Upcoming Denver Area Trip

I'm going to be in Denver for a class for work at the end of this month. I'm going to hang out for a couple of days after the class is over to do some photography. I'd like to hear your suggestions as to a good place to drive from Denver. I want to spend 2 nights in a hotel somewhere in the mountains within an hour or so of Denver that's close to photographing potential. I don't mind hiking a mile or two at a time, but I'm not going to have the gear with me on this trip to get too far into the wilderness.

Suggestions? Thanks!

Rocky Mtn. National Park is all you need. It's a little more than an hour away (not by much), but there are plenty of places to stay and eat in Estes Park, you can make the pilgrimage to Erik's amazing gallery so you can drop to your knees and bellow "I'm not worthy!" to the master himself, and find all the wildlife and scenery you want in the park.

You could maybe check out Golden Gate Canyon State Park. I'm not sure about lodging around there, but the wildflowers might be coming up around there.

If the meeting place is in Downtown Denver, check out the cityscapes from the railroad station to the art museum areas. You can walk or take a shuttle bus on the mall.

Also, take the Peak to Peak highway out of Boulder to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National.

Bill Brennan