Denver in March?

[User 1019]

Sorry, folks. I was kind-of banking on the fact that everyone understood I don't live in NYC. I mean, there ain't no big Army post off 42nd Street.

The six-and-change drive from Manhattan (really, Ft. Riley, which is 20 minutes west) to Denver is totes doable. I've made it from Riley to the Springs a couple of times in less -- as long as the weather's good. It's straight, flat interstate with no cops (or gas stations) for miles.

I think a couple of problems exist for us in Breckenridge. A.) It's damned expensive. We'd have to rent gear (although that cost could be offset by renting our stuff at Ft. Carson), get ski lessons and lift tickets, and while we're generally Holiday Inn-type folk, anything outside that is 3 bills a night. B.) None of us have ever skied before, and I'm afraid at least 50 percent of the family wouldn't like it. My wife and son are huge chicken****s when it comes to stuff like that. We're lake/boat/beach folk, and I'm afraid it just wouldn't be in our DNA.

The kids love zoos, aquariums, parks, shows, watching dad drink beer at breweries, museums, so I think Denver is most likely the best fit for us.

 

[Chef2]

The kids love zoos, aquariums, parks, shows, watching dad drink beer at breweries, museums, so I think Denver is most likely the best fit for us.

This line had me chuckling. "Slow down Dad, you've had one too many!"

 

[User 1019]

This line had me chuckling. "Slow down Dad, you've had one too many!"

Dude, we've dragged these two kids to so many breweries and wineries, I'll be lucky if they're not raging alcoholics in their mid-20s.

 

[Ace]

Sorry, folks. I was kind-of banking on the fact that everyone understood I don't live in NYC. I mean, there ain't no big Army post off 42nd Street.

The six-and-change drive from Manhattan (really, Ft. Riley, which is 20 minutes west) to Denver is totes doable. I've made it from Riley to the Springs a couple of times in less -- as long as the weather's good. It's straight, flat interstate with no cops (or gas stations) for miles.

I think a couple of problems exist for us in Breckenridge. A.) It's damned expensive. We'd have to rent gear (although that cost could be offset by renting our stuff at Ft. Carson), get ski lessons and lift tickets, and while we're generally Holiday Inn-type folk, anything outside that is 3 bills a night. B.) None of us have ever skied before, and I'm afraid at least 50 percent of the family wouldn't like it. My wife and son are huge chicken****s when it comes to stuff like that. We're lake/boat/beach folk, and I'm afraid it just wouldn't be in our DNA.

The kids love zoos, aquariums, parks, shows, watching dad drink beer at breweries, museums, so I think Denver is most likely the best fit for us.

So your family is afraid to risk knees and necks but not so much livers?

 

[LanceyHoward]

I was disappointed in the Denver Art Museum, but the little art museum in Colorado Springs is fantastic.

As a Coloradan I will pass along my driving tip for anyone driving Denver to Colorado Springs. I-25, the principal road is in the second valley east of the the mountains. While the scenery is very pretty the traffic is heavy. The first valley is far less developed and scenery is in my view better (I like driving through the rock formations).

C-470 is the western loop of Denver. Take C-470 to Santa Fe (Co- 85) (which is the road that leads southwest from downtown Denver). Once you clear the Denver sprawl the only town you will see is Sedelia (home to one of the best Italian restaurants in Colorado, Gabriel's). In Sedelia turn south on Colorado 105 and parallel National Forest for about 30 miles until you arrive in Monument. 105 will drop you off on I-225 just north of the Air Force Academy. It takes a little longer but it is basically a drive on a country road.

 

[Donny in his element]

As a Coloradan I will pass along my driving tip for anyone driving Denver to Colorado Springs. I-25, the principal road is in the second valley east of the the mountains. While the scenery is very pretty the traffic is heavy. The first valley is far less developed and scenery is in my view better (I like driving through the rock formations).

C-470 is the western loop of Denver. Take C-470 to Santa Fe (Co- 85) (which is the road that leads southwest from downtown Denver). Once you clear the Denver sprawl the only town you will see is Sedelia (home to one of the best Italian restaurants in Colorado, Gabriel's). In Sedelia turn south on Colorado 105 and parallel National Forest for about 30 miles until you arrive in Monument. 105 will drop you off on I-225 just north of the Air Force Academy. It takes a little longer but it is basically a drive on a country road.

Good burger dive in Sedalia, too.

If you like casinos (smoke free, too), make the short drive (weather dependent) to Blackhawk/Central City.

Also hear there a good regional brewery in Golden. Coors, I believe it's called.

 

[Vombatus]

So your family is afraid to risk knees and necks but not so much livers?

Priorities, man, priorities.

 

[MileHigh]

Sorry, folks. I was kind-of banking on the fact that everyone understood I don't live in NYC. I mean, there ain't no big Army post off 42nd Street.

The six-and-change drive from Manhattan (really, Ft. Riley, which is 20 minutes west) to Denver is totes doable. I've made it from Riley to the Springs a couple of times in less -- as long as the weather's good. It's straight, flat interstate with no cops (or gas stations) for miles.

