What to do in Denver/Colorado Springs in June?

[Blue_Goose]

My wife is doing a week of Active Duty at Peterson AFB in June and I think I'm going to tag along. I have never been to Colorado and figure we'd make it a mini getaway.

I got some cheap seats to see the Rockies play the Yankees one night so that should be fun (gotta make sure I wear my Red Sox stuff, Go Rocks!

) What other activities and what not might we want to do/see?

So far we know we want to tour the Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods....maybe tour the State House? How about the football stadium..is it still called Mile High? Do they do tours of it? Will I get my butt kicked wearing Patriots gear?

Also one other bone of contention...WHY THE HECK is it so expensive to rent a car in Denver???? The prices I am being quoted are insane

Any tips and advice appreciated!!

Goose

 

[lindermant]

- Coors brewery tour
- pizza at Beau Jo's
- enjoy a Fat Tire beer

 

[Bob Woods]

Go to Cripple Creek and gamble.
Go to Dillon and play.
Go to Rocky Mountian National Park and make the drive to Grand Lake and back to Denver. (Weekend trip)
Go to Mount Princeton Hot Springs for the week end.
Drive from Denver to Glenwood Springs for lunch one day.

 

[Blue_Goose]

I didn't even think of the Coors Plant...doh

Good suggestions guys...keep em coming

Goose

 

[Drew99GT]

I live in CO Springs and work about 2 miles from Pete field!

Pikes Peak would be fun, either drive or take the cog train.

A drive over Independence pass to Aspen is one of the best scenic ventures in CO. Do you like to fish at all? Heck, I'd take ya fishing if you wanted - a little fly fishing on the South Platte in my secret spots is always good for the soul.

Everything Bob Woods said as well. Rocky Mountain National Park would for sure be a weekend trip from CO Spgs, but it truly is breathtaking.

 

[XB70]

Quote:

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So far we know we want to tour...Pikes Peak

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Be sure to rent a rear-wheel-drive car.

While you're at it, head northwest from Pike's and go up Mt. Evans (the highest road in the USA at 14,264'), assuming they haven't closed it by now.

 

[TallPaul]

Make sure to take Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park. If you loop through, come back on the low road.

I would also highly recommend (but you will need a whole day) a trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Climb the dunes. No trail, just walk anywhere you want. Lot of fun. I did it last fall. I have been to Colorado at least a dozen times and never did the dunes. Now it is one of my favorite places.

I would avoid Denver as much as possible. Just my bias against big cities. Colorado Springs is nice city.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

www.budweisertours.com

"The Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fort Collins, CO is a favorite destination in the Colorado Front Range. During complimentary tours, guests discover first-hand how the world's greatest beers are carefully crafted using high quality ingredients and packaged in a state-of-the-art facility. A visit to the Clydesdale Hamlet completes the experience.

At the end of each tour, guests 21 years of age and over can sample their favorite brews and relax in the Hospitality Room or browse the Anheuser-Busch Gift Shop for a wide selection of the latest in logoed merchandise."

#@$%!...seeing the Clydesdales in person would make it worth the trip for me...

 

[Blue_Goose]

Thanks for the advice so far guys...Drew, I may take you up on that...I'm a bass fisherman at heart...never really fly fished!

All great suggestions! Keep em coming..I'll have a week of stuff to try to keep busy while she is at work

CBD- I live in Merrimack NH...the Budweiser Brewery in Merrimack is about a mile from my house

Believe it or not I have been there 5 years and have not taken the tour...and it is free! Have gone down to see the Clydesdales though

Those stalls are cleaner than my teenage stepson's room

Would be sort of a hoot to visit the one in CO before I get into the one 2 minutes from my home lol

Everytime I see your name it reminds me of work...I'm a Systems Admin at CBD...Christian Book Distributors



Goose

 

[obbop]

Royal Gorge near Canon City.

http://www.canoncitycolorado.com/

Didn't do the train thing but sounds nifty:

"Welcome to Cañon City, Colorado - home of the scenic and historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad, considered the most spectacular scenic railroad in the world and the best way to experience the Royal Gorge. The train provides the only access through the Royal Gorge (other than a raft!) offering a breathtaking Colorado nature show. Visitors can now experience the Royal Gorge in one of the 3 - 1950's vintage Vista Dome cars providing panoramic views of the Royal Gorge in comfortable, glass topped domes. The Royal Gorge Route has the largest collection of domes in the lower 48!

The railroad is over 127 years old and traverses the spectacular Royal Gorge on an amazing two-hour rail journey that takes you on an unforgettable trip through this magnificent chasm. The train is one of Colorado's historic gems perfect for visitors who appreciate a quality experience. The train is running every weekend with daily service resuming May 26th. The train departs from the Santa FeDepot in Canon City.View the video of the train from Colorado Getaways from Channel 4 featuring the royal Gorge Route. Choose from Coach, Parlor, Vista Dome, Lunch, Dinner, Murder Mystery or Winemaker's Dinner Trains. If you would like the Royal Gorge Visitor Guide mailed prior to your arrival, Order your Royal Gorge Visitor Guide Now."

