Over the course of my lifetime, I have been to Estes Park, Colorado every other year. This adds up to about eight times. My parents first went to Estes Park on their honeymoon in 1994 and fell in love with the little town.

This town has so much to offer, such as lovely hikes and trails, local restaurants, it is close to a national park, and tourist attractions.

Popular hikes that are difficult and perfect workouts in Estes Park are Bridal Veil Falls, Gem Lake, and Mills Lake. Some easier, more relaxing trails are Alberta Falls, Bear Lake, and Sprague Lake.

This small town offers many local restaurants you can’t find anywhere else, such as Penelope’s World Famous Burger and Fries, Antonio’s NY Pizza Express, and Donut Haus.

Estes Park is only two miles away from Rocky Mountain National Park and only takes 5-7 minutes, but another way is a scenic route on Old Fall River Road, which only takes 3 more minutes. Old Fall River Road is only open during the summer because in the winter the snowfall is too heavy and makes the road too dangerous.

The main tourist attractions in Estes Park are the Stanley Hotel, the Riverwalk downtown, and the many local art shops and galleries. Estes Park is a must to visit at least once in your life.