[Travel Advice] Denver, Boulder,Mountains,Estes Park, cheyenne wyoming, laramie wy etc

Denver's Tattered Cover Bookstore is a must.

 

Mile High's within walking distance of 16th Street Mall if that interests you at all. Still kicking myself for not catching the Astros in Denver several years ago when I was there for work.

Lot of restaurants/microbreweries both on and off of 16th Street Mall as well.

 

if you are looking for good hiking i would recommend rocky mountain national park, just outside of estes park.

 

Lived in Boulder a couple years. It's a great place to visit. Check out Pearl Street for some food, bars, and shops.
Hiking in Boulder is easy, check out Chautauqua, right off Baseline Road. Also, feel free to be creepy and drive by JonBenet Ramsey's house. It's off Baseline and 15th I believe, just do a google search. It was for sale last time I checked.


I was just there last Fall and hiked The Loch trail in Estes Park. A great there and back trail, even my wife who doesn't really enjoy hiking had a good time. Couple of waterfalls with a lake at the end. We brought lunch with us and ate on a large, flat rock overlooking the lake. Dont forget to bring plenty of water!
http://www.protrails.com/trail/rocky-mountain-national-park-the-loch

Spoiler

Check out Avery Brewery if you like beer, in Boulder. Unlike some local Houston breweries, they have a bunch of their beers on tap. Neat little place. My fav is Salvation.

As for smokes, it's not hard in Boulder, just find a random college kid playing hackie sack.

 

For Denver, 16th street is the big street, but lots of bars in the LoDo area too (Brothers, Lodo's, the Tavern, etc) just a few blocks away. Also a Few breweries downtown including Great Divide and Wynkoop.

Pearl Street and the Hill are the 2 spots to hang out in Boulder. Lots of great bars in both places. The Sink and West End Tavern are musts. The Sink is the oldest bar in Boulder and West End has an amazing selection of beers from top end domestic breweries (and AMAZING Bourban milkshakes). Great dive bars include The Catacombs, Pearl Street Pub, Connor O'Neils and The Sundowner. Half Fast on the Hill is also a great place to drink a pitcher on a warm afternoon on the patio. As for food, I'd recommend Salt, my fav restaurant in Boulder. Also, for breakfast, go to The Buff and order saddlebags, you'll thank me later. There's a great farmers market on Saturdays and Wednesdays. I'm not a huge hiker but Chautauqua is right in Boulder and you can hike the Flat Irons from there and its got great views from the top.

I'd skip Wyoming personally, you can drive just as far and be in a great mountain town in Colorado.

Weed can be gotten easily, especially in Boulder, so I wouldn't worry about that

 

Why go to clubs when we have them here?

Go enjoy the outdoors and the view. When I went last year to the Texans vs Denver game we stayed in Winter Park, Co. It's about an hr west of denver but well worth it you have to pass Berthhound pass(Rockies) my girl was freaked out lol. They have everything there sking slopes, white water rafting, horseback riding, bike riding, 4 wheeling, natural hot water springs....
I recommend it.

 

Oh you must go to at the Contenintal Divide!! Bad ass scene do not miss it or you will regret it.

 

Walk down 16th...grab a beer...walk over to Coors Field and catch a game.

 

Bear Lake in RMNP. This is where the wifey and I got engaged. Probably on one of those rocks. Went during a spring break and the pond was half frozen. Was seriously concerned about bears sneaking up on us. Very beautiful spot.

 

I'm in Estes Park once or twice a year. There are tons of hikes, of varying difficulty level. I've done maybe 80% of the major trails on the Eastern slope, and a few here and there on the Western side.

If you like hiking you will have plenty of options.
It's also a good spot for fly fishing.

The Dunraven Inn used to be a must stop for dinner, but ownership changed a few years back and it just doesn't "feel" the same. I'd recommend the Rock Inn as a solid choice in a locally kind of feel - good beers, too.

 

I proposed on the Divide at Loveland Pass.

 

If you're into good whiskey, the whiskey bar at the Stanley is pretty cool. Normally, I would recommend Mt Evans, but it's not open yet all the way to the top.

 

I've been to Colorado 4 times in the last ten years and it's beautiful! I've always gone in the winter since I have a deep
fascination with snow(we don't get any in Houston). If you're going to stay in Denver there are many places within a
2hr drive worth visiting. I don't spend too much time the city, if I want urban scenery that's what the big apple is for.

1) Estes Park is gorgeous, there are many hiking trails to navigate and if you like there are even cabins that you can rent.
There are many Elk and Big HornSheep along with deer all over the place and these animals are use to humans roaming
around so there not scared of you! You can actually take a picture in the middle of a herd (or fairly close)! They have a
beautiful lake and many small streams all over the place.
90min. drive north from Denver

2)Pikes Peak is the tallest peak is one of 4 mountain peaks over 14,000ft. You can drive your vehicle all the way to the
top or you can ride the cog rail, I've done both and driving can be a little precarious to say the least! The first 3/4 is smooth
driving but that last 1/4 your going on a sever incline and there are no guardrails and you also have to share the road with
cars either going up or down. At the top there are spectacular views but can be very cold as the winds are pretty severe.
Once there is a restaurant/souvenir shop.
90min. drive south of Denver

3) Garden of the Gods is a very nice National Park where there are beautiful red clay rock formations it't a nice place for
pictures and hiking and is one of the better place to go rock climbing.
90min. drive south of Denver

4) Vail colorado is 2hrs west if you want go skiing or if you want to hang out with the rich and famous Aspen is 3hrs west
also. The drive from Denver to either of these place is spectacular! It really is a beautiful state!
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if its warm enough go white water rafting

Blackhawk gambling

 

I will just point out just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Elk do attack occasionally, especially when people who don't know what they're doing get too close.

Yes, you can get very close to them in EP. Heck, you can play golf right through them on the golf course... but be careful

 

I agree, thanks for clarifying.
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Oh and dont buy beer from the grocery store in colorado it's watered down!