Things To Do
Dream Lake
We drove to the Bear Lake parking lot and then hiked a mile up to Dream Lake in 2021. At the top, we put on some huge snowshoes to tromp around on the frozen lake. The views are gorgeous! If the trails are snowy, we highly recommend renting some yaktrax or snowshoes in Estes before going into the park.
Hunters Chop House
We ate here to celebrate our engagement and our steaks were perfectly cooked to our liking. Dana gives it 5 stars because the waitress was nice and we got a free dessert, and the steak was really good too. Justin gives it a 4.4 because he's still on the hunt for the perfect steak, but this one comes close!
Gem Lake Trail
We hiked here over Valentine's Day weekend in 2023, and halfway through the hike Justin uttered the words, "Hiking is fun!" These words were music to Dana's ears, and will never be forgotten.
The Grey House
We often stop into this boutique when we're in downtown Estes. It's tastefully decorated and has fun items to look at for all ages.
Cinnamon's Bakery
We've not yet tried this place, but it comes highly recommended. We'll have to stop by there in December too!
The Whiskey Bar
Grab a cocktail at The Whiskey Bar at the historic Stanley Hotel. We've done it more than once and it never disappoints!
Stanley Hotel
Take a walking tour of the historic Stanley Hotel! We've not toured it yet (Dana is admittedly scared and would rather enjoy a cocktail on the front porch), but the architecture is quite stunning, so don't let fear hold you up!
YMCA of the Rockies
We both have fun family memories at YMCA of the Rockies. In the winter, sometimes the pond is open for ice skating and there’s a sledding hill at the entrance too.