Grand Lake

Grand Lake, perched on the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park and adjacent to the largest natural lake in the state (also called Grand Lake), is a grand mountain getaway for families. Many visitors stay here and drive Trail Ridge Road through the park to the town of Estes Park on the other side. The park provides endless entertainment from hiking and wildlife watching in summer to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing — and more wildlife watching — in winter.

The lake, which has a marina and yacht club, is popular with boaters, waterskiers and anglers. Each summer, the town hosts the Grand Lake Regatta and Lipton Cup Races.

In winter, local sports aficionados put away their boats and crank up their snowmobiles. Streets are left packed with snow to accommodate the hundreds of snowmobilers who converge on the town during the winter months, and a vast system of snowmobile trails keeps them coming back.

There's always something happening at the Grand Lake Community Center, too — from a summer repertory theater festival to old-fashioned Christmas doings.