Snow Play: Without the Skis

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

Durango: Places to Play in the Snow

If you’re planning a Colorado ski or snowboard trip, Vail and Aspen aren’t the only options to find fresh powder, exciting trails and the canopy of the Rocky Mountain blue skies. In the southwest corner of Colorado, Durango offers intriguing alternatives. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, 25 miles south of Durango, No. 1 Skier Place, … Read more

Sky Ride: A New View of the Zoo

The chairlift seat slides smoothly under us and lifts us to the sky. Below, we can see grizzly bears wrestling with each other on the edge of a pond. Say what? You get an entirely new perspective of Colorado Springs’ famed Cheyenne Mountain Zoo from the new Mountaineer Sky Ride. The ride, an unusually smooth … Read more

Two-Wheel Cruising: A Tour of Three Denver-Area Bike Paths

The Colorado sky seems color-enhanced. Rich blues tint the vibrant summer sunsets and most Coloradans happily traded their skis for flip-flops. The Denver area’s 100-plus miles of groomed bike paths are a great place for the whole family to enjoy the season’s longer days. Here is a look at three of them. Seven days a … Read more

Mush! Going to the Dogs in Breckenridge

The training period lasted less than two minutes, and it went something (though not entirely) like this: “Put your feet here. One foot on the brake to slow down, two feet to stop. And lean with your turn. If you don’t lean, you’re going to get real friendly with a tree. Let’s go.” Brandon Barnhorst, … Read more

River Rafting: High-Country Thrills and Spills on the Colorado River

The record snowmelt in the Colorado Rockies this summer means action-packed river rafting. And if your teenager is addicted to adventure and virtually fearless, this is the ideal time to enjoy some family togetherness on a raft in the middle of a rushing river. River rafting is ideal for families with teens — just enough … Read more