Colorado Vacation ideas....4 corners area

[crocmommy]

I'm thinking ahead about taking my girls on a vacation this summer. I want to take them to Mesa Verde and on the Silverton Train for starters. I'm considering staying in Cortez colorado since it's centrally located. And Grand Canyon is only 4 hours away so I'm seriously considering that side trip one day. Any other ideas on a location for a reasonable scenic place to stay in that area? And, any other place we should consider visiting? Not sure how long we will be gone yet, but looking at June or July.

[LibraryLady2]

When I went there, we were tent camping, so I am no help for lodging.
Another part of Mesa Verde has opened since we were there. I think you need reservations for the newer part as visitors are limited.
Mesa Verde== horrible memory==I took a video all day long only to discover I didn't put in the film. Only 2 still photos for that day.

If you go east, you can visit the Great Sand Dunes national park.....go further and see Royal Gorge...and then into Colorado Springs. At Colorado Springs you can visit the AF Academy as well as Garden of the Gods (interesting rocks). Then, take the train to the top of Pike's Peak.

All kinds of tourist shopping in Manutou Springs.

Outside of town there is a trout fishing place that was fun. For a fee you can fish and whatever you catch they clean and filet for you.
I was catching the fish as fast as my hook hit the water. We had a cabin in Manitou Springs that had a kitchen, so we ate our fish that night.

We had fun in Cripple Creek sluthing for gold nuggets and going into a gold mine to see how it is done.
I think it has turned into a gambling town (reverting to the 1800s) now.

[grouchy]

Fun Valley Resort on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. I agree with LL about Creeds. The trip to Silverton is wonderful.

[crocmommy]

When I went there, we were tent camping, so I am no help for lodging.
Another part of Mesa Verde has opened since we were there. I think you need reservations for the newer part as visitors are limited.
Mesa Verde== horrible memory==I took a video all day long only to discover I didn't put in the film. Only 2 still photos for that day.

If you go east, you can visit the Great Sand Dunes national park.....go further and see Royal Gorge...and then into Colorado Springs. At Colorado Springs you can visit the AF Academy as well as Garden of the Gods (interesting rocks). Then, take the train to the top of Pike's Peak.

All kinds of tourist shopping in Manutou Springs.

Outside of town there is a trout fishing place that was fun. For a fee you can fish and whatever you catch they clean and filet for you.
I was catching the fish as fast as my hook hit the water. We had a cabin in Manitou Springs that had a kitchen, so we ate our fish that night.

We had fun in Cripple Creek sluthing for gold nuggets and going into a gold mine to see how it is done.
I think it has turned into a gambling town (reverting to the 1800s) now.

I don't intend to head east to Royal George and Colorado Springs. Maybe another time. I really want to see the Grand Canyon again and think the girls would like it. No time for to head East in colorado if we do that. Besides, I've been in that area several times. Would be nice if it's new for all of us.

[LibraryLady2]

I presume you are driving.
When we went to the Grand Canyon, we stayed in a cabin on the south rim.
Those reservations have to be made months in advance. If not staying in the national park, look for a place in Williams, the closest town.
We did the painted desert and petrified forest while in the area.

On the way home, stop and see this Indian community Acoma Pueblo CIty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoma_Pueblo
It is just a few miles off the interstate.
Here are my photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26066871@N04/albums/72157629503247908

You can hit Carlsbad Caverns on the way home also.

After we left the GC, we stopped at the Acoma location, then over to Winslow, Arizona..
and manged to hit Carlsbad also.

We also stopped to see the meteor crater--don't waste your time or money there.
Nothing to see.....

[crocmommy]

Fun Valley Resort on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. I agree with LL about Creeds. The trip to Silverton is wonderful.

Meant to respond to this. Fun Valley isn't exactly the area I want to stay. Need to be further west because the more I think about it I would seriously like to take a day trip (or overnight) to Grand Canyon. Would be a shame to be 4 hours away and not have them see it.

I've actually been to Fun Valley...a long time ago when my family had an RV and we camped there with a group of folks. Didn't remember the cabins. What I do remember is deciding to take a hike up the mountain by myself. Then it started to get dark and I couldn't seem to find my way off the mountain and back to the campground. And I could hear the rushing river below me so had to be careful not to slide and fall down the steep incline into the river. When I finally figured my way back, my parents and the whole group were out looking for me with flashlights. So I will never forget Happy Valley!

[grouchy]

Fun Valley Resort on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. I agree with LL about Creeds. The trip to Silverton is wonderful.

Meant to respond to this. Fun Valley isn't exactly the area I want to stay. Need to be further west because the more I think about it I would seriously like to take a day trip (or overnight) to Grand Canyon. Would be a shame to be 4 hours away and not have them see it.