 

[obbop]

Here it is. Quite a site. Scary, even.

"The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is open year-round and is another great attraction, located just 25-minutes from the train depot. Owned by the City of Canon City, you'll experience the awe-inspiring panoramic views of the Gorge from the world's highest Suspension Bridge that hangs 1,053 feet high and spans a quarter mile across the canyon! To find the Bridge, follow highway 50 west, 7-miles from Canon City, then turn left and drive 4-miles to the park."

Interests vary among humanoids.

If it was Coot going to Colorado, a trip to the Cripple Creek area would be in order. Gold country. Would try to find a public access creek and do some panning, in between rasslin' bears and biting the heads off of rattlers.

 

[Drew99GT]

Quote:

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Make sure to take Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park. If you loop through, come back on the low road.

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Seriously, one of the most scenic drives, maybe in the world! Go all the way to Grand Lake through Frasier and on over Berthoud pass. Take the Peak to Peak highway (CO 119 out of Blackhawk) on your trip from CO Spgs.

Enter the park at the southern entrance on the east side and take Bear Lake road to Dream lake, and an easy hike to the lake can be had. There, you will encounter Hallet's peak (13,000 foot cliff). If your lucky, you'll get a picture of people doing some SERIOUS rock climbing, along with Tyndall Glacier.

This route can be done in one day from the Springs if you get up early enough. Just take I-25 north to C-470, then west to US6, then west to Blackhawk and you're on the Peak to Peak highway to Estes park/Rocky mountain National Park.

 

[Master ACiD]

build a frosty the dirtman.

 

[Blue_Goose]

The Gorge and Canyon City look like must do's Not sure if we will have time to visit some of the parks due to her work schedule..but I have all day free until 4:00pm so I'll probably get up early each morning and just drive and drive...I intend to make it to Kansas, Wyoming and New Mexico while there....if for any other reason just to say I've been there lol...plus I just love to drive the snot out of rentals..(not abuse, just put on a lot of miles

)


Goose

 

[TallPaul]

The Gold Camp Road up past Helen Hunt Falls out the southwest side of COlorado Springs will take you to Cripple Creek then circle back through Ute Pass (US23 IIRC). Also drive up Pikes Peak or better yet, hike up, it's 13 miles one way out of Manitou Springs.

Visit the Garden of the Gods (Colo Springs city park) in the evening with your wife. Beautiful views of Pikes Peak and a lot of interesting rock formatons.

Get truck and go up the Rampart Range road out northwest end of Colorado Springs (I think out the back of the Garden of the Gods).

 

[Blue_Goose]

Thanks guys....I'm really looking forward to this trip...seems like a nice time of the year to go


Goose

 

[Benzadmiral]

Blue_Goose,

I lived in Denver for more than 4 years. I'd second most of the things the other guys mentioned. If you go down to Great Sand Dunes (remarkable -- oceans of white sand nestled next to dark grey snow-capped peaks!), you could also try driving to San Luis, CO. It bills itself as the oldest town in Colorado (1859 -- a baby by New Orleans or Santa Fe standards). Just outside town is a church with a series of bronze sculptures, the Stations of the Cross, along a path winding up an easy hill. Fantastic workmanship.

From there it's an easy jump to Taos, NM. I did it over Labor Day weekend in '97 and stayed at the famous Taos Inn near the Plaza.

The best things about CO are the landscape and the weather, though I warn you, it gets hot during the day in June -- and Denver and Springs businesses seem to think of A/C as Some Newfangled Fad from Back East. Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Blue_Goose,

In Canon City, there is a view of the mountain range just west of town (I think it's west, on US 50; ask around for directions) that is startling. The locals refer to it as the Sleeping Indian Maiden, and as you drive toward it you'll see why.

(By the way, the Coors Brewery in Golden -- a pleasant little town -- smells just the way the old Jax Brewery did in the French Quarter when I was a kid . . . and I suspect, just as your Bud brewery in Merrimack does.)

 

[Blue_Goose]

Well 2 days before I go...any last minute suggestions other than the great ones I have gotten so far?

Can anyone give me any insight on a place called Indian Springs Resort? I guess they have some mimeral baths or hot springs etc that my wife is interested in...any info from the resident locals?


Goose

 

[Drew99GT]

It's in Idaho Springs, which is one of the most beautiful towns in CO. If you need any questions asked while you're here, don't hesitate to pm me. I'm basically on vacation till a month after 2nd quarter end (taxes), so I'm surfing BITOG a lot!