Rocky Mountain High - Colorado July/Aug 16

[katiebaz]

With just a couple of months to our next USA road trip I have finally got around to writing my pre-trip report - courtesy of recovering from surgery on my foot and being parked on the sofa for the foreseeable future.

So we are heading to Colorado and the Rockies for 3.5 weeks this summer and can't wait. We went in 2011 and flew in and out of Denver but spent very little time in Colorado itself as that trip we went to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota taking in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, the badlands etc. We fell in love with the area and always planned to come back and see more of Colorado and after a few Florida and west/east coast trips we are back.

We are all USA mad and LOVE our road trips, especially national parks, theme parks, outdoor activities, baseball and Country music. Both Steve and I have been to 18 states each and on this trip hope to bag a new one with a quick detour into New Mexico. We plan to bag all 50 at some point!

So meet the cast:



From left to right:

Steve - Chief driver, planner of routes, loves the planning and booking almost as much as me, sports mad and a little bit cowboy.

Daniel - fortunate to have been to the USA 8 times in his 12 years, with his first trip at 4 months old, enthusiastic of all things USA, loves American sports, music and anything where he can get wet!

Me ( Katie) - Alpha planner and chief researcher. Love our trips to the states and happily spends far too much time on the DIBB.

We are very well organised, flying out of Newcastle at the end of July, via Heathrow to Denver. Our route takes us all over Colorado starting in Boulder, then onto Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde national park, Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Springs and back to Denver with various places in between.

We plan on lots of rafting, horse riding, zip wiring, hiking, cycling, swimming etc and are also very excited to be going back to Cheyenne, Wyoming for the rodeo and music festival Frontier Days. We went back in 2011 and had a blast seeing Toby Keith and Eric Church as well as the "Daddy of 'Em All" rodeo. This year very excitingly we are meeting up with my sister and fellow Dibber, Crispy A, and her family at the festival.

We also have got tickets sorted to see the Colorado Rockies ( major league baseball) the Colorado Springs Sky Sox ( minor League baseball on a $2 per ticket Tuesday!) and a tour of the Denver Broncos football stadium.

One thing that has always been on our list to do is to go to a concert at Red Rocks but sadly at the moment it is not working out with the dates we are in Denver and acts that we want to see. Dolly Parton is there on our first night but as much as we love the Queen of Country we don't think we will be up for a night time gig on our first day.

We just have a few more activities and days to plan but all accommodation is booked, ESTA's have been renewed and tickets have been purchased. We can't wait :-)

[Melbatb]

Sounds fabulous!

[christybell]

Love the sound of your adventure, will be following along to get ideas for future trips

[katiebaz]

Thank you! We are really excited

[tinkerbelll]

Sounds fab. Subscribing. Where flights and car hire expensive? I've been looking at prices and its putting me off for next year.

[katiebaz]

Originally Posted by tinkerbelll

Sounds fab. Subscribing. Where flights and car hire expensive? I've been looking at prices and its putting me off for next year.

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Well we paid more for flights then we would have liked as we have to go in school holidays and also live in Cumbria. Also there is not much competition on the route so less bargains to be had.

We booked in the end in the BA sale and paid 3500 for flights Newcastle - Denver via Heathrow with an SUV for the 3.5 weeks. As DS is 12 he is an 'adult' now so that price was for 3 adults. We got 2 drivers and full insurance as we are AVIOS members, although we only just joined. We booked on Christmas Day!

I know we could have gone cheaper by boomeranging through Dublin but when we added on flights and transport back to Cumbria there wasn't much in it, but as you live in N Ireland it might work out. Also by going via Newcastle we have saved on needing a hotel the night before our flight.

To keep within budget we have gone for bog standard motels in the main. We don't mind that as on a road trip you are just sleeping there and often breakfast is included which helps.

It's a great part of the world but cheap flight hard to come by! Happy planning

[CrispyA]

Your trip sounds so awesome. Can't wait to meet up with you guys! *makes rock horns*

[Guest]

Just love Colorado. We had a superb time. The contrast between the north and south of the state.
Funnily enough we'll be passing through Cheyenne and Laramie in early July on our way to Yellowstone.
There is just so much more to the USA than central Florida! (30 states for us and counting).

[katiebaz]

Originally Posted by geoffa

Just love Colorado. We had a superb time. The contrast between the north and south of the state.
Funnily enough we'll be passing through Cheyenne and Laramie in early July on our way to Yellowstone.
There is just so much more to the USA than central Florida! (30 states for us and counting).

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Enjoy Yellowstone, an amazing place as is Grand Teton. Really looking forward to seeing the rest of Colorado too

[katiebaz]

Originally Posted by CrispyA

Your trip sounds so awesome. Can't wait to meet up with you guys! *makes rock horns*

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You too!