We did a road trip, and this was one of the spots we stopped at. It's the first gold mining town…read morewhen the gold rush started. The town is so small, if you blinked you would miss it. It has a bunch of mom and poo stores. This trip we went into their local museum which was cool and gave you a bit of history about their town. We all loved it and bought some cute souvenirs. Overall, a cute quaint town. Will be back to ski!

Signs out front saying masks required, yet staff inside not wearing them/not wearing them properly…read more Very disrespectful of the staff. Every single guest inside was wearing one, which was noticed and great. The whole staff-not-masked gave me a bad taste about this town since this was the first place I visited. Luckily the rest of the town's establishments were intelligent enough to both have the sign out front AND actually follow it. Hopefully this will be over soon but it's not over yet. Bathrooms for paying visitors only (require a key), and they were dirty. Went to the museum which was $3 or $2 for military and I think $1 for seniors, signs had many spelling mistakes and the exhibits were not very cohesive--there was no progression throughout the museum just random exhibits and artifacts. It would be extremely boring for a child.

Elk hang out around the surrounding area here! I've never seen Elk up close, so this was a treat!…read more This Visitor Center is great for tourists as well as locals. Parking is plentiful. There's a parking lot out front which fills up with people watching the Elk, walking around here, & taking the shuttle buses into town and to the Rocky Mountain National Park. You can obtain lots of free information on the Estes Park area including outdoor activities, lodging, activities around town, dining, & shopping. During the peak summer season, you can take the free town shuttles to this Visitor Center, then transfer from here to the free RMNP shuttles. Avoid parking and traffic issues during the busiest times of the year. Outside are some green areas (parklets), a pedestrian bridge that will take you across the river (where we saw Elk), some art, and the Estes Park Veterans Monument. It's a nice place to wander while stretching your legs.

This was our first stop when we arrived in Estes Park. We got out of the car and the first thing we…read moresee is Elk roaming around the grounds. We went inside and there we several well versed people to give us a map and show us around. They explained the free trolly that tours the city and where the restaurants where located. We were anxious to see the park so we decided to skip the city.

If you are heading to A basin, Breck, or hiking in the surrounding beautiful mountains Gateway…read moreVisitor Center is a god send. Great pit stop for your bathroom brakes. Cute little surrounding coffee shops and restaurants.

First off, stopped here for use of the restrooms which were very clean and functional. As an aside,…read morethe hallway from the entrance (foyer) of the building to the restrooms were decorated with displays regarding local history, upcoming events, and items on sale in the boutique within the building. There is no good reason for you to not stop and make use of the facilities AND meander throughout the giftshop (boutique). This gift shop is filled with beautiful items from pottery, scarves, seasonal hats (some fancy enough to gain you entry to the Kentucky Derby or Ascot) and all the ways to postcards, maps, magnets, fine woolen socks, and other household and patio accoutrement. I could not leave without a beautiful scarf -- my takeaway from our vacation week. Parking is plentiful, the service was spot on helpful, kind and considerately provided.

a. The Breckenridge Visitor Center is a FREE museum. It isn't too big and there isn't a lot, but…read moreit's free. Can't complain about that. They have some pretty interesting stuff about Breckenridge history and one VR exhibit that was apparently pretty cool (dad and wife did, not me). b. The location is awesome. It is centrally located on Main Street right next to a play area and the pretty Riverwalk area. We hung out outside for a bit too. c. Wife said that we had to give some major props to employee Ethan. Ethan was very interactive with my kids (one, coincidentally named Ethan as well) and she really appreciated that. He was also very knowledgeable. She said that if/when I write a review for the visitor center I NEED to make sure I acknowledge Ethan. Mahalo nui e Ethan.

By far, the best rest room option in the center of downtown…read more Always clean, and the staff don't seem to get miffed that that is the main reason you are here! There is a ton of information on the town and even a little musesum. Right out front is a cute park, and all of this is centrally located in Breckenridge!

This was our semi-annual visit to Denver which means we are also making our semi-annual visit to…read morethe beautiful western town of Golden, CO. Golden is a charming town with lots of shops and dining options. Being July, it's also fun to watch the people floating down Clear Creek - right next to the Visitors Center. As usual, the ladies in the visitors center are always friendly and welcoming. They are a valuable source of information regarding Golden.

The ladies working at the visitor center were very nice and helpful. Would recommend stopping on…read moreyour way into Golden as they said they have coupons. We didn't get them since we were almost done with our shopping by the time we stopped by. They did gave some souvenirs you could purchase there like pencils,magnets and postcards

Golden Gate Canyon is a park for all seasons. If I'm being honest I don't find any of the trails or…read moreviews to be epic or spectacular, but due to my first claim in this review, 4 stars fits the bill. Winter, spring, summer, fall, Golden Gate has it all. +Winter you gaze over frozen lakes and ponds, while still being able to hike some of the trails. +Spring the flowers bloom and the aspens begin to turn. +Summer you can mountain bike and blaze all corners of the park. I've never camped here before and would be interested in doing so someday. +Fall is one of the more sought after destinations for leaf peeping and fall foliage due to its close proximity to Denver. Talk about an ideal location for a Christmas card! From old desolate cabins to rushing streams to jagged peaks to countless activities, Golden Gate Canyon is a reliable option when you need to get out of dodge.

Located about 45 minutes from downtown Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park is such a great place…read moreto hike, fish, and is a easy getaway from the city. Numerous trails, plenty of parking spots available as well as bathrooms. Every time I go to the park I discover something new. Visitor center also has a really cool trout pond outside, with so many of the swimming around that you can also feed with food from the vending machine. One of my favorite places outside of Denver to get outdoors!

