Colorado is known for its fabulous skiing at world class resorts such as Aspen and Vail. But it provides great sporting activities all year round including hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, zip lining and more! And there is golf, horseback riding – even Segway tours through amazing canyons. When you arrive in Colorado and you look at the western horizon, all you see are awe-inspiring mountains…and adventure beckons with both hands! 

In 2016 the US National Parks Service celebrated it's 100th anniversary, and the outdoor playground that is Colorado also offers no less than 4 National Parks:

• Rocky Mountain National Park: with high-mountain lakes and streams, peaks more than 14,000 feet, thick evergreen forests and thousands of acres of wildlife, this park conjures up what most people imagine when they think of the Rockies. Trail Ridge Road at 12,183 feet is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: no other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
• Mesa Verde National Park: this is the site of the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan culture, which lasted for some nine hundred years from c 450 to 1300 on a plateau in south-west Colorado at an altitude of more than 2600 meters.
• Great Sand Dunes national Park: nowhere else in the United States do mountains of sand stand higher than here in the Rocky Mountains. The tallest dune towers 750 feet high at an elevation of 8,700 feet above sea level.

You will also discover a rich western heritage in Colorado with nine historical trains and gold mine routes that introduce you to the Gold Rush days. The 19th-century mining boom drew many people to Colorado with the hope of striking it rich. Today, travelers can experience a mining train trip 3,000 feet into the Bachelor Syracuse Mine in southwest Colorado and see the prosperous, historic main streets of mining towns such as Breckenridge, Leadville and Central City. And one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the wild west is to stay at a Dude Ranch and discover the cowboy lifestyle.

Colorado’s history is full of rich American Indian heritage that can be experienced at galleries and festivals across the state, in addition to history museums and sites such as the Ute Indian Museum, Koshare Indian Museum and along the Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway. A beautiful attraction for history lovers is the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver, with three stories of exhibitions packed with gold mining, Wild West, Spanish American War, Ancestral Puebloan, 10th Mountain Division and other Colorado museum treasures.­­

And one thing that the visitor will certainly enjoy in Colorado is amazing food, wine and craft beer. There are more than 2,000 restaurants in the Denver Metro area alone, serving local dishes such as buffalo burgers and rattlesnake tails. And more than 100 different beers are brewed in Denver alone!

Plus there are four different wine trails in the state, which include dozens of wineries and vineyards.

• The Front Range Wine Trail features two dozen wineries and tasting rooms in amazing areas including the Royal Gorge in Cañon City and Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, and the quaint Victorian town of Georgetown.
• The Heart of Colorado Wine Country Trail takes visitors around two federally designated AVAs in Colorado’s Wine Country: Palisade and Grand Junction.
• The Four Corners Region Wine Trail takes visitors from Durango to Cortez, near the iconic Mesa Verde National Park.
• The Pikes Peak and The Arkansas Valley Wine Trail, which leads visitors over Wolf Creek Pass through the picturesque San Luis Valley, passes through the Central Colorado towns of Salida and Cañon City.

A popular way to experience some of these trails is via bicycle, particularly in Colorado Wine Country.

Denver - the Mile High City - is one of America’s most walkable cities. 300 days of sunshine coupled with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains inspire visitors to get outdoors and explore. Discover outdoor cafés, farm-to-table cuisine and local breweries serving craft beer as well as biking, hiking and plenty of shopping!

The creative side of Denver is evident the minute you enter the city center, from the bold architecture of the Denver Art Museum, designed by Daniel Libeskind, to the neighborhood art districts and the public art around every corner. The local and visitor favorite art installation is the towering Blue Bear that greets visitors at the Colorado Convention Center in the heart of downtown. 

Denver’s art districts celebrate the first Friday of each month with art walks where galleries are open late. You can also explore The Mile High City using B-cycle, Denver’s pioneering bike-sharing program ($9 for a 24-hour membership) and pedal your way through Denver's creative art districts that surround the city center.

The River North Art District (RiNo) is rapidly becoming the hotspot for artists, foodies and designers. While retaining its industrial character, RiNo still offers plenty of cafes, brewpubs, restaurants and art galleries. Or visit the Highlands neighborhood, just north of downtown and the Art District on Santa Fe, which is home to more than 100 galleries, artist studios and creative businesses.

The Denver Art Museum is home to a famous collection of Native American art. The museum, located in downtown’s Golden Triangle Museum District, offers free general admission on the first Saturday of every month and is free for kids under 18 at all times. The Golden Triangle is where you will find galleries, fine-art studios, specialty stores and eight museums including Clyfford Still Museum and the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is famous for its one-of-a-kind outdoor concert venue that is surrounded by giant, ancient rock formations. During the day, Red Rocks is a free city park with easy hiking trails and a visitor center that includes a Performers' Hall of Fame.  Legendary musicians like The Beatles (1964) and U2 (1983) have performed here, and today, the summer concert series from May through September presents the best artists in jazz, rock, pop, bluegrass and more. Seeing a concert under the stars is a magical experience and Red Rocks Park is located just 30 minutes west of downtown Denver.

