We just returned home after spending 9/22 to 10/1 in this lovely home. As expected, the home has character & comfort & provided exactly what we needed day after day when we returned from hiking in RMNP. There were only 2 in our party but we could have comfortably slept 6. The bed and pillows were comfy (I often bring my own pillow so I was relieved). We enjoyed the grill & private patio & were more than thrilled when the local elk herd visited the back yard & we were able to capture his bugling on the Go Pro & iPhone. The location is PERFECT just a few miles from the park's entrance. We hiked every day & ate meals in the home because it was easy, convenient & economical. We bought groceries at Safeway, a few miles into Estes Park, follow the signs to avoid some of the Estes Park traffic near downtown on the weekends. There was a crock pot in the home we used one day for beef stew which was a fabulous convenience.
Hiking - we hiked the following trails: Mills Lake, Lake Helene, Bierstadt Lake, Lily Lake, Toll Memorial, Chasm Lake, Alluvial Falls, Sprague Lake, Cub Lake to the Pools, Lake Haiyaha, Emerald Lake, Bear Lake, Alberta Falls. Our favorites were Mills, Bierstadt, Helene & Chasm. I'd sprained my ankle badly 2 hours into our first hike by stepping off the trail to take a photo of an elk & I must not have been paying attention, a stupid mistake & I should have known better. After an afternoon of icing & laying low for a day I hiked anyway & have a puffy ankle with a myriad of color that can better heal now that I'm home.
The one evening we dined out we chose Rock Inn. It seemed like a local spot with character & an acoustic singer. Prices are moderately high at most restaurants that I looked at which is to be expected in a tourist area. We loved the Rock Inn & ate Hummus, Vegetable Bowl, Penne Feta Bowl & 2 salads. The service & food were outstanding & we would return.
On our last day a kind lady at one of the downtown stores shared some night videos with us of the wildlife most of us don't get to see (mountain lions, bear & coyote) & told us about a bear that often sleeps in a big tree near downtown. We went for a short walk & I was lucky to spot the bear in a huge tree, cradled in the upper branches, well camoflouged. We likely spent a half hour taking photos & iPhone videos as he watched us & changed position slightly. This was a great way to end our trip!
Thanks for allowing us to share your lovely home!