Are you thinking about planning a trip to Buena Vista, Colorado? If you go to this quaint town, you are in for a real treat. Buena Vista was founded in 1979 and the name means, “beautiful view.” When they named the town, they knew what they were talking about. Buena Vista is situated in the Rockies at an elevation of 7,954 feet. It is located just a few minutes away from the San Isabel National Park and the 700 miles of trails and numerous ghost towns that are found in the park. All of the resorts in the area offer spectacular mountain views.
How to Plan Your Beautiful Buena Vista Vacation:
Time your trip. What kind of trip are you planning? If you want to avoid the crowds, plan your trip for off peak times and avoid traveling to the area during the holidays or on long weekends. If you want to go skiing, you can go late in the season to get the most of the snow and miss the masses who will travel there. If you want a hiking trip, plan your visit for the early or late summer. There really is no such thing as the “wrong” time to visit Colorado. It is beautiful all year. Talk to the resorts where you want to stay and ask what they consider to be an off peak time to visit the area and stay there.
Be mindful of the altitude. Altitude sickness is a real thing and can really screw up your Buena Vista vacation. Most people fly into Denver, which has an altitude of about 5,280. People who are concerned about the altitude will opt to spend a few days there to get their body used to the elevation. One thing you can do is drink lots of water. Some go as far as to drink at least double the amount of water they usually drink at home. You should also watch your alcohol consumption while you are at altitude. You can take medicine if you are worried about the altitude.
The sun shines brighter in Colorado. Remember that the sun’s rays are more powerful as you get higher up so do not leave your sunscreen at home. Even if you do not normally use it or get sunburns at home, use sunscreen on your Colorado vacation. You do not want to suffer from your first sunburn on your vacation. If you normally burn, you need to be careful to not get sun poisoning. Most resorts sell sunscreen and aloe vera for people who forgot to bring these items.
Pack for dressing in layers. The temperature can change rapidly in the mountains, The best way to deal with these changes is to dress in layers. When you pack your clothes for your trip, keep that in mind. You will be much more comfortable when you are out skiing or hiking if you remember this when packing.
Bring extra shoes. The last thing you want when you are enjoying the Colorado outdoors is for your feet to hurt. Bring (or wear) your boots but also pack some walking shoes. It is hard to have a good time anywhere when your feet are either cold or in pain. If you plan to do a lot of hiking, you can also get socks that can help prevent blisters.
Ship gifts home. If you take a break from your sightseeing adventure to do some shopping, you may want to consider shipping your stuff home. Airlines seem to always want to raise the prices for checked bags so you may find it cheaper to just ship the things you buy on vacation home. At the very least, you can check how much it will cost.
Buena Vista, Colorado is a very popular tourist destination and there are reasons for that. There is something for just about everyone in this cute town. The resorts you will find there can be great for romantic getaways or your family vacation. Whether you go for a ski trip in the winter or a hiking vacation in the summer, the area is beautiful all year round. There really is no “bad” time to visit Colorado. Just remember to pack your camera!
