Colorado
Travel, vacations, tours and tourism

Travel, Vacations, Tours and Tourism information for Colorado. Our topics inlcude Restaurants, Overviews, Attractions, Common events, Recreation, Tipical weather, Activities and more.

Destinations in Colorado

Aspen and Snowmass, CO

Over the last half-century, this Rocky Mountain treasure bounced back from the brink of abandonment to become an international landmark of phenomenal skiing, gorgeous scenery, and celebrity glamour. Founded in the 1870s as Ute City, this byproduct of a boom period in silver mining lost residents to the silver crash and The Great Depression. A permanent boom came when a Swiss mountaineer and ski consultant saw the potential of the "white gold" and by 1941, had turned Aspen into prime ski territory hosting the US Skiing Nationals. Since then, the facilities have been greatly expanded to become among the best in the world.

Breckenridge, CO

Breckenridge is a quaint Victorian town built on the ancestral lands of the nomadic Ute Indians who lived in harmony with moose, elk, deer, bears, cougars, and many other creatures. The Utes called this beautiful spot on the Blue River where the peaks and glen unite "Nah-oon-kara," meaning "softly beautiful valley." In 1859, the first European settlement began alongside the river and, with the onset of the gold rush, the town prospered. It was here that Colorado's largest gold nugget, a 13-pounder dubbed "Tom's Baby," was found in 1887. Many of the original buildings from that era remain, including the circa 1880 building that housed the town's first newspaper, "Ye Editor," the 1860 "Choy Laundryman's Chinese Laundry," and the 1870 "Gold Pan Saloon," one of the oldest bars west of the Mississippi.

Keystone, CO

Keystone has earned a reputation as "all things to all skiers," with differing terrain across 4 mountains. A system of interconnected high-speed lifts and gondolas make it easy to move around. There are plenty of beginner slopes, so don't worry if you're not an expert! You'll be particularly thrilled with the largest single-mountain night skiing venue in North America and the only such place in Colorado! Formerly a "Skiers Only" destination, Keystone now welcomes snowboarders and offers a variety of winter sports, including tubing and ice skating on 5 acres of frozen lake.

Steamboat, CO

According to legend, 19th-century fur trappers in the Yampa Valley heard a chugging noise that sounded like riverboat steam engines back east. It emanated from Colorado's only natural mineral geyser spouting high across the Yampa River, and gave the town its name. Steamboat Springs is now Colorado's northern-most ski resort, a sprawling mountain with all the amenities skiers have come to expect. There's a lively village, plenty of high-speed quad-chair lifts, a gondola, and lots of terrain. Steamboat is especially proud of its authentic western town that existed long before skiing put it on the map.

Telluride, CO

You may wonder what ski resorts were like before they grew 6-lane highways and factory outlet stores. You'll find out when you visit the authentic Western town of Telluride, situated within a spectacular box-canyon and offers skiing and boarding without the crowds. An Old West charm pervades the legendary streets, where rustic brick hotels and clapboard storefronts recall the bygone day of the gold rush. Even the notorious Butch Cassidy came to town and filled his saddlebags with the contents of the San Miguel Valley Bank vault! Telluride's National Historic District has retained its ageless appeal and remains a quaint and colorful Victorian town that looks just as it did in the 1880s, with a new flair of sophistication.

Vail and Beaver Creek, CO

When you say "Vail," skiers hear "Valhalla." There's just no other place like it, which is why it consistently ranks as the finest ski resort in North America, if not the world. The heart of Vail centers around the Tyrolean-inspired Vail Village and the more contemporary Lionshead, both of which are nestled in the Gore Range with peaks soaring to heights of over 13,000 feet! With its unique blend of American and European cultures, Vail is cosmopolitan yet relaxed. In certain places, it resembles a quaint Bavarian hamlet, with homey inns and lodges neighboring cozy A-frame chalets and clock towers. Picturesque pedestrian streets house colorful shops and boutiques, a potpourri of international restaurants and cafés, a high-energy nightlife, and gorgeous vistas.

Winter Park, CO

Mix 3 big-time mountains, the highest average snowfall of any resort in Colorado, an easy-going family atmosphere in an unpretentious town and you've got yourself the ultimate winter playground! Located in the Rocky Mountains, verdant meadows and fragile tundra teem with wildlife and wildflowers, and the lakes and streams are filled with trout. Winter Park and the Fraser River Valley are surrounded by thousands of acres of the Arapaho National Forest and several other wilderness areas with 13 peaks rising over 12,000 feet. A world-renowned snow sports school teaches the physically challenged to ski.

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