6 Best Outdoor Activities in Estes Park for Any Season

When someone says Estes Park, I see Jack Nicholson shoving his face through an ax-battered door screaming, “Here’s Johnny!”

My apologies for the visual; it’s a personal struggle, and it’s incredibly unfair to Estes Park.

Although The Shining was filmed at the maybe-haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, this Colorado town couldn’t be further from a Stephen King novel.

It’s charming, it’s welcoming to visitors, it’s chock-full of great rentals, and it’s got something (amazing) to do any time of year.

And while you absolutely can take a The Shining-themed tour of The Stanley Hotel (or even join a séance with the hotel’s resident apparitionist), you’re better off spending your time enjoying the fruits of the Rockies.

Ready to ~~see a ghost at The Stanley Hotel~~ lace up your hiking boots? These are the best outdoor activities that you can enjoy in any season, including in winter.

6 best outdoor activities in Estes Park

Great for the family: Geocaching

Geocaching has popped up on my radar more and more over the last year, especially when it comes to activities offered at national parks. (In fact, I recently covered geocaching at Babcock State Park in a piece on Fayetteville, West Virginia.)

If you’ve been seeing this phrase around and wondering what it means, geocaching is basically a digital scavenger hunt.

Park authorities leave out ‘caches’ that park-goers can find using clues accessed on a mobile device, then leave behind for other groups to uncover.

In Estes Park, you can enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park’s unique Across the Divide Geocaching program. It’s part of an international program called GeoTours, which means this is an activity your family can take with you on future journeys.

Just make sure you read up on how Geocaching works and what you’ll need to get started. Every park has a unique approach to GeoAdventures.

Romantic side quests: Horseback Riding

Depending on how adventurous you are, and how willing you are to laugh at yourself, horseback riding may or may not make for a great date.

Personally, I love these types of dates because they take me out of my comfort zone while promising an unforgettable adventure.

In Estes Park, you’ll get even more out of the experience thanks to the gorgeous views and range of options. You can choose from five different horse-riding experiences that are geared toward beginners, experienced riders, and those who want to get out in nature.

Personally, I’d go for the National Park Gateway Stables—it looks like one of the most scenic options.

Big group adventures: Wildlife Watching

Colorado Bull Elk in Rut at Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park (Getty)

Estes Park is one of the best places in the United States to observe wildlife without disappearing into the wilderness. That’s thanks to the Rockies’ looming presence; they pen in the town and are protected as part of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Just outside city limits, wildlife abounds.

It might sound a little counterintuitive to recommend taking a big group to observe wildlife—after all, should you be in small, sort of clandestine groups?

Not exactly. If you’re just passing through Estes Park, you’ll probably be looking for wildlife from a car.

If you’re a larger group, you can easily explore scenic routes that are known for wildlife in two cars. That way, your group experiences the same magic without packing into a bus.

The best way to see wildlife is in Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Valley—but the likelihood of you seeing wildlife changes greatly based on season, along with where you might see them.

For this reason, always ask guides, hosts, or your hotel’s concierge about when and where to go wildlife watching.

For the outdoorsy types: Whitewater Rafting

As with horseback riding, you have choices when it comes to white water rafting operators in Estes Park. Most service the rushing Colorado River or the nearby Poudre River. Once again, you’ll be able to find a difficulty level that suits your experience on the water.

Want to take it easy? You can basically float down certain portions of either river. Want to challenge yourself? Take on rapids with names like Maw of Death and Roller Coaster.

For the non-outdoorsy types: Riverwalk

Even if you hate the outdoors, you’ll still have fun in Estes Park. Let me mention once again just how stunning the Rocky Mountain views are—the town is almost surrounded on all sides by protected forests, meaning you can soak up the rugged atmosphere from downtown.

Speaking of downtown, it’s home to a quaint Riverwalk. The Riverwalk crisscrosses the Big Thompson River and Fall River, which wind through the center of town. As you weave along the path, you can explore Estes Park’s most beloved galleries, shops, and restaurants. It’s so relaxing and scenic that you might actually do it twice.

