The town of Dolores may be small, but it’s well-worth spending some time in, tucked in a magnificent canyon with the picturesque Dolores River cutting along one side and rock cliffs on the other. The second largest reservoir, McPhee Reservoir, can be found here, and San Juan National Forest, just a mile from town, provides excellent opportunities for fly fishing, hiking, and biking. In addition to outdoor activities, the town boasts four parks, a brewpub and a unique mix of restaurants and shops.
The Experience: As you can tell by looking at this meadow of wildflowers, Crested Butte is a beautiful destination. In the summertime, you can paddle-board, fly-fish, rock-climb, hike, mountain-bike, and laze around the river. If you prefer a little more direction while exploring a new place, stay at the Sopris House or Scarp Ridge Lodge, both of which are run by Eleven Experiences, a company that marries upscale lodging, gourmet dining, and curated itineraries with hospitable experts guiding you throughout your entire stay.
Old World meets ghostly charm at the 135-room Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, just an hour from Denver, Colorado. Located six miles from the Rocky Mountain National Park in the shadow of Pikes Peak, the Stanley is a “shining” example of romantic, secluded and haunted. Make it a weekend getaway as there is so much to do and see in the surrounding area, from visiting Rocky Mountain National Park to exploring the beautiful downtown. 
Special events, concerts, and intimate celebrations are held at the Rochester Secret Garden. Each morning, a gourmet breakfast is served with menu items such as French toast with raspberries or fresh basil and feta scramble. The hotel is located in Durango, Colorado, a small town surrounded by mountains on the Animas River. Hotel guests are moments away from whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, skiing and snowboarding. Studios start from $129, rooms from $169 per night.
After an amazing day viewing the natural beauty of Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak-America’s Mountain, your significant other and you can relax by having a glass of wine and dinner in Old Colorado City. Old Colorado City was founded in 1859 and features old brick structures, quaint alleyways, boutiques, galleries and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. It makes a perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two.
One of the country’s most beautiful natural area’s to explore in the United States, the Rocky Mountain National Park is an ideal vacation destination for those who crave outdoor adventures and awe-inspiring vistas of mountains, lakes and valleys. With 355 miles of hiking trails, ranging from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs, there are corners of this park that appeal to everyone. Take a scenic drive and spot diverse wildlife, such as Elk, Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep, or go hunting for one of the 30 postcard-worthy waterfalls views. While there is no lodge inside the park, visitors can find campgrounds to pitch a tent and spend a night under the stars.
The Experience: If Aspen isn't quite your mountain town scene, head to Vail instead. It's equally as idyllic (it was modeled after European mountain resorts), pedestrian-friendly, and lovely, but the town itself is more of a square in a village with a small collection of boutiques and restaurants for visitors. Ride up and down the gondolas for mountain views in every direction and ski the unique back bowls. It's also closer to Denver, making it easier to get to and, therefore, a little more crowded during peak seasons.
If you love the great outdoors but also want luxurious comfort on your vacation, let the Cabins at Rams Horn Village Resort be basecamp for your Rocky Mountain Getaway. Our western-styled Cabins are the definition of Rocky Mountain comfort w/ all the modern conveniences. Each cabin is its own private retreat from everyday cares, allowing families & friends to come & play together, & build lifelong memories. Rams Horn Village Resort Details
Fall River provides a beautiful backdrop for our lodging resort. After your hiking, snowshoeing or back-country skiing adventure, spend an intimate evening in a luxurious Spa Suite or relax in a spacious 1 Bedroom Suite. Enjoy sounds of the river from your private cabin/condo deck. All the conveniences of home in each suite. Boulder Brook on Fall River Details
It’s hard to beat the majestic setting at The Peaks Resort & Spa in Telluride. This property is surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Rockies in the southwestern region of the state, and is particularly renowned for its spa. Here you can indulge in a variety of rejuvenating treatments like hot stone therapy, soak in the eucalyptus-filled Jacuzzis or take advantage of personal training sessions. Enjoy your days taking part in outdoor adventures like mountain biking or hiking the spectacular trails and then come back to enjoy a
The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park – Just a few minutes away from Echo Canyon River Expeditions office, you’ll find Colorado’s Natural Wonder – the Royal Gorge. In 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge was built across the gorge and still stands as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. Buy tickets online or as a rafting package to save a few dollars. The newly rebuilt attractions and visitor’s center enhance your experience of this amazing chasm and expansive view of the Wet Mountain range. There are also trails, located just before the gates of the park at the rest area, that allow visitors to walk or bike a few miles along the rim of the Gorge.
Located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs has multiple attractions, ranging from museums and parks to trains and a zoo. It is within close proximity to Pikes Peak, a landmark in the Pike National Forest. The Garden of the Gods park is also located in Colorado Springs and features red sandstone formations and stunning mountain views.
