Vail Lacrosse Shootout: A Sport for All Ages

Vail Lacrosse Shootout: A Sport for All Ages 1

From professional teams to Little League, the sport of lacrosse is exploding in Colorado. Two pro teams — Colorado Mammoth and Denver Outlaws — fill the calendar back to back from January through August. Kids are learning to play as young as 5; and in the spring, both boys’ and girls’ teams dominate fields at … Read more

Snow Play: Without the Skis

Snow Play: Without the Skis 5

Colorado has the good fortune of a “perfect storm” of conditions for winter sports enthusiasts. Mountainous terrain coupled with just-the-right-latitude brings us abundant winter snow, and that famed 300 days of sunshine per year make it all the more fun. It’s no surprise that we refer to the stuff as champagne powder — it’s light … Read more

Southwestern Colorado’s New Venture: Agri-Tourism

Southwestern Colorado’s New Venture: Agri-Tourism 7

Organic. Sustainable. Local. These buzzwords have taken on a new emphasis in southwestern Colorado. With a $50,000 grant in hand, the local tourism folks set out to establish a whole new genre for travelers – agri-tourism. Families looking to educate their children about the real world could find no better venue than the Great Sage … Read more

A Yurt for the Night: In Colorado’s Snow Country

Like diamond dust sprayed on black velvet, shattered particles of light glisten in a crystalline winter sky. Overhead, the Milky Way spills a swath of creamy luminescence that flows through the celestial hemisphere. Stars glimmer with galactic intensity, undimmed by the glare of civilization. I stand mesmerized by the spectacle so seldom seen by city … Read more

Central City: Sample Opera in Small Bites

Central City: Sample Opera in Small Bites 10

Opera is one of those things — those things you wish you knew more about but don’t. Some (I?) wish we knew more about our town’s sports team, or the latest episode of the hit show everyone talks about at the office each morning. I might wish I knew, but am not willing to put … Read more

Tasty Brews: Denver International Beer Competition Winners

Denver has an ongoing love affair with beer. We like to drink it, we like to make it and, heck, we even like to celebrate it in all its hoppy goodness So it was with great fanfare that the winners of the 2011 Denver International Beer Competition were announced on May 2, 2011. Some 19 … Read more

Aspen Explorer: Autumn Gilds Colorado Resort Area

Colorado color begins at higher altitudes and works its way down, yielding golden foliage from mid-September through early-October. This is a quiet time in Aspen, Colorado’s ritzy resort in the Rockies. Streets empty, restaurants seat without lines and opulent hotels, such as the St. Regis, The Little Nell and Jerome, offer caviar-quality quarters at steak-and-potato … Read more

Morrison Eateries: From Upscale to Down-Home Dining

Morrison Eateries: From Upscale to Down-Home Dining 14

The spotlight in Morrison shines most often on two restaurants: the Fort, an award-winning steak and game icon just south of town, and the Morrison Inn, a popular Mexican eatery known for its huge margaritas and fun outdoor patio. But these famous bookends are only part of the story. Whether you’re in town for a … Read more

Lake City’s Vickers Ranch: Frontier Spirit Thrives in the San Juan Mountains

Colorado dude ranch vacations can be as simple or luxurious as you want them to be. From airy mountaintop cabin rentals with four-star gourmet meals and spa treatments to rigorous cowboy camping excursions, guest ranch proprietors are ready to make your Old West lifestyle vacation a reality. Adventurous travelers with a yearning for days gone … Read more

Boulder’s Frasca: Fascinating Friuli-Inspired Fare

Boulder’s Frasca: Fascinating Friuli-Inspired Fare 17

The moment chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey opened their new Italian food temple, Frasca, in August of 2004, it became one of the most sought-after reservations in restaurantdom. As word spread of the duo’s pedigree – they both worked under chef extraordinaire Thomas Keller at Napa Valley’s French Laundry – citified Denver … Read more