When you have had your fill of the arts - then fill up on Denver’s spectacular food and wine! The Mile High City is recognized as a top craft beer city in the USA.  There are 100 craft breweries in the metropolitan area, and the Denver Beer Trail is a self-guided tour of 20 of the most creative breweries in and near the city center, most of which are in that walkable downtown area.

In addition, entrepreneurs are also thriving in the craft distilling and winemaking worlds.  Check out Leopold Bros or Stranahan’s for whiskey, vodka and gin. Stranahan’s lays claim to being the first Colorado-born whiskey, and they remain committed to making the smoothest, most distinctively flavored whiskey on the market.

Downtown Denver's Union Station has undergone a massive restoration and redevelopment that has transformed the landmark into a transportation, dining, shopping and entertainment hub - all centered around the new Crawford Hotel.  The station is a now a fun gathering place for locals and visitors. Eat a breakfast burrito at Snooze, sip a beer at the Terminal Bar, sample the locally sourced cuisine at one of the unique restaurants, shop a bit or have a hand-mixed cocktail at Cooper Lounge. 

Historic Larimer Square is Denver's oldest city block and home to the first saloons and businesses in the Mile High City. Today, the Victorian buildings have been transformed into shops, wine bars and the hottest, chef-owned restaurants. Look for the sparkling lights strung across the street, relax at an outdoor cafe or bar, taste the best of cuisine created by local chefs or find unique clothing and accessories in the boutiques. 

If you want to head to the Mall - Cherry Creek Shopping Center is home to more than 160 stores and restaurants including Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi’s, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss. Visit the guest services desk and ask for your “Passport to Shopping” offering discounts for more than 60 stores and restaurants.  Just across 1st Avenue you will find the charming, tree-lined streets of the Cherry Creek North neighborhood. Here you can explore galleries, boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, spas and more. Yet Cherry Creek is located just 15 minutes southeast of downtown Denver!

Travellers' Tip: The Mile High Culture Pass is one ticket to seven of the top Denver attractions. (A three-day pass is available for $25 and a five-day pass sells for $52.80.)  Attractions include the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo and more. 

A Civil War hero and railroad magnate, Palmer influenced much of the state's settlement, but Colorado Springs was his home. It had plenty of "civilized" attractions - opera houses, fine hotels and restaurants.

The city sits at the foot of one of America's most famous landmarks, Pikes Peak, upon whose summit Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write "America the Beautiful." You can reach Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain – by road, you can ride the spectacular Pikes Peak Cog Railway - or even hike to its 14,115-foot summit. And Colorado Springs offers many opportunities to enjoy breathtaking natural scenery trails, parks and open space.  The stunning red rock formations of The Garden of the Gods Park draw tourists with cameras in tow to capture a perfect shot of the rocks framing the snow-capped peak. There are many ways to explore this unique place – walking or hiking, on horseback, or on a thrilling jeep or Segway tour.

Colorado Springs’ incredible climate means there are more than 300 days of endless blue skies in which to enjoy over 55 attractions and activities. The U.S. Olympic Training Center has its home in Colorado Springs and it has just undergone a $1.7 million renovation. Visitors can tour the facility and even have a VIP experience and dine with athletes. Colorado Springs is also home to the U.S. Olympic Committee and ground has broken for the first U.S. Olympic Museum & Hall of Fame - slated for completion in early 2018

 If you are looking for adventure then the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park has the highest zip line in the US. The Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience offers something for everyone, from young children to the young-at-heart, and from visitors who are just learning about dinosaurs to seasoned fossil hunters. It includes Animatronic dinosaurs on a suspended ropes course! And the historic Broadmoor Hotel runs not just the Pikes Peak Cog Railway but also the Seven Falls Experience. Take 224 steps up a magnificent series of waterfalls located in a 1,250-foot-wall box canyon.

Colorado Springs is home to over 30 craft breweries, a whiskey distillery, gin distillery and moonshine location. By contrast, when visitors ask about where the springs are in Colorado Springs - the answer is Manitou Springs. Currently, there are 8 springs open to the public, each with its own distinctive flavor and effervescence. Three new spas have recently opened in the area, which includes a solar powered building that now heats the Manitou Mineral Springs. Centuries ago, the great tribes of the plains and the Mountain Utes paid homage to the healing and spiritual powers of the mineral springs and believed the medicinal waters were a gift from the Great Spirit Manitou.

Other popular stops include the North Cheyenne Canon Park and the U.S. Air Force Academy - check out www.visitcos.com for all that there is to see and do.  

Though there was a fort here in the 1860s, it was more of a trading post where American Indians and traders met on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River (French for "hide the powder"), for the most part in friendly fashion. While its name suggests otherwise, there's never really been a strong military presence here.

Nowadays, Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University, and it has all the liveliness and bustle of a college town. Good restaurants, brewpubs, nightlife and culture abound. There's always something going on!

70% of Colorado’s craft beer comes from Fort Collins - there are 16 breweries to visit including the well-known New Belgium Brewing Company. The Fort Collins community is very supportive of its brewing companies – a neat idea is “Branch Out Cider” which collects apples from the “community orchard” (basically apple trees whose owners cannot use the crop) and it then goes on to make ciders and apple wines. Fort Collins also has a growing craft coffee movement.

