To enter the park, you can purchase a one-day or seven-day pass. One day is $20 and seven days is $30 (per vehicle, not per person). You can buy those online ahead of time at the link below or in the moment as you're driving into the park.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm

Rocky Mountain National Park offers some of the most impressive hiking this great nation has to offer. It's beautiful landscapes formed the backdrop to some of Kristin & Charlie's best memories. If you find yourself needing to stretch your legs before or after the wedding, below is a list of the bride and groom's favorite hikes. The list has the easiest hikes first, and proceeds to the more difficult hikes towards the bottom. Anyone in decently good shape (and not having specific elevation struggles) should be able to complete the most difficult on this list. We've left any hikes that would be considered dangerous, technical, or extreme off of this list. If you're a seasoned hiker and are up for a serious challenge, get in touch with Kristin for custom recommendations!

Sprague Lake (0.9 miles) - Beautiful scenery with next to no work to attain it. Sprague lake is surrounded by a paved walkway and is even wheelchair accessible. The views are spectacular none-the-less with pristine water wonderfully reflecting the surrounding mountains.

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/sprague-lake.htm

The Alluvial Fan - A short trail will lead you to this open area of rivers, small waterfalls, and huge boulders. Many people climb all around the boulders and see how high up they can go, others like to stop at a lower spot and enjoy a picnic among the scenery. Once in this area, it's a "choose your own adventure" type of place. Through the Fall River entrance station of RMNP you'll see signs leading you to the Fan about 3 miles in.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g143...

Bear Lake Loop (0.8 miles) - The Bear Lake loop is just under one mile in length. A nice hike for beginners. Wonderful views, of course, still abound. This is one of the more popular spots in RMNP and becomes crowded on weekends.

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/bear-lake-nature-trail.htm

Nymph Lake (1.1 miles), Dream Lake (2.2 miles), and Emerald Lake (3.5 miles) - All three of these can be reached via the same trail, each lake slightly higher than the last as you go up. The hike will start at the base of Bear Lake. It was on this trail that Charlie and Kristin's life changed forever. At the base of Dream Lake, Kristin said "yes" this past October.

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/emerald-lake.htm

Mills Lake (5.3 miles) - The ultimate goal on this hike is Mills Lake, a peaceful mountain lake nestled in the Rockies. If you endeavor to reach the final destination, make sure to give yourself several hours to accomplish the task. The journey does offer plenty along the way, however. There will be several smaller waterfalls and other amazing natural overlooks before you reach the top. Starting the hike without any desire to actually reach Mills Like is still a perfectly viable plan. Not quite one mile in, you'll pass the popular Alberta Falls. Kristin and Charlie did this hike with her bridesmaid Lindsay and her fiancé Stuart the first time Charlie had ever been to Estes. It was so good that they did it again when Kristin's mom and stepdad (Ted) came out a few months later. It's one of their top favorites.

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/mills-lake.htm

Ouzel Falls (5.4 miles) - The Ouzel Falls hike will take a good chunk of the day, but boy is it worth it. The majority of the hike will be under luscious tree cover, and at the end you will be rewarded with a spectacular mountain waterfall. Similar to the Mills Lake hike, this is still worthwhile even if you elect to not go all the way to Ouzel. On the journey to Ouzel falls, you'll pass Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades. Much of the trail follows along a river. Kristin led Charlie on this hike during the weekend celebrating his 33rd birthday. A couple months later, Kristin's brother (Kyle) proposed to Becca at the final waterfall while on this hike!

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/ouzel-falls.htm

While in Rocky Mountain National Park, don't miss the opportunity to take a half-day roadtrip on the famous Trail Ridge Road! There are a number of optional scenic stops, pull-offs, photo opportunities, and short hikes along this drive. You'll drive across the continental divide through alpine tundra reaching a height of 12,183 feet above sea level making it the highest road in the United States. Near the highest point there's a visitor center with some food, souvenirs, restrooms, etc. This is a good place to turn around and head back to Estes. If you keep going, you'll eventually find yourself in Grand Lake, Colorado which is a whole different set of wonderful alpine adventures! Block off around 3 hours to get from Estes to the Alpine Visitor Center and back, this builds in time for many stops along the way.

**This is a safe and well-paved road, however, if driving on narrow roads with significant drop offs on either side is a fear of yours, consider avoiding this.**

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g143048-d1946612-Reviews-Trail_Ridge_Road-Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_Colorado.html

Estes park is full of amazing dining options. Yelp and TripAdvisor are full of excellent recommendations. That being said, here are some of our personal favorites:

Twin Owls Steakhouse - Located in a 1920s log cabin at the Black Canyon Inn, this is one of the premier choices in Estes. A carnivores dream, this fine dining establishment offers the best in authentic game, beef, chicken, and seafood. It's a bit pricier than some of the other options, but absolutely worth every penny. Charlie and Kristin enjoyed a wonderful, romantic fireside dinner here on the weekend they chose the Taharaa as their wedding location.

Rock Inn Mountain Tavern - Great spot to get a local feel. The historic Rock Inn spares the frills and focuses on good ol' Rocky Mountain comfort food. Inside feels like an old wooden longhouse, and they get right down to the good stuff - strong cocktails, live local bands, and some of the best meatloaf you will ever eat. The first night of Kristin's 30th birthday weekend celebration was spent at this amazing hole in the wall spot.

Smokin' Dave's BBQ & Taphouse - Three words "dang good BBQ". Like seriously. Charlie doesn't mess around when it comes to smoked meats, and he gives this place two BBQ sauce covered thumbs up. Great for a quick sit down, or to-go platters to share (with maybe some leftovers for later). Charlie and Kristin chowed down late into the night on their wonderful brisket and pulled pork the last time Kenna and Ted Frink were out for a visit.

Nepals Cafe - "Indian food in Estes Park? You gotta be kidding me" I hear you saying. I'm not, I'm really not. It's THAT good. Charlie loves Indian food, and this place holds up against the best he's had anywhere. Be prepared to give up your steak and potatoes for a night, this place is as ethnic as it comes. For his 33rd birthday, Kristin treated him to a combination of chicken tikka masala and saag paneer that he didn't soon forget.

Poppy's Pizza - A great option if you're craving some good, solid 'Za. Located right along the pedestrian river walk, this is the perfect choice for something more casual. They have all the classics a pizza lover would want, but also get creative with some globally inspired flavors. Their Rocky Mountain Pizza features smoked trout and cream cheese, a creative and unique taste for anyone wanting to branch out from the classic cheese. Kristin and her family have enjoyed many a night eating pizza on their patio as the river trickles by.

**Five star recommendation** The Dunraven Inn - No trip to Estes is complete without a meal at the Dunraven. Kristin's grandmother (Ahma) introduced the family to this amazing spot decades ago and it's been a staple ever since. With a warm, quirky ambiance that always generates a smile, and Italian food that makes you set your fork down and say "oh my god!", it's simply the best. After their engagement at Dream Lake, this is the restaurant Charlie and Kristin went to with Nikki and Sean Roessetter to celebrate the once in a lifetime occasion.