Perfect for a solo trip: Choose your tour

Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado, USA (Getty)

More rugged outdoor trips aren’t usually a top pick for solo travelers—especially greener, first-time soloists. Getting out into nature is rejuvenating, but it also requires us to gather the right gear, take the necessary precautions, and otherwise plan out every detail in case we lose cell service or run into a bear.

In Estes Park, however, you can easily find a tour that suits your outdoor interests. From photography tours that take you into Rock Mountain National Park to llama-led adventures to guided bike tours, there’s something for everyone. Best of all, it’s a great place to meet fellow travelers and make friends that you might see again.

The surprise of a lifetime: Off Roading or Open Air Adventure Park

Open Air Adventure Park (Courtesy of Visit Estes Park)

Can’t be bothered with another horseback ride or white water adventure? Take things in a new direction. In Estes Park, you have two unexpected options: a daring offroad adventure or the Open Air Adventure Park.

Off-roading options let you take on nature with the help of rough-and-ready rock crawlers, from Jeeps to customized rides. Some are large enough to bring on small groups, making this an ideal pick for bachelor parties.

The Open Air Adventure Park gives you a little bit of everything. You can take on an obstacle course, rent a kayak to take a sunset tour, throw axes like a Viking, and more. Best of all, you’re surrounded by stunning natural forests.

3 Easy Steps to Buy & Set Up an eSIM for Europe

Ready to hit the ground running on your next trip to Europe?

You need a solid phone plan in your back pocket. The easiest way to stay connected abroad is with an eSIM that you can activate upon arrival.

ESIMs are digital SIM cards that come with data plans that let you connect to the internet all over the world.

Previously, travelers had to buy a physical SIM card from a local phone shop to get service—now, all you need to do is download an app.

But how do they actually work? As a traveler and not a techy, I know how easy it is to get hung up on the whole process. That’s doubly true in a region like Europe where you might cross borders every other day… or even daily, depending on your itinerary.

Can’t figure out how to get your smartphone ready for your trip to Europe? Let’s use one of my favorite eSIM providers as an example: Saily.

Here’s how to buy and set up an eSIM from Saily for your next European adventure—in three easy steps.

A short intro to Saily

Saily is a premier eSIM provider with some big backing. Saily comes from Nord, the same company behind Nord VPN.

That’s a pretty big deal considering Nord’s experience in the VPN world means Saily has added security features, including ad-blocking and tracker-blocking.

Those features are great to have anywhere—but they’re even more important when we travel because we have less understanding of data laws and potential cyber threats at our destination.

Second, Saily is the official partner of Lonely Planet, which is a pretty big stamp of approval, if I’ve ever seen one. Unlike other eSIM platforms, Saily lets you choose a pan-European data plan, too, which means you don’t need to activate new eSIM plans every time you cross a border.

Now onto the fun stuff. Here’s how to buy a data plan from Saily for your next trip to Europe.

Step One: Download the Saily App

You can download Saily on the Apple App Store or via the Google Play Store. The app is free to download and won’t take up too much space on your phone. Once you download the app, you’ll be able to follow a simple set of instructions to set up your account.

[Alternatively, you can select and pay for your data plan straight from the website, then download the app afterward. To me, it makes more sense to download the app and shop there from the get-go.]

Step Two: Find the right plan and make your purchase

In the screenshot, you can see Saily’s Europe webpage. Here, you can shop around for the right plan for you. As you can see, most plans are only active for 30 days or, for larger data plans of 50 GB and over, 90 to 180 days.

I recommend a 5 or 10 GB plan for any Americans heading to Europe for a week or so. That will give you enough data to do just about everything that you do from home, from scrolling on social media to sending emails. But if you want full video streaming capabilities, go for the 50 GB plan.

Lastly, I want to point out the ‘view country list’ at the bottom of the page. The reason I prefer Saily for European adventures is that the data plans work across the European Union’s borders—and into countries that aren’t part of the EU, like the UK and Iceland.

It’s a set-it-and-forget-it solution for all types of European trips.

Step Three: Show up and have fun

How can you activate your data plan when you touch down in Europe? Thanks to the magic of Saily, you don’t need to do anything.

Your eSIM will automatically activate when your phone connects to local networks. And they’ll automatically lapse once that 30-day period ends.

