Atop Aspen Mountain, we clip into short fat skis. Just over 3 feet long, these twin-tipped “skiboards” would look trendy on a teen, but that’s not us. We’re a group of gray-heads for whom the term “hip” is usually followed…
Bubbles rise and a strange chortle comes from beneath the pond’s murky surface. It’s the sound of trout laughing. The fish, doubling over in gill-splitting glee, watch my first attempts to fly cast. For practice, my guide and instructor, Steve,…
Every time Nick Miller, manager at Krabloonik Kennels, starts to hitch up his team, they go crazy. “They love it,” Miller says. “As soon as they realize they’re going out, they get excited, even if they’ve already been out that…
It’s Colorado topography in transition, a place where snow-fed streams surge into sandstone desert and flattop peaks fall to canyon precipices. Naked cliffs, their bases hemmed with stony skirts, stretch along one side of Interstate 70. Across the roadway, vineyards…
Beaver Creek, Colorado may be one of your favorite destinations for skiing, but as spring turns to summer, other family activities are being planned. As luck would have it, activities in Beaver Creek have something to offer the entire family…
Enjoy art, inspiration and free admission at the Leanin’ Tree Museum & Sculpture Garden of Western Art, considered by many to be the best western and wildlife art museum in Colorado. The museum sits nestled like a jewel before views…
With its small-town charm, Golden, Colorado, celebrates the quintessential Christmas with festive events during December. From lighting the town to providing a convivial shopping atmosphere, the Olde Golden Christmas offers a variety of opportunities to join in the holiday cheer.…
Nestled in the heart of Loveland, Colorado is one of the most unique sculpture parks in the nation. Benson Sculpture Garden is currently home to 132 remarkable sculptures, each with its own story and its own creator. According to the…
At an out-of-town business dinner, I shared a table with New York- and Toronto-based associates. Between salad and salmon, we discussed hometowns. Denver is probably a pleasant place to live, my companions conceded. But there’s little there for a tourist.…
Once the snow melts at Winter Park Resort, the mountain turns from white to green and comes alive with colorful wildflowers. The sun stays high in the sky, and the warmer weather is perfect for enjoying the many outdoor activities…
Along the scenic Arkansas River in Buena Vista, Colorado, Buffalo Joe’s Whitewater Rafting company is providing all the fun of summer. From half-day adventures to full-day journeys, this family owned and operated business is one of the most enjoyable whitewater…
Not just a winter ski destination, versatile Aspen takes on a whole new persona in the warmer months of spring and summer. One of Colorado’s most internationally known destinations, Aspen sings a siren’s song to adventurers and mountaineers all year…
Ouray is the Colorado town for the outdoor enthusiast, no matter what your level of physical activity is. High in the rugged Rocky Mountains, the tiny town of 800 offers hospitality to the visitors who have been lucky enough to…
I’ve just walked through more than 50 million years of time in one afternoon. I’m not sure if it’s the remnants of a little boy’s fascination with dinosaurs or my present fascination with natural history, but the walk along Dinosaur…
Coloradans are always looking for ways to enjoy the winter season. That’s especially true for the folks near West Alameda Avenue and South Wadsworth Boulevard, where the Rink at Belmar shines bright with twinkling trees and a lighted plaza. On…
As in many of Colorado’s resort towns, Vail’s summer season technically kicks off on Memorial Day weekend. The Beaver Creek Rodeo is in full-swing and the Teva Mountain Games once again drew a sexy flock of world-class paddlers, climbers and…
The sky blushes as the first rays of dawn creep over the Colorado mountains. Grand Lake appears glassy smooth, forest and rocks reflecting in its mirrored surface. One peak dominates. “That’s our signature mountain,” says resident Polly Lawler. “It’s called…
At resorts and ski areas in Colorado, and across the country, lift operators make the chairs go ‘round. So don’t duck the ropes and don’t grumble when they ask for your pass on an icy day. Just smile, help your…
Smile! It’s springtime in the Rockies, when snow is deep, temperatures are mild, days last longer and sun shines stronger. Best of all, you can sleep in while the snow softens to a cushy carpet and ski or ride later…
I’ve driven this road a hundred times, but it doesn’t matter. I still strain my neck trying to take in the scenic view as my car climbs the foothills out of Denver and heads into the heart of the Rockies.…
Steven Sherer and his wife Pat moved to Colorado’s Western Slope from Hawaii in 2008 with the intention of buying a small acreage in the Palisade area so they could have a few horses. Instead, they bought a peach orchard,…
Its breathtaking setting certainly deserves the title, but Estes Park is not really a park ? At least not in the typical sense of the word. In geologic lingo, “park” describes a glacially cut, level valley between mountain ranges. And…
I had been lucky. On five previous rafting trips through Brown’s Canyon on the Arkansas River, most other members of the group took tumbles into the frigid waters. But, throughout the years, I’d always been able to maintain position on…
A big black dog, a tent and a fishing pole are the sine qua non of Colorado living and, over the years, I’ve had a number of all three. Fishing, I enjoy, and scratching the ears of a big goofy…
“Cancer, it’s just a word.” That’s a favorite saying of Vail resident Allan Goldberg, First Descents executive director and 27-year cancer survivor. He likes the phrase so much so that he had it printed on t-shirts. “It is a scary…
With its 5,000 acres of terrain and legendary Back Bowls, Vail Mountain is the crème de la crème of Colorado ski resorts. It’s known for its wide ski runs, a wealth of intermediate and expert runs, and a comprehensive ski…
A rich blue sky envelops me. Sun streams onto my face. The air holds still and clear. Nothing invades my space — no trees, no structures and no people — just the sky and pristine snow, soft under my ski…