When one thinks of Colorado, they might immediately think of ski slopes, recreational marijuana, and Denver, but there is so much more to uncover! Key highlights of this western state are its lovely landscapes and mind-blowing parks. In this travel piece, we’ll take a look at both the city and the mountains!
THE CITY
Even though you’ve just landed, you’ll still have a chance to join the mile-high club by visiting the Mile High City, aka Denver. It’s the capital of Colorado and received its nickname because the city is exactly a mile above sea level. It has a captivating history—it was actually part of the Gold Rush boom, with tens of thousands of people moving to the area in search of gold many years ago. It was also the center of plenty of Wild, Wild West activities. To learn more about the history of this great city, check out the History Colorado Center, a 141-year-old institution where you can view high-tech and hands-on exhibits. Some of the cool virtual experiences here include a ride across the plains in a Model T, a ski jump, and a visit to the 1930’s Dust Bowl. historycolorado.org
If you just can’t get enough of museums, take a stroll through another at the American Museum of Western Art. Here different art pieces aim to depict what life was like in the west during the early 1800’s, with more modern pieces available as well. More than 200 pieces line the walls here, featuring artists such as Bierstadt, Maynard Dixon, Remington, Russell, and Thomas Moran. anschutzcollection.org
Moving on, take a leisurely walk through Larimer Square. It’s one of Denver’s most historic areas, where the streets are lined with some pretty old, significant Victorian buildings. This area was home to a lot of Colorado’s “firsts” like its first book store, theater, and bank. There’s plenty of modern attractions in the area too, with an array of interesting shops and hip restaurants.
Larimer Square is located in the trendy LoDo district, where you can also discover Union Station. It’s the main train station for the city, and while train stations usually aren’t an attraction, this one sure is! Union Station underwent a huge renovation project and now it’s one of the coolest places to relax in the city, attracting locals looking for a bite to eat and tourists who enjoy exploring. The station’s Great Hall offers tasty coffee shops, an ice cream shop, pizzerias, a lounge area, a bar, boutiques, and a hotel! unionstationindenver.com
Hungry? Make sure to stop by The Source, a hotel and food hall that was opened in 2013 and hosts some truly remarkable vendors. The whole venue is made up of 45,000 square feet and 25 concepts, including a bakery, pizzeria, modern wood-fired restaurant, barber, retail goods store, apparel shop, florist, brewery, and barbecue. A highlight is Acorn, which serves up contemporary American wood-fired cooking and has established itself as one of Denver’s top restaurants, landing on several Best-of-Denver lists. thesourcehotel.com
Turns out there’s another quirky reason why Denver is referred to as the Mile High City—you can indeed get pretty high, if you’re into that sort of thing, of course. Recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado since 2012, and it was actually one of the first states in the U.S. to do so. Take a trip to SoBo, a neighborhood that is referred to as Antique Row for its abundance of shops selling vintage items. It’s also more recently been dubbed Green Row due to its countless marijuana dispensaries. The neighborhood has blocks packed with entertainment, with neighborhood taverns, vintage clothing stores, unique eateries, bookstores, art galleries, international restaurants, craft shops, an arthouse movie theater, and hip live music venues.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is one of the most famous music venues in the U.S. This is because of its unique sandstone formations that jut out around the massive stage, making it look like a natural concert hall carved out of rock. Although most of the live music events have been cancelled due to COVID-19 you can still head over for some other outdoor activities. You can work out in the amphitheater, sit down to watch the sunset, attend a drive-in movie, or hike one of the many trails that zoom through the surrounding 868-acre park. redrocksonline.com
THE PARKS
Ok, now it’s time for the real action! Colorado has a whopping 41 state parks, meaning there’s no shortage of striking mountains, grassy plains, and sparkling lakes. You’ll want to down a coffee or energy drink and tie on your hiking boots extra tight because there’s lots to see!
Visit one of the most well-known parks in the U.S. at Rocky Mountain National Park. This park is located in northern Colorado and encompasses protected mountains, forests, and alpine tundra. There’s 355 miles of hiking trails here, ranging from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. One of the most popular is a hike to Deer Mountain, totaling 3 miles that ends with fine views and an opportunity for a picnic on top! If hiking really isn’t your thing, take the car for a spin down one of the many scenic driveways. There’s also camping, ranger-led programs, fishing, horseback riding, and wildlife watching available. Some of the great animals you can spot here include black bears, moose, mountain lions, deer, coyotes, and elk. nps.gov
Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center is another impressive park just waiting to be explored! Consisting of 1,300 acres, this park’s main attraction are the marvelous sandstone formations throughout. There’s different ways to see the park—you can take a Jeep or Segway tour, rent a bike, or enjoy some exciting front range rock climbing! A key attraction in the park you don’t want to miss is a great view of the snowcapped Pikes Peak, a mountain that stretches 14,115 feet tall. Don’t forget to enter the world-class Visitor & Nature Center, which is regarded as a museum with geology, ecology, and cultural history exhibits! gardenofgods.com
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is another national park, located in western Colorado. This park is astounding due to its deep, steep-walled gorge carved through Precambrian rock by the Gunnison River. Here you can venture out amongst ancient rocks, steep cliffs, and winding rivers, as you take in the full experience of nature. The Black Canyon is the prominent attraction here and you can either peer in from the top of a safe observation point or you can adventure into it. You can kayak or raft through the canyon, rock climb in it, or take one of the many wilderness routes. Just be sure that you obtain a (free) permit before entering into the canyon and make sure you pack enough food, water, and clothes in case you have to stay overnight. nps.gov
Colorado also has its share of some intriguing ancient sites within its parks. Mesa Verde National Park, in southwest Colorado, has archeological sites and ruins that are simply awe-inspiring. Mesa Verde was home to the Ancestral Pueblo people who inhabited the dwellings from approximately 600 AD to 1300 AD and today you can walk amongst the preserved ruins, which includes 5,000 known archeological sites, and some 600 cliff dwellings. Cliff Palace is one of the most important dwellings in the whole park, and if you take a ranger-led tour, you can even climb a ladder up to the heart of the dwelling. For some ancient rock carvings, make sure to take Petroglyph Point Trail, or take Sun Point Overlook for panoramic canyon views. nps.gov
This western state isn’t all mountains and forests—an unmissable park is definitely Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. In southern Colorado, this park is famous for its huge sand dunes like the towering Star Dune and also for the seasonal Medano Creek and beach created at the base of the dunes. These dunes are the tallest in North America and arguably the most beautiful, with backdrops of snowcapped mountains in the distance. The landscape is particularly interesting due to its diversity, as there’s also grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra here! If you come in the summer, wander the sands and then cool off in the popular Medano Creek. If you’re visiting in the winter, you can participate in skiing, sledding, hiking, snowboarding, and more! nps.gov
Speaking of skiing, how can you head to the The Centennial State without gliding down some slopes? The ski resort town of Vail is one of the best places to visit in the winter and one of the top ski resorts in the state. The town of Vail is a cute little visit in itself with chalet-style restaurants, shops, and hotels that will make you feel like you’re in the heart of the Alps. After shopping and dining you can gear up and head to the ski resort, where exhilarating activities await you. There’s ski opportunities for all levels, scenic gondola rides, a raised alpine coaster, mountain tours, EpicMix Racing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and more! vail.com
The Wild, Wild West sure is a lot different than we’re used to here on the East Coast. With archaeological ruins, sky-piercing mountains, skiing adventures, and black bears in the forest, Colorado is nothing like Florida. Although the Sunshine State provides us with warmth and beaches, it’s nice to explore a different coast every once in a while!
