Deep beneath the earth, in the dim, cool tunnels of The Phoenix Gold Mine, you can still see veins of gold-streaked ore, bright metallic flecks that speckle the rock. One of the veins shimmers bright blue and green — the…
WEST ELKS WINE TRAIL Hot summer nights and cool mountain air. The two are a perfect combination when it comes to growing grapes – especially when those grapes are grown in Delta County. Tucked away on the western slope 70…
Jim Bishop is truly a man after my own inner child. For the past 40 years, Bishop has been building a castle in the mountains outside Rye southwest of Pueblo. He’s not having a castle built for him on his…
Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve You’d be forgiven for assuming that between the cozy mountain town and the snow-packed slopes, there isn’t much else in Breck. But you’d be wrong. Between the town and the mountains — more precisely, between the…
Look south as you drive across U.S. 160 in southern Colorado, between Pagosa Springs and Durango. What appears to be a spire of rock rises from the landscape like a sword thrust through the earth’s crust. You might glimpse a…
The stone Colorado Springs castle stands tall on a gentle hill, framed by century-old trees and a sandstone canyon wall as its backdrop. The Glen Eyrie castle, and the story of the man who built it, quickly capture the imaginations…
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…
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…
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.”…
Boulder is known for many things: The Flatirons, Pearl Street, the University of Colorado Buffaloes. But there is something else that keeps tourists and locals happy: local breweries. All along the Front Range dozens of local breweries are generating the…
You don’t have to burst your bank account to have fun in the Mile High City. Denver has several free attractions and activities to offer. Here are our top seven free picks, coming straight from the natives. 16th Street Mall…
As summertime comes to Colorado, so does the onslaught of outdoor enthusiasts. But you don’t have to leave the Denver area to find adventure. Golden, just west of Denver, offers a variety of free activities year-round that are especially fun…
Most people plan travel to Breckenridge, Colorado to enjoy the thrill of the ski slopes, but the summer is also an excellent time to visit this mountain community. Once the snow melts, the natural wonders of the mountain come to…
When sunny, warm days dawn on Western Colorado’s Grand Valley region, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy endless recreation options for basking in another glorious afternoon. Anyone who loves the outdoors has their pick of activities, from rugged rafting excursions along the Colorado…
Evergreen, Colorado may not top the list of the most exciting attractions in the state, but this quiet mountain community is a popular place to spend a day away from the city or even a long weekend. Situated on the…
Opening day at the new Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon was a resounding success last August, and a steady stream of visitors continues to visit the 5-acre non-profit facility, enriching their mountain experience whether as tourists or residents. Without…
Although Colorado is well known for its craft breweries, Colorado craft distilleries have flown under the radar for some time. Living in Fort Collins, I’ve had the privilege of exploring some of the local breweries and brewpubs, but little did…
Set in the rolling prairie on the south edge of Denver, the Wildlife Experience is a unique, diverse facility with a single-minded purpose: To promote the understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The museum in Parker accomplishes this goal…
It may take a leap of imagination to see the arid, rocky environment of western Colorado as the humid, swampy home to dozens of dinosaur species, but Fruita’s Dinosaur Journey will make it all seem real. Well worth the stop…
Perched atop a hill overlooking the stunning scenery of Estes Park, the Stanley Hotel holds court as one of Colorado’s most notable historic hotels. The sprawling, stately hotel, built in 1909, was the inspiration for Stephen King’s scary book “The…
Denver, one of the nation’s capitals for microbrew beers, also has a burgeoning wine industry. Although most of the state’s vineyards are on the Western Slope, more than a dozen wineries operate tasting rooms in the Denver area where visitors…
Steven Sherer and his wife Pat moved to Colorado’s Western Slope from Hawaii in 2008 with the intention of buying a small acreage in the Palisade area so they could have a few horses. Instead, they bought a peach orchard,…
Butterflies are born free and float gracefully in the Butterfly Pavilion at 6252 W. 104th Ave. in Westminster, Colorado. In my childhood, I chased butterflies and caught them with a net if I was lucky. Now, all I need do…
What’s with the Dalmatians? Here’s another one, printed on the Children’s Gallery Guide. He is a funny looking cartoon dog carrying a water hose and wearing a firefighter’s helmet. “I need one just like him,” my 3-year old exclaims, excitedly…
Like most metropolitan cities with a vibrant downtown, Denver has a historic past still preserved. What once was a crude mining town attracting citizens with the prospect of gold, Denver quickly grew to become Colorado’s cultured capital. The movers and…
Stuck between a rock and a hard place? Not even close. Climbing guide Eric Zerowin sets anchors high above the shores of Lake Dillon as his two guests absorb the views. The late-morning sun shines brightly in the blue sky,…
They’re called greater prairie chickens for a good reason. These plump, 2-pound relatives of the grouse live in the tall-grass prairie and supposedly taste like chicken. Once hunted for food, the population of these ground-foraging birds has diminished so much,…