Your dancing shoes!
Layers – have clothes for a range of temperatures. The weather will likely go from below freezing to about 45-50° – pants weather. It feels much warmer when the sun is out, then temperatures drop dramatically at night. A shawl or light jacket will likely be needed by the end of the wedding reception.
A warm jacket and one pair of warm pants.
Sunglasses are a MUST and a hat is helpful.
Personal water bottle – ideally one that is at least 32 oz (Nalgene-sized) – bring what you have and you can always refill. You will want to stay hydrated while in Colorado.
Sunscreen – even if it’s just for your face. The sun is stronger at higher elevation and no one likes a sun burn.
Comfortable shoes – something easy to walk in and ideally something for an easy hike. Tennis shoes Sneakers would be fine for most hikes this time of year.
Car snacks – it is a 3+ hour drive from Denver to here, so snacks are nice. There are plenty of rest stops along the way (see blog post). I-70 can experience traffic that can cause delays.
Pre-downloaded music, podcasts and Google maps on your phone – there are several no cell areas around here and on the drive up.
Optional – Swimsuit (and maybe flip flops). If you plan on exploring the local hot springs, vapor caves and hotel pools, this may be a nice item to pack. There are three different developed hot springs destinations in the area (click the Glenwood and Carbondale tiles on this page)
Optional – Clothes to be active in – be it a run, hike or walking around town. Coloradans all dress in “mountain casual” – meaning the locals all look like they’ve walked out of REI or L.L. Bean. Comfort is key. Fancy brands are for Aspen, not us. 🙂
Optional – Headlamp. Kristin’s cousin’s make fun of her for bringing one everywhere, but it nice to have when it is dark out.