The weekend getaway

Day 1: Arrival, downtown Salida, and the Continental Divide Gondola

Get in the car and take beautiful hwy 285 all the way to the site. Just two and a half hours from Denver, tucked into the national forest outside Salida, Outside Inn is designed for the kind of weekends that make you feel like you were gone for much longer.

  1. If timing lines up, stop at Monarch Mountain Scenic Tram for a ride to the top of the Continental Divide. The views stretch endlessly across the Sawatch Range and give you that first deep breath of mountain air that officially kicks off the weekend.

  2. Arrive at Outside Inn in the late afternoon, settle into your cabin, and take a moment to slow down.

  3. Then head into downtown Salida for dinner and drinks along the river. Grab a patio table at Pizza Rio overlooking the kayakers and surfers in the Arkansas River.

  4. Afterward, walk <1 min over to The Victoria Tavern — “The Vic” — one of Colorado’s oldest and most historic bars.

  5. Back at Outside Inn, end the evening with a quiet walk beneath the stars. The property feels different at night — cool mountain air, minimal light pollution, and the sound of the wind moving through the trees before falling asleep in your cabin in nature.

Day 2: Sand Dunes & Hot Springs

What to Expect

Wake up slowly with coffee on your deck before heading south toward Great Sand Dunes National Park.

  1. Less than an hour away, the dunes rise unexpectedly out of the valley floor — the tallest sand dunes in North America surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Spend the morning hiking the dunes barefoot, exploring Medano Creek, or simply taking in one of the most surreal landscapes in the country

  2. On the drive, make sure to stop at Zapata Falls, a short but memorable hike through a narrow canyon to a hidden waterfall

  3. On the way back toward Salida, unwind at Valley View Hot Springs — natural geothermal pools tucked into a quiet valley with expansive mountain views.

  4. Back in Salida that evening, stop by a local butcher or market, pick up something fresh for dinner, and head back to Outside Inn for a relaxed night cooking outside and soaking in the mountain air.

  5. Finish the evening in the hot tubs, sauna, or around a fire after a full day outdoors.

Day 3: Waterfalls, coffee, and lunch in BV

Start the day with one last sauna session or quiet walk around the property

  1. COFFEE - head back into downtown Salida for breakfast and coffee at Bunny and Clyde’s Corner Cafe

  2. Take one final stroll through Salida’s historic downtown — bookstores, outdoor shops, coffee shops, and art galleries all framed by mountain views

  3. Stop at either Agnes Falls (short <1 mile hike to beautiful waterfall) or Brown’s Creek Falls (a bit longer but epic)

  4. On the drive back toward Denver, consider one final scenic stop in Buena Vista before making your way home

  5. Arriving back Sunday evening feeling reset, rested, and refreshed

If you made it this far, you deserve a little discount. Enter FRIENDSOFOUTSIDE10

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