With a New Year just around the corner, it’s time to begin making plans to ring 2024 in right. If you’re looking to start things off with spectacular scenery, easy access to fun, and a vacation vibe embraced in good company, there’s no better place to find it all than Estes Park. When you’re ready to start turning plans into a reality, ringing in the New Year in Colorado right begins with adding the following Estes Park activities to your list.
Why You’ll Love Estes Park at New Year’s
While Estes Park is certainly a year-round destination for travelers to enjoy, there’s something almost magical about spending time here over New Year’s when life is full of possibility and the terrain is sparkling with snow. Estes Park is packed with options for winter recreation to add to your to-do list as well as exciting opportunities to get into town and explore as well. From amazing restaurants and shops to slopes and snowy mountain trails to discover, you’ll head into 2024 in scenic style when you make Estes Park your destination.
Hike Around Lily Lake
The beauty of making time to enjoy Estes Park is that places like Rocky Mountain National Park are right at your fingertips. What could be more exciting than heading into dynamic wintery terrain when New Year’s Eve rolls around? That’s exactly what you can do to welcome 2024 and you’ll want to start with a beautiful hike around Lily Lake. This destination is beautiful on its own and the path leading there through Rocky Mountain National Park is relatively easy making it a great addition to a family-friendly New Year’s itinerary. Bring your binoculars to spot potential winter wildlife along the way.
Spend Time Sledding with the Kids
While you’re in Rocky Mountain National Park with the little ones in tow exploring the terrain and getting ready for a brand-new year, consider taking some time to sled at Hidden Valley. While this may be a traditional winter activity, the scenery you’ll enjoy is far from standard. Get ready to be thrilled at this exclusive sledding destination in the park. You don’t even have to worry about hauling your own gear along for the adventure because the Estes Park Mountain Shop is open for business on-site and rents out sleds and winter gear upon request.
Hike the Trail at Sprague Lake on New Year’s Day
Many people use New Year’s as a perfect time to put some resolutions in place. If yours happens to be focused on health, a great Estes Park starting point is the half-mile loop around Sprague Lake. Take your time, savor the view, and feel great knowing you’re starting things on a high note this New Years.
Enjoy the Many New Year’s Eve Events
Once you’ve had your fill of outdoor fun, Estes Park is brimming over with options for New Year’s entertainment in town too. The team over at Avant Garde Aleworks typically hosts a New Year’s Eve gathering where guests can settle in with a pint of winter strong ale in the taproom. Bird & Jim is known for hosting a New Year’s Eve specialty menu for those who make a reservation in advance. This Moraine Avenue fan-favorite eatery typically puts together a fantastic 4-course prix fixe menu to enjoy complete with sensational wine pairings. If you’re looking to elevate your New Year’s fun in luxury and historic style, search no further than the New Year’s Eve annual Crystal Ball at the Stanley Hotel. This is an elegant and unforgettable night of live music, fantastic food, drinks, and a full-fledged celebration to ring in 2024. You’ll need to be sure to buy tickets in advance for this exceptional gathering that pairs rich Estes Park history with the exciting future.
Ring in the New Year in Luxury and Style
If you’re looking forward to a New Year that’s calm, relaxing, and enjoyed at your own preferred pace, you can find that as well in Estes Park. Be sure to book beautiful accommodations through Mountain Village at Lake Estes and settle into a vacation rental this holiday that comes with the luxury, comfort, and convenience you’ve been craving built right in. Properties can be booked in a variety of sizes, styles, and location standards to fit your holiday needs and exceed your expectations too. Enjoy tasteful furnishings, custom-built bedrooms, outdoor entertainment spaces, cozy living rooms, fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, and more when you make a New Year rental of this kind your home-away-from-home for the holidays.
Book Your Holiday Getaway Today
There’s never been a better time to begin planning your New Year’s getaway to scenic Estes Park. Reach out to the team at Mountain Village at Lake Estes today to learn more about our inviting and exciting property options available and how we can help you make more of every single moment. We can’t wait to see you in Estes Park soon.
Estes Park is always an exciting vacation destination for travelers to enjoy. However, those who decide to head this way for a one-of-a-kind New Year’s in Estes Park celebration are in for a treat! Whether you’re looking to dance your way into the new year, or you prefer to mark milestones with savory moments, there’s something wonderful and inspiring waiting for you here. The following are just a few reasons you’re going to want to ring in 2023 in Estes Park this year!
