Elk at Estes Park - September 2004

When browsing some old photographs, I ran across these photographs taken on Estes Park on 26 September 2004:

Although we see elk all the time when we visit Estes Park, it never gets boring.

Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park - October 2003

These are photographs of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park taken in October 2003.

Sprague Lake

When our children were small, one of our favorite Rocky Mountain National Park hikes was the loop trail around Sprague Lake which does not have a significant elevation gain or loss and is a relatively easy hike with beautiful views.

Other Scenic Views in Rocky Mountain National Park

Elk in Estes Park

A highlight of Estes Park is the elk walking around like they own the place.

Estes Park in October

Estes Park (Colorado) is one of my favorite places and it's especially beautiful in October. This post provides a brief summary and some photographs from our day trip to Estes Park in October 2020 (October 9).

The blog post "6 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time to Visit Estes Park" lists the first reason as "It's Easy to See Wildlife." The article states, "Chances are high that you’ll see deer, elk, or even moose just about any time you visit Estes Park, but during the fall seasons, it’s practically a guarantee." This has been true in our experience; we see wildlife anytime we visit Estes Park, but it's particularly easy to see wildlife in the fall.

The photographs above and below this sentence were taken in Estes Park near its Visitors Center.

Elk and other wildlife reguarly walk through the downtown and the cause of the one type of traffic jam that most people don't seem to mind.

Fall in Estes Park is fabulous, but October is especially beautiful with the changing leaves' colors.

"Fall Colors are Everywhere" is the #3 reason listed in the previously mentioned blog post to visit Estes Park in the fall.

The combination of easy wildlife viewing and falls colors is a spectacular combination.

Arguably Estes Park's most recognized landmarks is the historic Stanley Hotel.

We typically go into the highly popular Rocky Mountain National Park whenever we visit Estes Park, but did not this time because there was (at that time) a requirement to register in advance for a 2-hour window of time in which to enter the park. Because it was just a day trip and because one didn't need to leave the town of Estes Park to see fantastic views, we spent our day in town. The downtown area was busier than I expected in October during COVID-19, but there were parking spots easily found, which means it wasn't as busy as some summer days can get. We ordered some take-out appetizers from local restaurant Penelope's Old Time Burgers.

Although anytime is a good time to visit Estes Park, October is an especially good time to visit this great town.

Sweet Basilico (Estes Park)

One of my favorite places is Estes Park and one of my favorite restaurants in Estes Park is Sweet Basilico. The restaurant is conveniently located just outside (southwest) of the busy downtown section of Estes Park and has its own parking lot (which can be welcome during the busy summer season).

The food and service at Sweet Basilico are both excellent. There are too many tasty options available at Sweet Basilico to list here. Some of my favorite are Focaccia con Sweet Basil (appetizer), Chicken Pomadore (dinner entree), and the Triple Chocolate Mousse (dessert).

At the time of this writing, reservations are accepted and recommended. The restaurant fills up fast (even with large patio space) at dinner time, which is more evidence of this restaurant's popularity with visitors, tourists, campers, and locals alike.

Sweet Basilico is located at 430 Prospect Village Dr. in Estes Park and their telephone number is 970-586-3899. There are several restaurants I enjoy in Estes Park, but Sweet Basilico may be my favorite dinner spot.