Estes Park and the surrounding area
Food and Drink
$$ Farm-to-table food and vegan options. Cozy feel with socially-distanced indoor and outdoor seating options. Great spot for elk watching in the fall, and right by the Beaver Meadows entrance to the park.
67 locals recommend
Bird & Jim
915 Moraine Ave$$ Farm-to-table food and vegan options. Cozy feel with socially-distanced indoor and outdoor seating options. Great spot for elk watching in the fall, and right by the Beaver Meadows entrance to the park.
$ Our family loves to get cups of coffee and sit in the outdoor space or benches along the river! You may even get a visit from an elk as they enjoy browsing the plants along the water. It is so peaceful and is a great way to start a day of shopping, or just to enjoy by itself.
44 locals recommend
Kind Coffee
470 E Elkhorn Ave$ Our family loves to get cups of coffee and sit in the outdoor space or benches along the river! You may even get a visit from an elk as they enjoy browsing the plants along the water. It is so peaceful and is a great way to start a day of shopping, or just to enjoy by itself.
$$$ This is a lovely place for special occasions, or just a casual treat. Gorgeous views of the mountains and a great space for sunsets. Currently, the space provides socially-distanced indoor dining.
25 locals recommend
Twin Owls Steakhouse
3110 South Saint Vrain Avenue$$$ This is a lovely place for special occasions, or just a casual treat. Gorgeous views of the mountains and a great space for sunsets. Currently, the space provides socially-distanced indoor dining.
$$ Friendly staff and a great variety of Colorado wines to sample! They offer both socially-distanced indoor seating and outdoor covered seating with chair heaters, overhead heaters, and ground-level heaters. We were just fine outside there on a -14 degree day!
22 locals recommend
Snowy Peaks Winery
292 Moraine Ave$$ Friendly staff and a great variety of Colorado wines to sample! They offer both socially-distanced indoor seating and outdoor covered seating with chair heaters, overhead heaters, and ground-level heaters. We were just fine outside there on a -14 degree day!
Sightseeing
This is an unusual building that appears to grow right from the rock. Located about 10 min from the house along Route 7, It is open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM daily.
9 locals recommend
Saint Catherine Chapel
10758 CO-7This is an unusual building that appears to grow right from the rock. Located about 10 min from the house along Route 7, It is open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM daily.
Things to do
With plenty of options, our family favorite has been miniature golf! Everyone, from teenagers to grandparents, had a blast. We saw many families with little ones enjoying the fun as well.
We have not had a chance to try out the other options but hope to next season.
19 locals recommend
Estes Park Ride-A-Kart
2250 Big Thompson AveWith plenty of options, our family favorite has been miniature golf! Everyone, from teenagers to grandparents, had a blast. We saw many families with little ones enjoying the fun as well.
We have not had a chance to try out the other options but hope to next season.
Lily Lake is a gentle, scenic loop around the water. It is under 10 minutes from the house and is a part of Rocky Mountain National Park.
25 locals recommend
Lily Lake
Lily Lake is a gentle, scenic loop around the water. It is under 10 minutes from the house and is a part of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Note: the road to the trailhead is typically closer between late October and May. Check the Rocky Mountain National Park website to confirm. This is a lesser known entrance to the National Park, located about 15 minutes south of the house along Route 7. The trails follow the rivers, with a variety of landscapes to see. Hikes range from 3 to 10+ miles.
21 locals recommend
Wild Basin Trailhead
Note: the road to the trailhead is typically closer between late October and May. Check the Rocky Mountain National Park website to confirm. This is a lesser known entrance to the National Park, located about 15 minutes south of the house along Route 7. The trails follow the rivers, with a variety of landscapes to see. Hikes range from 3 to 10+ miles.
Traveler advice
What to pack
Bring warm layers, even in the summer
If you plan to spend any time out of the car in Rocky Mountain (hiking, sight-seeing), or are going to do a Jeep tour, make sure you've got warm layers! Trail Ridge Road can get snow at any time of the year.