Aer Lingus Colorado FAM: Estes Park & The Rocky Mountains

On Saturday, the Aer Lingus fam trip that had coursed a path from Denver to Fort Collins, travelled to Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains for their final night of an epic trip to Colorado.

Ivan Beacom from Aer Lingus led the group that also included Linda Ryan (Click and Go Holidays), Caoimhe Miley (American Holidays), Lorraine Kenny (Sunway), Leah Adams (Travel Solutions Belfast), Aileen Clancy (Cassidy’s) and Roger Barrett, from Travel Counsellors. Aer Lingus operates from Dublin to Denver four days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays) onboard an Airbus A330 aircraft, opening up a diverse state for Irish holidaymakers and business travellers.

Estes Park is the stunning gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park and the perfect base for outdoor adventures in this Northern Colorado hotspot. The Park itself offers world-class outdoor adventures, unique wildlife views and a historic atmosphere that captures the spirit of the West.

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After travelling an hour’s drive from Fort Collins on Saturday, the Aer Lingus Fam was awestruck by this mountainous region, with snowy peaks surrounding the town. Their first stop was The Mustang Mountain Coaster – Estes Park’s newest, and most exhilarating thrill that offers a 2000 linear-foot ride down the mountain side in one of Este’s Park most iconic horse ranches. Open year round and suitable for families – the individual coasters sit one adult with a child and takes you on a chain-dog track up the side of the mountain with spectacular views of the Rockies. At the top, you push the levers down on either side of the cart and then you’re suddenly flying down the mountain side on a looping track in an exhilarating ride! It’s $25 for one ride or you can get three rides per ticket ($40) – used to its full advantage by Caoimhe, Leah and Roger as they rocketed down the mountainside in the hot day! At the base of the coaster lies The Sombrero Stables, the largest guided-ride provider in the state that gives visitors a variety of options on their ‘Ready 2 Ride’ horses: a 30-minute ride is just $50 per person while a 2-hour ride takes you up another 800-900 feet in elevation to enjoy spectacular views of the Continental Divide, Long’s Peak, and the Estes Valley and costs $135 per person.

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Estes Park was established in 1860 by Joel Estes after he struck it rich during the California Gold Rush, and the town proudly boasts its history at every corner. The Bird & Jim restaurant pays homage to Isabella Bird, an adventurous travel writer and naturalist, and her rough-and-tumble, one-eyed trapper and guide who together travelled through the Rocky Mountains on horseback in 1873. Here, Bird famously chronicled her journey in the classic memoir “A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains”. The restaurant offers local food and hearty mountain dishes and joins a variety of options in the town for visitors. From Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ to Mexican restaurant Solé, Eggs of Estes and Antonio’s Real New York Pizza – there’s plenty of dining for locals and visitors alike. Tourists can wander in and out of taffy shops and ice-cream parlours, and shop in souvenir stores that includes three Christmas shops that run all year round!  

Overlooking the town, with its red roofs contrasting against a white façade, The Stanley Hotel is a huge draw for visitors around the world. It’s not just that it’s the oldest hotel in the town (built in 1909) but the fact that the hotel was also the inspiration for Stephen King’s most famous horror novel The Shining – and the subsequent movie by Stanley Kubrick. In 1974, King visited the Stanley Hotel with his wife just before the resort shut down for the winter season where they were the only guests. King stayed in room 217 where he would later have the dream that created The Shining – not knowing that in 1911 this was the place where a housemaid was involved in a terrible accident. That year in June, there had been a gas leak and when head chambermaid Mrs. Wilson lit a candle after walking into the room she was caught up in an explosion that almost killed her. Although she survived, guests often say that her spirit encompassed the room after her later death: married couples generally have a peaceful stay while unmarried couples report a cold and chilling being coming towards the bed while they sleep. There are other aspects of the hotel that are reminiscent of King’s book: there’s a labyrinth on site, reports of the ghosts of children running around the fourth floor, and the ghost of Freelan Oscar Stanley (the hotel founder who died in 1940) haunting the bar and billiards room. The Stanley takes full advantage of its spooky history – you can stay in Room 217 from $800 per night (rate for midweek in February 2027), guest mediums do seances on the second floor, and a 3-hour interactive exploration of the hotel is ticketed to visitors, titled “The Overlook Project: Paranormal Investigations at The Stanley Hotel.”

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On Saturday night, the Aer Lingus Fam trip had the opportunity to explore the grounds of the Stanley after they attended a special performance by Starship featuring 76-year-old American rock singer Mickey Thomas who was lead vocalist of Jefferson Starship and the subsequent Starship band! The ‘We Built This City on Rock n Roll’ singer even met the group before the show as they gained VIP entry into the building. The performance is part of several that happen on the ‘Live at The Stanely’ program that takes places throughout the year. This year alone the venue will host comedian Adam Carolla, ghost-storyteller Amy Bruni and even a Shining Ball in October. At the latter, guests will enjoy a dress-up night with awards for the Best Stephen King Inspired Costume, speciality cocktails (including ‘Redrum’), tarot card readings and more. Find out more at https://www.stanleyhotel.com/.

