Scenic Byway: Gold Belt Tour

Scenic Byway: Gold Belt Tour 1

Cars creep along a ledge chiseled from a steep cliff. A creek tumbles through a granite gorge 200 feet below. While drivers rivet their eyes on the narrow road, passengers crane their necks to marvel at the view. For many travelers, this white-knuckle, eye-popping drive on The Shelf is the highlight of the Gold Belt … Read more

Thanksgiving At The North Pole

Thanksgiving At The North Pole 2

Whether you are in town on business, visiting family, or just taking a trip for the long holiday weekend, you don’t have to miss out on Thanksgiving just because you’re not at home! There are a few places in Colorado where you can keep to tradition and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday without having to do … Read more

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs, Colorado 3

Visitors to Manitou Springs once immersed themselves in the ‘60s hippie culture while indulging in old-fashioned entertainment. You can still do that, but the new Manitou, 4 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is more “hippie chic” than “hippie chick.” You still can buy tacky souvenirs, hemp clothing and patchouli incense, eat saltwater taffy and … Read more

Lofty, Laid-Back Leadville

Lofty, Laid-Back Leadville 4

Leadville, at nearly 2 miles above sea level, is one of Colorado’s loftiest living mineral towns. The community of 2,800 sits at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet and lies near the headwaters of the Arkansas River. Opulent Aspen rises 29 Learjet miles to the west. Trendy Breckenridge sits even closer toward the northeast. … Read more

On the Arkansas: Colorado White-Knuckle Adventure

On the Arkansas: Colorado White-Knuckle Adventure 5

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 … Read more

Two-Mile High Leadville: Rich with Mining History

Two-Mile High Leadville: Rich with Mining History 6

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 … Read more

Olympic Training Center: Going for the Gold in Colorado Springs

Olympic Training Center: Going for the Gold in Colorado Springs 7

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 … Read more

Pre-Ski Fuel-Ups: Where to Chow Down

Pre-Ski Fuel-Ups: Where to Chow Down 8

If you want to tuck into a hearty breakfast to fuel a full day of skiing, look for the lines outside local restaurants in your favorite ski towns. They’re usually a good barometer of the food inside.Or ask a ski instructor – who also needs a good breakfast under his or her belt before beginning … Read more

Winter in Leadville: Crystal Carnival

Leadville, Colorado, celebrates winter during the annual Crystal Carnival March 1-3, 2013, highlighted by the town’s time-honored tradition of ski joring, a unique winter sport combining horses and skiing. Since 1949, Leadville’s streets have been converted to winter racetracks for the annual ski joring competition. Horses and their riders pull skiers along the snow-packed roadways … Read more

Fruitcake: Love It or Toss It?

Fruitcake has been around for centuries, but nowadays it’s often the butt of many jokes. Some of us still love fruitcake even though we may find it difficult to find in the supermarket. Others would rather toss it instead of eat it, like the Colorado folks who gather for the Great Fruitcake Toss festival in … Read more