In much of the world, the heat of summer is turned up a few more notches by the time August rolls around, but here in Estes Park, our weather is already turning to fall. Warm days fold into nights so cool, the temperatures will often drop near freezing, offering the perfect contrast in wonderful, as this contradiction allows guests to utilize all the amenities our Voyago Vacation Rentals seasonal sanctuaries have to offer. August may be the local’s favorite time of year, and if your journey brings you to our mountain home at that time, this guide on how to do August in Estes Park like a local will help you enjoy the most joyful Estes Park August vacation of all.
First We Sip Wine at the Estes Park Wine Festival, August 9th & 10th, Bond Park
A good wine adds a spark of wonderful to a summer day, and the Estes Park Wine Festival allows us to sip all the wines while listening to live music, devouring delectable food, and even get a little pre-holiday shopping done, as the vendors open booths filled with arts, crafts, and gifts. (Christmas is only 138 days away!) Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online, with General Admission tickets providing a wine glass, a wine tote, and unlimited tastings as well as access to all vendors and music. VIP tickets include VIP tent entry with catered food and wine bar.
Then We Splash Around at Lake Estes
The water is already beginning to cool down, but when the sun shines and the mercury rises to a comfortable 78 degrees, we and our families often find ourselves heading to the lake for a day of fun in the sun and water. Lake Estes Marina rents a generous selection of boats, including pontoon, fishing, and kayaks, and canoes, and if you want to get a little workout in during your lake activities, they also rent out paddleboards. Sometimes we hike the trail that surrounds the lake, and most times we pack a picnic, as there are also picnic tables at the lake. Visitors can also swim, relax on the sandy beach by the marina, or even join in a pick-up game of beach volleyball—there’s no end to the amount of fun that can be had at Lake Estes on an August day.
Sometimes We Eat a LOT
The restaurants of Estes Park are known to be some of the best in the state, and although you can create your own self-guided tour of deliciousness, Estes Park Tour Guides offers a four-hour food and drink tour that allows you to sample a little bit of everything. You can always return to the restaurants that interest you most at a later time, living like a local when you find “your place,” but early on in your Estes Park journey, the tour may be the best way to get your feet wet!
Hiking Saves the Day
The way we look at it, we could constantly count calories and miss out on the fun a good meal can bring, or we can eat all we want and hike away all the excess calories we have consumed. If you see things the way we do, in addition to the Lake Estes Trail we mentioned earlier, you may want to explore the Lumpy Ridge Trail, which features panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. You can also push yourself to complete the extremely hard Sky Pond via the Glacier Gorge Trail; offering an elevation gain of 1700+ feet, the 8.6-mile-long trail offers waterfalls, lakes, creeks, and canopies of trees to help ease the pain of all the extra steps.
And Then We Sip Some More
The perfect way to end a day of Colorado adventures is by sipping and savoring the cool of the night, and places like The Slab-Outdoor Pub, located at 116 E Elkhorn Avenue, let us do it in style. The Slab is technically a beer garden that serves pub grub, and it does close relatively early (9 or 10 PM), so if you have the urge to sip a little later, the Wheel Bar, 132 E Elkhorn Avenue, stays open until 2 AM and offers the full bar experience.
But Mostly We Relax and Take It Easy in Estes Park in August
Because our Voyago Vacation Rentals Estes Park escapes are designed to bring comfort and fun to all who reside within, you too can follow in the footsteps of the locals. Offering hot tubs on decks overlooking the breathtaking Estes Park landscape, ping pong, pool, or even foosball tables for some extra entertainment, and fireplaces in living rooms and some bedrooms, state of the art televisions, and gourmet kitchens equipped with high-end appliances, staying in and relaxing won’t make you feel like you’re missing out on anything—it will make you feel that you are enjoying EVERYTHING. Reserve your favorite August cabin in Estes Park today!
