Travel info requested

[uncle joe]

Well, my wife finally said out of the blue, I think we should go to Colorado in the fall. That's a switch?? she hates to travel. I thought I would strike while the iron is hot so to speak, so now I need to know what we need to try to see while there. We are 51 and 47 so we won't be mountain biking or skiing type stuff, but we like to make pictures and see interesting sites. I am a burn survivor and need to stay cool which shouldn't be a problem there in the fall. We just have no idea what to see while traveling from MS to CO. I have a friend or 2 on the way we would like to stop in and see, and would buy someone here lunch for some good info if you're between here and there. Any info would be appreciated.
UJ

[William Yanda]

Since their new anti-gun legislation, CO is on my no travel list. I promised myself that. Just wish I no longer lived in NY.
Bill

[Finster101]

Better check the law if you are taking a firearm. Personally, it's on the same list as NY, MD and a couple of others. I passed on a good motorcycle trip this summer because I would not ride through New York.

[buckwheatpaul]

The Durango Tain, Million Dollar Highway, Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs), Pikes Peak, Gunnison, you name it....it is beautiful.....

[Circuit Rider]

Uncle Joe, The J. M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum is in Claremore, Okla. If it's not too far out of your route, you'll enjoy it greatly. They have over 20,000 firearms and firearm related pieces. Another place just up the road close to Bartlesville is the Frank Phillips Woolaroc museum. It has a number of displays about Mr. Phillips expeditions throughout the world. In Colorado there's a lot to see around Colorado Springs. I've been up Pikes Peak,near Colorado Springs, and Mt. Evans, Southwest of Denver. It's been a few number of years but at that time Mt. Evans was paved to the top and didn't cost anything. Camped a couple of nights in Pike National Forest Northwest of Colorado Springs, was very primitive then. You carried out anything you carried in.Since you're not going til fall, you have time to get travel packets for New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado from each state by going online. CR

[uncle joe]

thanks guys, I forgot about all the new gun regulation in CO. I did go to usa carry website and they seem to honor MS concealed carry permits, but I will have to investigate this a little more.

[rockrat]

Don't forget Rocky Mtn. Nat'l park, Steamboat Springs area, Glenwood Springs and South towards Aspen, then detour over McClure pass towards Delta. Red Mountain pass to Silverton. South out of Delta, past Montrose and just before Ridgeway, you can go to where they filmed "True Grit", towards Owl Creek Pass. Try and make it towards the end of September, when the Aspens are turning color.

In Oklahoma, the Talamina Drive (sp?) is a good one when the leaves are turning, probably on your way home.

If you go thru Montrose,, there is a good place for breakfast there, called the "Shanty II" that has some great pork green chile. On North Townsend and 4th st. Recommended highly.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

towns ...

[C.F.Plinker]

If you can, try to get reservations for the Photographers Train which is run once a year by the Durango and Silverton RR. It usually runs around the end of September. To the places already mentioned I would add Mesa Verde, Aztec NM, and the Anasazi ruins near Delores CO.

[Kraschenbirn]

+1 on the J.M. Davis Museum. Otherwise, I'd go for the 'west slope' or along the CO-NM state line; Trinidad, San Isabel Na'tl Forest, Durango, San Juan National Forest area, Ophir, Silverton, Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients...definitely more places worth seeing that you'll have time unless you're planning to spend a month or so. There's a bunch of other places we've been that I couldn't recommend to anyone except experienced 'Jeep Folks' and/or 'wilderness campers'.

BTW, You mention traveling 'in the fall' but you'll still need to beware of weather in the high country. For years, we went out there (or to the Sangre de Cristos in northern NM) the last two weeks of September and, one trip, we were camped at an abandoned mine site ('Midnight') up in the San Juans and got off the mountain less than 24 hours ahead of an early snowstorm that trapped a half-dozen elk hunting parties (later 'rescued' by CO Nat'l Guard helicopters) in the same area. A couple years after that, on the way home, we were staying in the highest (altitude) of the 'primitive' areas at San Isabel and, after a night of severe thunderstorms (heavy rain, sleet, hail, washed out roads, etc,), ended up helping the Forestry Service guys get a few inadequately equipped campers off the mountain. Of course, we were a bit younger then and had a Jeep Wrangler with all the factory off-road options...plus a few of my own add-ons...so, in some ways, we were better equipped than the Rangers.

