Estes Park- Paradise in the Rockies

Estes Park, Colorado is a small town at 7500 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains and one place that Mike and I have visited several times. We absolutely adore it there, so it's only appropriate that I do a post on it!

One of the reasons it's such a popular small town is that 1/2 mile outside of it, you'll find the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. I'll get to that in a little bit, though, because I'd like to start with the town itself.

It's a very dog friendly town for it's size, boasting one dog park along Estes Lake that has two seperate sections. One of the sections has a very nice little agility course, which Emma really enjoyed!
Before or after you visit the dog park, you can walk the path that goes all the way around Estes Lake. The dog park is right off of the path and there are plenty of places to park, so it's a nice area to spend part of the day. There are several places to picnic, too, and you'll most likely see some wildlife. On our visits, we encountered elk, ducks and even a badger!
As far as vegan dining in Estes, your choices are somewhat limited. However, there is a Safeway and a small health food store and Boulder is an hour's drive away (a beautiful drive it is, too!), where you'll find a lot of vegan dining choices. They even have a vegan fast food restaurant!

Finding a place to stay that's dog friendly in Estes is absolutely no problem. They offer a variety of lodging, including a lot of cabins. Three cabins in particular are very dog friendly. Black Dog Inn has a very nice cabin where they allow dogs to stay and it includes a dog run that can be accessed from the side door of the cabin. Cliffside Cottages has three cabins that dogs can stay in. They offer dog walking services and have an enclosed dog exercise area that's lighted at night. All of their cottages have full kitchens, so you can make your own meals and not have to worry about where to dine out. The third cabin that caught my eye is the South Upper Skyline Cottage. It has a fenced yard, a full kitchen and is secluded, so if it's privacy you're looking for this would be the cabin for you.

If it's a hotel you're looking for, there are several to choose from, including The Stanley Hotel. It's the hotel that hosted Stephen King, inspiring him to write The Shining. If you're looking for a thrill, they have ghost tours which includes a tour of the underground tunnel.

Although Rocky Mountain National Park doesn't allow dogs on the trails, I still highly recommend visiting the park. You can bring your dog with you in your car and let them out with you on the roads, parking areas and picnic areas. Trail Ridge Road will take you throughout the park, reaching elevations above 12,000 feet. Emma really seemed to enjoy the scenery at that elevation!
There are several picnic areas in the park and if you want to take the road all the way to the end (Grand Lake), be prepared to drive for about four hours. Along with the stops (and believe me, you'll be stopping a lot to look around!), you'll end up spending most of the day in the park, so bringing a lunch is a good idea. We stopped on our way back from Grand Lake a few years ago and loved having a picnic. The view was breathtaking and we felt like we were in paradise!
If you's like to hike, the Roosevelt National Forest has several trails that are close to Estes Park. Just be sure to bring a lot of water for yourself and your dog. The air is thinner and the sun is closer, so you'll want to stay very hydrated. It's definitely a vacation spot that will leave you pleasantly exhausted!