Interesting Places to Stay in Colorado

• News
• Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I have just been informed that PlanetEye's compliment of local experts will be writing on the theme of the most unique and interesting places to stay.

 Colorado being nothing if not both unique and interesting, I feel obligated to offer a few of my favorites:

 1.  Just outside of the resort town town of Steamboat Springs is the Strawberry Hot Springs resort.   While natural hot springs are a totally amazing phenomenon out here, there are a few dozen springs from which to choose from in Colorado alone.   What makes this resort unique is it's choice of lodging.   On the high end, you can stay in a caboose featuring a gas fireplace, bathroom with shower, "solar lights" and full size futon for only $105 a night.

 For the more budget concious, there is also the covered wagon.   This choice does not include a fireplace,  a bathroom, or even linens.   Guests are advised to dress appropriately for camping conditions.

 2.  Imagine that you are looking for a quiet place to spend the night with an amazing view.   Some place to just "get away from it all" and soak up the natural beauty of a place like Colorado.  Sure , you could rent some house in Aspen for a few thousand dollars a night, but who has that kind of money?

Lucky for you there is an abandoned fire lookout tower availible near Durango for a mere $40 a night.  The Jersey Jim fire tower offers spacious accomodations 55 feet above a site 10,000 above sea level chosen for it's 360 degree views of the surrounding area.  While there is heat and lighting, there is no electricity or running water.   There is also a "propane refrigerator," a device that frankly I have never before even heard of.   This trip might be worth it if only to see how this thing works.

3.  Let's say that you are such a rugged outdoorsman (or woman) that you frown on driving your SUV to the doorstep of your own caboose, covered wagon, or firetower.   What you need is a way to travel the back country by foot, mountain bicycle, or skis without the inconvenience of carrying a tent, setting it up, and hoping a storm doesn't bury it in snow or blow it away.  Look no further than the backcountry huts of the 10th Mountain Division.   These huts are the remenants of the facilities used to train the US Army's premier mountain division for combat in the European Alps in World War Two.    The huts are located in the heart of the Rocky Mountain range, roughly in a triangle between Vail, Aspen, and Leadville.

While the rates are reasonable, generally $28-$41 per person, per night, their popularity makes advanced reservations essential to this totally unique Colorado experience.