If You Go

Start at visitestespark.com — you’ll find practical info and a calendar of upcoming events: Estes Park Winter Festival (Saturday-jan. 20) for ice skating, beer and food samples, live music and kids activities. Also, look for the Wine and Chocolate Festival (noon-5 p.m. Feb. 9), the Whiskey Warm Up (1-4 p.m. March 2) and the first Bigfoot Days (April 12-13).

Rocky Mountain National Park: 1000 U.S. Highway 36, Estes Park, 970-586-1206, nps.gov/romo. Bear Lake is accessed at the Bear Lake Trailhead; it is an easy, flat hike around the lake, less than

1 mile. The Nymph Lake Trail also leaves from Bear Lake Trailhead and is about a 1-mile out-and-back hike with moderate steepness.

Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ and Brew: 820 Moraine Ave., Estes Park, open 11 a.m.-9 p.m., 970-577-7427, smokindavesbbq.com. Be sure to try a slab of St. Louis ribs in whatever “smokin’ platter” you choose.

Elkins Distilling: 1825 N. Lake Ave., Estes Park, tasting room and shop are open noon-9 p.m. Sundaywednesday and noon-10 p.m. Thursday-saturday, 970-480-1848, elkinsdistilling.store. Note: During the government shutdown, some services and roads at Rocky Mountain National Park are not in service.