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We partnered with Real Simple magazine to help you find your ideal sophisticated Rocky Mountain adventure. If you picture truly getting away from it all and getting a dose of nature, the image isn’t always easy-going. Traditional camping is rewarding but taxing (pitching a tent in the rain?!), and at times it can be alluring to think about roughing it while still coming back to some semblance of comfortable digs at the end of the day.
Enter: glamping, where you can surround yourself with nature and have all your needs tended to as well. Colorado is chock full of top-notch glamping destinations, so we’ve curated some of the best ones with an itinerary that weaves through the Rocky Mountains and helps you experience the state’s natural beauty and unparalleled hospitality, all in one package.

Real Simple: The Perfect Rocky Mountain Glamping Itinerary

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Rise and shine in Denver with a bountiful brunch at Snooze: an A.M Eatery from its enormous menu that spans much of the breakfast spectrum, from pineapple upside-down pancakes and breakfast pot pie to spring vegetable frittatas.

Snooze: an A.M Eatery 

Peruse Denver’s oldest block (essentially where the city was founded), while shopping and sipping on local coffee.

Jaunt Over to Larimer Square

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You won’t be disappointed by the Heirloom Tomato Salad, made with Colorado very own <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/palisade">Palisade Peaches</a>.

Mercantile's Menu

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Offering Chef Alex Seidel's signature take on elevated comfort food, the restaurant follows in the footsteps of the award-winning Fruition Restaurant, creating seasonally-inspired dishes and cocktails and serving them in a casual dining atmosphere.

Mercantile dining & provision

All that fuel should give you the energy to tackle the trails of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where lush alpine woods provide ample opportunity to experience what’s known in Japan as “shinrin yoku,” or forest immersion. After completing a hike (there are over 36 miles of trails, so you have some options).

Golden Gate Canyon State Park 

Head up to Greeley to chow down on thin-crust pizza at Bulldog Pub &amp; Grub and sample a local beer at WeldWerks Brewing Co. to wind down the day.

Head North

Bulldog Pub &amp; Grub is a beloved sandwich shop and family restaurant with its own family-friendly arcade area. Belly up the bar for a Colorado craft beer while you watch the game. Delight in restaurant favorites like oh-so cheesy pizza, a Rueben or an Italian sammy.

Bulldog Pub & Grub

WeldWerks Brewing Company is an award-winning, locally owned and operated craft brewery in historic downtown Greeley. We execute our unique and original product line with the highest quality ingredients, a state-of-the-art brewing system, and the newest brewing practices. We select malt, hops, and yeast to suit each recipe specifically, using the best ingredients available. 
Join us in our inviting taproom or on our spacious patio and enjoy a wide selection of craft beer. We are a family-friendly establishment, and also welcome four-legged friends on our patio. A food truck is usually on site Thursday-Sunday, or you can have food delivered right to your seat from one of our awesome local delivery partners. We've got lots going on so check our Facebook page for the most current happenings!

WeldWerks Brewing Company

Make the 1.5-hour drive to Estes Park for your lodgings.

Head to Estes Park

Lodging at The Evergreens on Fall River places you in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, only 3 minutes away from the Rocky Mountain National Park and 5 minutes from downtown Estes Park. 
We offer Riverfront One &amp; Two-Bedroom Cabins that are OPEN YEAR-ROUND, and a Private Mountain Home with 3-Bedrooms and a Loft, open seasonally.
Our cabins offer equipped kitchens with dining area, gas grill, free wi-fi, full bathrooms, private decks overlooking the river, and gas fireplaces. Bed linens, bath towels and toiletries are provided.  All Cabins our equipped with private spas to use for an addtional fee.
Our private home is surrounded by beautiful scenic views and abundant wildlife.  It offers three bedrooms with a loft, wood burning fireplace, living room, kitchen, dining area, satellite T.V., gas grill and picnic table.  Bed linens, bath towels and toiletries are provided.

The Evergreens on Fall River

Feast on one of their legendary breakfasts (green chili huevos rancheros, anyone?) while taking in the views from their scenic patio. Claire's is set apart by their emphasis on using the freshest and highest quality ingredients available. This also allows them to feature seasonal fare, from the freshest summer delights, to such specialties as red beans and rice or gumbo for a warming winter meal.

Claire's On the Park

Dedicated to fostering a love of astronomy, the observatory has a schedule of events and books private viewings. Your host fascinates you with stories of the stars under an open sky, and there's a telescope for astronomical up-close views of the heavens.

Estes Park Memorial Observatory

Once you’ve completed your fabric masterpiece, build a sandwich masterpiece at Scratch Deli and Bakery — but don’t eat it yet! You’re saving it for a picnic atop nearby Prospect Mountain.

Scratch Deli and Bakery

Our experienced tour guides, not only have great knowledge and abilities, they also are entertaining and friendly. Perfect for families that want to experience the Rocky Mountain National Park, natural waterfalls, and the local wildlife.

Green Jeep Tours

At Bird and Jim, we are defining Colorado cuisine with our ever-evolving seasonal and ingredient-driven menus sourced from the Front Range of Colorado and beyond.

Bird & Jim

Go through the park and make your way to your next stop: the town of Wolcott, where the glamping wonderland of Collective Retreats Vail is ready to ply you with a farm-to-table dinner of chicken roulade and tartare, s’mores over an open fire.

Take Trail Ridge Road Through the Park

This spot has some of the most luxurious tents this side of the Mississippi — think king-size beds and chandeliers, as well as bath amenities.

Collective Retreats Vail

On day three, the folks at Collective Retreats Vail come through AGAIN with a delicious à la carte breakfast, including options ranging from homemade granola parfaits to breakfast burritos.

Breakfast in Camp

Collective Retreats will organize a horseback ride through the surrounding countryside (for both beginners and experienced riders), where you’ll see breathtaking views of the Sawatch Range. Return to camp for a picnic lunch with your choice of sandwich or salad preparations of delicious lamb BLT, flank steak and more. Finally, squeeze the last drop out of your stay by treating yourself to an in-tent Swedish or deep-tissue massage.

Camp Activities & Lunch

Grab a burger on the patio and lounge by the fire pit at 8 Mile Bar &amp; Grill and sip on a wide selection of Colorado crafted beers on tap as you soak in the stunning mountain scenery.

8 Mile Bar & Grill

Once you’ve checked out of Collective Retreats as a more relaxed and limber version of yourself, cruise on down to Cañon City to check in at your final lodging paradise, Royal Gorge Cabins.

On to the Next

Skyline Drive is a must-see for anyone visiting Cañon City. Touted as one of America's most scenic drives, its steep, cliff-side climb makes you feel as though you are "off-roading" from the comfort of your passenger car.

Skyline Drive

Royal Gorge Cabins offers 9 luxury cabin rentals in 1- and 2-bedroom sizes, as well as glamping tent rentals. Located 1 hour from Colorado Springs and 8 miles from Cañon City, the well-appointed cabins are the perfect basecamp for your Colorado Springs vacation.

Royal Gorge Cabins

Craft coffee, manual brews, espresso bar, signature drinks, real fruit and green tea smoothies, Italian Sodas, house made pastries, bicycles, good music, great service, and more!

The Bean Pedaler

And hey, you’re on vacation, so why not attend a wine tasting at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey before your return trip? After all, you were kinda roughing it on this vacation. But only kinda.