Estes Park: 64 Miles From Denver

We all love to explore - and Colorado is definitely a place to do so.

I can say I quickly realized - when I moved here in 2010 - how many folks that call Denver home - whether they are a “native” as they are proud to call themselves, or came from another state - there is a yearning for adventure.

I’ve driven 5.5 hours with a group of four girls to go on a few hikes. I’ve planned a ski trip with 17 people that took 4 cars and 4+ hours each way for just the weekend! I’ve driven 3 hours to see a headliner at a music festival - and so much more! If you are open to a car ride in lieu of a plane ride - I’m about to share with you how much you can see just a few “MILES FEOM DENVER” in a new blog series!

(This picture was taken March 2010 - during my first weekend after moving here from Massachusetts!)

With several National Parks in Colorado - Estes Park is the town at the gateway of Rocky Mountain National Park. Anyone who has had someone visit Denver has probably taken the 64 mile drive for breathtaking views. With over 4 million visitors a year - Trail Ridge Road is one of the most popular scenic drives in all of Colorado. It also wins the award for highest continuously paved road in the US. Zach Miles was actually standing on the center console of his car to take this photo out of the sun roof!

It is no "wonder" that at it's 100 anniversary in 2015 - it shared the slogan "Wilderness, Wildlife, Wonder". Estes Park is famous for the bounty of Elk. From late August through middle of October Rutting Season and tourists flock to see the majestic creatures do their mating rituals. (Make sure you stay 100 feet away when trying to capture a photo!) Natasha Miller visited from Connecticut and grabbed this shot! (IG: tashography_)

A friend that grew up in Estes gave me these restaurant ideas: Ed's Cantina, Bird & Jim, Claire's on the Park, Sweet Basilico.

Have you seen the movie "The Shining"? A majority of the movie takes place in

The Stanley Hotel. It is hard to get a picture of it unless you pay for entrance. Jen + Ryan (IG: @oceans_mountains_fitness) are from Boulder, Colorado and snapped this great photo:

And lastly, depending on the season, here are a few of my favorite things to do in Estes Park:

WINTER: Weather permitting the park is open. Check the road status here.

SPRING: Hiking may require snowshoes or Hiking boots! Bridal Veil Falls, Gem Lake, Lily Lake and Chasm Lake are all free!

SUMMER: Play either 9 or 18 holes of golf at Estes Park's two golf courses. I've also built a tiny snowman in July on a hike!

FALL: Annual Elk Fest, Rutting Season, Fall Color Galor!

Adventuring around Colorado is one of my favorite things, and I would love to hear about your favorite places to visit! If you know of any sweet spots around Colorado I should check out, or are looking for some suggestions, contact me!

Related Links

• Check out the Colorado market stats from September!

• Colorado is home to many of the nation’s most vibrant art districts. Learn more about them here.

• West + Main Property and Evergreen were recently featured in the Wall Street Journal. Read more about it!