2 Days in Denver

probablytheguy

probablytheguy

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Oakville, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Flying in to Denver Friday the 29th to pick up an LX470 my wife bought us.

We'll be spending Saturday and bit of Sunday in the area before we trek back down I-70 to St. Louis.

What should we look into? I imagine Covid has any touristy stuff closed for the most part, luckily we're just looking for food and maybe a quick drive in the mountains with the new truck before we head home.
 
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I've only been to colorado a few times but I'd imagine most if not all the good trails in the Mountains are still closed till spring. There may be some county roads west of Denver that are open you can get views from but there will be houses or cabins too

Not too sure on food but if its like here resturaunt are still open at some capacity if not there is always gas station snacks or fast food till you can get back.

Be careful in the Mountains in snow and ice if you've never done that sort of thing.
 
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If I can suggest something touristy and well worth the time, it's the Garden of the Gods. I enjoy going down there from time to time. You can do some easy hiking or just drive the loop around the incredible rock formations at no cost. Then stop in at the trading post to have a nice meal at the deli, with a beautiful court yard if the weather is good. Browse the shop and check out one of the largest selection of southwestern art in the area. Some of which you might not be able to live without.
 
probablytheguy said:
Flying in to Denver Friday the 29th to pick up an LX470 my wife bought us.

We'll be spending Saturday and bit of Sunday in the area before we trek back down I-70 to St. Louis.

What should we look into? I imagine Covid has any touristy stuff closed for the most part, luckily we're just looking for food and maybe a quick drive in the mountains with the new truck before we head home.
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Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful and you could also check out the town of Ester Park just outside the park.
 
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Boostpowered said:
I've only been to colorado a few times but I'd imagine most if not all the good trails in the Mountains are still closed till spring. There may be some county roads west of Denver that are open you can get views from but there will be houses or cabins too

Not too sure on food but if its like here resturaunt are still open at some capacity if not there is always gas station snacks or fast food till you can get back.

Be careful in the Mountains in snow and ice if you've never done that sort of thing.
Click to expand...
We were in Ouray late last year. I'm not afraid of snow, Just looking for a scenic drive as opposed to a crazy 4x4 trail.

Got off Ophir Pass right as the snow came down to close the Million Dollar Hwy that day.119034598_10159124231083487_4406364684796180756_o.jpg
 
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JDGreens said:
If I can suggest something touristy and well worth the time, it's the Garden of the Gods. I enjoy going down there from time to time. You can do some easy hiking or just drive the loop around the incredible rock formations at no cost. Then stop in at the trading post to have a nice meal at the deli, with a beautiful court yard if the weather is good. Browse the shop and check out one of the largest selection of southwestern art in the area. Some of which you might not be able to live without.
Click to expand...
We did that this past September, it was a great time! Looking to stick closer to Denver vs Colorado Springs.
 
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probablytheguy said:
JDGreens said:
If I can suggest something touristy and well worth the time, it's the Garden of the Gods. I enjoy going down there from time to time. You can do some easy hiking or just drive the loop around the incredible rock formations at no cost. Then stop in at the trading post to have a nice meal at the deli, with a beautiful court yard if the weather is good. Browse the shop and check out one of the largest selection of southwestern art in the area. Some of which you might not be able to live without.
Click to expand...
We did that this past September, it was a great time! Looking to stick closer to Denver vs Colorado Springs.
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You could do the Peak to Peak Hwy. Get on it from off I-70 and either take it all the way in Estes Park or bail off near Lyons.

You could drive up the Boulder Canyon to Nederland then pick up the Peak to Peak from there.
 
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I would check out garden of the gods, as well as Hacienda Colorado. It is a local owned “Mountain Mex” and the green chili is amazing. So good
 
JCarter said:
You could do the Peak to Peak Hwy. Get on it from off I-70 and either take it all the way in Estes Park or bail off near Lyons.

You could drive up the Boulder Canyon to Nederland then pick up the Peak to Peak from there.
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Thanks, I will check that out.
We were just in Estes Park in September, If we do that though we'd probably just dip into RMNP to see it in the snow.
 
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probablytheguy said:
Flying in to Denver Friday the 29th to pick up an LX470 my wife bought us.

We'll be spending Saturday and bit of Sunday in the area before we trek back down I-70 to St. Louis.

What should we look into? I imagine Covid has any touristy stuff closed for the most part, luckily we're just looking for food and maybe a quick drive in the mountains with the new truck before we head home.
Click to expand...

You could drive to Idaho Springs and eat somewhere like Westbound & Down Brewing Company, if you can get a seat. Then drive up Virginia Canyon Rd (279) to Central City for a rural drive with pretty views and a little snow. From there you could gamble in Central City, explore more, or easily get back to I-70.
 
take the lexus over to winter park and enjoy Frasier tubing hill...beautiful area, tubing is fun but not strenuous, and the restaurants in both towns are amazing transplants from around the world.
 
Go hit Switzerland Trail up to Mt Alto picnic area in the Roosevelt Forest. Good spot to see how a new vehicle feels.

oh wait... I forgot its winter. Maybe don't do this. :)
 
Without leaving the road, anything North of I70 and West of Denver offers fabulous scenery and some very cool housing.
Maybe visit Red Rock Amphitheater. A very cool place. Almost all the big bands have played there including the Beatles.

A natural amphitheater used by North American Natives long before we discovered it.
This was one of the New Deal work projects after the Great Depression.

DSC_00845237.JPG
 
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