your first time to Colorado and RMNP or a return trip visitorsâ€™ to the park should be prepared to see and do things that will create memories to last a lifetime. Each season offers unique yet spectacular views and wildlife opportunities so come back often.

This website is designed to be interactive and we welcome your comments and photos.

This entry was posted 08/11/2009

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of America’s most beautiful national parks. With drive-up access to spectacular views of mountain vistas and Estes Park’s famed elk, Rocky Mountain National Park never disappoints. In fact, the park’s Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuously paved highway in the United States, topping out at over 12,000 feet.

Rocky Mountain Nation Park also provides myriad hiking trails, fishing streams, and serious mountain climbing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

This entry was posted 06/02/2009

Estes Park Colorado Blog

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park by Aaron Cathcart

Welcome to the EstesPark-colorado.com blog. Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park visitors are encouraged to use this as a forum to share your area information, to acknowledge local businesses that went out of their way to be helpful, or to offer recommendations to improve your vacation experience. Also share exciting photos and stories about your vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park and tell us if you found new things to do in the area that you want others to know about. If you found a special day trip, a great place to relax and heal, a perfect shopping spot please tell us so others can also enjoy this awesome resort experience. Estes Park Colorado is known for all its outdoor activities but maybe you discovered a new one. Use this Estes Park Colorado blog to help other excited visitors explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park.

The Estespark-colorado.com Blog also encourages local participation from fishing guides, rafting companies, wildlife experts or novices, birdwatchers, and anyone else who has interesting and unusual information to contribute that might help someone enjoy this magnificent mountain Mecca more fully.

Please try to keep posts under 500 words but if you need more space send it in and it may very well warrant more attention. Adding pictures to your blog is also encouraged because what better way can you tell your story.

Send your blog to webmaster@estespark-colorado.com and if it is appropriate we will post it. Information and knowledge is the cornerstone to growth. Help us grow our site with your knowledge and expertise or just share your great stories and information.