I've actually been to Fun Valley...a long time ago when my family had an RV and we camped there with a group of folks. Didn't remember the cabins. What I do remember is deciding to take a hike up the mountain by myself. Then it started to get dark and I couldn't seem to find my way off the mountain and back to the campground. And I could hear the rushing river below me so had to be careful not to slide and fall down the steep incline into the river. When I finally figured my way back, my parents and the whole group were out looking for me with flashlights. So I will never forget Happy Valley!

If it had been on the weekend there would have been a bunch of young cowboys helping to look for you. They come from all the ranches within a hundred miles to mix with the "city girls".

[RedEye]

I spent a week in Durango last year and had a really good time. I would recommend taking the train to Silverton and returning by bus, Different scenery and you get a running monologue from the bus driver about the scenery, You can also take a rubber raft trip down the Animus river if you're a daredevil. I took a side trip and drove right by Mesa Verde to go into Utah and see the Natural Arches Park which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've seen pictures of it before but it was neat to actually see them. You also drive right by the Canyonlands National Park
I took a day trip into New Mexico to visit Indian ruins and spent some time exploring Chaco Canyon. One of the buildings there was the tallest building in America until sometime in the 1800's and no one really has and explanation of what place was built for. It appears to be for ceremonies or something
There's three ways to get there, you can go up to Raton Pass and skirt the southern side or you can go to Santa Fe and drive north to Pagossa Springs near Wolf Creek and then drive to Durango. This time I drove to Albuquerque and went north to Durrango.

[LibraryLady2]

Redeye is correct on the SIlverton/Durango train ride--go up one way and down the other for contrasting scenery.

I forgot to say--if you want to stay inside the Grand Canyon--if you can't get reservations now, once you are a few days out, check for openings from cancellations. When we were there we spoke with a woman who comes at least once per month and does it by getting a cancelled room.

We went April 15 that year, and a snowfall greeted us. It was snowing the afternoon we got there...and again in the AM. Snow melted fast.
Found out that because of wind currents and heat held in, the snow never enters the canyon more than a few feet.

It should be a great trip for you and the girls.

[crocmommy]

I spent a week in Durango last year and had a really good time. I would recommend taking the train to Silverton and returning by bus, Different scenery and you get a running monologue from the bus driver about the scenery, You can also take a rubber raft trip down the Animus river if you're a daredevil. I took a side trip and drove right by Mesa Verde to go into Utah and see the Natural Arches Park which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've seen pictures of it before but it was neat to actually see them. You also drive right by the Canyonlands National Park
I took a day trip into New Mexico to visit Indian ruins and spent some time exploring Chaco Canyon. One of the buildings there was the tallest building in America until sometime in the 1800's and no one really has and explanation of what place was built for. It appears to be for ceremonies or something
There's three ways to get there, you can go up to Raton Pass and skirt the southern side or you can go to Santa Fe and drive north to Pagossa Springs near Wolf Creek and then drive to Durango. This time I drove to Albuquerque and went north to Durrango.

Thanks Red Eye! Where would you stay if not Cortez?

I have a Pastor friend who lives in Estancia New Mexico. Hoping it might be possible to swing by and see her on the way there or back.

[RedEye]

I actually stayed in Durango, centrally located to all the things I really wanted to see and a lot of choices of places to stay, lots of restaurants to pick from and I enjoyed just walking the streets and visiting the shops

[rusty]

Here's the place. Centrally located. Close to a bunch of cool stuff. Neat property.

http://www.durango.org/discover-durango/o-bar-o-cabins

[RedEye]

Since it's just me I wasn't interested in doing much in the way of cooking. I could walk to the train station, walk to the grocery store and walk to any number of restaurants. I picked up some breakfast food for the room and always ate lunch while playing tourist, I was usually tired in the evening so I'd just stop at the different restaurants for dinner.

[crocmommy]

Here's the place. Centrally located. Close to a bunch of cool stuff. Neat property.

http://www.durango.org/discover-durango/o-bar-o-cabins

Nice but a little expensive.

[rusty]

Here's the place. Centrally located. Close to a bunch of cool stuff. Neat property.

http://www.durango.org/discover-durango/o-bar-o-cabins

Nice but a little expensive.

I just looked at the prices. We stayed there several years ago. I don't remember it being that high.

[crocmommy]

Here's the place. Centrally located. Close to a bunch of cool stuff. Neat property.

http://www.durango.org/discover-durango/o-bar-o-cabins

Nice but a little expensive.

I just looked at the prices. We stayed there several years ago. I don't remember it being that high.

I don't require anything that nice. Older rustic cabins would be fine with me as long as they are safe and have a working bathroom. I just do not want to go camping.