I think a couple of problems exist for us in Breckenridge. A.) It's damned expensive. We'd have to rent gear (although that cost could be offset by renting our stuff at Ft. Carson), get ski lessons and lift tickets, and while we're generally Holiday Inn-type folk, anything outside that is 3 bills a night. B.) None of us have ever skied before, and I'm afraid at least 50 percent of the family wouldn't like it. My wife and son are huge chicken****s when it comes to stuff like that. We're lake/boat/beach folk, and I'm afraid it just wouldn't be in our DNA.

The kids love zoos, aquariums, parks, shows, watching dad drink beer at breweries, museums, so I think Denver is most likely the best fit for us.

It definitely gets pricey going to the mountains to ski, including Breck. Though you could stay in Silverthorne/Frisco for a bit less and make the 20-minute drive there.

Still, if it's zoos, aquariums, parks and breweries, there is plenty of that here in the city to keep you busy.

And, yes, the weather is fickle in March, as Madhavoc said. Same in December. We've been subzero twice this month. Nearly 60 today. Break out the shorts.

 

[dixiehack]

So your family is afraid to risk knees and necks but not so much livers?

They're SEC people, so they're built for this. #itjustmeansmore

 

[User 1019]

They're SEC people, so they're built for this. #itjustmeansmore

More like, we're NOT built for skiing.

 

[MileHigh]

I've been living here for 13 years (minus 14 months) and coming here for 40-some years. Neither am I. Just not my thing. But there's tons of other things to do than that.

 

[User 1019]

It's just something we've never done. Kansas is the farthest west and north we've ever lived, so we've never been exposed to it. I guess if we get to Alaska or Ft. Drum or Carson, we'll give it a whirl.

 

[Roscablo]

More like, we're NOT built for skiing.

I'm a native and I don't ski either. Never been down hill once. Don't care to either. I get some weird looks when I say that. My wife is taking two of our kids skiing at Winter Park next week for one day, not the most expensive place in the world, and it's going to set us back around $400. That certainly doesn't make me change my mind on the matter.

 

[Madhavok]

It definitely gets pricey going to thehe mountains to ski, including Breck. Though you could stay in Silverthorne/Frisco for a bit less and make the 20-minute drive there.

Still, if it's zoos, aquariums, parks and breweries, there is plenty of that here in the city to keep you busy.

And, yes, the weather is fickle in March, as Madhavoc said. Same in December. We've been subzero twice this month. Nearly 60 today. Break out the shorts.

Staying in Silvy, Dillon, or Frisco these days isn't much cheaper. We're at 98% capacity right now in Breck. And it's a mess. But as others have said, lots of different things to do down on the front range and in Summit.

I was going to come down the hill today, but the thought of driving back up later today on the 70 changed that idea.

 

[Vombatus]

Did they get that road repaired that washed out a couple of years ago? (Think that was further north and west).

I remember the aerial photos, and wow, never underestimate the power of water.

 

[Roscablo]

Did they get that road repaired that washed out a couple of years ago? (Think that was further north and west).

I remember the aerial photos, and wow, never underestimate the power of water.

I think there were a few. Highway 34 from Loveland to Estes Park has been completely closed for a rebuild this fall, although they've opened it for the holidays.

 

[I Should Coco]

Also hear there a good regional brewery in Golden. Coors, I believe it's called.

Did that tour back in the 1990s. Free beers at the end.

Also recall cheap laughs in the beginning, where you can see some nasty water being pumped out after the brewing process into some sort of sanitation system. "Is that the Rocky Mountain spring water?"

 

[Madhavok]

Did ethey get that road repaired that washed out a couple of years ago? (Think that was further north and west).

I remember the aerial photos, and wow, never underestimate the power of water.

We had road on the north end of town that was washed out about five years ago. Crazy storm. My car and a few others were totaled by water in our golf course's parking lot. It is now repaired.

North of Boulder there was a crazy flood in lefthand canyon. Maybe that's what you are talking about. It was completed this summer. I ride my bike up that area here and there and the damage was pretty nuts.

 

[MileHigh]

2013 floods were insane and wiped out several roads. 34 is closed between Loveland and Estes for flood repairs until Memorial Day. My sister's place got flooded by that damn 100-year storm.

The Coors tour is pretty good, actually. New Belgium is just as good, if you can get in.

No surprise that Frisco/Silverthorne books up. I'm sure Air BNB is just as crazy. My brother came out from SoCal this week to ski and said it was absolutely nuts. And he was only at Keystone. I'm sure Vail, Aspen/Snowmass, Copper and Winter Park have been beyond insane.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Good burger dive in Sedalia, too.

If you like casinos (smoke free, too), make the short drive (weather dependent) to Blackhawk/Central City.

Also hear there a good regional brewery in Golden. Coors, I believe it's called.

If you go to the casinos (not my thing) don't roundtrip on I-70. Take U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon to/from Golden. In Golden I would think that the road to the top of Lookout Mountain would be open and OK to drive.