Day 4 - Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado Springs – Steamboat Springs by way of Rocky Mountain National Park, 312 miles total and 28.1(!) mpg. Totals for the trip, 1232 miles, 26.7 mpg. Those are the stats.


This is gonna be short. It’s late, I’m tired. Today was great. We left Colorado Springs around 9 after letting the boys run in a dog park (Rampart).

We had a great time in Colorado Springs, but the show must go on! So we scooted up I25 to I470 and around to I70, headed on out to Central City (a short story here), and up scenic routes 72 and 7 to Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. First stop was Central City. We stopped there because we couldn’t figure out how to get out of town. The place isn’t that big, but there are no (NO) signs. Once you are in town the way out is a mystery – as Wendy points out, it’s just like a casino – which happens to be Central Citys main attraction!

We finally did stumble on the way out, and we were off on a very scenic drive for the next bunch of hours. I really don’t know what I can tell you – you have to see it. Even looking at pictures just can’t convey how incredibly beautiful it all is, the mountains, trees, snow, animals, everything. So I’m not even going to try to describe it beyond that. Go. Enjoy. Have time. Actually, if there is any negative on the day it is that we didn’t have enough time. There are many many side trips – hikes, drives, whatever, and activities. It could easily take a week to do a reasonable amount of exploring – and all we could do is drive through. That’s fine for an introduction, but it just makes you want to go back for more!

The weather was perfect. We finally rolled into Steamboat Springs around 6pm – so 9 nours for the 300 miles – we really took our time, made a lot of stops, had a great lunch.

That’s another high point of the day. Lunch. We found a place in Nederland that was just great. We overstuffed. There are many eating places in that little town – way more than you would expect. The one we chose, Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery, was great. We had bbq, with their “Atomic” sauce – really good. The baked beans were unlike anything I’ve ever had, and they were great – had several types of beans, great flavor.

In Steamboat Springs we got checked in and moved in, then went to find a light snack. Ended up with a salad and a small (8”) pizza – Thai Chicken, pretty good.
We’re back in the room, crashing fast. The boys start every day at 5am, so so do we! That makes for a long day, and it’s usually at least 10:30, as it is right now, when I finish up my notes. Must sleep. Goodnight!