As we do our best to stay afloat in this downtrodden economy, many of us have opted to save money by cancelling our once cherished vacation plans. While it’s a good idea to save more and invest smarter, I would argue the mental healing of getting away from it all can do a lot more good than staying home with the stresses of over-analyzing these tough times. As such, my wife and I have turned to Colorado ‘stay-cations’ and learned that treasured memories away from home don’t have to break the bank.
Here’s our list for the best bed and breakfasts in our beautiful home state of Colorado.
Best in Colorado – Mountain Comfort Bed and Breakfast (view website)
Our pick for best Bed and Breakfast in Colorado is Mountain Comfort Bed and Breakfast in Alma, Colorado, just north of Fairplay. Starting with the gorgeous drive that takes you to Mountain Comfort – Hwy 285 from Denver over Kenosha Pass and back down through the breathtaking South Park valley – every one of our four stays at this gem has been a memorable one. The inn takers (Sandy and Ernie Dumas) are two of the loveliest people we’ve had the privilege of staying with and they make you feel as though you’re back home with family. The food has been great every time and they’re happy to accommodate picky eaters as well as vegetarians with prior notice. The snacks (cakes, muffins, cookies, etc.) that Sandy bakes up are also a welcome treat anytime of day. Every room in Mountain Comfort Bed and Breakfast is quaintly decorated by theme (Bear room, Wolf room, Pine room, etc.) and, since the inn is only a few years old, every room is extremely clean with and offers its own flat screen/DVD, fireplace and Jacuzzi bathtub. Did I mention the Wi-Fi, 64 jet hot tub and heated floors?
The view from Mountain Comfort’s great room towards the Mosquito range is absolutely stunning but don’t let the name fool you: Mosquito Range boasts 9 peaks over 13,900 ft. And with Mountain Comfort being nestled in such a wonderful part of Colorado’s back-country activities like horseback riding, rafting, some of the nation’s best fly fishing, skiing and a lot more is just a few minutes away.
Runner up – Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch (view website)
Second on our list is Loveland, Colorado’s Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. This inn offers dude ranch vacations that allow families and friends to find their inner cowboy with overnight pack trips, riding classes, cattle drives and more. In operation since the 1940’s, the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch is pretty popular year-round, but we recommend booking your trip during mid-June through August when they offer six-night dude ranch packages at a great price.
The on-site food at Sylvan Dale hasn’t been the best we’ve found around Loveland (just our opinion), but the hospitality, mountain views, convenience from Denver and year round activities will definitely take us back there soon. In fact, Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch can also host a number of group events such as weddings, business retreats and family reunions – this August we’ll be staying at the ranch for a friends wedding and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
#3 – Holden House 1902 (view website)
Holden House 1902 Bed and Breakfast rounds off the top 3 best Colorado bed and breakfasts on our list and their tagline says it all. The Romance of the Past with the Comfort of Today” is what first attracted us to this lovely house in the Pikes Peak area and it didn’t disappoint. The inn is warm and cozy with the privacy you expect from a luxury bed and breakfast. The gourmet morning meals are elegantly served in their formal dining room each morning, or delivered to your room for an additional charge. The innkeepers, Sallie and Welling Clark, did all of the restorations to this charming bed and breakfast in the mid-eighties so don’t expect to many technology frills.
For us, the most enticing part of staying at the Holden House was its location. The Pikes Peak region in Colorado offers more outdoor adventure than most can get around to in their lifetime including golf, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, sightseeing/photography tours at Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon Parks. The area is also home to one of America’s largest Renaissance Festivals, the Air Force Academy and some of the regions best antique, fine art and historic museums and shopping.
#4 – Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast (view website)
I love Boulder, CO. And anyone who’s stayed there for any amount of time will likely say the same. Boulder is one of those towns that you wish you lived in but come to realize you’re just not easy going enough to fit in with the locals. That is, until you stay at the Briar Rose where the hospitality makes you feel like you’re in your own home, enjoying the company of your family.
The Briar Rose is nestled in the not-so-bustling downtown area of Boulder, CO. The lodge boasts rich, vibrant landscaping, unique rooms, organic breakfasts, charming hosts and characters so colorful you’ll wish you could paint.
People visit The Briar Rose from all around the world and we’ve enjoyed great conversations with folks of varying backgrounds on both of our visits. The lodge is also close to Boulder’s famous Pearl Street Mall, amazing gourmet restaurants and the University of Colorado’s beautiful campus. If you visit in the summer, be sure to stay close and take in as much of the local life as possible. It’ll change you forever. In winter, the perfect powder snow coated flatirons make for a memorable photo tour and you can warm up with a hot-cocoa fueled sleigh ride before nestling in to the lodges super comfy beds.
#5 – Elkwood Manor Luxury Bed and Breakfast (view website)
Pagosa Springs, CO is another favorite destination of ours and we never miss the chance to stay with our friends at Elkwood Mannor. This old fashion style log home offers great views of the San Juan Mountains from its wrap-around porches and an even better view from their hot tub. The inn is close to Colorado’s best kept secret skiing spot (Wolf Creek) and is also near the areas famed hot springs.
