Denver area lodging

[BuzzKill]

Hey all, just wondering where in the Denver area and outlying towns where are some decent places to stay for the night.   Any recommendations for food?
Looking at Boulder/Golden/Idaho Falls, etc to stay for a night.

Also considering the Peak to Peak Hwy.. anyone done it lately?  Roads ok?

Looking to then possible head to Red River/Angel Fire/Taos area to spend the next night.. thinking about 24/285 to make it down that way.   That a good route?

Any information is appreciated.

Thanks!

Thag

[Duckwheat]

It's Idaho Springs, not Idaho Falls. Really good pizza in Idaho Springs called Beau Jo's right down town.

There is the El Rancho at the Evergreen turnoff of I70. I think the food sucks, but the tourist like it. The Chart House is just east of there 7-8 miles good food with a heck of a view.

The Imperial on South Broadway in Denver is excellent Chinese. Near Coors Field there is great steak place. Something ChopHouse.

Nothing memorable from recollection in Golden.

Good luck

DW

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Are you cheap like me? If so there is a Motel6 and an Affordable Inn at I70 and Kipling at Denver/Wheatridge. Don't stay at the even cheaper place north of the Affordable Inn ( I made that mistake once).

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=denver+motel+6&sll=39.76527,-105.094528&sspn=0.128257,0.308647&ie=UTF8&hq=motel+6&hnear=Denver,+Colorado&ll=39.78412,-105.110546&spn=0.003801,0.009645&t=h&z=17


Yes 24 south getting off at I70 is good road, high speed sweepers.

Oh I forgot to add, those motels book up full this time of year so you might want reservations there (hence the night in the crack hotel north of the affordable Inn).

Raymond

[F6Dave]

My son is going to college in Golden at the School of Mines and I've been pleasantly surprised at the number of good places to eat in that town.  The Table Mountain Inn has really great southwestern fare, there are a few good Italian places, and the Golden Hotel has a good restaurant, too.  The place has a real small town feel to it, and you can tour the Coors brewery, too.

Lodging is a different story.  Boulder is really pricey.  Denver is expensive during the week, but many hotels have real bargains on weekends because the business travelers are gone then.  I hate big cities so I'd probably stay in the mountains somewhere.  The ski towns in Summit County (Dillon/Breckenridge/Frisco) have so much capacity for ski season that there are some good deals in the summer.  Idaho Springs has some older mom and pop motels that probably offer reasonable prices.

To get down to New Mexico, you have lots of good choices.  US 285 is fine though you'll be surprised at how many flat stretches you'll find in what's called south park.  If you go that way consider taking Colo 17 over Cumbres Pass through Chama, NM.  It follows part of the Cumbres and Toltec narrow gauge railroad route - a truly spectacular ride.  Another option is to take I-25, but make a detour from Walsenburg to Trinidad on Colo 12, known as the 'Highway of Legends'.  That's a great ride over Cucharas Pass you won't regret.