Welcome to Colorado! We always hear from the people we encounter during our travels that the friendliest people live in this beautiful state and we must agree with them!
From strolling up and down main street in Estes Park, Colorado to hiking trails in the Rocky Mountain National Park, most often you'll be greeted with a warm welcome and a smile.
There is something about nature and wildlife that simply puts the mind at ease, and if you're not interested in hiking, Estes Park has something for everyone, especially wildlife!
We put this page together as we are asked about where to stay and what to do around Estes Park all the time and so these are some of our favorites!
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Alright, you've got 24 hours, maybe not even that... what should you do around Estes Park or better yet, what is it that you shouldn't miss??
We've been to Estes Park maybe 6-8 times and we still haven't uncovered and experienced everything this amazing little town has to offer and we realize there are a million ways to plan your trip but here are our favorites in a short highlight reel and in more detail below.
Whether you're planning a vacation or a staycation, here are some of our favorites things we would recommend doing during your stay in Estes Park, Colorado.
Wake up early my friends and head to Many Parks Overlook. It's an easy drive and we've never been stopped at the gate to RMNP that early. There is plenty of parking, and no hiking involved for some of the best sunrises you'll see in a lifetime!
Nobody is counting calories on vacation so line up early, this place opens at 7:30am and typically sold out by 8:00am! Cinnamon is as generous as you'd like with the frosting as they are topped to order, and it's no wonder they sell out so fast because these are absolutely something you'll tell all your friends about.
As we strolled up downtown Estes Park, we found many stores with similar clothing items. Honestly, most feel like a classic tourist stores in beach towns however one is VERY different from the rest. This place is call The Grey House, a mountain boutique, and it has alot of adventure themed items, boho chic vibes, and lots of great items for kiddos too! We would highly recommend you check it out if you're shopping!
Hiking and outdoor activities are endless around Estes Park but the iconic hike up to Lake Haiyaha, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake is a must if you're somewhat physically fit. I don't work out much at all and got winded a few times but if you take your time, the destination is always worth it!
We arrived the day after Labor Day, on a Tuesday, and had the entire park to ourselves! My son's favorite attraction was the Jurassic Park game in the arcade, but we all loved bumper boats the most! We had a blast on the go karts too as we explored many firsts with both of our kiddos on this special 24 hour staycation.
It's incredibly sad to see the little home that housed Donut Haus was taken down by the city but this AMAZING donut spot lives on!! You can find their donuts that people travel all over the world for in the Sinclair Gas Station up the road from Fun City.
Gas Station Donuts? NO! They are simply setup inside the gas station for the time being. You must get the donut that has the cheesecake topping all over the top!
I'm a family man, and my kiddos and wife are not really morning people but I am! I found this place called Coffee on the Rocks after I watched the sunrise, grabbed my donuts, and cinnamon rolls! Now with a hot steaming cup of joe, I went for a stroll around their duck pond and found myself enjoying the river.
IF YOU HAVE KIDS - you must come back for a 2nd cup when ready because for a small donation you can get cups of corn for the ducks and geese and it is an absolute blast due to the numbers of birds that flock to you! Great laughs to start the day!!
There are a few places that make ice cream locally in their shops and we frequent them often and highly recommend them however, this trip, we decided to check out the historical theater-turned ice cream shop. The staff was extrememly friendly, the info about the theater was honestly the best part, but we found out the ice cream is made out of town and shipped in which was a slight bummer to find out.
The last movie that was shown in the theater was the original Top Gun in 1982 we were told!
There are many places to choose from in Estes Park when it comes to your overnight accomodations but we have grown to love many Airbnb options. We found an amazing cabin hosted by Dreamtime Images owner and this 3 bedroom cabin was more than enough space for our small family but we couldn't pass up the deal during the slow week after labor day. Book it here!
24 Hours in Estes Park Itinerary
11:30 am - Arrived in Estes Park, Colorado and headed straight to NotchTop Bakery and Cafe for a big brunch.
12:30pm - Next stop was Fun City. We went on the day after Labor Day and had the entire park to ourselves. We loved bumper boats, and we took all the little rubber duckies we won and had a duck race in the river as we splashed around and played.
3:00pm - We went into downtown and parked on toward the bottom of main street and worked our way up the river walk, exploring candy stores, shops, and the park for the kiddos.
4:00pm - There is a really cool water feature and common area near the park that features a sensory garden. We hung out here for about 15-20 minutes as the kids loved this and of course we loved playing in the water more!
4:30pm - Discovered a mountain boutique called The Grey House and it's easily one of our favorite shopping stops now!
5:00pm - Off to our airbnb to checkin! After getting settled we had to break out the laser tag guns as the house was massive with plenty of room to run and play.
6:30pm - We had dinner at a local mexican restaurant and shared fajitas which is always a good choice with a margarita! The kids loved their food too. There are a couple of great mexican restaurants in town.
8:00pm - Ice Cream!! We always love getting ice cream in Estes Park and this time we stopped at the old theater. The story about the building is fascinating but we were slightly bummed to find out this place does not make their ice cream locally. It was still good though.
8:30pm - Back to the Airbnb to wind down, we played some of the games offered by the hosts. A quick stargazing session is always a must and we heard something walking nearby, maybe a bear!!? We love the wildlife in Estes Park!
4:45am - Daddy woke up to catch the sunrise at Many Parks Overlook and took his time getting back. Exploring many pull offs in RMNP.
7:00am - Donut Haus is always a must!
7:15am - Got in line at Cinnamon's Bakery. The line was already 20+ deep, they open at 7:30am and often sell out by 8am!
7:45am - Discovered Coffee on the Rocks for the first time. This place is a new favorite with tons of outdoor seating by the river and a duck pond which I brought the family back to!
8:45am - Donut delivery to the family at our Airbnb. We enjoyed sharing all the goodies on the massive patio with views of the Rocky Mountains.
10:30am - Checked out and headed to Coffee on the Rocks to feed the ducks. We stopped next door and panned for gold at the rock shop, and next door to that was a super fun shop we explored.
11:00am - Off to Mary Lake and Lilly Lake to end our 24 hour staycation to Estes Park!
My name is Dusty Jenkins and I'd love to introduce myself as a lifelong adventure friend, a dad who gives everyday his best but far from perfect, and a husband to an amazing person that helps raise our beautiful family and my all time fan since 2005!
I started creating content back in highschool and started Cinepro Studios, a Denver based video production company in 2010. I have been blessed to meet some amazing people throughout my career and continue to help businesses and people all over the world with their video and marketing goals.
I am open about my faith as it is the foundation I operate life and we have some pretty amazing stories around a miracle as well, simply ask me about it sometime.
I believe that we should LOVE everyone and that we are not defined by our pasts. I'm not the religious type so you won't find judgement from me. I think you'll hear from all of my friends that I exude positivity and inclusion in everything I do and everywhere I go.
I am excited to hear about your story and always open to sharing more over a drink I'm highly addicted to... Soda Water! I like other bevarages too, but you'll find me with the bubbles most often.
Let's chat and see how we can breathe more life into those around us! "I just like to smile...smiling is my favorite."
- Dusty Jenkins | 7202163372
