The Snow Queen Lodge is a Victorian jewel built during Aspen's Wild West Silver Boom that was later converted to a family-run cozy bed and breakfast. It has nine charming rooms with private baths and tasteful Victorian details and a spacious loft at a different location. The lodge is located in downtown Aspen at the base of Aspen Mountain, walking distance from the gondola, world class skiing, and the free shuttles that will take you to other mountains such as Snowmass, Highlands, or Buttermilk.
The Western Slope has plenty of charms, including being a dinosaur mecca with plenty of hands-on science, and is the heart of Colorado’s agricultural region. At the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey, visitors can get up close and personal with dinosaur skeletons, a working paleontology lab and realistic robotic dinosaurs. Dedicated to “putting science in the hands of kids,” the Western Colorado Math and Science Center features interactive exhibits in biology, physics, earth and space science, and electronics. From June through October, orchards are laden with some of the sweetest harvests around: cherries, grapes, apples, plums, pears, apricots and peaches. Take an orchard tour or check out the myriad of roadside stands selling fresh produce, jams and ciders. For great biking or strolling, the Colorado Riverfront Trail winds for more than 18 miles through the city of Grand Junction’s picnic grounds, botanical garden, protected wetlands and fishing pier. Buy one/get one free passes are available for six major attractions from the Grand Junction Visitors Center. This “Map to Adventure” includes Dinosaur Journey, Museum of the West, Cross Orchards, the John McConnell Math & Science Center, The Art Center and the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens.
Brown’s Canyon National Monument – It’s one of Colorado’s newest national monuments, and also one of it’s most beautiful. A pristine, natural canyon, Brown’s Canyon offers visitors the opportunity to hike, raft, or camp in the headwaters of the Arkansas River. Towering ponderosa pine trees and monolithic boulders greet you along this amazing stretch of white water. We may be biased, but we think the best way to see it is by raft. There is also fantastic camping along the river at various locations. Browns’ Canyon is also close to the small town of Nathrop, which offers a number of hot-springs resorts that are perfect for relaxing after a day of adventuring, including Antero Hot Springs Cabins, Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort, and Cottonwood Hot Springs.
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Pikes Peak – “America’s Mountain” is one of the most iconic and beautiful vacation destinations in the West. Rising over 14,000 (making it one of Colorado’s many 14-er’s) feet, Pikes Peak has inspired Americans, including Katharine Lee Bates – who wrote “America the Beautiful” after summiting, for generations. There are a number of ways to enjoy it on your Colorado vacation, including by bicycle (ask us about our exciting mountain biking / rafting packages!) Or ride the historic Cog Railway to the top, where a new visitor’s center is being planned. Our tip: try the donuts – they’re amazing!
The park's climate is also affected by the Continental Divide, which runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park atop the high peaks. The Continental Divide creates two distinct climate patterns - one typical of the east side near Estes Park and the other associated with the Grand Lake area on the park's west side.[49] The west side of the park experiences more snow, less wind, and clear cold days during the winter months.[49]
Explore the nearby great outdoors at the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space or get your adrenaline pumping by rafting on Cache La Poudre River with the Mountain Whitewater Descents Company. Visit Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures to learn about folk art from all over the world. Take the kids to the Farm at Lee Martinez Park to learn about the farm life and play with baby farm animals.
There are several Front Range towns that have fun winter attractions that are worth experiencing. Next time you’re passing through Idaho Springs, relax at Indian Hot Springs or go snowshoeing in the Arapaho National Forest. Georgetown hosts ice races on its frozen lake. While in Evergreen, make use of the giant frozen lake by ice skating or fishing.
Situated on Vail Square, The Arrabelle sets the standard for luxurious lodging, while its jaw-dropping setting reflects the romantic heritage and ambiance of the European Alps. Here you’ll find architectural touches of Salzburg, Innsbruck and Prague, along with high-end amenities such as personal butler service, ski valet and even grocery delivery. Look forward to heading to the rooftop for laps in the pool and soaking in the whirlpool together while taking in magnificent Rocky Mountain views. You can also relax and unwind together while indulging in treatments at the property’s RockResorts Spa, which offers even more stunning Rockies vistas. Each one of the spacious suites host impressive features like a living room area with a fireplace, ideal for toasting to your new life together while cuddling up next to its warmth.
Once famous as a gold-rush outpost, the modern city of Golden has diversified by leaps and bounds and now offers visitors a great mix of outdoor, cultural and historic attractions. Go back in time to the gold mining era on a tour of Historic Downtown, where you will find several museums including the Golden History Center and the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum.
