Denver to Golden to Morrison to Pine to Bailey
Get your day off to an outta sight start at Englewood’s Breakfast on Broadway Cafe with flaky buttermilk biscuits and gravy. Or, treat your sweet tooth at Denver’s neon-lit Moonlight Diner & Bar with cinnamon-y French toast dusted with powdered sugar.
Tummy full, it’s time to split: Head to Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison for its 300-plus dino tracks or Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden where you can ride on vintage trains and tour the depot-like museum.
Next, beebop to Pine for saucy pulled-pork sammies from Cruz-In Drive Thru or enjoy lunch with a side of photo op at Bailey’s Coney Island Boardwalk, where the hot dogs are served from — get this — a giant hot dog! Chow down, then pick your playtime poison: a hike along Pine’s scenic Buffalo Creek trail system or Bigfoot sightings at Bailey’s Sasquatch Outpost.
For dinnertime delights, sink your teeth into a juicy beef-brisket burger with all the trimmings at Zoka's Restaurant & Bar (Pine); or head to Cutthroat Cafe (Bailey) for childhood faves like tuna melts, grilled cheeses and root-beer floats.
At Bailey Lodge, let down your beehive in the Premium Bird and Flower Suite with cheery, green walls, floral decor and ample room for relaxation.
Glenwood Springs to Silt to Rifle to Palisade to Grand Junction to Delta
Heed the call of breakfast two ways in Glenwood Springs: A perfectly fried egg sandwich at the 19th Street Diner or a gooey, glazed doughnut at Sweet Coloradough.
Then it’s time for another fork (this time in the road): Will you choose cave tours and thrill rides — like a rollercoaster that hangs off a mountain — at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park or spotting elk and historical ranch buildings along the Rio Grande Trail?
Punch it west with a stop for Brickhouse’s oh-so-cheesy pizza (Silt or Rifle), then marvel at Rifle Falls State Park’s cascading triple waterfall. Or, gun it to Grand Junction to hike the Mica Mine Trail, where you’ll see glittering remnants from the area’s historic mica and quartz mine.
Hungry enough to eat a horse? Try Grand Junction’s Taco Party for crispy tortillas filled with fried tofu, grilled tempeh and chorizo; or hit up The Hog and The Hen, a Main Street staple loved for its classic candy display (not to mention a delicious deli and heaping charcuterie plates).
A flick at Tru Vu Drive In (Delta) winds the night down. Catch some Z’s at Spoke and Vine Motel in Palisade, where you’ll love the revamped digs overlooking gnarly rock formations, the pup-friendly amenities, on-site bike rentals and proximity to Colorado wine country.
Leadville to Buena Vista to Nathrop to Salida
Kick off your road trip in Leadville, Colorado’s highest-elevation city at 10,151 feet. Fuel up with Golden Burro Cafe’s vegan breakfast burritos or quiche and bakery treats from City on a Hill.
Burn rubber (at the speed limit, of course) to Buena Vista, hitting the brakes for a creamery tour of Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy where you’ll meet friendly nanny-goats and shop for artisanal cheese (like wine-soaked cheddar and crumbly feta). In nearby Nathrop, explore rugged mining-town remnants at St. Elmo ghost town.
On your way to lunch, make a pitstop for “first” dessert in Buena Vista at Stedman’s Sodas, Sweets & Treats, which carries 200-plus flavors of glass-bottled sodas and rich fudge. Or, head to K’s Dairy Delite (also Buena Vista) or 50 Burger (Salida) — both offer a worthy assortment of mouthwatering malts and milkshakes along with eyepopping burger combos.
Catch a show at Comanche Drive In Theatre (Buena Vista) or head to Salida to be wowed by the Arkansas River’s downtown rushing rapids before slapping flippers on Fun Street Family Arcade’s vintage pinball machines. Then it’s time for another unreal meal at Amicas (try the Classico pizza) or Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub with build-your-own pizza and beer to go.
Rest your pompadour in style at Amigo Motor Lodge (Salida), where minimalist-modern design meets vintage bones in rooms decorated with shingled accent walls and Southwestern flourishes.