My wife and I love Estes Park, but don't get up there as much as we should. It seems like the only time we make it up the mountain is when we have visitors in town. There are so many great reasons to visit. I came up with my "5 Favorite Things About Estes Park".

5. Rooftop Rodeo

Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo
Randy Owens Photography
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The Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo is July 6-11 at Stanley Park Fairgrounds in beautiful Estes Park. Without a doubt, it is the most spectacular place in the World to watch a rodeo. The view is breathtaking.

The Rooftop Rodeo won the PRCA’s Small Rodeo of the Year five times, has been nominated as one of its Top 5 Medium Rodeos in each of the last five years, and won the 2014 PRCA Mountain States Circuit Medium Rodeo of the Year along with its 2015 Most Improved Rodeo of the Year.

4. Hermit Park

Hermit Park just outside of Estes Park
Todd Harding, TSM
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Hermit Park Open Space used to be a private camping area owned by Hewlett Packard. A few years ago it was purchased by Larimer County. My wife and I love to camp there with our pop-up.   Hermit Park includes cabins, RV and tent camping, a reservable group pavilion, and trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

3. Stanley Hotel

Todd at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park
Jenny Harding, For TSM
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The Stanley Hotel is legendary.It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America. It is only 6 miles away from Rocky Mountain National Park. It is also known for being the inspiration for Stephen King's novel "The Shining" and is considered one of America's most Haunted hotels. I have still never stayed there, but have been to a few weddings and have visited many times. I love it.

2. Wildlife

Big Horn Sheep
Schonlau, Rocky Mountain National Park
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We see wildlife every time we go to Estes Park.  We see elk almost every time we visit and if you don't know where they are, just ask someone in town.  We have seen big horn sheep, mountain goats, eagles, deer, and lots of little animals like pikas, rabbits, and chipmunks. I have never seen a cougar or bear and I am not sure I want to, but I know they are there.

1. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park
Todd Harding, TSM
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Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the true gems in the state of Colorado. The park features 415 square miles with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife and, of course, Trail Ridge Road. The Road is only open during the summer, but what do you expect from the highest paved road in America. If I could take a guest to one place in Colorado, it would Rocky Mountain National Park. So, obviously, it is #1 on my list.

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