What You Need to Know About the UK’s New ETA Travel Requirement

If you have plans to travel to Europe, you might be wondering about those ETIAS forms mentioned over the last year.

Here’s a quick catchup: the European Union is looking to launch a new entry-exit system across its borders, which is called EES. Once the new EES rolls out, American tourists will be required to submit a form that verifies their identity, and then declares where they’re going and what they’re doing, which is called the ETIAS form.

According to reports from late last year, delays implementing EES were, in turn, causing delays in the ETIAS requirement start date.

Still, most reports informed travelers that EES would launch in 2025, followed by ETIAS form requirements. Despite added delays, ETIAS systems were still slated to launch in October of this year—a cool five years before it was originally supposed to launch in 2021.

In early March, however, the EU officially announced that ETIAS operations had been pushed to late 2026. (For any Office fans reading this, we’re now in snip-snap-snip-snap territory.)

But there’s a catch: travelers heading for Europe aren’t entirely off the hook.

Though ETIAS won’t launch until late 2026, the UK surprised the travel world by releasing a new requirement for travelers—including those who are just passing through its airports on connecting flights.

Forget about the EU’s ETIAS—you need to know about the UK’s ETA requirement.

Europe & its borders: a quick refresher

Thanks to Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the European Union.

EES and ETIAS launches will not affect travel into and out of the UK. The UK patrols its borders according to different policies—and it’s got one of the strictest approaches in Europe thanks to its status as a small island nation.

Recently, the UK announced a new Electronic Travel Authorization form or ETA. It’s a new entry requirement for American travelers heading to the UK or simply passing through, effective immediately.

What is the ETA? And where can you fill it out?

The UK’s new ETA requirements is a simple form that helps British authorities track and manage the citizens who pass through its borders digitally instead of manually—even during a simple transfer at the airport.

Read that again for anyone with a layover at Heathrow: you still need to fill out an ETA form, even if you’ll never leave the airport.

You can find information on the form and download the necessary apps to complete the form online.

Here’s what else you need to know about applying for an ETA to travel to the UK or pass through its airports:

It costs $12.75 to apply for an ETA
Travelers of all ages must apply
It is valid for two years or until your passport expires—whichever comes first
Your application could take up to three business days to process, so make sure you give yourself time to get approved
If you have a criminal record or were previously denied entry into the UK, consider applying for a regular visitor visa instead

These 10 Countries Listed Travel Alerts for the United States

Politics and travel intersect quite a bit.

I’ve always found that interesting because, as a traveler who left her home at age 18, I’m not one for politicking. Neither are my international friends.

As an immigrant living outside the US, my border-hopping lifestyle is based on the notions of freedom, cultural exchange, and global unity. (I have hugged a few trees in my time—why do you ask?) Though national borders aren’t up for debate, travelers often seek to move fluidly between them, like little political chimeras.

But international relations, social movements, and similar political topics impact how we travel and where we go.

The US Department of State has a long and clear list of travel advisories for Americans. These are designed to protect us as we head abroad. Recently, the US also updated its list of travel bans, which will affect how non-Americans visit, study, and work in our country.

Topics like these also move in reverse.

Last year, I covered the ACLED listing the US as a conflict-ridden country thanks to our social climate. We weren’t the only Western country to earn a spot; Canada and France wound up on the list for the same reason.

Recently, however, ten countries have launched new advisories for citizens heading into the United States.

Which countries have released travel alerts—and will they impact the future of travel in the United States? Let’s dig in.

These ten countries just listed travel alerts

In March 2025, these ten countries issued official state travel advisories for citizens heading into the United States:

Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Ireland
Germany
Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
United Kingdom

Why did they post travel alerts about the US?

I’m not a politician; I’m a traveler. If you want to dive deep into the motivations behind these travel advisories, I suggest you let the great minds at BBC or a similar publication do the teaching.

Here’s the gist: the US is rolling out a strict border enforcement approach that has seen Canadians and European travelers detained upon arrival or exit. Detentions have been questionable, even for travelers who have the necessary entry requirements and permits.

The UK’s official warning, for example, reads, “You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.”

That’s a fairly tame warning, in my opinion. As an international traveler, I assume the same is true for every country I set foot in. I must follow their requirements to the T or risk being sent home.

