<p>My husband’s family is looking for ideas for a place to have a family reunion somewhere between the west coast and South Dakota. Some of his family live in South Dakota, and some of us live on the west coast, so looking for somewhere in between where we can meet.</p>
<p>It just occurred to me, hey why don’t I ask the CC crowd? They pretty much know everything. A friend of mine suggested Estes Park in Colorado. Any other ideas?</p>
<p>Tks guys.</p>
<p>We love Estes Park. It’s breathtaking. The YMCA of the Rockies is very popular for family reunions, but I’ve never stayed there, so I can’t comment on how nice it is. Here’s their link though…
<a href=“http://www.ymcarockies.org/[/url]”>http://www.ymcarockies.org/</a></p>
<p>Zion National Park, one of the most beautiful places on the planet and right in between!</p>
<p>Stay here. (then tell me about it as I’ve been wanting to go for years since I first saw it. I drive by it every year. ) Outside Gunnison on the road to Crested Butte is the little community of Almont. 
</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.harmels.com/[/url]”>http://www.harmels.com/</a></p>
<p>There are also campsites right on the river that are stupendous, and a whole lot cheaper. This scenery is Colorado at its finest. Other than here, I’d say find a place in or near Ouray/Silverton or Lake City/Creede. I really hate the built-up stuff you find in parts of Colorado. Gunnison’s a fun town though (as far as towns go;)) .</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at a little place in Ouray about 5 times . Clean. In town. Walking distance to all shops and restaurants. Little cabin type hotel rooms. Usually $60 or less per night. P.M. me if you want more info and I’ll dig to find it.</p>
<p>I second curm’s suggestions: his destinations are out-of-the-way but stunning and not overrun with tourists (as would be the case in Estes Park.) </p>
<p>My other suggestion would be the Durango/Four Corners areas.</p>
<p>I second "<a href="http://www.ymcarockies.org/“>http://www.ymcarockies.org/</a>”. We stayed at Snow mountain Ranch with a group last winter. They had something to do for everyone. It was affordable.</p>
<p>katliamom, I have ridden motorcycles through the Four Corners every year till last year. (I’m hoping I can get to where I can do iit again. Everybody has to have a goal. That’s mine. ) Have you ever gone to that auditorium/bar/restaurant in Rico? It was open 2 years ago but was for sale with a sale pending . What a funky place. I love Telluride for a nice meal but dang, that’s just too much money for me to stay there. I’ll have to leave that to the Oprah and General Schwarzkopf set.</p>
<p>I’m with you. The Southwestern quadrant of Colorado is where you want to be to get away from it all. </p>
<p>Another fun reasonably priced town is Red River, New Mexico. And day trips to Taos and Santa Fe are easy.</p>
<p>I stayed at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch with a large reunion group about five Summers ago. Very nice and think of it like a Hampton Inn, not a Y. (unlike the cabin camping experience at the Y Camp Soles near Seven Springs, PA) </p>
<p>A few folks got altitude sickness at SMR, so if you think all of your group can’t handle 8,000 ft, you might want to reconsider.</p>
<p>Har-mel is at 8400 so ditto what dudedad said.</p>
<p>Do a reunion close to someone’s house. It’s much easier if there’s a local person to coordinate. Hotels are usually cheaper and flying is usually cheaper as well if there’s a big city involved.</p>
<p>Asilomar in the Monterey area is very popular for family reunions, but very hard to book. <a href=“http://www.visitasilomar.com/default.aspx[/url]”>http://www.visitasilomar.com/default.aspx</a></p>
<p>My family did a huge reunion at Breckinridge a few years ago–someone is a higher up at Marrriot and got room discounts. </p>
<p>Problem: the 70-somethings all ended up in sick bay and in hospital with altitude sickness.</p>
<p>And if you take curmudgeon’s advice about the town of Almont and stay over Thursday night at Harmel’s, you can dance to my dh’s square dance calling! He’s been calling there for over 25 years… </p>
<p>They list whitewater rafting to Class III, but there is also some class IV kayaking on the Taylor… </p>
<p>Or you can try Waunita Hot Springs: <a href=“http://www.waunita.com/[/url]”>http://www.waunita.com/</a> Better horses, even better scenery, but mostly full week stays. The price is all inclusive though. We call on Monday nights there.</p>
<p>If you want really out of the way, join our cousins: <a href=“http://www.taylorparktradingpost.com/[/url]”>http://www.taylorparktradingpost.com/</a> The dance is at Tincup on Fridays (but taped, not a live caller)</p>
<p>We love the Stanley Hotels in Estes Park. Colorado doesn’t get better than that. About 2 hours’ drive NNW from DIA. Recommend the scenic route through Big Thompson Canyon west from Loveland. Go in the summer as Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park doesn’t open until around Memorial Day.</p>
<p>Would also suggest Colorado Springs. About 2 hours south from DIA or fly into the Springs. Lots to see in that part of the state. Even if you don’t stay there, check out the Broadmoor.</p>
<p>Love Four Corners/Durango, Pagosa Springs/Wolf Creek Pass, Buena Vista, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Ouray/Silverton (take the spectacular train trip from Durango but make reservations well in advance), Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde/the Anasazi ruins. All of those are a long way, and not easily accessible, from the airports, though, if you have to fly in.</p>