Attend the Crystal Ball
One of the most iconic stops to visit in Estes Park year-round is the beautiful and historic Stanley Hotel. Packed with legacy and legend, this hotel is truly one-of-a-kind. On New Year’s Eve, the hotel will once again be hosting their annual Crystal Ball which is an exciting and elegant event you won’t want to miss! Ring in the new year in style at this ball which features everything from live music and great company to drinks, food, dancing, and more. This year will mark the hotel’s 20th annual Crystal Ball event at 333 Wonderview Avenue. This year, Photon and FashionNation DJs will be taking to the stage much to the delight of guests. Tickets can be purchased online starting at $215 per person and dinner is included in the cost. Dinner is served at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm before the party fun kicks off at 9:00 pm and continues on into the early morning hours.
Dance Your Way into 2023 at YMCA of the Rockies
If you happen to be heading to Estes Park with the entire family in tow to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year, consider adding a family dance experience to your itinerary! The YMCA of the Rockies will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Family Dance event on December 31, 2022 starting at 8:00 pm and running through 10:00 pm. The event will be hosted at the Estes Park Center within the Longhouse Building and can be accessed with the purchase of a YMCA day pass. Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to dance your way into the New Year alongside those you love most. This event also includes snacks, drinks, plenty of craft stations for little ones, and a ball drop to officially ring in 2023. Before you go, make sure to end the evening with a driving tour of the YMCA Flower Circle area. This time of year, the cabins are decorated in their holiday best and the lights are sure to put you in a vibrant New Year’s spirit! If you’re dropping by earlier in the day to enjoy some holiday fun prior to the dance party, consider enjoying ice skating here too. The rink is open December through February and children 6 and under can skate for free.
Head Over to Bird & Jim for a Savory New Year’s Moment
If you’re the type of traveler that defines the success of a holiday away by the savory moments included, enjoying a New Year’s Eve meal at Bid & Jim is a must. Located at 915 Moraine Avenue, this casual Estes Park eatery will be offering visitors options to enjoy a four-course holiday meal in-house with reservations in advance. Book your table and settle into culinary style this New Year’s Eve with course offering that feature the best of hearty mountain fare alongside sophisticated side stylings. The menu also provides options for wine pairings upon request.
Book a Rocky Mountain National Park Tour
While it’s easy to assume that warm weather trips to Estes Park are the best time to tour the National Parks, New Year’s is just as suitable for those who have the right guide lined up. This New Year’s in Estes Park, consider booking a guided Rocky Mountain National Park tour to ring in the New Year in adventurous style through Wildside 4×4. This company has the distinct honor of possessing an off-road permit that provides access to all of Estes Park. National Park Tours can be booked year-round and winter experiences come with their own spectacular views and insight offered up by knowledgeable and friendly guides. New Year’s tours can be booked with a focus on photography if guests choose, as well as short treks along the way to eye-catching stops like icy lakes and waterfalls. Water, snacks, and hot cocoa are all provided in the cost of a New Year’s tour.
Book an Estes Park Adventure Today
Making time to enjoy Estes Park is a good idea no matter when travel plans bring you in this direction. Travelers that are ready to infuse luxury, style, and comfort into their holiday stay too will find what they’re looking for and more when they partner with Mountain Village at Lake Estes. Reach out today to learn more about our many exciting property options available. We can’t wait to welcome you to Estes Park over the holidays.
When you live with a landscape that could have come straight off the cover of a Christmas card, you have to expect that the holiday itself would be as magical as the landscape, and you would be right! Christmas in Estes Park is a day we practically plan our year around, starting our decorating almost before we finish carving the Halloween pumpkin, picking up the perfect gifts from the shops and boutiques that dot the town all through the year, and singing along to Christmas songs as soon as the first snowflake falls! If your holiday journey brings you to Estes Park, your stay in one of our Mountain Village at Lake Estes seasonal sanctuaries promises to be the highlight of your year, and this guide to all that is wonderful about Christmas will ensure that every minute spent here will be magical ones that last in your memory for years to come!