Here’s my takeaway: many countries that were once lenient about travel requirements are starting to buckle down. The same is true in Mexico, which is now requiring Americans to fill out FMM forms upon entering the country.

Are travelers canceling their plans to the US?

Some reports from Statistics Canada have found that border crossings from Canada into the US have dropped by 20% as of February 2025.

That being said, canceling a road trip across the border is a lot different than axing a vacation from Scotland to Los Angeles, for example.

In other words, it’s too soon to tell whether travelers heading to the US will cancel trips that are already planned and paid for. However, the travel sector is economically bracing for a dip in travel figures, with Tourism Economics predicting an overall decline of 5.5%.

7 Packing Hacks for Winter Trips & Arctic Travels

I know—the weather just turned warm.

Who cares about packing for winter when the flowers are finally blooming?

I have two motivations. First, more and more travelers are packing their bags to head to the Arctic Circle (that’s in the north) and Antarctica (that’s in the south). Some are heading off on wilderness expeditions, while others are sticking to picturesque Arctic outposts like Longyearbyen.

Second, just because it’s warming up in the north doesn’t mean it’s springtime everywhere. In the Southern Hemisphere, autumn is just beginning. If you’re heading to countries like Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa in the coming months, you’ll be heading straight (back) into winter.

My point is this: even if it’s warm at home, you might be flying into a cold front, and there’s nothing more difficult than packing for winter. Trust me, I’ve tried and failed. (Many times.)

Looking for more advice on how to pack your bags like a bona fide master? Use these packing hacks for winter trips and Arctic travels.

7 packing hacks for winter trips and cold weather

Hack #1: Wear your heaviest gear on the plane

Let’s start with the obvious: you should be wearing your heaviest boots and winter coat on the plane to free up space in your bag. (You’ll also need to wear these on your return flight.)

Most planes have a small hook on the seatback in front of you for you to hang your coat. If not, wait until everyone has loaded their carry-ons and backpacks into the overhead bin, then stuff your coat in.

Because those flights will be a bit more cramped due to your boots and coat, I suggest splurging for an economy plus seat—if not for the flight to your destination, then at least when you’re heading home.

Hack #2: Use compression cubes instead of packing cubes

Packing cubes are performance art; there’s no reason to use them unless you’re prone to losing things in a suitcase or need help organizing your final list.

On the other hand, compression packing cubes have something to offer. These bags actually zip up, and then shrink into a smaller, more compact shape.

A standard packing cube will make your suitcase pretty and help you stay organized as you pack, but a compression packing cube can minimize the size of your heftiest winter gear. From ski gloves to thermal socks, toss them into the compression bag, then watch them halve in size.

Hack #3: Pack less and clean more

If you will have access to a washer-dryer on your cold weather adventure, then let me save you tons of time, effort, and headaches. Pack less, wash more. This trick has saved me a few times when on vacation in Poland in winter.

By using my rental’s washer-dryer or relying on the hotel’s washing service, I’ve saved myself critical packing space in my suitcase. Not only that, but I could pack nicer pieces because I knew that I’d have access to washing services.

Hack #4: Rely on smaller items that are heat-smart

If you won’t have reliable access to washing services or your own washer-dryer, then I recommend you shop smarter before packing.

Dozens of brands specialize in heat-smart layers that keep you warm in frigid temperatures while also protecting you from sweat and dampness. For more rugged explorers, I highly suggest investing in this type of equipment.

Not only will it pave the way for a great vacation by keeping you comfortable, but these specialized items of clothing are usually thin and easy to pack. Think about Uniqlo’s famous heat-tech shirts. They’re affordable and functional, and they fold up into tiny shapes.

Hack #5: Use your coat as storage, if needed

If you’re on the cusp of overpacking your suitcase, I’ve got a tip: use the winter coat that you’re bringing onto the plane as extra storage. Usually, winter coats have all types of little pockets and zipped hideaways. Don’t let them go to waste!

If you’ll need gear like hand warmers, for example, use your coat’s storage space. The same for other small pieces like gloves, socks, and even hats.

Hack #6: Consider checking a bag

Here’s the rub: you might be locked in a losing battle with your carry-on if you’re traveling over winter.