Fort Collins is one of only 4 Platinum Level Bike Friendly communities in the U.S - making it a fantastic destination for experienced cyclists and families alike. The Fort Collins Bike Library allows you to rent a bike free of charge for a day and explore the 280+ bike lanes and trails in and around Fort Collins. 

In fact Fort Collins is a wonderful base for outdoor adventure of all kinds. The Cache La Poudre River, Colorado’s only National Wild and Scenic River, is great for rafting, kayaking, fly fishing and more. While Soapstone Prairie Natural Area represents a pristine, natural environment for the native species to roam as they did hundreds of years ago. There are even plans for Bison to be reintroduced to the area in the near future.

The largest city on Colorado's Western Slope and the heart of Colorado wine country, Grand Junction sprawls across the Grand Valley, perfectly situated for exploring the wonders of northwestern Colorado — and wonders certainly abound. Grand Junction presents a dramatically different side of Colorado - where mountain biking leads from a desert trail into any of the 22 wineries. Where you can wine and dine next to the majestic Colorado River, and can explore the Grand Mesa National Forest or the desert landscape of the Colorado National Monument. 

Grand Junction is filled with unique adventures, such as riding horses to seek out the wild horse bands of the Little Book Cliff Range. Like rafting the whitewater of the Colorado River – or floating gently through town and then making a stop at the brewery when you’re done. What about going on a dinosaur dig with a paleontologist? Or hiking to see dinosaur bones right from the trail!

Grand Junction is renowned as Colorado’s Wine Country and there are 22 wineries are open year-round. Harvest is typically in September, and so is Colorado’s largest wine festival – Colorado Mountain Winefest, held the 3rd weekend of every September. That pairs perfectly with the agri-tourism scene, for which Grand Junction is the hub in Colorado. Lavender farms and peach orchards dot the landscape in perfectly planted rows. For a fun, carefree day, rent a cruiser or electric bike and tour winery to farm stand to winery to orchard. And as well as biking you can tour wine country by limo, motorized scooter, motorcycle or horse-drawn carriage!

Grand Junction, Colorado is the beginning of the Canyonlands of the West and Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Sheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful formations, desert bighorn sheep, soaring eagles, and a spectacular road reflect the environment and history of the plateau and canyon country. The 37 kilometer long Rim Rock Drive is the primary access to this 20,000 acre park from which visitors can experience all the park has to offer. Touted by Outside Magazine and USA Today as one of the top 10 best places for solitude in the US, the Monument features 11 canyons, 20,000 acres of arched windows, rock spires and natural monoliths - all thrown by the hands of wind and rain over millions of years.

Gold brought many of the first settlers to Durango in the Animas River Valley, located in the southwest corner of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Durango was founded in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, when they extended their line from the town to Silverton in order to haul precious metals from high-country mines. Trains were essential transportation of the day, bringing supplies in and gold ore out.

Today, when the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad blows its whistle, tourists climb aboard for a 45-mile trip through the still-wild San Juan Mountains to Silverton, where they can lunch and shop before re-boarding for the trip home. Scenic train rides depart 3 times a day from Durango to Silverton and back. Other Special train ride events include the Wine and Rails, the Durango Brew Train and the Blues Train.       

Suffice it to say, if it can be done outdoors, then it can be done in Durango. There is a huge mountain biking community and there is top-notch whitewater rafting on the nearby Piedras, Animas and Dolores rivers. If you like fishing, bring your pole. Backpacking and camping are prime activities - or you can rent a cabin and spend lazy days on a high mountain lake.

Here are just a few of the exciting adventures awaiting you in the area:

The San Juan Mountains provide the breathtaking backdrop for Durango’s outdoor playground. Experience fun family-friendly outdoor activities like the Alpine Slide, Diggler Mountain Scooters, a zipline, family ropes course, scenic chairlift, mountain bike trails, and more at Purgatory Resort.

Enjoy a high elevation festival like Music in the Mountains, Muck & Mire, a family-friendly mud adventure race, and more.

Feast on local fare and inspired cuisine at Durango’s 100+ restaurants. After a fine meal, stroll the streets, take an art walk or enjoy live music at various indoor and outdoor venues.

Pull on the boots and shine up the buckles for the True West Rodeos; there are live Gunfights at Diamond Belle Saloon and the Durango Cowboy Gathering in September.

Visit the Saturday Farmer’s Market, take a tour of James Ranch and dine at the Harvest Grill & Greens, or perch on the lawn for live music and local wine at Fox Fire Farms. 

Float or fly-fish the Animas River. Take the whole family to the outdoor Olympic size pool at Trimble Hot Springs. Or rent a boat and BBQ shore side at Vallecito Lake.  

From Durango you can explore the archaeological wonder of Mesa Verde – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mesa Verde National Park is America’s premier archaeological wonder and fourteen centuries of history are displayed there. Mesa Verde offers an excellent opportunity to see and experience the life of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Spectacular cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages were built between A.D. 450 and 1300, when people migrated to the area.