The unspoiled beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park draws thousands of visitors every year. With over 50 placid lakes and babbling streams, this is a popular fishing destination for both locals and visitors alike. In order to fish within the park, please note that you will need a valid Colorado fishing license. You can trek through over 355 miles of hiking trails or stick to the park roads for a bicycle ride suitable for all ages. After exploring, head to the Visitor Center to learn about the animals and plants you encountered on your hike or bike ride. If someone in your group loves horses, consider visiting the Glacier Creek Stables for the opportunity to see the area on four legs rather than two.
The Alps Boulder Canyon Inn is an award-winning boutique bed and breakfast in the heart of scenic Boulder Canyon. Offering an unforgettable Boulder experience, the Inn features luxurious accommodations, excellent cuisine, and outstanding service. Surrounding by Boulder's magnificent mountain parks and just a short stroll from downtown Boulder and all its attractions, the Inn is an ideal place for both business and leisure travelers to take advantage of everything the town has to offer.
Perched on the western edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is the perfect weekend destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families traveling with kids. Providing easy access to hiking, Grand Lake is home to wildlife watching and winter activities such skiing and snowshoeing, where visitors are spoiled for choice in how they spend their days. A picturesque marina offers boat rentals and paddle boards, while there are sandy spots that are perfect for beach-related activities. Those who want to explore the area should drive along the scenic Trail Ridge Road and venture into the park to the nearby town of Estes Park on its other side.
Located in Southwestern Colorado, the Gunnison National Park is best known for the narrow gorge called the Black Canyon. With a depth that reaches 2,700 feet (820 meters), the canyon was carved by thousands of years of erosion by the Gunnison River. Scenic overlooks along the 6-mile (10 km) South Rim Road offer views of the canyon. The Cedar Point Nature Trail off South Rim is an easy-to-navigate hiking trail that includes signs about the area’s plants. It leads to a great view of the 2,250 foot (7,380) high Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in the state.
^ Jump up to: a b "Landscape Climate Change Vulnerability Project; Using NASA Resources to Inform Climate and Land Use Adaptation; Ecological Forecasting, Vulnerability Assessment, and Evaluation of Management Options Across Two US DOI Landscape Conservation Cooperatives" (PDF). montana.edu. Montana State University. August 2011. pp. 2, 5. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
Enjoy one of our new deluxe cabins There is a queen bed in one bedroom and a bunk bed in the second bedroom with a double bed on the bottom and twin on top. Sleeper sofa available in the living room. Don’t worry about the linens, we have those covered! Cabin includes kitchen with oven, microwave, coffee pot, fridge, dishes, pots, and pans. Bathroom with toilet and shower. Outdoors you can enjoy the use of a picnic table, fire pit and gas grill. Sleeps maximum of 7 people
Visiting several national parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, is easy or make the most of the abundant outdoor activities, which include hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, fishing, golf and horseback riding. There are several fascinating museums and over 15 galleries to visit on the First Friday Gallery Walk. Round off the day with a Local Table foodie tour or take in a Canyon Concert Ballet or the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra. Things to Do in Fort Collins
In Michigan, more than half of the 24,313 accommodations are house rentals, which represent 53.55% of its available accommodations. In addition, these properties have a median size of 1,840 ft² as well as cost, on average, $332 a night. Moreover, these properties are optimal for 8 as that is the average number of vacationers house rentals can host in Michigan. If you are searching for another type of accommodation, you can look for many other offers, such as hotel rooms, which are the other very popular type of property in Michigan. While house rentals in Michigan have an average size of 1,840 ft², hotel rooms have an average size of 420 ft².
Alta Lakes is a pristine and secluded wilderness setting situated 30 minutes outside the charming mountain town of Telluride, Colorado. The Observatory is nestled underneath the 13,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains – it is one of only a few homes in the United States at 11,000+ feet! The backcountry cabin with charming rugged details serves as the perfect romantic mountain getaway for couples.