One of the best decisions that I ever made was sharing a check-in suitcase with my partner during one of our trips to Scandinavia. Instead of overstuffing two carry-ons, we decided to split a check-in.

When it comes to winter gear, we can actually share a few items, like thermal socks and hats. By packing a check-in together, we could more easily see our total gear haul, and then split the difference where possible. The secret win here was being able to bring a carry-on bag full of souvenirs with us on the way back.

Hack #7: Don’t forget the little things: gloves, sunscreen, socks, hats

When we think about winter, we think big—big coats, big scarves, big boots. But don’t forget about all those smaller items as you work out how to pack the big stuff.

I’ve forgotten socks before, along with my favorite beanie. My all-time favorite winter packing tip is this: don’t ever forget about sunscreen. The glare of snow will burn your skin like it’s mid-summer.

What Are Wi-Fi Hotspots? 5 Examples of Travel Uses

Hotspots, eSIMs, and VPNs—it’s an increasingly complex world of travel-centric tech.

If you’re anything like me, it’s probably been an uphill battle figuring out which gadgets, apps, and products are actually worth your time and money.

Then, there’s the part about learning how they work.

Luckily for me, I live with a dusky user-experience designer who’s always willing to explain, and re-explain, the idea behind new tech releases, how to use them, and whether they’re worth the effort.

One of the latest topics I’ve harangued him about is hotspots.

Hotspots are mobile Wi-Fi devices, which let you connect from anywhere in the world. Sounds simple, right? In reality, hotspots run a huge gamut.

There’s Starlink, for example, a well-known hotspot that’s used by major brands from Subaru to Hawaiian Airlines. Then there’s the most basic form of a hotspot: an eSIM.

Let’s take it back to basics.

What are hotspots—and should they be on your radar if you’re a regular traveler?

Like I just outlined, hotspots are solutions that let you connect to the internet remotely.

Starlink beams internet service down from a satellite that orbits our planet; other solutions rely on local service providers and their magnificent towers.

For the average traveler, a standard eSIM will give you more than enough data to do what you want.

So, here’s the short answer: if you’re heading to a beachside resort, a historic European city, a bustling town in South America, or a similarly familiar vacation, you won’t need a hotspot.

You can use an eSIM to connect while you’re on the go, and then connect to Wi-Fi at your hotel or a restaurant. An eSIM will connect to the nearest service provider’s towers, letting you use more basic apps.

That being said, you might not always be a regular traveler heading off on a familiar vacation. In some cases, you might want to consider a more robust hotspot solution.

5 times you might need a wi-fi hotspot

Nine times out of ten, I don’t need a Wi-Fi hotspot for my travel needs—but when I do, it’s pretty critical to the success of my trip. These are the types of vacations when I’ve relied on a hotspot or actively wished I had one.

Road trips & RVing. If you want a reliable internet connection (I’m talking about video streaming and video calls) on a road trip, you need to have a hotspot solution. Even if you’re on a populated, busy route, you might run into pockets where service is absolutely dead.
Camping trips. The same idea with road trips, except you’ll most likely be camped out in an even more remote location. Most of the time, campers avoid hotspots because there’s no way to charge devices. However, I’ve seen more long-term campers (especially those who work remotely) use hotspots to stay on the clock while they travel the countryside.
Working on trips. If you need to get work done reliably anywhere, I’d recommend using a hotspot. While hotels and private rentals worldwide are aware that travelers want reliable, fast internet, they can’t always provide it. (Sometimes, they zhuzh up how strong their connections are, too.) If you need to get work done—from taking video calls to uploading large files—then don’t leave it up to chance. Bring a hotspot with you.
Even working on your phone. This category fits into the working section above, but I think it deserves its own section. Even if you only plan to work on a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet while you’re on vacation, you might still need a hotspot to get the job done. I’m thinking specifically about content creators and influencers who need to edit and upload videos from mobile devices, but I’m sure there are more cases, too.
Open-ended adventures. Are you hitting the road with no return flight? Good for you, my friend! You’re ascending the ranks of the travel world—hopefully, with a hotspot in your bag. That little hotspot will give you the freedom to take on more remote and unexpected adventures, especially if you’re planning to travel the world as a digital nomad.