17% off (Sale price $82.09, Reg. Price $99.50) :: Hotel at a Glance: Murphys River LodgeColorados Fall River runs alongside Murphys River Lodge, complementing the backdrop of the pine-fringed Rocky Mountains. Grazing elk are a common sight on the property; the hotels guests can find their own spots to eat in downtown Estes Park, less than a 10-minute walk away. Free continental breakfast includes fruit and hard-boiled eggs. Spacious condos come with a king bed and a sofa bed as well as fireplaces and balconies; the lower river condo adds a full kitchen. Best places to relax: the indoor heated pool and hot tub, which are housed in a window-lined area that lets guests enjoy the scenery On chilly nights, visitors gather around the fire pits.Estes Park, Colorado: Gateway to Rocky Mountain National ParkEstes Park is a small town known as the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Downtown along Elkhorn Avenue, the main drag, there are the usual souvenir, taffy, and ice-cream shops—but also local breweries and independent restaurants. The resort town also has a popular outdoor ice rink, open on weekends in the winter.Each year, more than three million people head into Rocky Mountain National Park to access 355 miles of hiking trails and admire stunning mountain vistas. The park’s most popular hike is the half-mile loop around the flat terrain of Bear Lake, but the crowd thins out somewhat at Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes. Weather permitting, visitors take the region’s spectacular scenic drives. The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway wends past the Continental Divide, offering views of Longs Peak—the park’s highest summit, at 14,259 feet.
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