Towns near mountains

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mtalll
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Towns near mountains

Post by mtalll »

I'm looking for a new (to me) town to stay in CO this summer. I will be hiking, but my wife and daughter want to stay in/near a town with restaurants, shops, etc. Estes park is perfect for us, but I've been several times and am looking for something new. We've also stayed in Dillon which is great, and Aspen was okay. Any suggestions/favorite places to recommend? Access to a couple 14ers is needed, but I like lake hikes just as much. Thanks.
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Scott P
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by Scott P »

Silverton, Ouray, or Lake City.
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Jorts
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by Jorts »

mtalll wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:14 am Aspen was okay.
:lol:

Westcliffe and Ridgway seem a'ight.
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CoHi591
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by CoHi591 »

Definitely Ouray or Lake City!
The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days.
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Jorts
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by Jorts »

CaptCO wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:50 am Please don’t go to Westcliffe expecting good shopping haha, if you’re in Ridg might as well go to Silverton! Cmon Jorts, I didn’t think Lake City had great shopping guess I need to spend more time there this summer.
Hmm... never considered myself a shopping aficionado so guess I'll defer. I just dug both those towns and their access to the mountains.
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by tmud »

I'd recommend something closer to the I-70 corridor. The San Juan towns do not fit that description (shopping and dining). Great towns for anyone who wants to gain 2000 ft on a daily basis hiking, not so much if not.
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Will_E
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by Will_E »

My dream is to one day live in Salida, it’s as central as you can get to all the mountain ranges, especially in summer when indy pass is open.

And Salida has a Walmart.
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montanahiker
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by montanahiker »

Will_E wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 12:13 pm My dream is to one day live in Salida, it’s as central as you can get to all the mountain ranges, especially in summer when indy pass is open.

And Salida has a Walmart.
I think a lot of us have that dream. It's starting to feel like that dream is getting further away every year rather than closer.
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by Reg0928 »

I've been lucky enough to call Salida home for the last 6 years. I don't plan on leaving any time soon
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AnnaG22
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by AnnaG22 »

Carbondale or New Downtown Buena Vista (pretty ritzy, but not quite in the ostentatious/horrific way of Breck, Vail, or Aspen).
"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had the eyes to see." -Ed Abbey

"I get scared sometimes—lots of times—but it's not bad. You know? I feel close to myself. When I'm out there at night, I feel close to my own body, I can feel my blood moving, my skin and my fingernails, everything, it's like I'm full of electricity and I'm glowing in the dark—I'm on fire almost—I'm burning away into nothing—but it doesn't matter because I know exactly who I am." from The Things They Carried
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by AnnaG22 »

CaptCO wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:54 pm One thing I love about Colorado is the towns are either way smaller or larger than you anticipate. That being said I paid $180 for a super 8 in BV a couple weeks ago and will only stay there if I have to moving forward. I’ve rented cabins, camped, paid for camping, hotels, and it’s all overpriced there now. It is a cute town with some acreage to it though! A middle point could be Alamosa to hit the Sand Dunes/Zapata Falls in a day, then transfer to the San Juan’s. Options are endless honestly (great views of Little Bear traverse on the drive to Ft. Garland as well)
Yeah, I think the longer term BV motels are upping their prices to try to keep with the fancy new hotel on the river.

There's distributed camping pretty close outside of BV...free is free.
"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had the eyes to see." -Ed Abbey

"I get scared sometimes—lots of times—but it's not bad. You know? I feel close to myself. When I'm out there at night, I feel close to my own body, I can feel my blood moving, my skin and my fingernails, everything, it's like I'm full of electricity and I'm glowing in the dark—I'm on fire almost—I'm burning away into nothing—but it doesn't matter because I know exactly who I am." from The Things They Carried
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Re: Towns near mountains

Post by osprey »

Re: Buena Vista Motels
I have stayed many times in the Great Western Sumac Lodge in BV.
It is an older motel with no frill rooms - no fridge, microwave, coffee maker - but the rooms have always been spotless and clean.
The owner gives me a discount for being geriatric and a second discount for paying cash such that my total bill, including tax, is $58.
I have stayed there so many times the owner recognizes me by voice when I call for a reservation. She has a cat which serves as an office manager and usually greets me upon arrival. Maybe it is the cat treats I give to her.
"Rocks, mountains, snow and ice: what more do we desire?" - Reinhard Karl

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