On Sunday, the Aer Lingus fam trip woke up to a spectacular view from their night staying at Craggs’ Lodge, a century-old alpine retreat that offers spacious, all-suite accommodations just moments from the Rocky Mountain National Park. The lodge is designed for travellers who value space and serenity; pairing timeless architecture with thoughtful comfort for modern stays. https://cragslodge.com/

After the excitement of the Starship performance the night before, the group set off towards the Rocky Mountain National Park for a hiking experience with tour guide Thomas, founder of Estes Park Tour Guides, and Head of Visit Colorado Jennifer Bartlett Henriques from Visit Colorado who had accompanied the group since their arrival into the park.

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The surge of elk activity in the area means that on the way out to the Rockies, you’re sure to spot a half-dozen elk grazing by the roadside. While the group sadly did not spot a moose, their population is on the rise in the area where they come to mate and graze. Thomas and his team at Estes Park Tour Guides take full advantage of this and other wildlife with speciality tours for visitors – this includes their fly-fishing hikes, there’s their photography hikes which gives photographers the opportunity to witness elk battles or stay up late to catch the stars in their astrophotography hikes. The company offers guided hikes during the day, at sunrise and after nightfall; they can host weddings, corporate retreats, family activities and tailor-made experiences for senior and student groups. In the winter, the company offers snowshoeing, ice-fishing and skiing. Each hike includes a professional wilderness guide, walkie talkies, satellite communication devices in case of an emergency, snacks, water, rain ponchos, medical kit, reservation and timed-entry permit fees, backpacks, headlamps (if needed), binoculars for wildlife viewing, as well as group and candid photography. They also brew fresh coffee/tea at their halfway point on every trip, and hot chocolate. Find out more about their tours at www.estesparktourguides.com

On the wonderful drive up into the Rocky Mountains, tour guide Thomas told agents about key facts to remember when it comes to sending their customers to the park:

• Make a plan before you go: to enter Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) between May 22 and mid-October 2026, two things are required: a timed entry permit plus a park pass or entrance fee. Secure those in advance if your travel dates fall during peak season. You’ll also need a park pass or entrance fee. The fee for a Standard entrance pass is $15.00–$35.00, and the park does not accept cash.

• Hikers should plan early mornings in RMNP, especially for popular hiking trails like Bear Lake and Emerald Lake. Parking fills up early in summer and fall, so sunrise hikes are your best strategy.

• If you prefer a slower pace, the area offers plenty of low-key activities: picnic spots, scenic drives & overlooks, visitor centres, and quieter corners like the Wild Basin area. It’s a great option for travellers who want beautiful scenery without the heavy crowds.

• Leave room to acclimate: Estes Park sits above 7,500 feet, and altitude can slow you down. Hydrate, take breaks, and give yourself space to enjoy the views without rushing.

• There are two large lots for free parking which still get you an arm’s reach to downtown: The Stanley Fairgrounds/Event Center Park-and-Ride lot, located at 1125 Rooftop Way, is only a mile from the centre of downtown. This lot offers access to two different shuttle routes with several convenient drop-off locations. It also provides access to public restrooms.  Another great spot for free parking is at the Riverwalk Parking Structure. Here you’ll find 415 parking spots as well as public restrooms. Just around the corner, at 500 Big Thompson Avenue, you’ll find the Estes Park Visitors Center which provides you with free wi-fi and information. From there, you’ll have access to the town’s seasonal shuttle routes, as well as the downtown trolley.

• RMNP offers two shuttle routes from the Park & Ride. The Bear Lake Shuttle route makes stops at the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake. The Moraine Park Shuttle Route makes stops at Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables, Hollowell Park, Tuxedo Park, Moraine Park Campground, Cub Lake Trailhead, and the Fern Lake Bus Stop.

In the summer, visitors can expect warm days, afternoon thunderstorms, and the highest visitor numbers. In Autumn, expect beautiful colours from the vast diversity of trees throughout the parks with Elk bugling and clean air. In the winter, snowshoeing is especially beautiful while spring offers a less crowded experience although higher trails remain snowy or icy.

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On Sunday, the Aer Lingus Fam trip acclimatised themselves to high altitude by taking a loop by Bear Lake before setting off on their uphill adventure. The first stop was Nymph Lake with its magical lily pads covering the surface with a starting elevation of 9,475 feet. Continuing on, the group next walked up to Dream Lake, bringing them closer to the snowy ridges of the mountains at 9,905 feet. For the most adventurous – the next two lakes Emerald (10,111 feet elevation) and Lake Haiyaha (10,289 feet) are for adept hikers, but the Aer Lingus group was quite content with the views they had at the stunning Dream Lake where Thomas provided tea, hot chocolate and nutritional chocolate bars.

From Katie’s perspective (not used to hiking or high altitudes) the air makes you heave much harder than if you were doing a similar steep hike somewhere else in the world. There’s a feeling of panic in your chest as you try and catch your breath but as the guide Thomas told the group – breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth will keep your breathing steady. There was a dabble of nosebleeds in the group, a few light headaches but after a while these subsided. The views were worth every moment of the hike, with vistas and valleys stretching out against the blue sky – the photos can’t do it justice of how awesome the mountainous views are!

That evening, the group returned to Crags Lodge to get refreshed before jumping back on their Hermes bus for the hour-and-a-half drive back to Denver airport to fly back on the 20.00 local time Denver to Dublin flight operated by Aer Lingus. Katie was about to have her very first experience of business class which she can’t wait to tell you about tomorrow! A big thank you to Jenn from Visit Colorado, Thomas and Estes Park for their warm welcome and introduction to the area. If you want to learn more visit Colorado.com and https://www.visitestespark.com/ for more information.