One of Colorado’s more attractive scenes is St. Mary’s Glacier, located in Clear Creek County, less than an hour’s drive west of Denver. It’s close enough for a day trip, yet far enough away to lose yourself in the quiet mountain serenity. Technically, St. Mary’s Glacier isn’t a glacier because the mass of ice and … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more