From: joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins)
Subject: My recent trip to Colorado - long-
Organization: Morgan Stanley & Co., New York, NY
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:32:19 GMT

I wish to return a favor to the net and describe my
recent, first-time-ever visit to Colorado:
 
Saturday: We arrived Saturday (7/18) around 7pm local time. (MDT)
        It is a 3 hour flight, direct from Newark NJ.
        We stayed at my sister's in her condo, 20 minutes south-
        west of the airport.
       
Sunday: We went to see the Glacier known as St Mary's Glacier.
        We never could get close due to rain but I could
        see people skiing on the Glacier. The Glacier
        sits above a very pretty lake. The Glacier and lake are
        a 2 mile hike from a parking area - not an easy hike, all
        uphill and over a rocky path. 

Monday- We drove up Pike's Peak (east of Colorado Springs).
        What a drive(!) and NOT for the weary....Our car overheated
        on the way up and we had to get help. The view at top was
        excellent (inspired the song "America the Beautiful") and
        truly awesome. At the top is a gift shop and small diner. 
        While there it started to snow heavily, but just for a few
        minutes. The ride up takes 2 hours and coming down just an
        hour. The COG RAILROAD is faster but pricey. The entrance to
        Pikes cost us $7 for our car load but would have been almost
        $70 on the railroad.
        The summit is 14,110 ft above sea level.

        We also visited Cave of the Winds. Beautiful rock formations in
        the area and its a very pretty cave inside. Its a tight squeeze
        in spots but easy otherwise. They offer two tours. The tour we
        took was tame and lasted about 45 minutes. The longer tour
        involves crawling through mud and dirt to more remote portions of
        the cave.

        We wanted to see the Air Force Academy but ran out of time.

        Coming back to Denver, we saw a BEAUTIFUL double Rainbow. Our
        video camera picked it up perfectly.

        To get to Pikes Peak/Cave of the Winds from Denver, go south
        to Colorado Springs and then head west about 1/2 hour.

Tuesday - We visited the outdoor ampitheater known as Red Rocks. Its set in
        the side of the a mountain and you are surrounded by the red rock
        formations. Its a lot of walking but also worth seeing. This place
        is west of Denver, about 25 minutes drivetime.

        We then drove west to the town of Evergreen and had lunch at "Keys on 
        The Green", an upscale restaurant that borders a golf course. Good food
        but a little slow seating us.

Wednesday- We visited the town of Leadville (due west of Denver, about 2 hours
        of driving). Its an old mining town and you can see many mines in the
        area. The National Museum of Mining is there and they have some very
        nice exhibits, including a full size replica of a mine.
        There are many nice stores in the town and the town clearly caters
        to visitors. Go to the Rock Hut for good prices on rocks, minerals,
        crystals, etc.
        The views on the way there and back are great - stop for pictures!

Thursday-We drove to Mt Evans this day, stopping for a picnic along the
        way. Again, great views along the way. Mt Evans is a little easier
        to drive up (better roads?) and is 14,224 ft high and boasts the
        highest paved road in North America. Not much to do at the summit but 
        great views of Denver, Pikes Peak and on clear days, into Nebraska.
        These mountain trips should not be done, even in a car, unless you
        are in good health. The air is so thin you get tired real easy.

        Wild(?) Mountain goats came to us while we were in the car and
        basically looked for handouts. They were big and venturesome, i.e.
        came right up to the car and stick their noses in. It was a bit
        scary because there were BIG (and luckily friendly).

        We were above the tree line today as well and plenty of snow on
        the ground. Only small plants survive up here.

        Mt Evans is about 45 minutes west of Denver.

Friday- We drove north through Boulder and Estes Park, two pretty places.
        Estes Park is right at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park
        and we picked up some supplies there.
        The park itself is big and huge. We drove up Trail Ridge Road 
        (12,000 ft) and then saw a storm coming our way so we hightailed it
        down the other side.....it hit us with sleet until we went lower.
        We passed by the Continental Divide and then lunched near Beaver
        Pond. No beavers in sight but very tame birds came to us. We did see
        bear tracks and deer tracks but no animals themselves. We hiked about
        3-4 miles while in the park. VERY PRETTY. 
        We drove out the other exit and past GRAND LAKE and the town of Granby,
        a delightful area. We continued south through Winter Park and then
        over the Berthould (spelling?) pass and back into Denver.
   
        The trip to the Rocky Mountain Park is about 2 hours north/northwest
        of Denver. Go from Denver to Boulder to Estes Park and you are then
        right at the entrance.

Saturday- We sat poolside during the day so the kids (and us) could relax.
        That night we drove to a restaurant northwest of Boulder. Its 
        located on Canyon Road in the town of Gold Hill, population 140.
        The Gold Hill Inn has a limited menu but you get a six course
        meal for just $19.50 - the food was great and they don't rush you.
        There were four of us and three bottles of Chardonnay and the bill
        came to $134.

        This is about 90 minutes from Denver- drive to Boulder and then
        head into the Mountains, asking around for Canyon Road. 

Sunday- We didn't travel today since we flew home that night.  Just packed
        and lounged around - the kids went swimming...

IF YOU GO:

Bring a 35 mm camera and a video camera (pan SLOWLY), try to have 
wide angle lenses or perhaps bring Kodaks panaromic camera ($12.95).

Bring a light jacket, a hat and sunglasses. I did get sunburned
since we were so high in altitude. And on the mountains, it can get
quite windy and cold. If you drive up the mountains, be sure your car
has a full load of antifreeze and keep extra water and antifreeze in
the car just in case. Do NOT run the airconditioner while driving
up the mountains - your car will definitely overheat if you do.

Call ahead and ask for maps and tour guides of the area. 

Gasoline is about $1.30 for regular unleaded, expensive for me since its
about $1.14 in NJ.

Shop around for rental cars, we got a Dodge Caravan for $260/week,
with unlimited miles allowed (we did about 2,000 miles) from Thrifty.

Lastly, plan your sightseeing carefully, i.e. don't drive all over the place.

It was a great visit and Colorado is simply beautiful. We didn't get to
everything we wanted to see: Mesa Verde, Dinosaur Park, Garden of the Gods,
Air Force Academy, etc. Maybe next time.....

Hope this helps.....

Joe
joec@morgan.com