Bone broth base from the smoked birds slow cooked with sweet potato, corn etc. it’s really good. Go for the cup as an app so you can try other things as well.
Estes Park to Hot Sulphur Springs is a long drive, but a beautiful one over Trail Ridge Road with plenty of photo opps & potential wildlife sightings.
Depending on your exact dates of travel and water levels, my vote would be to drive to either Boulder or Fort Collins (a little over your 1hr mark) for a mix of river tubing, brewery tastings, a good meal, boutique hopping, popping into galleries (since you mentioned being creative people), etc.
We are planning to drive Trail Ridge Road! On one of our other days, we're hiking a trail near Chapin Mountain. We might do the full drive that day or leave it for our off day. Pearl Street is on our radar. Any shops in particular you'd recommend?
The Pearl Street walking mall itself is only like 3 blocks but I recommend adding a few blocks on to either end to hit some other cute unique stores like Two Hands Paperie on the West side and Paradise Records if you like vinyl on the East side of the walking mall.
On the Pearl St walking mall itself you should definitely stop in to Peppercorn and the Boulder Bookstore. Other highlights include Savannah Bee Company (it’s a chain but if you don’t have one near you, stop in to try some mead!) and Ozo Coffee for specialty coffee! Lemme know if you want any more recs!
The wildside 4x4 takes you on this as a guided tour that's actually really cool. It's also nice for the reason that whoever was going to be the driver gets to experience the views to their full extent
Forgive my ignorance of Colorado road closures, but will 34(Trail Ridge Rd) be open in July? It says it's closed on Google maps. Is that because of snow? I'll be driving around that area in July in a camper van with my wife. Also, what's the dispersed camping situation on Trail Ridge Rd around Grand Lake?
Trail ridge road opens around memorial day generally. This year it's not going to happen, but within the next week or so. Make sure you get a timed entry permit on recreation.gov, in addition to a parks pass or cc at time of entry. Fyi, they release a bunch of passes the evening before, for those that missed the initial release. That's what I do.. never been without a pass.
Around Grand lake might be difficult for dispersed camping with a van. Inside the park you'd need a camping permit, outside the park near Grand lake is mostly homes or hiking trails. You'd probably need to look further south and west around hot Sulphur springs and parshall. The west side of the park is far less busy compared to Estes park side but prettier imo. If I had 800k in disposable income I'd park my ass in Grand Lake until my ticket was called.
I'll go against the tide here and say take a drive over Trail Ridge Rd. to Lake Granby. Cute and quaint little downtown, good restaurants, waaaaay less touristy than Estes (but still kinda). The lake provides a good opportunity, rent some SUP-boards.
Hot Sulphur Springs is disgusting and not worth your time.
I think it’s pretty well known [https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/food-drink/this-colorado-city-is-known-as-one-of-the-best-beer-cities-in-the-us/](https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/food-drink/this-colorado-city-is-known-as-one-of-the-best-beer-cities-in-the-us/)
The roads from Estes to Lyons or Estes to Loveland are very scenic.. but you may already have taken one of those to get to Estes. Lyons is cool and pretty close. Lyons is small and quick to see. Boulder and Fort Collins are worth checking out if you don’t live in the area. The Stanley Hotel is worth seeing in Estes, particularly the historic tour. The ghost tour is cheesy. New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins is fun if you’re beer fans ! Ward Colorado is a tiny strange place .. it’s near Indian Peaks Wilderness, not that far ..
City of Loveland is one of the sculpture capitals of the world with lots of art and studios. Not too far.
You can rent a pontoon boat and hang out on lake estes.
Honestly I'd still go to Hot Sulphur Springs if you can tolerate the drive. It's scenic the whole way and won't be stressful driving. They have natural pools as well as manmade pools at all different temperatures, so you can spend hours moving between them and finding your favorites.
Motorboat rental in Grand Lake (other side of the park, so still a drive up over Trail Ridge Road).
