48 hours in Estes Park, Colorado

Somewhere between the ponderosa pines, smooth-as-glass frozen lakes and white-capped mountain peaks, I had a realization – I had officially stumbled into a real-life snow globe.  

Not that I should have been surprised. Estes Park, located in northern Colorado less than an hour-and-a-half from Denver and only minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, has long been a popular destination for outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts eager to experience its natural beauty.  

Estes Park is filled with opportunities to experience the great outdoors. Kristin Finan photo

But on a December weekend getaway to Estes Park, I would learn that, in addition to the town’s multitude of outdoor offerings, it’s also home to an incredible food scene, a variety of unique attractions, and, perhaps most importantly, a vibrant local community.  

If you’re short on time but big on adventure, here’s my suggested itinerary for spending 48 hours in Estes Park, Colorado.  

FRIDAY MORNING 

Because of Estes Park’s proximity to Denver, it’s easy to snag an early-morning flight into DIA and still enjoy lunch in Estes Park by noon, which is what I did. My first stop upon arriving? SereniTEA Tea Room, an adorable pink-and-blue hued tea room where you’ll discover twee floral teapots, towering tiers of decadent baked goods, and even a hat rack filled with options that you can don while enjoying your meal. My group adored our high-tea tasting menu, which included tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, three mini–desserts, and an unlimited pot of tea.  

Tea and finger sandwiches are the order of the day at SereniTEA. Kristin Finan photo

FRIDAY AFTERNOON 

When you’re in an outdoor town, it’s important to have the right outdoor gear, and there’s no better place for that than the Estes Park Mountain Shop, which offers gear and apparel for everything from hiking to rock climbing to snowshoeing. More than just a store, the Estes Park Mountain Shop has also been a community hub for more than 38 years thanks to its commitment to hosting events, engaging local youth, and giving back to area nonprofits. You can even get a little taste of adventure inside the shop, which also offers indoor rock climbing.  

FRIDAY EVENING 

Check into one of the beautifully renovated rooms at the Estes Park Resort, which sits along the shore of Lake Estes and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Once you’ve settled in, head to the on-site Qi Lounge, which boasts a full range of services including massages, facials, and body scrubs. I opted for the spa’s “ultimate check-in experience,” which comes with a warm foot bath and your choice of fizzer; a 15-minute massage in a zero-gravity chair; access to the dry sauna; and a glass of bubbly.  

After the spa, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the resort’s Ember Restaurant & Bar, which opened in May 2024 and features a variety of modern American cuisines. Menu highlights included the game skewer trio of elk, venison and bison; the ahi poke wontons with Yellowfin tuna, avocado, sriracha aioli, jalapeno, cilantro and wonton chips; and the steak frites with sliced bistro filet, brown butter, candied bacon, and garlic-parmesan fries.  

SATURDAY MORNING 

I love to hike as much as I love experiencing new national parks, but as I strapped my rented microspikes to the bottom of my hiking boots, I had to wonder if a winter hike through Rocky Mountain National Park might be a little too much for this Texan. Thankfully, my fears were assuaged after a few steps onto the park’s Dream Lake trail, a 2-mile roundtrip adventure that was, indeed dream-like thanks to its breathtaking vistas. From the crunch of my boots on the snow to the glittering snow that blanketed the landscape, the hike was unforgettable and lived up to every expectation I had.  

Microspikes are a must during a snowy hike through Rocky Mountain National Park. Kristin Finan photo

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Tip: On your way to Rocky Mountain National Park, be sure to stop for breakfast at Coffee on the Rocks, a delightful café adjacent to a scenic duck pond that draws park visitors all year-round.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON 

When you think of Colorado, you may think of apres-ski, but apres-hike is also a thing, and no place is better for an apres-hike meal than Bird & Jim, which features Colorado cuisine with an ever-evolving seasonal and ingredient-driven menu. Menu highlights included a decadent charcuterie and cheese board, a fantastic BLT and a mouthwatering meatloaf.  

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SATURDAY EVENING 

Perhaps there is no place in Estes Park more famous than the Stanley Hotel, which was built in 1909 and is known as being the inspiration for the Stephen King movie, “The Shining,” after King stayed at the hotel during a snowstorm. These days, references to the movie can be found across the hotel, including a massive dollhouse that was featured in a miniseries about “The Shining” and was filmed on location at the hotel in 1997 and a 60-minute on-site tour that even includes a viewing of one of the axes used in the movie.  

For the most, er, spirited room on property, though, don’t miss The Vault at the Stanley, which offers private whiskey tastings expertly curated by McShan Walker. During our 60-minute tasting, Walker taught us about the varieties of whiskey and then guided us as we tried four different types, including one, coincidentally, from Still Austin Whiskey Co. Most of the selections offered in the Vault are among only 200 bottles in existence, so you can be sure everything you try, and experience, will be unique.  

Don’t miss a whiskey tasting at The Vault at the Stanley Hotel. Kristin Finan photo

Speaking of unique, we ended the day at the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, which was built in 1937 and has since served as a community hub and the go-to spot for delicious food and wonderful live music. We were thrilled to arrive to find Texan Sarah Minto-Sparks (@sparkytexan on Instagram) on the guitar playing a spectacular variety of covers and originals.  

It was the perfect ending to a whirlwind weekend in Estes Park, where the scenery was beautiful, the food was amazing, and the community felt like something out of a Hallmark movie.