The saloon serves all meals using organically grown local ingredients, including lamb, fruit and vegetables. Local and international wines complement the meals. Throughout the year, Dunton offers special programs, such as Fly Fishing School, Yoga Retreats and Equestrian Adventure. Ask about special programs and packages when booking. The resort is located one hour from Telluride and Cortez, two hours from Durango, 7 hours from Denver, and 5 hours from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rates start from $1,100 per night for a cabin, including all meals, non-alcoholic beverages and unlimited use of hot springs. The entire town and its facilities can be rented exclusively for $10,000 per day and can accommodate 34 people. All meals, non alcoholic beverages and unlimited use of the library, screening room, and hot springs are included.
Castle Mountain Lodge got its start in the late 1950s and became the first new cottage to be built and rented annually. Soon after the first building was built, five more cottages were constructed. Today, the dog-friendly lodgings feature one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom options and include access to the public hot tub, rooms with private, indoor hot tubs and rooms with private, outdoor hot tubs. Get all the details and make your reservation online here.
The Leland House and Rochester Hotel are family-owned historic hotels with an authentic Western theme. The 14 rooms at the Rochester Hotel are themed after Westerns that were filmed in the Durango area. Each of the 12 accommodations in the Leland House is named after a historic Durangoan and is decorated with that person’s memorabilia, biographies and photos. All rooms have Wi-Fi, cable, Aveda products, complimentary gourmet breakfast and free Cruiser bike rentals. Grab a drink at the Rochester Bar which serves the hotel’s signature Rochester wine.
Isle Royale National Park is situated on an island on Lake Superior near the Canadian border. This beautiful island spans 432 square miles and was shaped into its present form by Ice Age glaciers. Today it is home to a wide range of wildlife including herring gulls, wolves, otters, foxes, falcons, and ospreys. When you want to explore unspoiled wilderness this park is the perfect destination.
A former Victorian era mining town in the Rocky Mountains, Telluride is a charming town located in a box canyon at the base of a popular ski-and-golf resort. Some of the town’s major attractions include the historic district, which is home to landmarks like the Telluride Historical Museum and the Sheridan Opera House. Telluride is also the site of famous festivals like the Telluride Film Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
If your family loves to hike, Beaver Creek is the place for you. Whether you’re interested in exploring on your own, taking a leisurely lift-served stroll across the mountain, or you prefer a rigorous climb up one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, the Beaver Creek Hiking Center has a knowledgeable staff of well- trained guides. Beaver Creek Stables offer one- and two-hour horseback rides as well as three-hour picnic rides. Horseback rides are available for riders ages 7 and older and younger buckaroos may enjoy complimentary tame pony rides in the stable arena. If movies under the stars sounds like fun, bring the whole family out for a great selection of family movies at the base of Beaver Creek on the Back Lawn. New this year: Wednesday Night Music Experience concerts will feature various artists throughout July and August from 6-7 p.m. and are free and fun for the whole family.
Colorado is a year-round destination that piques the imagination and inspires the soul with its dramatic landscape and natural beauty. The state is nothing less than stunning, with a diversity that ranges from the majestic Rocky Mountains to the rolling hills, rivers, streams, and high desert of the Colorado Plateau. Mountain towns beckon skiers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types, but are also great places to soak up some tranquility and enjoy the mountain vibe. Scenic drives through parks and along state highways are some of the best ways to see the amazing sites that the state has to offer. Remnants of the cultures that inhabited the area and the dinosaurs that once roamed the land can be seen and better understood by visiting some of the national parks and monuments. Colorado is an unbeatable destination that will make you rethink your future travel plans.
• Drive from Denver to Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park. • On the drive to the park you will pass historic towns and beautiful landscapes from Denver through Boulder, with the option to stop in Lyons for coffee etc. • The hike has beautiful scenery, alpine lakes and diverse trails. The trail is framed with pine and aspen trees, with views of snow capped mountain ranges all around. • Immerse yourself in the mountains away from it all. • Have a tasty picnic lunch surrounded by serene nature. • See Colorado’s famous continental divide – rivers and streams west of the divide flow to the Pacific Ocean and east of the divide to the Gulf of Mexico. • This is a approx 4 mile trail (round trip) with about 800 feet in elevation gain.
From 9,000 ft (2,700 m) to 11,000 ft (3,400 m),[72] the montane forests give way to subalpine forests.[69] Forests of fir and Engelmann spruce cover the mountainsides in subalpine areas. Trees grow straight and tall in the lower subalpine forests, but become shorter and more deformed the nearer they are to the tree line.[72] At the tree line, seedlings may germinate on the lee side of rocks and grow only as high as the rock provides wind protection, with any further growth being more horizontal than vertical. The low growth of dense trees is called krummholz, which may become well-established and live for several hundred to a thousand years old.[72]
