Colorado ski towns are often known for high prices, especially during their winter primetime. But vacationing in a mountain getaway doesn’t have to break the budget. The Winter Park-Fraser Valley area, 90 minutes northwest of Denver and surrounded by the Arapaho National Forest, offers a lot of cold-weather fun for $20 or less. Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing Hiking and biking…
During the long nights of winter, nowhere does the full moon shine brighter than in Colorado’s high country. Tucked away from city lights, the silvery moon hangs like a lantern in the black sky, providing enough illumination for doing just about anything at night that you can do during the day. Mountain residents schedule nighttime activities by the lunar calendar,…
I love snowshoeing. I love the sound of nothing but aluminum crampons crunching over a packed trail, and, even better, the thumping of 25-inch tails on fresh powder. I love the solitude; the cold, high-mountain winter air and the reward of blazing new trail that I know others will follow. It wasn’t until I started snowshoeing that I felt I…
For a first-hand look at Wild West history, check out the Blake Street Vault in downtown Denver. The restaurant’s original 19th-century architectural details and collection of Old West relics are something to see. But our favorite lure to this locale is the guided tour where guests learn the story of Lydia, a saloon girl who died in the building back…
There is always something to be seen year-round at the Denver Botanic Gardens, even in wintertime, when more than a million gleaming lights turn the Capitol Hill complex into a fantasyland. Located off East 10th Avenue and York Street, this oasis in the city features extensive plant displays, with specimens from all over the world. Outdoor plants are chosen for…
Historic Chautauqua Park, once part of a vast circuit of summer educational retreats across America, offers hiking, dining, lodging and cultural events. The Colorado landmark has transformed itself into a Boulder hangout at the base of the dramatic foothills known as the Flatirons. When songsters aren’t strumming their guitars and filling the park with the sounds of the lively…
Colorado was built for people who love the outdoors. And what’s not to like? With almost 300 sunny days a year and some of the best scenery in the country, it’s the perfect place for adventure lovers. But there are some of us, dare I admit it, who aren’t always out there climbing fourteeners, mountain biking or hiking national parks….
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 wild ride down the rapids…
If you’re headed to the Four Corners area of Colorado, chances are you’ll pass through Montrose. If so, take time to stop and appreciate this hospitable town with a few choice diversions. It’s the closest town to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of the nation’s newest national parks and worth a day of exploration on its own. The…
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 politely, surreptitiously, but remember them….
