Colorado’s warm sunny days and cool summer nights are the perfect combination when it comes to growing peaches, apples, grapes — and lavender. The climate in the Grand Junction area provides excellent conditions for farming the fragrant herb, according to the Lavender Association of Western Colorado. English lavender and lavandin grow particularly well on Colorado’s … Read more
When it comes to deciding the most gorgeous mountain setting in Southwestern Colorado, it might end up with a coin toss to see whether Ouray or Telluride would win. If the locals have anything to say about it, the coin lands on the side of Ouray, which has earned the nickname “Switzerland of America.” And, … Read more
It all started with a couple of 10-year-olds, along with a handful of world-class pros and some 30-odd mortals. They all stood on the same line, ready for the running, the Le Mans start of Crankworx Colorado’s kickoff event, super downhill. Three hundred or so yards of initial climbing quickly separated the pack and a … Read more
When it comes to lakes, Colorado may not have the largest or the most, but the state can comfortably boast of having some of the loveliest high-altitude bodies of water in America. Some can be explored by car, while others require effort before their charms are revealed. With hundreds to choose from, the toughest part … Read more
Rolling meadows, weathered barns, waving wheat and country farmhouses distinguish Colorado’s eastern plains. This area, known as Colorado’s Outback country, was home for many of the state’s first settlers who forged their existence from the earth. You can get a feel for the way they lived at the Old Town Museum in Burlington, Colorado, … Read more
Slowing to a motion-numbing 8 miles per hour, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train creeps along a narrow ledge. Cliffs tower on one side, plummet down the other. The Animas River surges 400 feet below. White froth caps its turbulent, beryl-green current. As we round a broad curve, the black, coal-belching locomotive chugs … Read more
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
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
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