Planning Trip- Does Anyone Know Places in Colorado?

[trapped]

I'm planning a trip to Colorado in September. Going to be going camping in Zion National Park for a couple days, then continuing through Grand Junction, to Crested Butte where we'll stay most the time, then on our way back we're thinking of driving south through Durango or something so that we can go camping in the Grand Canyon. We've left room for lots of flexibility in our schedule. The first week we have our hotel room in Crested Butte already booked, I'm going to have to find ways to entertain myself that whole first week since my friend will be in class all day :( We're not sure what we're doing after that yet, we plan to stay in Colorado at least another week, will have a car so we can definitely drive to just about anywhere. We're trying to figure out fun things to do, that won't be too expensive, fun places to see, etc.

I've been to Colorado, but only to Denver and Fort Collins, and only during the winter time, I've only gone to Colorado to ski and snowboard, so going during any other time of the year feels strange, and I'm not sure what to do. I don't know what cities are worth stopping in either, since we're driving and I typically just fly to Colorado when I go.... so, is there anything interesting to see, anywhere that would be someplace we'd definitely want to visit, while we are there?

 

[TLight]

I lived in Durango. It's beautiful and has some wonderful summertime activities, hiking, rafting etc. Unfortunately it is where I had a massive breakdown, so no good memories of it for me.

Taos, NM is wonderful. Always found the SW to be a very spiritual place. It is beautiful too, as well as Moab, Utah and Bridges National Park...........very incredable.

Have a wonderful time and take the train trip from Durango to Silverton, beautiful mountain scenery.

 

[evergreen]

I live in southern Colorado in the San Luis Valley. We are near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I don't know what kind of stuff you are looking to do, but this place is phenomenal and one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. My little town, Crestone, is a spiritual/metaphysical hot spot with much eastern religion influence. There is also a lot of alternative living solutions represented in the area. (earth ships, solar energy, organic gardening). Lodging is inexpensive compared to most places in Colorado.

Anyway, hope you have fun no matter what you do. I just moved here to Colorado and it is heaven on earth!

 

[2quilt]

LonelyPlanet dot com has a thing called Thorntree. Look up stuff there, as well as TripAdvisor dot com, Fodors, Frommers, travelsite dot com, do a search for the different cities on a browser, call the various toll free numbers for the visitors' and convention bureaus of the major cities you will be going to, ask about festivals, museums, or whatever your hobbies are, and if you need to watch the budget, sign up for either freeloading dot com ( it may be freeloaders dot com) and couchsurfing dot com
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this will take several hours...

 

[rmf3175]

Grand Junction can be fun. The Colorado national monument is cool, but a very twisty, turny road. Not good if you are prone to getting car sick. There is a good dinosaur museum by the Fruita entrance if you have kids. It's west of Grand Junction on I-70.

Very very good wine tours in Palisade, and Clifton just east of Grand Junction. Lots of really good fruit stands too especially in the early fall. Some are a little pricy, but there are still alot of mom, and pop ones too. You have to try a palisade peach, if you like peaches. Very tasty fruit. I had a peach tree in my front yard in Parachute (east of Grand Junct. on I-70 about 50 miles), and had a black bear tear it down while in Denver for the weekend.lol

Just gorgeous scenery all over Western Colorado. That will be your most profound thing to do I think. Hopefully the oak brush, and aspens will start to turn early. I worked in the oilfield, and never got used to the sheer beauty of the fall every year.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is pretty cool too.

Let me know if you plan on going to Glenwood Springs, as there are some cool things there like caves, and historic places, but it's a little ways away.

 

[Shoka]

I have a cousin who lives outside of Aspen. I loved visiting Colorado in the summer and the fall.
One of the great things we did was to take a drive up to the top of the Continental Divide! So cool.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

I went to Pike's Peak. It was 90 degrees when we started and was snowing when we got to the top and it felt like it was 10 degrees

Tammy