This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun.

[geekchick]

Plane tickets? Check.
Rental car reservation? Check.
Shiny new updated road atlas? Check.
Bucket o'sunblock for glow-in-the-dark li'l ol' me? Check. Note to self: Pale chick needs hat badly.
Hotel reserved for the first two nights? Check.
Working on a plan for a combination of Seeing Stuff and sitting on my butt with a book or some yarn and people/scenery watching? Check.
Planning to come back home refreshed and having proven something to myself? Check check check.



If anyone has any particular recommendations between Denver International and Taos, send 'em my way.

Comments

[jasra]

It's been incredibly hot (hovering around 100 most of the week) out here so a hat would be a good thing. I've been using my 45 SPF sunscreen when I go outside for very long.

The Sand Dunes are supposed to be amazing.
Manitou Springs has really neat hot springs.
I've heard good things about the Fossil Beds (or maybe it was Dinosaur something).
Pikes Peak would probably be lovely this time of year but bring a sweater.

That's about all that's localish that I can think off. I can ask my co-workers if you'd like. Just leave me a comment or email and I'll get more info from the locals.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Oh gees, tons! I think my "you better not miss this" suggestion is Rocky Mountain National Park. The entrance in Estes Park is the side I'd go in on. Estes is beautiful. G and I almost bought a house there twice!. Damn things fell through. One day we'll go back :-)

[jasra]

I was going to mention that but it was the wrong direction from where she was headed. I love RMNP.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

It's worth the detour :-) From the airport is's probably an hour and a half.

[geekchick]

We'll see how wiped I am from the flight out. =)

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

And there was I thinking that you were coming to worldcon in Glasgow for a moment...

Have fun!

[geekchick]

Alas, no. Not nearly enough advance planning for that.

[geekchick]

I've already got a nice big nalgene bottle that fits nicely in the side pockets of my bag, and the camera just needs an appropriately-sized case. =)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

- Pike's Peak Cog Railway
- Manitou Cliffs (faked cliff dwellings, but cool and educational still)
- Royal Gorge Bridge, for a very cool natural scene surrounded by the tackiest tourist traps in existence
- Castle Rock, CO outlet malls ;-)
- Buena Vista & the Collegiate Peaks area
- Mt. Evans Highway
- Denver Mint
- (If you're going up toward Boulder) Celestial Seasonings factory tour

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

If you go to Royal Gorge, watch out for the deer - they were sticking their heads in the car looking to be fed. Most aggressive deer I've ever seen!

Dan, do you have any of the deer pictures scanned in?

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I don't at the moment. I'll have to find a couple and do so later. :-)

[geekchick]

Ah, like my cat but on a larger scale. ;)

[geekchick]

the tackiest tourist traps in existence

Now that's an achievement!

Castle Rock, CO outlet malls ;-)

Nah, Rehoboth is closer. ;)

Celestial Seasonings factory tour

Wrong direction, but believe me when I say I thought about it.

I'm totally surprised you of all people didn't mention NCAR; again with the wron direction, but still... ;)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Now that's an achievement!

Truly. Although Niagara Falls is up there, too.

I thought about NCAR, but not before you'd made your follow-up post. Blame the migraine for my initial oversight. ;-)

(And forget I mentioned the Manitou Cliffs - it also didn't register right away you're going to Taos. The real pueblo would be much better, I'm sure, even not having been there.)

[noire.livejournal.com]

ohmyghu, LOVE Taos. So many many great restaurants. Of course you're going to the pueblo, but go to the pueblo. It's way worth it. I think the Anasazi cliff dwellings might be a bit far from there, but if you can make that, they're great.

Ooooh, I'm so envious. I almost bought property in Taos...

[geekchick]

I had been thinking of going to Santa Fe first, but I'm leaning strongly now to just skipping Santa Fe as a destination and going straight for Taos. Hopefully I won't come back convinced I need to move there. =)

[plaidsheep.livejournal.com]

Are you and C going together?

Ask C about Taos :) That is how I spent my 30th birthday. You MUST drive the Enchanted Circle - its the highway that leaves from Taos and goes up into the Sangre De Cristo mountains (mmm blood of Christ). Its an absolutely STUNNING drive.

There's lots of lovely places to eat, little cozy B&B's to stay at, and galleries and such.

I really loved Taos. enjoy!

[geekchick]

This one is just me, C. and I are going to the beach for a long weekend a bit later.

The biggest problem I foresee is that I love to scenery-watch, but this trip I'm forced to drive. =) If I don't come back, you'll know I either up and bought a place in Taos or I drove off a cliff while distracted by a sunset. ;)

[dragonflysister.livejournal.com]

-salida, colorado
-mesa verde cliff dwellings (real ones)
-independant pass that dumps you in to aspen
-maroon bells (aspen)

if you take i-70, absolutely MUST stop at Glenwood Springs for hot springs and a massage at Yampah Vapor Caves: http://www.yampahspa.com/

[geekchick]

-independant pass that dumps you in to aspen

Oooh, yeah. I made the drive to Aspen from Denver several years ago, and it was gorgeous.

stop at Glenwood Springs for hot springs and a massage at Yampah Vapor Caves

You are a very bad influence. ;)

[dragonflysister.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ~grin~

I lived in the Aspen Valley for a while and have fond memories of those Vapor Caves. Fond, fondling, fond memories.