1. Peaceful Valley Ranch
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (303) 747-2881, (800) 955-6343
Address: 475 Peaceful Valley Road
Description: This family-owned, family-run guest ranch, on the site of an old homestead, is a “got everything” facility with 12 cabins, rooms in the main lodge, and various other guest buildings as well as a stable and indoor riding arena and other facilities. This is a classic dude ranch that can house more than 100 people, and conference facilities are available. Staying overnight is dandy, but longer stays are what most seek at Peaceful Valley. Half-week stays are around $845 per person, and full-week packages, including all meals, use of ranch facilities, and all recreational programs, begin at $1,375 per person during the summer. (The chef makes ranch-style meals such as prime rib and lemon-flavored catfish.)The children’s program is extensive. There’s an indoor hot tub, indoor swimming pool, and children’s petting farm as well as activities that include horseback riding, jeep tours, and square dancing. The mountainside chapel, with a view of the Indian Peaks behind the altar, is a gorgeous wedding site. In winter, Peaceful Valley offers sleigh rides; stocks cross-country skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles; and maintains a small track on the property. The trailhead for extensive marked but ungroomed trails around Camp Dick lies just across the highway. This outstanding resort is just a bit less than an hour from Boulder and about 40 minutes south of Estes Park. No smoking or pets are allowed.
2. Oskar Blues Grill And Brew
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (303) 823-6855
Address: 303 Main Street
Description: This beer-blessed home opened in 1997 and became a brewpub in 1999. Today it plays host to some of the nation’s best beers, live blues, and Cajun-inspired food. What consistently brings folks back to this venue is great beer, food, exceptional bands, and that Dixie-meets-Rockies hospitality. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. The bar is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. until midnight, and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.
3. Peaceful Valley Campground And Camp Dick
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (877) 444-6777
Address: 15 miles west of Lyons on Highway 7, lef
Description: Peaceful Valley is a pleasant, pine-shaded campground with 18 sites at an elevation of 8,500 feet. The season is mid-April through mid-October. Half of the 18 sites may be reserved for a reservation fee of $9. Site fees are $16 to $19.To reach Camp Dick campground, located a mile west of Peaceful Valley, follow the dirt road to the 46 sites at an elevation of 8,600 feet. Horses are available for rental nearby. The season is from Memorial Day through mid-October depending on the weather. The fee is $16.
4. Gateway Café
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 823-5144
Address: 432 Main Street
Description: There’s no better place to stop on the way to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park than the Gateway. There’s seafood, game, and vegetarian entrees, often with an Asian or European slant. The menu changes nightly, but the awards keep coming from Bon Appetit and the Food Network, plus local food writers who rave about the pies. Open for dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.
5. Andrea’S Homestead Cafe
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 823-5000
Address: 216 East Main Street
Description: Since 1977, German favorites have been offered by Bavarian native Andrea Liermann. Even if you can’t spell them, you know the sauerbraten, spatzle, rouladen, and Matjesfilet are authentic. There are also steaks, seafood, pasta, and vegetarian dishes. Homemade desserts include cinnamon rolls, apple strudel, and walnut torte. On weekends accordion and bell musicians play, and dancers perform the “Lederhosen Slapptanz.” Andrea’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily Thursday through Monday. Call for summer schedule.
6. Black Bear Inn
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 823-6812
Address: 42 East Main Street
Description: Classic European cuisine with a French touch appears on the menu, which changes seasonally. Wiener schnitzel is especially popular. In the wintertime, patrons with a sweet tooth prefer the chocolate taco. In the summer, they go for homemade ice cream. Black Bear is open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
7. Louie’S Italian Restaurant
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 823-8856
Address: 138 East Main Street
Description: This family-friendly restaurant is located in downtown Lyons. Louie’s specializes in fresh pizza and homemade pasta dishes and bread. The lunch menu features calzones, pizza, salads, and sandwiches. The dinner menu is the same, with some traditional meat and chicken dishes, seafood, and the homemade bread and rolls. Louie’s offers a fine selection of wines and domestic and imported beers. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday.
8. Cilantro Mary
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 823-5014
Address: 450 Main Street
Description: When you tire of Boulder’s choices for Mexican food, head north to the colorful and rustic Cilantro Mary for a slight twist on the traditional theme. If your partner likes plates full of enchiladas covered in cheese while you prefer eclectic fresh salads chock-full of unusual ingredients, you’re in the right place. Traditional and non-traditional, try the slow-cooked pork topped with salsa verde and crema Mexicana, served with guacamole and red cabbage slaw. The restaurant offers specialty margaritas, and for dessert, double vanilla flan served with fresh whipped cream and fresh fruit. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day except Wednesday and Sunday.
9. Lyons Aging Services Resources
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (303) 823-9016
Address: 722 Fifth Avenue
10. Left-Hand Trading Company
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (303) 823-6311
Address: 401 and 405 Main Street
Description: Don’t miss this gem. Left-Hand offers a huge inventory of antiques, Western collectibles, jewelry and Native American artifacts.
11. Ralston Brothers Antiques
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (303) 823-6982
Address: 426 High Street
Description: Located north of Boulder, Lyons is worth the special trip, whether you’re in the market for something specific or just browsing. Left-Hand Trading Company carries general antiques, including those with a Western flair and Indian artifacts. Ralston Brothers, in a historic stone building, specializes in vintage jukeboxes, radios, phonographs, light fixtures, toys, and restored furniture.
12. Anima Mundi Gallery
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (303) 823-6085
Address: 430 Main Street
Description: Located in downtown Lyons, this gallery specializes in Fair Trade crafts and global folk art. The gallery houses fine art ranging from Peruvian textiles to contemporary Australian aboriginal paintings.
13. The Stone Cup Café And Gallery
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (303) 823-2345
Address: 442 High Street
Description: A gathering place for hikers, bikers, kids, artists, and everybody else, this Internet cafe and art gallery serves fine teas, fair-trade coffees, and homemade baked goods. Dine outside and enjoy all the beauty Colorado has to offer.
14. Lyons Redstone Museum
City: Lyons, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 823-5271
Address: 340 High Street
Description: Take a scenic drive from Boulder north to Lyons, the town whose sandstone quarries have yielded so much of the building material you see at the University of Colorado and elsewhere in Boulder County. This restored 1881 schoolhouse features displays on the town’s history. Check out the museum’s genealogy files and gift shop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. This museum closes during the winter months.