Fantastic family getaway at Fawn Valley Inn in Estes Park

Beautiful Estes Park, Colorado has a special place in my heart. It’s where my husband and I were married in 2006. We continue to make day trips there at least once a year, but have never stayed longer than one night at a time. We were recently given the opportunity to spend three nights at Fawn Valley Inn right on the Fall River.

To sum it up in 3 words; it was fabulous.

We were skeptical about coming up in the winter time since weather in the mountains is unpredictable. However, the weather cooperated and we enjoyed temperatures in the high 30′s/low 40′s while we were there. It did dip down to single digits overnight, which is where the wood burning fireplace comes into play. If I could have kept the fire burning. I’ve discovered that I lack basic caveman skills of keeping a fire lit. Oh well. We managed to survive without one.

No matter the season, there is plenty to do in Estes Park, which is roughly an hour and a half from the Denver metro area. But if you don’t want to take advantage of Rocky Mountain National Park (the entrance is less than half a mile from Fawn Valley Inn!), shopping, hiking, wildlife spotting, or any other outdoor activities, the condos are well equipped for a comfy weekend in.

Our condo was a one bed/one bath. Other condos have two and three bedrooms, some are studios. Other amenities that vary by unit are hot tubs and fireplaces (either wood burning like ours, or gas). We had a king sized bed in the bedroom and a queen sized futon in the living room. In theory, that would be perfect for a family of 3, but since Violet is only 3, she wasn’t about to sleep by herself in the living room. She also wasn’t about to sleep in bed with both Scott and I. So, keep that in mind if you’re looking at a one bedroom unit. She and I ended up sleeping together in the king sized bed and Scott drew the short straw and got the futon.

There was a full kitchen including dishwasher, coffee maker, microwave, oven, refrigerator and toaster. The kitchen is fully stocked with plates, glasses and utensils as well as cookie sheets, pots & pans. We took advantage of this and made our dinner at home two of the 3 nights. We also brought along some cookies to bake in the oven. We received a nice little gift basket of hot cocoa and popcorn that hit the spot while watching movies. On Saturdays and Sundays Fawn Valley Inn offers a complimentary continental breakfast of juices, oatmeal, yogurt & rolls.

Yes, movies. There are hundreds of movies to choose from to “rent”. They are no cost, but limit two at a time and one day rental. My husband enjoyed Captain America, while Violet watched Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Pinocchio on our 42″ LCD TV.

One of my favorite things about our condo was the decor. It’s rustic and woodsy with photos of mountain wildlife and other wildlife decorations.

The views from both sides of the condo were breathtaking. The patio overlooked the Fall River, and even in the middle of winter it wasn’t completely frozen over. The bedroom window looked upon the mountains. While we didn’t see any wildlife, there were fresh footprints every morning, and the photo album in the lobby was full of photos of elk, big horn sheep, black bears and coyotes that have been spotted on the property.

Besides staying in our comfy condo, we took time to explore Estes Park. We went sledding and ice skating at the YMCA of the Rockies, and dined at various places downtown. Not all of the shops are open in the winter, but we were still able to find a few open and get a couple souvenirs. We also checked out the Rocky Mountain National Park visitor center and learned more about the wildlife in the area. Much to Violet’s excitement, we saw a few dozen elk hanging out near town.

Fawn Valley Inn has affordable rates throughout the year (rates vary according to season) and with varying sizes of condos and adjoining units, it’s perfect for family adventures, whether it be for one night, or a relaxing week. Our family had an amazing time together exploring the surrounding area and relaxing in front of the unlit fireplace when we were done.

We received a complimentary three-night stay at Fawn Valley Inn in exchange for a fair and honest review. Opinions and experiences may vary.