Grand Lake, Colorado is situated in the heart of the Colorado Rockies and stands as the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. This historic community offers a blend of restaurants and shops lining an authentic western boardwalk, so you can feel like a true cowboy or cowgirl during your visit. One way to truly experience this western mountain vacation is to choose lodging that embraces the Old West.…
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 some of us, dare I admit it, who aren’t always out there climbing fourteeners, mountain biking or hiking national parks. Some of us prefer to leave the “adventuring” to…
The northern Colorado town of Fort Collins may not be the first place that pops into mind when you think “weekend getaway,” but maybe it should. This Front Range college town, home to Colorado State University, is accessible – close to the mountains without the tricky mountain driving – and has lots of good shopping and dining, as well as great outdoor adventures. In winter, there’s snowshoeing, cross-country skiing,…
This time, be the one who kisses. Treat your honey to an outing like no other. Here are eight romantic places and things to do in Colorado. We hope you’ll pick one and make some memories. Evergreen Highland Haven Creekside Inn Remember when you carved your sweetheart’s initials on a tree? Surprise her with your names and date engraved on a stepping-stone along the inn’s Lovers’ Lane. Stay…
It’s called Gatherhouse, after the glassblowing term of gathering, or collecting molten glass from the furnace. Here at this Frisco studio and gallery, the name seems to have a second meaning. Minutes ago I was helping stretch an orange and yellow gob of hot glass into 15-foot rod, no thicker than my little finger. Now that it’s been cooled and broken into four-inch pieces, Brendan Price uses a hand…
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 crash and paddle-wielding passengers scream in delight. This is what they paid for – a wild ride down the rapids of Colorado’s Arkansas River. “The Arkansas is the most…
Feverish mining activity in the late 1800s put Leadville, Colorado on the map. Its rich mines of lead, gold, silver, and other ores produced billions during its heyday and turned many miners, like Silver King Horace Tabor into millionaires. In 1879, this mining magnate built Leadville the Tabor Opera House, which was once billed as the finest theater between St. Louis and San Francisco. Two years later, he also…
With the abundance of mountains and variety of terrain that Colorado offers, there are places close to home that shouldn’t be overlooked when planning your next family expedition. If you’re seeking intricate geological features, trickling streams or great views above the city, consider the numerous trails and parks Jefferson County Open Space offers in the foothills outside Denver. South Valley Park, near Littleton, offers approximately 1.2 miles of paved…
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 of the Gunnison, one of the nation’s newest national parks and worth a day of exploration on its own. The starkly sheer walls of the canyon get little exposure…
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 to be famous. Check out the faces as these young athletes walk by. Do it politely, surreptitiously, but remember them. You’ll probably see them on TV one of these…