黃石2012 (2) – Denver & Rocky Mountain

 

Day 1:

After visited Colorado State Capitol (Denver), grocery shopping @ Costco, we started to drive to Boulder and Estes Park via Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, Colo. 119, 72 and 7.

Boulder is an old and enviable university town nestled against the stony foothills of the Front Range.  Gold, silver and oil once played a part in building up Boulder’s Victorian commercial districts and neighborhoods, but today it’s a major technical and scientific center.

Peak-to-Peak scenic byway is one of the best scenic drives in the states.  Stop at Lily Lake Visitor Center and have a look over the rim of Fish Creek Canyon.  We saw 20+ mule deer.

 

Day 2:

Morning Bear Lake Hiking – take the free shuttle to Bear Lake.  From there, the park’s most popular hike climbs 0.5mi to Nymph Lake, then 0.6 mi further to Dream Lake.  The trial is pretty flat.  Roundtrip is 2.2mi

Afternoon Trail Ridge Road drive (US 34).  At Many Parks Curve, a boardwalk offers an expansive view of Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, etc.   The “parks” in the Rockies are the mountain meadows.  Stop at Rainbow Curve, the last turnout before tree line.  We turned back at Alpine Visitor Center, to Stanley Hotel.

The five-story Stanley Hotel was built in 1909 by Freelan Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile.

Restaurant recommendation @ Estes Park: Smokin' Dave's BBQ & Tap House

Family Meal: Not-so-Teeny Wahine, $32.95, the quantity is too large for 4 of us to eat all, though on menu it’s said: “serves up to 2-3 people (depending on appetite)”.  It includes: half rack St. Louis Ribs, 1/2 chicken, 1/4 lb Brisket, 1/4 lb Pulled pork, 3 cornbread, 4 small sides including fries, sweet potatoes, etc.

 

Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, Colo. 119, 72 and 7.  Boulder -> Nederland -> Estes Park 

Lily Lake 

Bear Lake area hiking - Nymph Lake

From Stanley Park:

Stanley Park:

Stanley Park Back: