1060 Mary’s Lake Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, 970-586-6200,
Rates: Start at $130 for a queen-size bed inside the inn; the cabin is $225 per night. Breakfast is included. Free parking on-site.
Stay here if you: are looking for a rustic, welcoming B&B experience close to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park that’s just off the road but quiet and feels like a getaway.
It’s close to: the national park, 1 mile away, and town, a 3-minute drive.
The rooms are: decorated tastefully in the popular mountain style, with a nice balance of pretty and rustic. They have plenty of room and cozy chairs and tables for hanging out, and some have extra touches such as mirror- topped dressing tables.
They put all of the money into: renovating the property and updating everything, such as the bathrooms, most of which feature regular-size Jacuzzi tubs (the cabin has one big enough for two), as well as beautiful woodwork, such as the hardwood floors in the main lodge. All of the rooms have cable TV and a DVD player and free Wi-Fi.
The bottom line: Owners Karin and Roger Steers have turned this spot into a destination for folks looking for a spot for a small wedding or business retreat, and the porches, library and main room with a fireplace are inviting places to relax, which they encourage. Our breakfast, with broiled grapefruit and a Southwestern frittata with salsa, was just right.
