WAY OT/ Rocky Mountains
 

Looking to take the better half to sight see the Rocky Mountains next spring or summer and looking for any advice from anyone thats done it. Out first thought plan is too fly to Denver rent a car get a hotel at one of the towns about an hour east of the Rocky Mountain National Forest and drive back and forth every day for about 3 days. Thanks.

We vacation in Estes Park every year. It's just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Tons of stuff to do there, touristy or otherwise. You won't go wrong staying there a few nights.

Rich

Plus, the hotel in Estes Park (The Stanley Hotel), is the hotel from "The Shining" by Stephen King.

Steve

Travel to Canada and take Rocky mountaineer.

http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_CA_BC/

Estes Park/The Stanley/Great Hikes
 

I took my wife to Estes Park in September. We stayed at The Stanley and went hiking in Rocky Mtn Nat Park for a couple of days. Great time! Flew into Denver, rented a truck and headed up. Second time for us, in the plans again for 2013.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ges/rocky2.jpg

The Stanley

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ges/rocky1.jpg

Headed up the mountain

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ges/rocky4.jpg

Ive spent over 15 years traveling all over this country, been a park ranger, lived out of a tent and been an all-around dirtbag just to see and be within the mountains of the west. The rockies are vast and very different depending on where you go. Glacier NP, Montana has the most dramatical part of the US rockies only surpassed by those in Canada. Beautiful lakes, glacier carved valleys and formations that are unique to our country, but the weather in unpredicatble at best. Grand Teton NP, Wyoming is extremely photogenic, easy to sight see and offers a variety of options. Although the mountains are nice in Colorado, they are far from the most dramatical and estes park is nice but very expensive and similar to Boulder, CO to a certain extent with traffic and cost. There are some wonderful places in New Mexico outside of Taos that offer mountains and a lot of native american history opportunities.

I would strongly urge you to make a point to NOT spend the trip in the car, driving, driving, driving. Pick a place you want to be and get out and actually experience the place, dont just try to drive everywhere and cram a lot of "things" in. Whether you can hike, would enjoy swimming in lakes, enjoy picknicing in an area or what not, pick a place and get out of the car, I couldnt stress this point enough. There are cities like estes and Jackson hole that offer an easy place to set-up shop in, or consider staying in a more rustic area and closer to nature. There are a million options and quite a few can be done on the cheap if you're willing to be a little adventurous. I miss my days in the mountains very much...

That's a great approach as well.
One likely that my wife would tell me to take by myself. :)
Great perspective.

I recommend the western slope of Colorado if you're set on that state. Durango and telluride are excellent and the drive from Denver is great.

If you really want to see the mountains at there best, take the narrow gauge train out of Durango going to Silverton and get off half way up. Hike up into the mountains from there. I have done that many times and you will see a world untouched by man. Ok, its pretty hard core but if you ever get a chance it is worth it.

Another vote for Estes Park - you never know what you'll encounter, as you are often going to run into big groups of elk like we did a year ago. Beautiful area!

Thanks to everyone for the imput. I appreciate it.