Sample Itinerary – 1 week, winter, fly in and out of Denver International Airport
Day 1 – arrive in Denver, check into downtown hotel. Unpack and walk the 16th St Pedestrian Mall to Larimer Square, then on to Union Station. Check for theater shows, make dining reservations for evening.
Day 2 – rent a car and drive to Georgetown. Take the train loop. Lunch in Georgetown and peruse the many shops. Check out the museum. Take the Loveland exit, and follow Hwy 6 to Breckenridge where you will spend the night. The ski tram can take you to the top of the slopes, even if you don’t intend to ski. Breckenridge is a cool mountain town, with many shops, restaurants and bars. There are guided walking tours, hiking tours, and even a paranormal experience tour that you can sign up for.
Day 3 – after a leisurely breakfast and walk around town, either spend the day skiing, or drive over to the nordic center outside of Frisco where you can nordic ski in tracks or snowshoe. Stop in Frisco before heading back where you will find a natural foods store, more nice restaurants and bars, and even a recreational marijuana store. Return to Breckenridge.
Day 4 – drive to Leadville today to see the Mining museum. Full of mining equipment, photographs, and videos, this museum will take a couple of hours to visit. Have lunch in historic Leadville, then take Hwy 24 past Ski Cooper. Ski Cooper has beautiful wide slopes, suitable for skiers who need blue coded (easy) slopes. Return to Breckenridge for the evening.
Day 5 – Drive over to Fairplay to return to the Front Range via Hwy 9 to 24. Stop in Manitou Springs, and take the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak. Theater, museums, musical venues, all can be found in the area. Spend the night in Colorado Springs.
Day 6 – There are many tourist opportunities in Colorado Springs. Depending on your fitness level, you could go to Seven Falls, visit Garden of the Gods, shop in Old Colorado City, or tour one of the many museums. Spend another night in Colorado Springs.
Day 7 – DIA is about a 2 hour drive from Colorado Springs, so plan your day according to flight times. Take the 470 Toll Road to save time.
Sample Itinerary – 1 week, summer, fly in and out of Denver International Airport
Day 1 – Take the new Light Rail from DIA to downtown Denver, or for a budget alternative, get off at the Peoria station and transfer to the new R line to head southwest. There are more economical chain hotels in this area, and it will be easy and fun to take the light rail downtown if you find something close to I-25. Here’s a link to the RTD Light Rail maps – http://www.rtd-denver.com/LightRail_Map.shtml Once settled into your hotel, take the light rail downtown to experience any special events going on. There are often festivals in Civic Park or celebrations on the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall. The free shuttle bus will take you up and down 16th so that you can see what’s available. Walk over to the State Capitol between Colfax and 14th for a tour and a gorgeous view of the Rocky Mountain peaks. Stop for a craft beer at Rock Bottom Brewery. The Denver Art Museum and History of Colorado Museum are both a short walk away and both worthy of a leisurely visit.
Days 2 to 4 – You’ll be anxious to get to the mountains now that you’ve acclimated for a day. Join a meetup to go hiking, or rent a car for maximum flexibility. Denver has a few other ways to get to the mountains, including their new Bustang bus service. For more info check here – https://www.denver.org/about-denver/transportation/mountain-transportation/ The Bustang stops in Frisco and Vail, where Uber and Lyft both operate. Either town offers lots for the visitor to do. There’s boating in Frisco as well as museums to investigate. Take the local bus over to Breckenridge for more options. Breckrenridge has a chair lift to the top of the mountain, perfect for cooling off on a hot day.
If you’d like, transfer to the other town for another night – either Frisco or Vail. Vail also has a nice gondola up to the mountain top with spectacular vistas and hiking trails.Walking through Vail Village is pleasant and a nice way to find a restaurant for the evening.
Day 5 – Continue on the bus to Glenwood Springs, where you can spend another night taking in the cool mountain air. Glenwood’s Hot Springs pool has been renowned for decades as a place to come and relax in the warm mineral waters. The Hotel Colorado across the street was host to the infamous Al Capone several times. Plaques and displays memorialize some of the exploits of Capone and his entourage. Glenwood has a gondola that takes visitors up to a cavern, as well as an entertainment park for younger guests. Numerous restaurants are within walking distance across the Colorado River. You’re sure to find something to delight.
Day 6 – Breakfast at the Hotel Colorado or any of the many coffee shops in town. I stopped in Sacred Grounds and was very satisfied. If you took the bus up to Glenwood Springs, then you will be able to take the Amtrak California Zephyr train back to Denver. Amtrak often runs late, so don’t take the train if you need to be somewhere at a particular time. I’ve arrived back as late as 11 pm. If you get back in time though, check the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to see what shows are in town. Or head to one of the Comedy Clubs downtown for a few good laughs.
Day 7 – Time to head to the airport. Take the Light Rail from Union Station straight to DIA. There is a Root Down in Concourse C, perfect for lunch or dinner.
Check back for more Sample Itineraries – Spring will be next!