<p>If everyone’s driving, maybe northern Arizona, the area around Flagstaff? Very beautiful and not too very far from the Grand Canyon. We stayed in a lodge near the South Rim (can’t remember the name). Check the National Park Service website because accommodations need to be booked well in advance. Fall is a great time to see the Canyon and fewer tourists to deal with.</p>
<p>My husband’s family is from Southern Colorado (South Fork area) and we had a wonderful summer family reunion near Wolf Creek Pass. A lot of golfing, a lot of fishing…side trips into Creede which is a neat little historical town. The area is breathtaking. (Next time we are planning a winter reunion though, so we can ski Wolf Creek.) </p>
<p>It is pretty out of the way though. For us, it was worth it. DH’s oldest brother has a law practice in Alamosa and he took care of all the planning. All we had to do was get there…which entailed flying in to Denver and making the long drive down (we chose the scenic route through the mountains and down 285). (Some family members flew into Albuquerque and drove up through Santa Fe which made for some wonderful sidetrips…wish we had done that.)</p>
<p>If you don’t mind the travel, Southern Colorado would be a great time.</p>
<p>heartcross that’s a hoot!!! What is the name of the hotel on the highway with the restaurant next to it run by the very nice European extended family (Eastern Europe, maybe Poland?) It may be a Best Western , a few miles East of Gunnison . We always had good service there , too and reasonable rates. </p>
<p>We turn at Almont and ride by the river , up past Taylor Reservoir and then over the other side. I’ve done it on a bike fully loaded with snow falling on us and drifts everywhere. Or we go the other way up and over Kebler pass. That’s fun , too. We did the Cinnamon Pass from Animas to Lake City and that dang near killed us. :eek: .The locals seemed impressed it didn’t, with us riding the bikes we were riding. Best trip ever.</p>
<p>Thanks you guys! Everything sounds so great, I want to go to all the places mentioned! </p>
<p>How concerned should I be about altitude sickness?</p>
<p>Not concerned about altitude sickness, but it has an impact on you especially if you are only visiting for a week. I was in New Mexico in the mountains last year, flying in from the Bay Area. I spent a week and it affects your nose, lungs etc. I was told you get used to it after awhile.</p>
<p>Be concerned if you have 70 somethings in the group. I am sure some of the spots suggested are lower than Breckenridge–which is at 9600 ft.</p>
<p>A number of the 70-somethings in my family were absolutely miserable.</p>
<p>Some thoughts:</p>
<p>Altitude sickness: It’s not just the old folks. Some people just don’t process oxygen very well at altitude, and it’s no laughing matter. Some people just get sick. Others die. It’s rare, but it happens. If you think anyone in your family might have a problem, then take that into account when looking into the high mountains around most of the ski resorts.</p>
<p>There are a few questions I think you should ask yourself:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How big will the reunion be? Will everyone just hang out and talk, or will you be scheduling activities? Will the activities be diverse for various interests and ages?</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re not going to do much except sit around and talk, anything will do and it will come down, essentially, to price. Some of the places being suggested here require one to take small planes from the Denver airport (if flying). Some of the ski resorts are cheap to get into because the fares are subsidized by the resorts. Others are very expensive.</p></li>
<li><p>Here are some suggestions based on what you might liike to do:</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Estes Park: Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and close enough to horseback riding, river rafting, rock climbing, and major metro areas to satisfy just about everyone. The Stanley Hotel is THE place to be if it’s affordable for you. Otherwise, there are many smaller hotels, though some are a bit primitive. If your family is into camping, this would be the place. It’s pretty high up, but not in the 9,000 foot range.</p>
<p>Boulder: All the outdoor activities you can imagine, but closer to good food, bars, splendid hiking trails, great shopping, and the like. If it’s summer, there are a number of cultural activities going on such as the Colorado Music Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, etc.</p>
<p>Denver: Metro area. Close enough to outdoor activities but obviously more of the metro pleasures than Estes Park.</p>
<p>Colorado Springs: Close to Pike’s Peak, Garden of the Gods, some caverns, and several other attractions. I don’t find the town itself all that appealing, but the setting is breathtaking. It’s not as breathtaking as Estes Park, but it’s still quite lovely.</p>
<p>The ski resorts: All have much to offer, including off-season rates, golf, and other outdoor activities. Many have good shopping, though it’s often very overpriced.</p>
<p>Basically, if many from your family want the comforts of a metro area, then the Front Range (the east side of the mountains with Denver, C. Springs, Estes Park, and Boulder) are your best bet for both the outdoorsy types and the metro types. I’d say that Boulder probably offers the best mix, with Estes Park a bit more toward the rustic side and Denver and the Springs more towards the metro side. If you want to get away from it all, then Estes Park will certainly do, but western Colorado is far more remote.</p>
<p>Have fun.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in my home at almost a mile and a half above sea level for 15 years, so you’d think I’d be TOTALLY acclimated to the altitude. But get me to 12,000 feet and I feel it. And at the top of a 14-er, I’m miserable.</p>