"Funny" anecdote: The night those storms hit, we had a young, enthusiastic, Forestry Service intern actually climb the trail to where we were camped to check on us 'old folks'. By the time she covered the quarter-mile from where she had to leave her truck, she soaked to the skin, so cold her teeth were (literally) chattering, and - from the mud on her clothes - had fallen at least once. What she found was the wife and I snugly sitting beside our campfire, under a fly-pitched lean-to, sipping Irish coffee, and reading by the light of Coleman lantern. We got a cup of hot tea (with a touch of Jamison's) into her, dried her out the best we could, and loaned her a spare poncho before I walked her back to her truck. The next day, while helping to winch out another camper, I mentioned to her 'effort' to her supervisor...who promptly chewed her out for 'lack of judgement'. "D*** girl," he said "take a good look at these folks...they been kicking 'round the back country since before you were born and are prob'ly the last people you had to bother with."

Bill

[cf5757]

Uncle Joe, come on out to Colorado. While the idiots passed some new laws restricting gun transfers and magazine capacity, none of these laws should affect you unless you plan on selling or buying a new weapon, or wish to purchase a "high capacity" magazine while here. (the first 2 require background checks and a fee even between private parties and the 3rd is not an option since it is now illegal to PURCHASE hi-cap (more than 15 round) mags. Possession IS still allowed. You are correct in the reciprocity of your CCW. Just remember that if you visit any building that has a permanently installed metal detection system, (i.e. the state capital building) you cannot carry. Federal property is also a no-no. Otherwise, you will have a great time in Colorado. The fall is a nice time to visit as the kiddies are back in school, the aspens are changing and, yes, the high country is very likely to get snow. Denver often has its first snow in late September to early October. Rocky Mountain National Park will be in the midst if elk mating season, and the herds roam the streets of Estes Park. Mt Evans, Trail Ridge Road and other very high roads could be closed by snow any time after the middle of September so check before you go, otherwise both are spectacular drives. Safe travels!

[Gliden07]

COORS BREWERY!!!!!!! :drinks::drinks:

[MtGun44]

Great little old west firearms museum in Craig, NW part of the state. There is a old train
at Georgetown too, but I really like Antonito train south of Alamosa best. You leave Antonito
station and slowly climb into the hills until you run into an impressive mountain gorge and
run along the side. Lunch is at a big cafeteria way above the treeline with wonderful
views and then ride back. Great coal train.

Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park in southern Colorado east of Alamoso is nice.

Bill

[gbrown]

I spent some time in Colorado years back. Not sure where you are in Ms, but you can take I20 over to Dallas and go up I35 to Ponca City, (my mother's hometown). Home of Continental Oil Co, aka Conoco, with a couple of small, but neat museums. Also has the "Pioneer Woman" Statue. Close to Bartlesville and Claremore, which others have suggested. Just outside of it is a small town where they filmed the old movie "Tornado". Heart of tornado alley. Continue north on 35 and cut over on 54/400 to Dodge City. Go north to I70 and turn west to Denver. U.S. Mint, nice zoo, Red Rock ampitheater, Buffalo Bill museum and a lot of other things to see. Just west is Golden, home of Coors. West of it is the Eisonhower tunnel on I70. Go back (east) to Idaho Springs and take the "Oh My God" Road over to Central City/Blackhawk, one of the casino spots in CO., if that's your thing. Go north to Estes Park and take the "Trail Ridge" Road thru the park across the Continental Divide. Just some interesting places to see. You will stumble across all sorts of neat little places along the way.