At about 68 million years ago, the Front Range began to rise again due to the Laramide orogeny in the west.[58][59] During the Cenozoic era, block uplift formed the present Rocky Mountains. The geologic composition of Rocky Mountain National Park was also affected by deformation and erosion during that era. The uplift disrupted the older drainage patterns and created the present drainage patterns.[60]
^ This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress document: "Majestic view from the old, one-way, dirt Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in the Front Range of the spectacular and high Rockies in north-central Colorado". Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
If you’re planning to visit Breckenridge this summer, plan plenty of time to fit it all in. Local fan favorites include fishing or biking the paved trail along the Blue River, a scenic drive over Boreas Pass road accessing 1,000 miles of mountain biking across Summit County, hiking countless miles of trails or climbing a nearby “14er.” The entire family will love the Breckenridge Peak 8 Fun Park’s Gold Runner Coaster, 4X4 off-road tours, climbing wall, Alpine Superslide, hiking tours, Superputt Mini Golf and free scenic gondola rides with spectacular views of Cucumber Gulch. The 2013 Kingdom Days/Outhouse Races June 14-16, 2013 are a must. It’s not every day Outhouse Races, old-fashioned games like potato sack races, magicians, blacksmithing demos, gold panning and historic hikes are the star attractions. http://www.gobreck.com/events/kingdom-days. If you want a date night, drop the kids (ages 5-12) off at the Recreation Center Parents’ Night Out. As your kids, climb, swim and play, they won’t even notice you’re gone.
^ Montana State University states in their profile of Rocky Mountain National Park that there has been an increase of 2.5 °F (1.4 °C) in the average park temperature over "the past century" (charts show the period from about 1895-2010).[48] The National Park Service site states that the increase has been 3.4 °F (1.9 °C) over "the last century" (chart shows the period from about 1905-2010).[52]
Solitude Cabins offers a rate to fit every budget and time of year, whether you want to get away in the winter for a snowy adventure, or your prefer to enjoy the colorful hiking trails of the summer. We do offer discounts and package specials, so please contact us well ahead of your trip to learn more. Our cabins comfortably house up to six guests.
Cushion plants have long taproots that extend deep into the rocky soil. Their diminutive size, like clumps of moss, limits the effect of harsh winds. Many flowering plants of the tundra have dense hairs on stems and leaves to provide wind protection or red-colored pigments capable of converting the sun's light rays into heat. Some plants take two or more years to form flower buds, which survive the winter below the surface and then open and produce fruit with seeds in the few weeks of summer. Grasses and sedges are common where tundra soil is well-developed.[73]
Though named for steamboats that once ran down the river, Steamboat Springs is actually famous for its skiing, so bring your gear to the Steamboat Ski Resort to hit the slopes or take a lesson. If ski trips (or apres ski festivities) aren’t your thing, don’t worry. There’s also the Yampa River Core Trail, Strawberry Park Hot Springs, and craft breweries like Butcherknife Brewing Company to keep you entertained.
My mind calm, the knitting absorbed any excess energy and left my senses free to absorb the stunning surroundings. Feeling no need to move, I watched the silhouettes of fish moving upstream, hummingbirds zip over my head, and a northern harrier cruise over the grassland, looking for prey. Months later, I can imagine every detail of that spot on the bank anytime I close my eyes.
Greeley is conveniently located just 50 miles from Denver in one of the top agricultural areas of America, which is great news for foodies. You can visit various breweries, buy farm-fresh produce at the farmers’ market and dine farm-to-fork style at many restaurants in the bustling Greeley Creative District, which includes several historic buildings that now house galleries, museums and entertainment venues.
In winter you can try cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails and after an energetic day out there is nothing better than a soak in one of the natural thermal springs. You can visit the Buena Vista Heritage Museum or go on a Ghost Town adventure, visit several working art studios and galleries, or quench your thirst at a local brewery. Things to Do in Buena Vista 
Other outdoor activities abound, including hot air ballooning, rock climbing, kayaking and skiing at the Eldora Mountain Resort. Boulder also has good museums, art galleries and theaters, and foodies are exceptionally well-catered for – you can visit the Dushanbe Tea House, discover fresh produce on a farm trail, taste craft beers on a brewery tour, and visit the farmers’ market. Things to Do in Boulder
The perfect blend of a picturesque main street with 2,358 acres of incredible skiing opportunities, Breckenridge is the oldest and largest town in Colorado’s famous Summit County. Take a tour of the 12-block downtown area and window shop through its quaint Main Street shops before strapping up your boots and heading to the famous Breckenridge Ski Resort. In the summer, take the ski ride lift up to find an array of hiking trails, while biking and golf are also popular activities. Host to numerous arts events throughout the year, this Certified Colorado Creative District has exciting public art spaces throughout the area in addition to a National Repertory Orchestra and Backstage Theatre.
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.
