Louisville is conveniently situated between Denver and Boulder, offering visitors an attractive weekend getaway destination with a distinctive American small-town feel. You can stroll through the historic Old Town, where several historic buildings now house modern shops, restaurants and businesses. Downtown is also home to the Louisville Art District, which is packed with galleries, studios and hosts a monthly First Friday Art Walk. Live music and theater is popular and you can catch a concert at the Center Stage Theatre Company or the Coal Creek Community Theater. Outdoor activities include walking, hiking, biking and ice skating, while nearby Boulder offers many additional cultural and outdoor attractions.
If you want to get away from it all and let nature and quiet luxury heal and rejuvenate you, head for the Golden Leaf Inn, a small boutique Bed and Breakfast located on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park just minutes from the charming Rocky Mountains town of Estes Park. A beautiful 1922 Arts and Crafts building houses five delightful rooms with all the modern luxuries you could imagine.
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]
Colorado’s only Relais & Chateaux dude ranch offers a seemingly endless list of things to do, but creature comforts abound, too — from the elegant Western accommodations nestled in aspen groves to the haute mountain cuisine that has been hailed by Bon Appétit and Gourmet. In addition to adult weeks offered August through October, Home Ranch in Clark also hosts yoga and horseback-riding retreats, perfect for girlfriend getaways.
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
Alternatively, you can just stay at the Inn and enjoy the comfort and luxury of this lovely historic Victorian house with exquisitely appointed rooms and modern amenities. Enjoy a gourmet breakfast and lavish afternoon tea, sit in the beautiful garden with a book, or go explore lively Breckenridge with charming bars, restaurants, shops, and galleries.
Colorado Springs stands out from its mountainous counterparts because it's not a ski destination. But what the city lacks in slopes it more than makes up for in incredible hiking opportunities. Mix that in with a good helping of small-town charm and a diverse array of attractions (including the U.S. Olympic Training Center) and Colorado Springs has all the makings of a great vacation. Read More »
“By 1900, the growing national conservation and preservation movement, led by Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir, advocated an appreciation for nature. The Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association fostered local conservation efforts. "Those who pull flowers up by the roots will be condemned by all worthy people," they warned. In 1909, Enos Mills, a naturalist, nature guide, and lodge owner, championed the creation of the nation's tenth national park. He hoped that: "In years to come when I am asleep beneath the pines, thousands of families will find rest and hope in this park." Unleashing his diverse talents and inexhaustible energy, he spent several years lecturing across the nation, writing thousands of letters and articles, and lobbying Congress to create a new national park. Most civic leaders supported the idea, as did the Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Mountain Club. In general, mining, logging, and agricultural interests opposed it. On January 26, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act.”
While it is possible to travel through Rocky Mountain National Park and not catch sight of any wildlife, we venture to say that is an unlikely experience. From everyday sightings of chipmunks and mule deer to the moving experience of viewing elk in rut (the mating season), the animals in the park let you know that you are part of something truly wild. Some of these critters are harder to spot than others - they might camouflage themselves in the trees or hide in the underbrush - but look closely and you may have an encounter unlike any other.