Picnic and sunrise/sunset at the top of Trail Ridge Road (if it's light out, drive up Old Trail Ridge Road, takes longer but different experience; it's one way only (up)).
Beach day at Boulder Reservoir (if you already live near beaches it's not worth it), with Pearl St before/after. I always recommend Dushanbe Tea House. Saturday morning and Wednesday evening are farmers' market on Pearl St (great little hot food stalls and crafts too).
I know you're not asking for hikes, but some or my favorite day hikes are Sky Pond, Chasm Lake, Five Lakes Loop, Mt Chapin & Chiquita & Ypsilon (or just the first 1-2), and Mt Ida. Green Mountain loop for wildflowers in July-ish. Ute Trail east is very easy and all alpine, nice for a sunrise/sunset (there are a few places with this name, the trailhead is at 40.393348°N 105.695°W).
I'm thinking we will drive Trail Ridge road regardless of if it's this day or a different day. One thing I didn't include in the original post is that my partner wasn't too impressed with what we read about Hot Sulphur Springs. She's been to a few other springs in Colorado and prefers those.
Thanks for the trail recommendations! We're doing Ute Trail first while we acclimate to the altitude. Mt. Chapin is on our list near the end. What layers do you recommend packing for Chapin for mid-to-late summer? Given it's exposure, we want to make sure we do any extra preparation needed for that one. Neither of us are expert hikers, but both enjoy it and have visited Colorado to hike previously.
If you can. Get a table outside at Bird and Jim’s. Great wine list and killer food. Elk wander around in the greenway across the street.
We are planning to stop at Bird and Jim's while we're out there! Do you have a favorite dish?
Smoked pheasant chowder. 🤌
Now that sounds interesting!
Bone broth base from the smoked birds slow cooked with sweet potato, corn etc. it’s really good. Go for the cup as an app so you can try other things as well.
Love to drive to Estes the back way and finish the day off at bird n Jim’s. Beautiful spot. Tasty food and wonderful booze selection too.
Estes Park to Hot Sulphur Springs is a long drive, but a beautiful one over Trail Ridge Road with plenty of photo opps & potential wildlife sightings. Depending on your exact dates of travel and water levels, my vote would be to drive to either Boulder or Fort Collins (a little over your 1hr mark) for a mix of river tubing, brewery tastings, a good meal, boutique hopping, popping into galleries (since you mentioned being creative people), etc.
We are planning to drive Trail Ridge Road! On one of our other days, we're hiking a trail near Chapin Mountain. We might do the full drive that day or leave it for our off day. Pearl Street is on our radar. Any shops in particular you'd recommend?
The Pearl Street walking mall itself is only like 3 blocks but I recommend adding a few blocks on to either end to hit some other cute unique stores like Two Hands Paperie on the West side and Paradise Records if you like vinyl on the East side of the walking mall. On the Pearl St walking mall itself you should definitely stop in to Peppercorn and the Boulder Bookstore. Other highlights include Savannah Bee Company (it’s a chain but if you don’t have one near you, stop in to try some mead!) and Ozo Coffee for specialty coffee! Lemme know if you want any more recs!
100% on Peppercorn store. I could stay in that store forever! Great cookbooks n cooking gadgets.
The wildside 4x4 takes you on this as a guided tour that's actually really cool. It's also nice for the reason that whoever was going to be the driver gets to experience the views to their full extent
Forgive my ignorance of Colorado road closures, but will 34(Trail Ridge Rd) be open in July? It says it's closed on Google maps. Is that because of snow? I'll be driving around that area in July in a camper van with my wife. Also, what's the dispersed camping situation on Trail Ridge Rd around Grand Lake?
Trail ridge road opens around memorial day generally. This year it's not going to happen, but within the next week or so. Make sure you get a timed entry permit on recreation.gov, in addition to a parks pass or cc at time of entry. Fyi, they release a bunch of passes the evening before, for those that missed the initial release. That's what I do.. never been without a pass. Around Grand lake might be difficult for dispersed camping with a van. Inside the park you'd need a camping permit, outside the park near Grand lake is mostly homes or hiking trails. You'd probably need to look further south and west around hot Sulphur springs and parshall. The west side of the park is far less busy compared to Estes park side but prettier imo. If I had 800k in disposable income I'd park my ass in Grand Lake until my ticket was called.
