When gold, orange and red aspen leaves gently float en masse to the forest floor and as temperatures begin to cool, the Colorado mountains are the place to find an amazing sense of peace and serenity as autumn wraps up and transitions to winter. It’s a boost to the soul when there is a break in the busyness that has become part of most peoples’ lives, and Glenwood Springs is the perfect place to spend days luxuriating in rest or lacing up hiking boots or pedaling a bike to explore nearly vacant trails close to town or in the backcountry. Here are several tips about how to find quiet times to visit the Colorado mountains for relaxation and savings throughout the year and what to do when you get there.
It’s weather and holiday dependent – When it’s prime weather like summer, peak fall foliage weekends, and timeframes surrounding holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, people flock to the Colorado mountains. If quiet and relaxation are high on your travel consideration list, book at another time. Also consider when major events happen in the town you like to visit. In Glenwood Springs, for example, celebrations like Strawberry Days typically bring in the crowds.
When kids are in school – For couples who don’t have kids or are in the empty nest stage of life or for the retired set and solo travelers, from late August until the week of Christmas are ideal times to visit most Colorado mountain towns, depending on the event calendar as mentioned previously. Right after New Year’s until the busy spring break month of March (except for Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Day weekends), it’s also a peaceful time to head to the hills and then again in April and May. Ask a representative at the hotel you are booking for advice about quieter times. The staff at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort are happy to assist. Go on weekdays – It’s a general rule of thumb for most tourist towns and attractions like Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. Weekdays, when many people are busy with work and school, are typically better options than weekends any time of the year. Lodging rates in mountain towns often confirm this recommendation unless it is a busy time of year or a large group is in town for a meeting, wedding or other occasion.
Capitalize on the deals – Just like when you are booking a flight or renting a car, more availability results in noticeable savings. Search lodging, attraction and tourism office websites for special deals and packages. At Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, during value season the admission cost for the natural hot springs pool is $29 for an adult day pass and $20 for children compared to summer peak weekend prices of $42/$26 and peak weekday and winter holiday admission cost of $39/$25. The resort also has packages that bundle lodging, breakfast, hot springs soaking and an activity like skiing, snowboarding, rafting, fishing and electric bike rentals. You get the idea.
Ways to relax – This is the easy part if you really put your mind to it. First, untether yourself from your phone, email and social media to simply enjoy time off. Soaking in mineral hot springs is naturally soothing when surrounded by fresh air and mountains. Book a spa treatment, go on a leisurely walk, enjoy a favorite beverage at a coffee house or craft brewery, take a drive to explore the area. In the Roaring Fork Valley, it’s easy to go between Glenwood Springs and neighboring towns to the south such as Carbondale, Basalt, Snowmass and Aspen. To the east is Vail Valley and to the west is Fruita, Palisade and Grand Junction. For some, relaxing means exercise, and there is plenty of that around in the mountains all year long. Ride a bike, cast a fishing line, snowshoe or cross-country ski on area trails, go ice skating, or hit the slopes for skiing or snowboarding. Smaller ski resorts like Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs offer an especially chill vibe for all ages to enjoy.
Enjoy the availability – Not only is lodging more available, so are reservations for restaurants and guided trips to fish area waters, go on a horseback ride, snowmobile and more. It’s likely your group size will be smaller, too, allowing for more personalized interaction with guides even when it comes to touring the caves at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and local breweries and distilleries. It's the little things that count – Sleep in, take a yoga class, savor an ice cream cone, browse shops at a leisurely pace, stop by the library or a book shop to check out the latest bestsellers or favorite classics, and catch a local performance. Create your own travel agenda or make it up as you go. Sometimes it takes a few inquiries or a little research to find quiet times to visit the mountains for relaxation and savings, but it’s well worth the investment. It only takes once to get hooked on this winning approach to travel.