Colorado is home to more than 300 glorious days of sun and majestic landscapes.
Hiking trails, white water rapids, world-class mountain resorts and towering sand dunes are just some of the things to do in the state.
Colorado is more than just a place to go for thrills and spills. It has a rich history, vibrant art and music scene, and tasty craft beers.
The variety of the state of Colorado makes it a great place to visit.
Immerse yourself in the best experiences the world has to offer with our email newsletter delivered weekly into your inbox.There is no place in Colorado that is quintessentially Colorado. A vast landscape of granite peaks and shimmering lakes is a picture postcard.
It is no secret that RMNP can get packed. If you want to lose the crowds, leave the roadside viewpoints and wear hiking boots.
There are hundreds of miles of trails in the park, from an easy stroll around Bear Lake to a trek up Longs Peak. Impressive vistas and perfect solitude can be found on hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness.
Denver's trendiest neighborhood, RiNo (River North) is a one-time industrial wasteland that's now the heart of cool, with murals covering every sort of surface, from restaurant doorways to parking lot walls.
The artwork speaks volumes about Denver's diversity of people and thought, as well as its history and day-to- day life. Be prepared to be amazed.
The twin Maroon Bell mountains rise over a lake. Fall brings a sea of yellow and orange leaves. One of the best places in the state to view fall colors is here.
When the leaves are at their peak, the trail near the lake can get crowded. It's best to arrive before 8am for a parking spot and some solitude. If you want to see the beauty without the crowd, take the shuttle from town and hike into the aspen groves.
It is easy to imagine the prospectors who plied this road following tales of precious metal found deep in the Rockies. St Elmo is the best preserved ghost town in Colorado.
Most of the buildings that are still standing are from the late 19th and early 20th century. The saloon, billiards hall, courthouse and jail are just some of the places that visitors can see Colorado's past. It serves as a reminder of how far the West has come and how much still needs to be done.
Colorado's beer is treated like a high art by the state. You can find a favorite local brew in almost every town you visit. You won't get thirsty for anIPA in Colorado.
The Great American Beer Festival is held in September. The Best Coffee Beer, Best Barrel-Aged Strong Beer and many other categories are up for grabs at the festival. The camaraderie of you and 60,000 beer buddies, all tasting outstanding beers at a time, is the best of all.
Mesa Verde National Park is the bestpreserved Native American archaeological site in the US. Mesa Verde is home to more than 5000 Ancestral Puebloan sites that developed over hundreds of years before being abandoned in AD 1300.
One of the most exciting things to do in the West is clambering down ladders, crawling through tunnels and peering into cliff dwellings, all to puzzle over what life was like here.
The sound of instruments and song, the sight of people dancing, an umbrella of dark sky above and the 400ft-high red sandstone monoliths standing guard on either side is what makes a concert at Red Rocks so special. Red Rocks is renowned for its natural acoustics and stunning beauty, a one-of-a-kind amphitheater.
The venue has hosted some of the world's best musicians and performers, including The Beatles, U2 and Jimi Hendrix. It is easy to access just 15 miles from Denver.
It's a good idea to catch the sunset before the show.
Located at the end of a gorgeous canyon at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers, Hot Glenwood Springs has been revered for their healing properties for hundreds of years. The Ute used to bathe in the hot thermal waters which they called yampah.
The hot springs pump out 3.5 million gallons of mineral water a day, flowing through two pools, one 400 feet in length. Even on a snowy January day, temperatures range from 93F to 104F, which is1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 is1-65561-65561-65561-6556 is1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 You should bring your swimsuit and ski hat.
One of Colorado's best road trips is the Million Dollar Highway, which connects the towns of Ouray and Silverton. The Uncompahgre Gorge's steep mountainsides loom large and close, rising into lofty, mist-shrouded peaks, while the valley floor lies far below.
The planning tip is to drive cautiously. Even in good weather, the road is formidable. Pull outs can be used to take advantage. The Red Mountain Pass has a great view.
The string cheese band started throwing hula hoops into the crowd at the festival in the '90s. The fad stuck because festival goers turned the toys into dancers.
It is one of the many odd-ball pleasures of this amazing celebration of folk music and mountain life, held in Telluride every summer and drawing large-name bands and thousands of revelers. Telluride is located in a narrow canyon surrounded by rugged peaks and a waterfall. It's hard to get to, but it's worth it.
The National Western Stock Show has been held in Denver since 1906. Every January, there are more than 20 rodeos, 15,000 farm animals, dog shows, and even yoga with baby goats.
The kick-off parade features longhorn cattle being herded through downtown Denver in high heels and power suits.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is located next to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is made up of an undulating dune field covering more than 30 square miles. One step forward and a half step back in the sand make sand surfing down all the sweeter.
There are special wood boards that can be rented from the Great Sand Dunes Oasis just outside the park. Sand gets everywhere if you wear ski goggles and long socks.
Count yourself lucky if you're here in late spring. When the Medano Creek emerges, it creates a beach for water play, tubing and sandcastle-making.
The Arkansas River is one of the longest and wildest rivers in the state. The Arkansas has more than 150 miles of open water from Leadville to the Royal Gorge and includes the class- II run through a national monument.
The best time to paddle is between May and July. Pick up a ride in either Caon City or BuenaVista.
You may think that Vail is just a playground for the rich and famous. Vail is one of the best ski resorts in the world, with more than 5000 skiable acres, 195 trails, and some of the best on- and off- piste terrain anywhere.
On the front side is a paradise of silky corduroy, with long rowdy black diamonds and mellow greens. The Blue Sky Basin is one of the best bowls in the world. You will lose track of what you have skied or ridden because of the steepness. Colorado has a lot of great ski resorts, but not all of them are worth your time.
The Dinosaur National Monument is located in the northwest corner of Colorado. It is one of the few places on Earth where you can touch a dinosaur skeleton that is petrified in rock and stone.
One of the largest fossil beds in North America can be found here, as well as some 1500 prehistoric bones embedded in a cliff face. Everything from allosaurus to stegosaurus will be shown.
There are Ranger-led walks, talks and tours that explain the site.
Taking in the view from the top of the world is a tradition in Colorado. The state's 50-plus fourteeners offer access and challenge to all levels of hikers, from those reachable only with technical climbing skills to the two peaks with roads right to the top.
Whether you choose to drive to the top of Pikes Peak, hike the 3-mile trail to Quandary Peak, or run at the tallest of them all, they all deliver.
The article was first published about a year ago.
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