5-Day Itinerary for Haunted Colorado

We landed in Denver and picked up our rental car. We headed for Estes Park, which is a city located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. We stopped for dinner along the way and then drove up a windy mountain in the dark to reach our destination in Estes Park, the Stanley Hotel. If anyone is a fan of the classic horror film "The Shining," directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel by Stephen King, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Stephen King was inspired to write this movie after staying at the Stanley Hotel in 1974. While sleeping in room 217, he had vivid dreams about a haunted hotel, which inspired him to write "The Shining." So, of course, we booked room 217! It’s known as the Stephen King suite, and it books up way in advance but was available for our dates, so we grabbed it. Upon entering the room, we announced that we believe in ghosts, and we are unafraid and would welcome them if they chose to come out. Since we were staying in the actual room, we could hear people outside our door taking pictures. We may have moved the doorknob to scare people in the hallway and giggled when they screamed. That first night of sleep, I will confess, I woke up in the middle of the night because I felt the presence of someone. But I went right back to sleep and woke up feeling great!

After breakfast in the best place in town, Eggs of Estes, we headed for Rocky Mountain National Park. This park is known for its breathtaking mountains, alpine lakes, wildlife and hiking trails. It’s a big destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s popular in the summer, but since it was early spring, it was very quiet. Trail Ridge Road is the main road through the park, and parts of it are closed during the winter because of the snow accumulation. We were able to drive into the park for a few miles. Most hiking trails were closed due to the snow, but we were able to park and walk down one trail.

Later that night, it was time to take the ghost tour at Stanley Hotel. This tour takes you through the hotel while the tour guide gives the history of the hotel and shares spooky stories. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, it’s a unique tour and one I’ll never forget. Our last night in the hotel, I’ll admit, I may have slept with one eye open.

We left Estes Park and the Stanley Hotel behind and headed south for Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains plus several other mountain ranges nearby. People go there to hike, rock climb and ski.

We checked into our next "haunted hotel" Hotel Boulderado. Hotel Boulderado opened in 1909 and is known for its stunning architectural design. It has retained much of its charm, as can be seen in the stained-glass ceiling and original woodwork from then. There are rumors that people who have stayed in rooms 302 and 304 have witnessed ghostly activity. We decided to forgo those rooms as we had such a pleasant experience at the Stanley Hotel, why push our luck.

That night, we walked Pearl Street Mall. It’s a pedestrian street lined with great shops, restaurants, coffee cafes, street performers and art installations. It has such a great, vibrant feel. We met some locals who have moved to Boulder to enjoy all Boulder has to offer. Many of the restaurants use locally sourced and organic ingredients. We ate at The Kitchen American Bistro and had a fabulous meal. The ambiance is lovely and make sure you order the carrot appetizer. Divine!

Today we hiked the Boulder Flatirons. The Flatirons are in Chautauqua Park, just outside of the downtown area. We did the Flatiron loop trail, it took us by the iconic Flatiron rock formations, with panoramic views of Boulder. The trail was not busy, and we could walk at our own pace.

After the hike, it was time for us to indulge a bit. We checked into the spa at St. Julien Hotel and Spa. Be sure to make your reservations at least two weeks in advance. We both enjoyed the steam room and sauna and the 80-minute deep tissue massage. It was heaven.

Grabbed a coffee at our favorite cafe in Boulder, The Laughing Goat Coffee House. Great, strong coffee served with a smile every single time we went. We walked around Pearl Street Mall one last time and I bought some handmade jewelry made by a local artist in Boulder. We were happy with our fill of thrills and nature and it was off to Denver airport to fly home to our kids and some normalcy.