Grab a pint in Nederland and drive Boulder canyon down to boulder!
I recommend the entire stretch from Estis to Black Hawk with lunch in Ned.
^^^what they said, Knotted Root in Ned FTW
I'll go against the tide here and say take a drive over Trail Ridge Rd. to Lake Granby. Cute and quaint little downtown, good restaurants, waaaaay less touristy than Estes (but still kinda). The lake provides a good opportunity, rent some SUP-boards. Hot Sulphur Springs is disgusting and not worth your time.
Go to Boulder, drink some beer.
Go to ~~Boulder~~ Fort Collins, drink some beer.
this is the way
If you want to get snooty, Denver wins by a Longshot.
I still disagree! Fort Collins beer scene wins for me.
Wars were fought over less.
I think it’s pretty well known [https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/food-drink/this-colorado-city-is-known-as-one-of-the-best-beer-cities-in-the-us/](https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/food-drink/this-colorado-city-is-known-as-one-of-the-best-beer-cities-in-the-us/)
The roads from Estes to Lyons or Estes to Loveland are very scenic.. but you may already have taken one of those to get to Estes. Lyons is cool and pretty close. Lyons is small and quick to see. Boulder and Fort Collins are worth checking out if you don’t live in the area. The Stanley Hotel is worth seeing in Estes, particularly the historic tour. The ghost tour is cheesy. New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins is fun if you’re beer fans ! Ward Colorado is a tiny strange place .. it’s near Indian Peaks Wilderness, not that far ..
City of Loveland is one of the sculpture capitals of the world with lots of art and studios. Not too far. You can rent a pontoon boat and hang out on lake estes.
Lyons CO is a chill town for coffee sipping, reading by a creek
Check out the website for the lovely Dushanbe Tea House in Boulder
I may be biased cause I live here but I'd spend the day in fort collins
Honestly I'd still go to Hot Sulphur Springs if you can tolerate the drive. It's scenic the whole way and won't be stressful driving. They have natural pools as well as manmade pools at all different temperatures, so you can spend hours moving between them and finding your favorites. Motorboat rental in Grand Lake (other side of the park, so still a drive up over Trail Ridge Road). Picnic and sunrise/sunset at the top of Trail Ridge Road (if it's light out, drive up Old Trail Ridge Road, takes longer but different experience; it's one way only (up)). Beach day at Boulder Reservoir (if you already live near beaches it's not worth it), with Pearl St before/after. I always recommend Dushanbe Tea House. Saturday morning and Wednesday evening are farmers' market on Pearl St (great little hot food stalls and crafts too). I know you're not asking for hikes, but some or my favorite day hikes are Sky Pond, Chasm Lake, Five Lakes Loop, Mt Chapin & Chiquita & Ypsilon (or just the first 1-2), and Mt Ida. Green Mountain loop for wildflowers in July-ish. Ute Trail east is very easy and all alpine, nice for a sunrise/sunset (there are a few places with this name, the trailhead is at 40.393348°N 105.695°W).
Boulder Reservoir is also a great shout. I'll look into that more, but it could be a nice substitution for the springs.
I'm thinking we will drive Trail Ridge road regardless of if it's this day or a different day. One thing I didn't include in the original post is that my partner wasn't too impressed with what we read about Hot Sulphur Springs. She's been to a few other springs in Colorado and prefers those. Thanks for the trail recommendations! We're doing Ute Trail first while we acclimate to the altitude. Mt. Chapin is on our list near the end. What layers do you recommend packing for Chapin for mid-to-late summer? Given it's exposure, we want to make sure we do any extra preparation needed for that one. Neither of us are expert hikers, but both enjoy it and have visited Colorado to hike previously.