Rocky Mountain National Park: Fantastic One-Day Visit…read more We only had one day to explore Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), so we made the most of it by hiking the Bear Lake Corridor and visiting Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake. Getting an Early Start We reserved timed entry for both RMNP and the Bear Lake Corridor with a 5:00 AM entry time and entered through the Fall River Entrance. After talking with several Colorado locals, we were advised to arrive at the Bear Lake Trailhead before 5:00 AM to secure parking. We arrived around 4:30 AM, and that proved to be excellent advice. The early start rewarded us with peaceful trails, beautiful lighting, and very few people around. Hiking the Bear Lake Corridor Bear Lake is an easy, family-friendly hike of about 0.7 miles. The hike to Emerald Lake is more challenging, with approximately 1.6 miles of uphill climbing. The route passes Nymph Lake and Dream Lake before reaching Emerald Lake, and the scenery becomes more impressive with every step. The views and serenity were unmatched in the early morning hours. As we were leaving the Bear Lake area, the parking lots were completely full, and shuttle buses were already operating. Scenic Driving After the hike, we drove Old Fall River Road, a seasonal one-way dirt road that offers spectacular views and a unique driving experience. We also visited: Alpine Visitor Center Trail Ridge Cafe & Gift Shop. From there, we drove Trail Ridge Road back toward Estes Park. Along the way, we were fortunate to see: Elk Moose Bighorn sheep Seeing all three species in a single day was a highlight of our trip. Tips for Future Visitors: I highly recommend bringing: A cooler with drinks and snacks Sandwiches or a packed lunch Bug spray Sunscreen A sun hat At least one liter of water per person per hour hike. The AllTrails app (download maps in advance for navigation) The Trail Ridge Café can be crowded and expensive, so having your own food and drinks can save both time and money. Final Thoughts: Although we wished we had more than one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, we were touring Colorado for the week and had limited time. Even so, this was one of the highlights of our trip. With an early start, a little planning, and a willingness to explore beyond the main attractions, it's possible to experience some of the very best that RMNP has to offer in a single day.

Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely beautiful, but it's important to know before you go that…read moreit is not pet-friendly on the trails. Dogs are only allowed in developed areas like parking lots and campgrounds. We visited shortly after a major wildfire, and it was heartbreaking to see how much of the forest had burned. It really puts into perspective how powerful nature can be. One of the most interesting things we learned from a park ranger was that moose are considered one of the biggest wildlife concerns around dogs, even service animals. I never would have guessed that! The ranger explained that dogs can make wildlife feel threatened, which is one of the reasons the park has such strict dog regulations. If you're visiting with a service animal, I'd recommend checking with a ranger about recent wildlife sightings before heading out. That's just my personal opinion--you don't want to put yourself, your dog, or the wildlife in a dangerous situation. One unexpected highlight was spotting a beaver right along the side of the road while driving through the park! We completed three easy trails: * Coyote Valley Trail - About 1 mile round trip, completely flat with little to no elevation gain. Limited parking. * Holzwarth Historic Site - Around 1 mile round trip with very little incline. The trail leads to several historic cabins and buildings. Decent-sized parking lot. * Colorado River Trailhead - Our favorite of the three. It's also about 1 mile round trip and has the most elevation gain, although I'd still consider it an easy hike. Large parking area. Overall, Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible place to visit with amazing scenery and wildlife. Just be sure to plan ahead if you're traveling with a dog and understand the pet restrictions before you arrive.

I made a stop here on my way to Grand Lake. The Kawuneeche Visitor Center is located on the west…read moreside of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is one mile north of Grand Lake and just south of the park entrance station on U.S. Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road). I did the long 40+ mile drive from Estes Park to here and was happy to finally get out of the car and walk around. It is a nice visitor center with restrooms, paper map, books, merchandise and exhibits with information about the park. There are park rangers on hand to answer questions that you may have. You can get permits and information about backcountry camping and hiking in the park at this visitor center. After spending a week in Rocky Mountain National Park, I enjoyed checking out the topographical map of the park and seeing all of the places that I visited. I covered a lot of ground while I was here. The Tonahutu Spur Trail starts outside the visitor center near the parking lot. Sadly, a fire burned up many of the trees on this trail years back. Don't forget to get your national park passport book stamped while at the visitor center.

Amazing place, amazing staff! Every time I go there, I receive the best service you can ask for in…read morea National Park! Be sure to make your reservations online!

We stopped here thinking it was an information center but it is mostly a gift shop. We did get some…read moregood information from one of the Rangers about entering the national park, so the stop was worth it. The visitor center is located just a few minutes from the Fall River entrance. There are some small exhibits but mostly it is a gift shop. While in the gift shop, the wife found a very cute t-shirt of RMNP that was on sale. So it was a worthwhile stop all the way around.

This Visitor Center is not run solely by the NPS. It has a unique public-private partnership with…read moreH.W. Stewart, Inc, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, & the National Park Service. Even though we arrived during the Government shutdown, it was still able to be open to the public. Thank goodness! We were so sad that other Visitor Centers were closed. We stopped at the top in the Tundra zone and found the Alpine Visitor Center closed. This Visitor Center is just outside the park entrance off of Highway 34 remains open daily from 9am-5pm and is open all year round. We had exited the park at the Fall River Station when we saw this and decided to stop in at the end of the day. The Fall River Visitor Center is the newest Visitor Center. It has a good number of exhibits featuring some of the wildlife that you might see in the national park. The Visitor Center also has a store, and a ranger desk. There are some rubber stamps for your parks passport. This visitor center also has public toilets available. We were here briefly, but it was a nice little stop!