Christmas Starts Early in Snow Country
Maybe you aren’t willing to commit to a Christmas away from home, or maybe you are one of the fortunate ones who can spend all the winter holidays in the comfort and festive cheer of our properties. In either case, Christmas starts early in our mountain village with the Catch the Glow Parade that begins on November 26 and offers colorful floats, festive music, and the small town charm that will make your Christmas shine even brighter! And even though you may have missed the tree lighting ceremony that was held on November 20th (See? We told you the season starts early!) you can still enjoy its tranquil beauty every night of your stay!
Sweets That Will Warm Your Soul
Your Mountain Village at Lake Estes holiday hideaway does feature a fully equipped kitchen that will have you eager to start baking up some Christmas cookies, but if baking isn’t your thing, the Notchtop Bakery & Café, located at 459 E Wonderview Avenue #5, offers breakfast, lunch, sweet baked goods, and quite possibly the best hot chocolate in town. It is hard not to feel festive while sipping a cup of cocoa, watching the snow fall outside, and devouring a hearty meal with a fully decorated Christmas tree peeking at you from its space at the back of the restaurant!
The Perfect Gift
There is a type of gift giver that always gets it right, finding the perfect item that is guaranteed to make its recipient cry, and if you want to be the one that brings people to tears this year, the Art Center of Estes Park has an idea or two up its sleeve! Their art exhibit, A Few of My Favorite Things, is a reoccurring exhibit that taking place on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays from November 12 through December 20. Featuring art pieces from a variety of genres, including paint, pottery, and jewelry, the hardest part about finding the perfect gift will be narrowing down your choices to just one for each family member.
Add Some Cheer to your Mountain Village at Lake Estes Holiday Home
We can’t change the décor of all our properties to match the season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a taste of the holidays with décor pieces you have purchased yourself from the Christmas Shoppe, located at 332 Elkhorn Avenue. Offering Christmas décor large and small, if you can’t find the perfect table topper here, well, you may be just a little too picky! Their Old World Christmas collection touches on your holiday traditions and their Colorado ornaments allow you to bring a piece of Estes Park home where it will hang on your personal tree as a permanent reminder of how wonderful your Christmas in Estes Park was.
More Christmas Gifts? We Say YES!
All the shops and boutiques found in downtown Estes Park are destined to have that little something you never knew you needed, but one of our favorite places to shop is a store called Inkwell & Brew. Located at 150 E Elkhorn Avenue and offering a charming selection of writing implements, journals, and coffee mugs, they also feature a coffee bar that will warm you from the inside out. Pick out a handmade journal for your 16 year old daughter, a cool fountain pen for your artist son, all the while sipping on their holiday traditional drink, an eggnog latte!
The Joy of Christmas
The best part of every holiday, however, is spending those moments with the ones you love most, and as you gather round the fireplace with your spouse and kids to watch It’s a Wonderful Life on the state-of-the-art television hanging over it and sip some hot cocoa your tween decided the moment needed, the memories you make in our Mountain Village at Lake Estes homes will last a lifetime. Reserve your favorite today!
When you start to add up your blessings this year, will you be counting your unbelievably beautiful escape to Estes Park as one of them? Maybe this is the year you decide to run away from home, enjoying the holiday with only your closest family members, (your spouse and kids) eschewing the traditions that leave you exhausted and broke, and reveling in the new no rules Thanksgiving you so richly deserve. Say goodbye to cranky Aunt Ethel, leave your turkey baster in the drawer it always gets lost in, and find your way to Estes Park, Colorado for a warm and welcoming stay in our Mountain Villages at Lake Estes holiday hideaway! This guide to everything Turkey will ensure that every minute of your escape will be filled with fun, laughter, and all the rest and relaxation your tired soul needs!
The Magick Show, November 13, The Stanley Hotel
If you aren’t quite ready to throw traditions to the wind, you can ease into the idea with a mid-November journey to Colorado, sampling the early days of the season! The Stanley Hotel has been host to many a nightmare, as it was the star of one of Stephen King’s most spooktacular of books, The Shining, and the subterranean theater under the hotel may haunt your nightmares in the most exciting of ways! Fate & Futility; a Night of Magick awaits you as Alden Sinclair introduces you to tarot cards and other haunted items, giving visitors the thrill of a lifetime. And although it isn’t quite Thanksgiving-like, this fun event is sure to become one of the best memories of your Colorado vacation.
