We are looking to go there next summer (mid-June) for a family vacation. I was hoping to see to get some responses on where you may have stayed and what you thought of said lodging. We are kinda looking at staying in Estes Park so that my wife and daughter have a place to shop and knock around when we aren't in the mountains.

Thx

Might as well see the other end too. Visit Grand Lake down on the south end Touristy but what isn't? The lakes are pretty. See the alpine center at trail ridge in the park. Pretty drive. The kids will love wherever you take em!

No flooding on the Grand Lake side. Check out Grand Lake Lodge

I went there with my family two years ago. We flew into Denver then drove up to Estes Park.

We stayed at some place on the main drag on the East side of town, but I can't remember the name. It wasn't a chain joint. We picked it because of great reviews on the internet. It was clean and good enough, though it was not a brand new 5 star joint. My adult daughter was with us. She can be a princess and did not complain about it at all. My wife and son thought it was fine.

RMNP is an awesome place. Take the time to drive up the unimproved road to the peak and go to the visitor center. There are lots of places to hike in the park, and you will see game for sure, and Elk even walk around right in town.

Estes Park is a touristy place. The main drag in town is just like the main drag in any other touristy place. It was very clean and safe however without roving bands of urban youths. The residents are very nice. There are some good local joints to eat.

While we were there we also took the tram to the top of a mountain in Estes Park, drove to the top of Pikes Peak, visited the Garden of the Gods, went to the Denver Zoo, went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, drove through the mountains and little towns, went to Colorado Springs, went to the Seven Falls, etc.

There was a little town with a casino in it that was kind of fascinating in an offbeat sort of way.

My foot was in a cast so there were a few things we could not do. Rafting the gorge would have been cool.

I would go back there but would spend more time right in RMNP, I would have liked to have gone fishing while out there. Pikes Peak was very cool but pretty crowded.

Seeing you hail from Tennessee, you know what grades and curves are. Trail Ridge Road goes over the top of the park to Grand Lake; as said a tourist trap. Wife and I used to do the trip, get a black walnut icecream cone, and come back home. If it is after the 4th of July, and the floods didn't get it, the original road is Fall River. It is one way up only, dirt with lots of switchbacks, connecting to Trail Ridge. There is a Stanley Steam car museum, and a few years ago they had a Stanley mountain car giving rides. Wife wouldn't let me spend the time and money. I am blessed that way in that she wants to do no more than get a picnic lunch and avoid all the touristy stuff in town. If you have the means, the Stanley Hotel is supposed to be the cats meow. We haven't stayed overnight for a few years, but were never unhappy with anyplace; with the exception of the cabins right in the park having really bad mattresses, but they were housekeeping places with all the stuff you needed to make a home, so that made up for some of it. There is a lot to do in Colorado, depending on how far you want to travel. Don't forget that half the state is shortgrass prairie (Pawnee Grasslands east of Greeley); further west you get into the Colorado Plateau, high desert country. Bison are at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, and on Genessee just off I-70 West of Denver. Arsenal also has Pronghorn antelope as does the prairie. There are bighorn sheep on the Estes side, usually just outside the park. Sometimes they are butting because of nervousness. Man that looks like a headache. You flying in? or driving and renting a car. There must be some tourist info available if you ask ahead. Past again when the time comes closer.

I've been to Co a few times myself but this will be the first for my wife and daughter. The wife is easy going and would rather be taking pictures out side while my 13 yo daughter would rather be rummaging thru shops and such.

Looking to stay within $1200-1500 for lodging over 5-6 nights. We haven't nailed down a definite date yet but I'm thinking probably the 3rd week of June. We are flying in and will rent a car. I'd drive from here to there but I'd be batsh!t crazy having to spend two FULL days of driving with those two in the car stopping every 150 miles.

We are just now getting touron info from the Estes Park travel folks. I figured that surely some of the people who visit 24hr live close, or have been here and might have some recommendations on where to stay or not stay. Myself, I could sleep in the car on the roadside but figured that's out with the wife and kid.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

This place is cool to stay...

Redrum...

My wife and I didn't have the money to stay at the Stanley, but we did eat there on a cold winter's night. I would stay there without hesitation, and our food was delicious.

Check out VRBO.com. We've rented great places near RMNP, Yellowstone, Glacier, and GTNP. You can pretty much get what you need (unless you wait until too late), and we've always had good experiences with the property owners. A great way to enjoy the national parks.