This large, spacious reservoir on the high plains draws locals and tourists alike from May through September and waterfowl hunters during the hunting season. North Sterling State Park is a gateway to fun and relaxation. Elks Campground is open…
Dan Galleri, mountain host at SolVista Basin, doesn’t know what it’s like to wait in line to get in the parking lot at a ski resort. “If I showed up at a ski resort and had to wait in line,…
From the 14,000-foot summit of America’s Mountain to the depths of nearby underground caverns, the Pikes Peak region of Colorado’s Front Range can be a cool place to play. The region’s official visitors’ guide lists no fewer than 50 attractions,…
Although most travelers usually visit Colorado for the plentiful skiing the mountains have to offer, summer is a great time to ski Colorado in a completely different way. Water skiing, wakeboarding and jet skiing are just a few great ways…
If you want to swap the sun for snow this vacation, then Colorado is the destination for you. Our beautiful snow-capped mountains offer some of the best alpine scenery this side of the Atlantic. Even more, the quality of Colorado’s…
The sun has set and the nearly full moon will soon be rising over the Colorado peaks. Skiers and snowshoers group outside the lodge at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, bindings latched and stomachs churning. It’s time to eat. They are the…
Ouray may not have its own ski area, but when it comes to winter sports, there is plenty to keep you busy. This hamlet in southwestern Colorado enjoys an envious location in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The…
Colorado ski towns are often known for high prices, especially during their winter primetime. But vacationing in a mountain getaway doesn’t have to break the budget. The Winter Park-Fraser Valley area, 90 minutes northwest of Denver and surrounded by the…
During the long nights of winter, nowhere does the full moon shine brighter than in Colorado’s high country. Tucked away from city lights, the silvery moon hangs like a lantern in the black sky, providing enough illumination for doing just…
I love snowshoeing. I love the sound of nothing but aluminum crampons crunching over a packed trail, and, even better, the thumping of 25-inch tails on fresh powder. I love the solitude; the cold, high-mountain winter air and the reward…
For a first-hand look at Wild West history, check out the Blake Street Vault in downtown Denver. The restaurant’s original 19th-century architectural details and collection of Old West relics are something to see. But our favorite lure to this locale…
There is always something to be seen year-round at the Denver Botanic Gardens, even in wintertime, when more than a million gleaming lights turn the Capitol Hill complex into a fantasyland. Located off East 10th Avenue and York Street, this…
Historic Chautauqua Park, once part of a vast circuit of summer educational retreats across America, offers hiking, dining, lodging and cultural events. The Colorado landmark has transformed itself into a Boulder hangout at the base of the dramatic foothills…
Colorado was built for people who love the outdoors. And what’s not to like? With almost 300 sunny days a year and some of the best scenery in the country, it’s the perfect place for adventure lovers. But there are…
The river crashes down a churning channel of froth and foam, pummeling boulders and slamming cliffs. A rubber raft aims straight for the turbulence. Entering in the mayhem, the boat bucks and buckles like a Brahma bull. Water flies, waves…
If you’re headed to the Four Corners area of Colorado, chances are you’ll pass through Montrose. If so, take time to stop and appreciate this hospitable town with a few choice diversions. It’s the closest town to the Black Canyon…
Not everyone can afford to go to the Olympic Games. But fans still can get an Olympic thrill or two by visiting the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. You might even run into someone famous — or about…
Far southwestern Colorado is synonymous with archeology, cliff houses and Native American history. But visitors don’t need to follow packed tours and camera-toting masses to experience the area’s wealth of Ancestral Puebloan culture. Just west of Dolores, the Anasazi Heritage…
A ghost hunter’s fantasy, Central City harbors bodiless souls around every corner and in many of its historic buildings. The town, founded in 1859 during the Gold Rush, has had its share of fires, floods, disease epidemics and harsh winters,…
Attracting nearly 12 million visitors per year, Colorado’s 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado’s economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 225,260 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in…
At 5 in the morning, the Colorado mountain resort of Beaver Creek is eerily still. Windows remain dark, shops are still closed and only starry reflections dance on the skating rink ice. Even Starbucks is padlocked shut, much to the…
“Not to see Elitch’s is not to see Denver.” That sign on the giant Ferris wheel greets guests as they enter the Elitch Gardens theme park in downtown Denver, which, in 2010, is marking its 120-year anniversary. The slogan may…
Lions and tigers and bears – plus wolves, bobcats, coyotes and other large carnivores – call the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, home. The sanctuary, 30 miles northeast of Denver, provides 320 acres of grassland habitat and shelters to…
At 7,700 feet of altitude and inside a river basin, Gunnison, Colorado is a well-endowed setting for summer fun and high adventure. Check out Gunnison for iconic outdoor Rocky Mountain activities like rafting and fly fishing, or try something new…
Colorful Colorado just seems to be built for family camping because it’s packed with magnificent scenery, fascinating history and superb outdoor adventure. Of all the great places where our family has camped in the U.S. and Canada, we rank Mesa…
One of the great joys of summer is getting outside and enjoying the sun. With its 300-plus days of sunshine, Colorado summers are as long as the mountains are tall, and one place to enjoy the blue skies and mountain…
My 19-year-old, Henry, is pretty set on being as “manly” as possible at all times. Yet even he looked a bit askance at the sight before him. “You mean I’m going to just be hanging on that little cable over…