The Experience: While news just broke that the old-timey train that travels along the mountainside through Pikes Peak will be closed for repairs for the rest of 2018, the nearby town of Manitou Springs should definitely stay on your bucket list. This resort town, located outside of Colorado Springs, is a true gem, complete with 1000-year-old Anasazi (the Ancestral Puebloans) cliff-dwelling ruins in the Mesa Verde National Park and a Victorian-era castle museum and tea room. Stay at the quaint Holden House bed and breakfast.
Rocky Mountain National Park is home to herds of elk and bighorn sheep, but it also has a population of mountain lions and black bears. Although attacks are very rare, the National Park Service recommends visitors hike in groups since these animals are less likely to grow aggressive when faced with multiple people. Campers should also stow all food in food lockers if available or in airtight, bear-resistant containers. Ticks also pose a risk, and since these can be carriers for disease, it's important to do nightly tick checks after a day on the trails.
An alluring destination to explore throughout the year, Durango offers a wealth of activities for every season. From white water rafting to horseback riding, fishing and snowboarding, outdoor enthusiasts will be in heaven at Durango. Popular for its Durango train ride day trip, the famous line runs from the old mining areas in Durango and Silverton, where visitors can soak in breathtaking views of the mountain vistas against its black steam-powered engines. Explore the archaeological sites in Mesa Verde National Park, visit Henry Strater Theatre, the oldest running theatre in Colorado, and explore the downtown area to discover an array of lovely shops, galleries and eateries.
DENVER (CBS4) – With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you may be thinking about a last-minute escape for two. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, you need not worry, as there are plenty of amazing destinations just a short drive from home that will still feel like you are getting away from town for a few days. The trick to saving money this time of year is to avoid the busy ski resort towns, where the room rates get very high and the towns can be very crowded. Instead opt for off-season at one of the other beautiful summer destinations in Colorado. You’ll find you can get an amazing room with lots of amenities for a much better rate.
Our lodging is a 300 yd. walk to RMNP. The Big Thompson River flows thru our backyard. Enjoy hiking, wildlife, fishing, birding & photography. Treat yourself to a soak in our riverside hot tub. Some cabins w/ kitchens & fireplaces. Catering to singles, couples & small families. Exceptionally clean & affordable w/ a relaxing atmosphere, personality & charm. Swiftcurrent Lodge on the River Details
The Experience: Like Crested Butte, Telluride is a place that anyone will fall in love with no matter the season. Plus, it's a bit more down-to-earth than Aspen and Vail for anyone looking for a Colorado ski town that has a more casual energy. Surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, the charming town is lined with authentic saloon-like bars, boutique gourmet eateries, and old-school chop houses. If you visit during the winter, hit the slopes or go helicopter skiing and dog sledding. And in the summer, you can do anything from riding around the backcountry in an old Jeep to river rafting, fly-fishing, and hiking to the many striking mountain springs, including Blue Lakes, Hope Lake, and Navajo Lake. Book a room at the Dunton Town House for an intimate stay.
A nature lover’s paradise, Colorado is filled to the brim with beautiful landscapes, offering travelers over 300 days of sunshine to come and explore its diverse areas. From the majestic Rocky Mountains to picturesque prairies and cosmopolitan cities, Colorado is surrounded by vibrant outdoor attractions, diverse wildlife and scenic byways just begging to be explored. Whether you hit the slopes at a luxury ski resort, hike the trails at a National Park or take a scenic drive through the countryside, Colorado has so many great things to see and do throughout the year. Perfect for families, couples and solo travelers who are looking for an outdoor adventure, read on to discover the best places to vacation in Colorado.
Glacial geology in Rocky Mountain National Park can be seen from the mountain peaks to the valley floors. Ice is a powerful sculptor of this natural environment and large masses of moving ice are the most powerful tools. Telltale marks of giant glaciers can be seen all throughout the park. Streams and glaciations during the Quaternary period cut through the older sediment, creating mesa tops and alluvial plains, and revealing the present Rocky Mountains.[61] The glaciation removed as much as 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of sedimentary rocks from earlier inland sea deposits. This erosion exposed the basement rock of the Ancestral Rockies. Evidence of the uplifting and erosion can be found on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park in the hogbacks of the Front Range foothills.[60] Many sedimentary rocks from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras exist in the basins surrounding the park.[62]
Owners Wendye Sykes and Shelley Powers came to Estes Park from San Francisco looking for an escape from the grind of everyday city life — and that’s exactly what they’ve created at River Spruce. Offering nine different cabins, you’ll find lodgings suitable for couples and families all nestled amidst the scenic Rocky Mountain wilderness and along the Big Thompson River.
The Rockies are unbelievable. We explored the Niwot Ridge tundra plateau, speckled with wildflowers of every shape and color, looked down on the layered blue mountain ranges below, while snow-tipped peaks gazed at us from still-greater heights. I felt the elevation only in the difficulty breathing I experienced when walking from Point A to Point B - but we walked for more than three miles. Otherwise, it was the height itself that pulsed through my veins, truly on top of the world.
Most visitors enter the park through the eastern entrances near Estes Park, which is about 71 miles (114 km) northwest of Denver.[91] The most direct route to Trail Ridge Road is the Beaver Meadows entrance, located just west of Estes Park on U.S. Route 36, which leads to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and the park's headquarters. North of the Beaver Meadows entrance station is the Fall River entrance, which also leads to Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.[91] There are three routes into Estes Park: I-25 to U.S. 34 west which runs alongside the Big Thompson River; U.S. 36 west (northwest) from Boulder connecting to U.S. 34 west; and the Peak to Peak Highway, also known as State Highway 7, from points south.[91]
The Signature Jill's Restaurant has an outdoor terrace with mountain views and serves contemporary American & French cuisine with organic ingredients. The T-Zero Lounge serves signature martinis, cocktails and fine wine. Live entertainment is offered almost every night. If you are celebrating a special occasion, the private dining room can seat up to 25 guests. The terrace can be reserved for private parties in the summer. Room rates start at $249 per night. Things to Do in Boulder
Situated in Southern Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is an impressive sight. Shaped by winds blowing from and against the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the piles of sand climb to more than 750 feet (230 meters), making them the tallest dunes in North America. Sand-boarding, skiing and sledding on the dunes are the park’s most popular activities, and there are medium-size slopes to slide on located near the main parking area. A longer hike to the north brings thrill seekers to a 300-foot (90 meter) slope that tumbles onto into Medano Creek.
In the winter, try the “Ski-In/Ski-Out” Treatment—the only one of its kind at a ski resort. In 30 minutes, professionals submerge your feet in a warm, exfoliating bath and go to work to increase circulation. They relieve the tension with a hot stone massage to get you back into action. This treatment is designed perfectly to soothe you after a day of adrenaline and activity, and vamp you back up for more.
