You’re on your way to a dream vacation in Estes Park. At this time tomorrow, dawn will break and you will awaken under a mountain sun. Time flows around you like a lazy river. Ah, but what will you do? Relax, literally. No matter what your interest or how your clan would like to spend time in the mountains, there will be something special for each of you every day you are here.

Start with a walking and driving survey of this beautiful country. A stroll around town will give you an idea of the places you might like to dine, shop, or investigate during your stay. Whether you walk along the sidewalks on Elkhorn Avenue, or on the Riverwalk that meanders behind shops and next to the river, you’ll find plenty to catch your interest and imagination.

Follow the Riverwalk east across Highway 36 to the Visitors Center. Friendly ambassadors will be more than happy to answer your questions and make suggestions about activities and places of interest in and around town. Continue on to the Estes Park Marina or walk the complete four-mile loop around Lake Estes where you will have breathtaking views of surrounding mountains.

Exploring by car will allow you to survey the surrounding countryside. Discover the Estes Park Historical Museum, take a drive up Highway 7 to hike around Lily Lake, see historic MacGregor Ranch, the restored Marys Lake Lodge, and much more. Drive into Rocky Mountain National Park. Enter the Park by either the Fall River or Bear Lake entrance and stop by one of the two Visitor Centers where you can obtain information and merchandise specific to Rocky. At the Park entrance, you will be greeted by a Ranger who will give you a map and answer questions about where to go from here. From the Fall River entrance, adventure lovers can access Old Fall River Road, an eleven mile long dirt road that will take you to the Alpine Visitor Center near the Continental Divide. Passing through several alpine zones, you will see cascading falls, former avalanche sites, glacial polish, and a variety of flora and fauna. Stop often to take pictures, hike into the wilderness or spread a picnic. At road’s end is the Alpine Visitor Center. From there you can continue on to Grand Lake or return to Estes Park via Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the United States.

Now you’ve completed your survey. Here are some of the activities that are tried and true favorites with residents and visitors alike: hiking, biking, technical climbing (indoors on a wall, guided instruction outdoors, or on your own), horseback riding, shopping, fishing, golfing, attending an evening program or concert, rafting, kayaking, birding, campfire singing, reading, watching a sunrise or sunset, summiting a peak, attending the Roof Top Rodeo, and visiting with the new folks you’ve met on your vacation to the Estes Valley. Peruse Vacationland for the many establishments and businesses that are here to help make this your best vacation ever. Welcome to Estes Park.

- by Bonnie Beach