Soaring mountain peaks, fathomless canyons, vast forests, crystalline reservoirs, verdant river valleys, teeming fruit orchards — these diverse sights and more beautify the West Elk Loop. Shaped like a rope with a lasso at its end, the route stretches south from Carbondale for 50 miles and then circles around the West Elk Mountains. Those who … Read more
October in Colorado means cooler days and beautiful fall foliage. But this month has a fun, spookier side, with the tricks and treats of Halloween. Take a lantern-lit tour through a cemetery in Glenwood Springs, soak in some horror flicks in Telluride or visit a haunted hotel in Ouray. Here are six spooky activities to … Read more
The pinstriped powerbroker from Chicago sat perched on a bar stool, poking at his salad, scrutinizing the wine list and wistfully reminiscing about the fabulous Italian meals he gets back home. “Take it from me, there are no good Italian restaurants in Denver,” he professed. He shut his eyes tight and, for a moment, I … Read more
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 travelers, this white-knuckle, eye-popping drive on The Shelf is the highlight of the Gold Belt … Read more
Long before tourists arrived, a lone Englishwoman explored the vastness of what is now Rocky Mountain National Park. Isabella Bird’s sojourn here came in the fall and early winter of 1873, not long after the mountain man and before the first pioneers built ranches here. She recorded her impressions in a book, A Lady’s Life … Read more
In my experience, few dining establishments can shine in presenting a wide menu of fabulous food, all prepared to perfection. Each chef seems to have their own specialty, and as you get acquainted with all of the places for dining in Pueblo, you’ll be able to know where to get the best of what you … Read more
Olde Town Arvada, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has become a hip hotspot. Located some 20 minutes from Denver, Olde Town Arvada is the next “really cool place,” says Scott Spears, owner of Scrumptious, Olde Town’s funky micro-creamery and candy shop. Scrumptious is one of the many shops and restaurants lining Grandview … Read more
In her native Sweden, Berit Daniels was just 2 when she first strapped on a pair of cross-country skis. “I’d shuffle around in my yard making loops in the snow,” she says. Nearly 40 years later, Daniels makes loops regularly on the scenic Spring Gulch Nordic trails, just a stone’s throw from her Carbondale home. … Read more
If you happen to ride a lift in Aspen with a ruggedly handsome man who, in a German accent, quizzes you about your ski clothes — “Are zay warm?” “Do zay fit well?” “Are zay functional?” — it may be winter-clothing tycoon Klaus Obermeyer keeping in touch with consumers of the industry in which he … Read more
For all of my Colorado-born life, skiing has meant several things: Getting up early, throwing the skis in the car, fighting the Interstate 70 traffic and then schlepping same skis from the car to the slopes. Skiing, in general, meant a lot of work. Of course, it was always worth it — powdery white snow, … Read more