Colorado is a state that truly offers something for everyone. Its largest city, Denver, has become a huge foodie destination, and craft beer lovers will be in paradise as it hosts more homebrewers than any other state, along with an impressive number of breweries. Of course, the Rocky Mountain State is famous for its gorgeous mountain towns, great skiing, and beautiful national parks. If you want to experience the best it offers, these fantastic places to visit are sure to do the trick.
- Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods
Manitou Springs, nestled between Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak, is popular for its eight different mineral springs, believed to offer healing powers by Native Americans, as well as its art, attracting art lovers around the world with its many galleries, sculpture displays, theater, and music. The Historic District is lined with magnificently restored buildings that host boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries, and it makes a great place to base your stay to enjoy outdoor adventures on and around Pikes Peak. It’s also a great base to explore Garden of the Gods, named the No. 1 park in the U.S. by TripAdvisor whose majestic fiery red rocks that merge with the mountain forests of Pikes Peak.
- Aspen
Aspen, is, of course, one of the state’s most famous mountain towns. Numerous celebrities, including Hollywood actors like Jack Nicholson, fell in love with it so much that they decided to purchase homes here, with its main allure the jaw-dropping mountain scenery. Tourists and locals head to the slopes in the winter for world-class skiing and boarding, available at four different ski areas, and enjoy fly-fishing, hiking, rafting, and mountain biking in the warmer months. The town is also famous for its high-end shops, galleries, upscale eateries, hip bars, and excellent venues for live music.
- Boulder
This popular college town is famous for its especially fit residents who appreciate the great outdoors, as well as for its progressive values. Sitting at the base of the foothills of the Rockies, Boulder offers practically an endless number of hiking trails, including treks through the breathtaking Flatirons that serve as its most recognizable landmark. Other favorite outdoor activities include climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, and tubing – right through downtown along Boulder Creek. Pearl Street Mall, one of the country’s top open-air pedestrian malls, is considered a must-experience with its free, live entertainment, talented buskers, a wide array of shops, and outstanding eateries.
- Fort Collins
Fort Collins is a craft beer mecca, offering a wide range of well-known craft breweries where visitors can enjoy a brewery tour and samples, including New Belgium, the third-largest craft brewer in the U.S. It’s also an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with an endless number of trails, lakes, rivers, and streams in the surrounding foothills and mountains. Horsetooth Reservoir, just minutes from downtown, is a popular recreation spot for fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, hiking, camping, and more. The Poudre River is the state’s only nationally designated “Wild & Scenic” river and is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and captivating rock formations. You’ll see visitors and locals alike taking advantage of the cool waters on a hot day, on kayaks, rafts, and tubes. After a day of play, come back to Old Town Fort Collins, and in the summer, you’ll often have the chance to take in some great, free live music too.
