So, I'll be attending training in Denver in early August. I'll probably take the weekends before and after the training to do stuff in the area. What should I do? Other than being near the Rockies, I know very little about Denver.

I'd like to spend some or all of the weekend time in the Rockies. Any good places to stay that are close to good hiking, etc.?

Rumor has it, Brian "YMCA" Fuentes is teh ghey. Might want to check in on him. But don't let him go all Shackleford on you, if it doesn't feel right.

Bump. Colorado obners, where you at?

I've heard that some of the ski-resort towns are good places to stay, i.e. Snowmass or Aspen for visiting the Maroon Bells area. This is probably what I'm leaning towards. Is this a good place to go for a first visit to Colorado, or are there better places out there?

It all depends on how far you are willing to drive. Chief Mountain is a nice short hike within an hour's drive of Denver. Dillon/Silverthorne is a good base to get a room if you want to be right there but still close(90 minutes from Denver, IIRC).

If you're willing to go way out, I'd suggest Glenwood Springs (45 minutes from Aspen, and Glenwood Canyon is awesome in the summer time) or Steamboat Springs (a bit isolated but very cool). If you want to go 12,000+, I'd suggest it be the second weekend, so you have time to acclimate.

Other things in Denver:
- Visit Red Rocks, even if there aren't any shows going on.
- Places to eat: Beau Jo's (pizza), the Fort (frontier food... like rattlesnake'n'shit), El Rancho (a bit overpriced but fantastic views)
- Book store: Tattered Cover (one downtown, the other Cherry Creek Mall)

If you have access to a car go up to Rocky Mountain National Park and just spend the day driving through it. Breathtaking. This will take most of your day but it's worth every second. Maybe stop in Boulder on your way back for some dinner and drinks. Great town with a centralized downtown area with lots of bars, restaurants, clubs, shops, etc.

If not, an evening in LoDo in Denver is always a good time. Make sure to drink some Fat Tire or anything from the New Belgium brewery. I say that just because I can't get it in the South.

Like baseball? Maybe the Rockies are playing that weekend.

Take your mountain bike.

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

I just noticed that you said you will be taking time after your training also.

I drove out to Vail one weekend and hung out. Great drive and nice place. It sounds ghey but I took the ex-girlfriend horse back riding out there and it was amazing. They took us into the back country and you really get to appreciate the countryside.

Also, the most amazing drive I've ever taken was from Denver across the San Juan mountains over to Telluride. Stunning. It's about a 6 hour drive even though it went by in no time.

what he said. while downtown i recommend Willie G's for some great seafood/steak. for one of the country's top indie cd/record stores, Twist'n'Shout's on Alameda & Logan, a little southwest of downtown.

Forgot about Twist'N'Shout. Great call.

damn...never saw this before today.

sounds like everyone has already chimed in with some great advice.

if you are willing to drive, get up to Vail or Aspen (if only for the Maroon Bells). you can probably stay cheaper in Snowmass then in Aspen proper. if you do end up there, remember that you can only reach the Bells by bus from downtown Aspen after 8 am, i think. BUT, it is SO worth it to wake up before sunrise, drive up yourself**, and be there when the sun breaks on the bells and the lake is like glass. i promise you a religious experience.... there are also some great day hikes that start there.

also, make sure you take independence pass into aspen, instead of driving the highway the whole way. unless you are squeamish with heights, it is an amazing drive.

if you want more info...shoot me a PM.

** reading this over i realized this might be confusing...before 8am, you can drive up to the Bells yourself. after 8, you HAVE to take the bus from downtown.

this really is the best drive you could ever do - The Million Dollar Highway - from Durango to Silverton. but it is pretty far from Denver for just a weekend.

Thanks for the advice, obners. It sounds like there are a lot of places to choose from. I will have a car, so anything within reasonable weekend-driving distance is doable.



I'm thinking I might take your advice here, probably for the 2nd weekend. So, as long as I drive in before 8 am, I can drive around (to a different trailhead for example) or leave with no problem?

Are the crowds that bad in the Bells area? Or is it worth it anyway?

Has anyone ever stayed in Snowmass? Is air conditioning in your hotel necessary in early August? It seems like a lot of the places don't have it.

This is tempting. I have a Gary Fisher Sugar 3 that I don't ride as much as I should. We have a couple good trails in a city park (Wissahickon). I only rode probably 5 or 6 times last year, and haven't gone once yet this year.

you will be able to drive to the one parking lot they have up there. once the buses start running, it will be crowded...another reason to get there early, have your religious experience...and get going on your hike. all of the trailheads originate from this one parking lot.

we just stayed in snowmass in june. it can get downright hot in the daytime, but at night, it will always be cool. i'd say don't worry about the a/c.

if you're feeling really ambitious on your other weekend, check out crested butte and/or the black canyon of the gunnison.

snowmass also offers free lifts up the ski mountain with your mountain bike!

to whet your whistle...a pic from june, early morning maroon bells:

Sign me up.

Sigh. Wish I could move back.

Great thread and recommendations, everyone - glad I saw it as we'll be in Colorado for a week at the end of August - one night in Glenwood Springs, 3 nights camping in Rocky Mt. National Park then capping it off seeing my Mets play the Rockies. I've spent time in Colorado before (espcially Estes Park/Rocky Mt Park), and remember some pretty good record stores in Boulder (Bottom of the Hill, I think?), but after seeing E-stone's posts/pic of Maroon Bells, we'll definitely have to make a stop there this time - looks incredible. Thanks again for the great ideas.

This post didnt get nearly the attention it deserved.

Props.

I may be stretching it a bit with my suggestion, but I have to represent:

I am not a wine connieseur by any stretch of the imagination but there are a dozen or so vineyards on the Western Slope, the side were a lot of the snowmelt goes, so it's nice and fertile soil. Great Wine, Great Fruit too.

Also, if you like outdoor shows, or even venues to for a quick stop to
Red Rocks National Park and check out the (mostly) natural amphitheatre.

Also some great breweries an hour to the north in Ft. Collins...

shoot me a PM if you want more info or if you want to grab a drink.

Albums on the Hill is still there, but sadly, my favorite, Wax Trax has closed shop. Albums, and Bart's on Pearl Street are the 2 best, but horribly overpriced unfortunately.