At the center of Leadville’s National Historic District, the Victorian-era Delaware Hotel stands as a monument to a different time. A member of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies, the Delaware was built in 1886 during the town’s gold and silver rushes. Today, the hotel is still known as the “Crown Jewel of Leadville,” and brings the beauty of the Victorian era to life in the historic mining town,…
The historic Kit Carson County Carousel (also known as PTC #6) was built in 1905 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for Elitch Gardens in Denver, where it operated every summer until 1928. The Kit Carson County Commissioners purchased the Carousel in 1928 for $ 1,200, which included the delivery of the carousel to Burlington. Today, the Carousel is housed in the original 1928 building. Music is provided by an…
At first glance, you can tell Crested Butte, in south-central Colorado, is not your typical glossy ski resort town. The attention paid to retaining its mining-town character is evident – and exactly why Crested Butte was chosen as one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2008 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Wildflower gardens and Victorian architecture present a striking picture even before you can take in the…
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 Center makes a great preface for a trip through the region. The center features special and permanent exhibits that help interpret the history behind the people who once inhabited…
Since Boulder County’s Picture Rock Trail was completed in 2008, mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders have been able to guide their way through woods and meadows, encountering spectacular mountain views along the 5.2-mile multi-use trail between Lefthand Canyon and Lyons. The trail twists and turns in a southerly direction, while climbing through the high grass, short green brush and around the occasional tree until it switches to the…
Coloradans love their brewskis. And Colorado is the second-largest producer of beer in the country and is ranked third for the number of breweries per capita. It’s all about the water — fresh, clean Rocky Mountain H2O. Everyone knows that Coors, the largest single brewery in the world, is in Golden. But do you know that more beer is brewed in Denver than in any other American city? At…
You haven’t really seen the best parts of Colorado until you have driven Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in the Northern Hemisphere. At 14,260 feet above sea level, you can feel that you are at the top of the world, even though as you approach Idaho Springs, you know that Mt. Evans looms above you. As you watch the mountain goats and bighorn sheep graze high above…
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, resulting in plenty of untimely deaths. Tragic mining accidents and the inevitable violence of a 19th-century mountain town add to the number of souls who remain restless in this…
A massive sandstone wall soars skyward from the grassy terrain. As it extends up a slope to the bald, gray Spanish Peaks, its pink, ochre and rust tones shimmer under the afternoon sun. Like spokes on a wheel, the Dakota Wall and more than 400 other rock formations radiate from the towering sentinels. Throughout human history, these unique formations, called dikes, have inspired enchanting tales that spice stunning views…
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains attract hikers year-round with towering peaks, rushing whitewater and vibrant wildflowers. And with so many parks along the Front Range, Denver residents don’t need a congested drive on Interstate 70 to feel miles deep in Colorado’s natural beauty. South Table Mountain Cable cars once carried visitors up South Table Mountain’s hillside, and at the top, couples would dance into the night. Until a fire in 1927,…