A Taste of the Town
The best part of running away for the Thanksgiving holiday is letting someone else do all the cooking, cleaning, and serving! Many of our local restaurants will be offering Thanksgiving meals, including Hunter’s Chophouse located at 1690 Big Thompson Avenue. Featuring your traditional favorites as well as their standard menu, there is guaranteed to be a meal that will be loved by every member of your family! For those who have fallen for the charms of the Stanley Hotel, a Thanksgiving Buffet is an annual event that has been sold out for as many years as it has been offered, so be sure to make your reservations SOON!
YMCA Annual 5K Turkey Trot, November 25
The last six weeks of the year are destined to be the most calorie-ridden ones, and if you want to help keep a check on your clothing sizes, the YMCA Annual 5K Turkey Trot is the best way to do so! The starting pistol will be shot at 9 AM on the dot and prizes will be given to the best runners in a variety of categories. The best part of this annual event, however, is the run counteracts all those extra calories you will ingest, so you are free to enjoy another piece of pumpkin pie or an extra serving of stuffing; you deserve it!
Keeping Your Traditions Close
Of course, just because you aren’t cooking for 50 of your closest friends and family, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on all your favorite dishes. Thanksgiving is much more manageable when it is just you, your spouse, and kiddos enjoying the feast, so create a modified meal in our fully equipped kitchens during your stay! High-end appliances are a joy to use and every aspiring chef knows that cooking with gas is the only way to ensure your food is prepared properly. Teach your children the secrets of your family recipes, allowing them to join in the fun while also preparing them for the day when you throw in your apron for good! As you and your family gather round the dining room table in our Mountain Village at Lake Estes escapes, the food tastes even better because you made it with love and you know that your children and spouse will be the ones on kitchen patrol, clearing away the table and cleaning the kitchen when the meal is done!
Catch the Glow Parade, November 26, Elkhorn Avenue
As everyone knows, the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is the official start to the Christmas season and the Catch the Glow Parade is our first Christmas event! Offering the charm of a small parade and containing over 40 floats, police cars and fire trucks, the marching bands will offer the first glimpse of Christmas as they play your favorite carols! Santa will be there as well and as the parade meanders along its route, visitors can take some time to begin their own Black Friday shopping, picking up the first of what we are sure will be many to come!
Contact us to reserve your favorite Mountain Village at Lake Estes holiday hideaway today!
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and quickly lose sight of what’s important about this time of year. Between the to-do lists, gift wrapping and party planning, the holidays can become stressful before they’ve even begun. Instead of getting caught up in the chaos, consider turning your holiday plans into an amazing mountain escape. This year, instead of worrying about all that needs to be done, have some fun with a holiday trip to Lake Estes. This Colorado is one of the best winter vacation spots and is the most beautiful and inspiring as it is engaging. Whether you’re one for cross country skiing or love to shop boutique stores, Lake Estes has a little something for you. Here are just a few of the many reasons Lake Estes makes for a great holiday destination.
The Holiday Lights: Yuletide Driving Tour
While the skiing and exploring are sure to please, Lake Estes does a phenomenal job of creating a winter wonderland of lights designed for all to enjoy over the holiday season. Drive your way through Estes Park and admire the many lights that adorn homes, businesses and beyond. Official maps of preferred routes are available for guests online, but there’s nothing wrong with winding your way through the holiday fun on a whim.
The Food: Waterfront Grille
Flavor is often a favorite feature of the holiday season and when your holiday plans have you in the Lake Estes vicinity, be sure to set aside time for a meal at Waterfront Grille. Located at 1700 Big Thompson Avenue, this renowned culinary hot spot sits within The Estes Park Resort. Guests will enjoy a variety of savory fare in an upscale setting while making the most lake and mountain views that are hard to top-especially during the holidays.
The Music: New Year’s at the Rock Inn
If your travel plans keep you near Lake Estes through the new year, be sure to make your way to the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern on New Year’s Eve for an annual concert combined with food, beverages, and great company. This cozy and rustic Estes Park stop is located at 1675 Co-66 and is popular for its menu that features comfort food as well as a full-service bar that provides just the right drink for every plate.
Enjoy a Lake Estes Stay
Whether you’re here for Thanksgiving, Christmas or the new year, a stay at Lake Estes is bound to be unforgettable. Make your trip even more memorable by booking beautiful accommodations with the professionals at Mountain Village at Lake Estes. Contact us today for more information on our many property options.