The Stanley Hotel

by Jaime
(Las Vegas, NV USA)

My favorite Colorado vacation activity is a visit the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, where Stephen King first got his idea to write “The Shining”. It is only a 70 mile drive from Denver, which gives you enough time to get there and back to Denver in one day.

To reach Estes Park, you take a beautiful drive through green farmland and then climb up into the Rocky Mountains. The Stanley sits on a hill overlooking the town. As you approach it, it has a certain overhanging quality that's difficult to describe. The hotel's many windows appear to be watching you as you cross the front lawn.

The hotel is very beautiful inside, and although it was not the place where the movie was filmed, the bar looks very similar to the one in the movie. We ordered a drink at the bar, the same drink that Jack Torrence ordered - bourbon on the rocks.

Estes Park is beautiful as well and has a lovely river that flows through the middle of town. The downtown area is a little congested during tourist season, but certainly well worth a visit.

We had lunch at a riverside café. The prices were reasonable, considering the touristy feel of the town. After lunch, we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park and saw so much wildlife, including a large herd of Elk. Every turn had a new vista to behold. The scenery is breathtaking and I thoroughly enjoyed our drive. I would recommend this day trip to anyone who wants an economical activity to pursue while they are in Colorado.