Surrounded by dramatic mountain cliffs and gorgeous desert landscapes, this fun little town is dream come true for many adventure seekers. Mountain biking, hiking, Jeep and dirt bike trails cover the thousands of acres of public lands surrounding Fruita.
Historically rich and Americana-steeped Berthoud, 45 minutes north of Denver, is nicknamed the “Garden Spot of Colorado” with good reason – a small community surrounded by rich farmland, it hosts annual events such as “Berthoud Day” in early June for residents and visitors to gather and celebrate family-style with a parade, music, and picnic.
The town’s persona comes through in its annual quilt show and in its expanding sculpture exhibit in Fickel Park. Wildlife and outdoor themes mix with contemporary designs in a wonderful way.
While conveniently providing a gateway to mountain fun in the nearby Rockies, Berthoud also offers the laid-back and welcoming atmosphere of farmer’s markets, a town swimming pool, and vibrant arts community that includes dance and live theater – truly something for everyone!
If you’re looking for a smaller-town vibe, try visiting Berthoud. The cost of living is higher than the national average by 25.7 points. This is mostly reflected in housing costs. However, it does have a desirable location. Access to Estes Park and RMNP is just 35 miles away. If you like access to mountain lakes and reservoirs, this location is ideal. With over 20 lakes and reservoirs nearby and twice that amount a little further away. Deciding where to go will be the greater problem.
Berthoud has easy access to several state parks and nearby campgrounds. If you’re passing through or just want to get away for a few days. There is a large selection of state parks and campgrounds to choose from.
The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is one of Colorado’s iconic and must-see attractions, an awe-inspiring spectacle of man and nature meeting halfway. Known as America’s Bridge, located in the heart of the Royal Gorge Region and adjacent to Cañon City. Check out the Visitor Center, Waterclock, Plaza Theater & Historical Expo, Royal Rush Skycoaster, Zip Line, Gondola, and Children’s Playland.
Royal Gorge Bridge Park, Via FerrataNot only can visitors enjoy the breathtaking scenery from above the gorge, but they can now climb the steep walls via the new Royal Gorge Via Ferrata. This attraction is a protected and safe climbing system on the sheer vertical walls of the Royal Gorge, using trained guides, climbing lanyards with carabiners, steel cables, and iron rungs installed into the rock surfaces. Routes 400-600 feet into the gorge are tailor-made for the beginner up to the advanced. This is a perfect family outing for an unforgettable experience. The Royal Gorge Via Ferrata is suitable for ages 12 and up. (Extra pay feature, reservations required.)
Other world-class attractions include the Aerial Gondola, which traverses 2,400 feet across the gorge and reaches a maximum suspension of 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River. This is a fun activity for the whole gang. Be wowed together when making this spectacular crossing.
For the daring, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Cloudscraper, by ZipRider, flies guests a thousand feet over the river, and patrons can experience the World’s Scariest Skycoaster sitting on the very edge of the gorge. Both are extra pay features and are open from mid-March to the end of December (weather permitting.)
Located on the south rim of the gorge is the Skycoaster. Riders are hoisted up to the top of a 100-foot tower and, from that starting point, swung out 1,200 feet over the edge of the Royal Gorge.
This is a kid’s dream come true playground. Have fun with ropes, slides, nets, tunnels, 20-foot towers, and a splash pad. Check out panning for gold at Ole Zeb’s Sluice Box, and take a ride on the vintage-style Daisy’s Carousel.
The park has a storied history beginning with the spectacular undertaking of building the Royal Gorge Bridge in 1929 and is the highest suspension bridge in America to date. The bridge survived a wildfire in 2013 and sustained minimal damage, while 90% of the park was destroyed. The rebuild was a spectacular undertaking. Visit the Plaza Theater and Historical Expo for the whole story!
When you arrive at the visitor’s center, you will certainly be taken in by all the breathtaking views. Just around back, check out the water clock. It’s the only one of its kind in Colorado.
The Royal Gorge Bridge Park, including the Bridge and Visitor Center, is open 365 days a year. The Visitor Center with its mammoth deck overlooking the gorge, is the perfect place to shop, dine, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.
Cañon City’s only FULL SERVICE HOTEL. FREE Deluxe Continental Breakfast, FREE High Speed Internet Access, Relax & Enjoy the Hotel’s Indoor Hot Tubs & Outdoor Heated Pool.
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Since July 2002, The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey has been attracting visitors worldwide. Located on the pastoral and serene grounds of The Holy Cross Abbey and nestled against the spectacular backdrop of the Wet Mountains, the winery is a shining example of what draws visitors to Cañon City and Fremont County.
The winery’s tasting room is open daily and was voted “Best Front Range Tasting Room” by Colorado Vine. There is ample parking and the beautiful tree-shaded park has picnic tables to enjoy lunch and a bottle of wine. The gracious staff guided you through a tasting of multi-award-winning wines. The gift shop is filled with items from all over the world and many distinctively Colorado items.
The winery also hosts an annual harvest festival on the last weekend of September. Celebrating the year’s grape harvest with music, food, and art, the highlight of the festival is the crushing of the community grapes for the wildly popular Wild Cañon Harvest wine. The wine contains grapes from over fifty growers with seventeen different varietals of grapes as part of the blend. The wine is traditionally released the week of Thanksgiving and has become the celebrated holiday wine of Cañon City.
Throughout the year, The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey hosts various events. Please check the events calendar. Try an adventure tour package. A jeep ride and wine tasting.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is also wonderful for gift shopping, as they can now ship wine to most states. Your gifts can be taken care of from start to finish. If you can’t visit the tasting room to shop, check out the online shop.
The tasting room and gift shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am until 6:00pm, and on Sundays from 12:00pm until 5:00pm.
You're ready to do some vacation planning. You could use a break, and you've seen pictures of Colorado's majestic landscapes reaching 2 miles into the American sky. This is someplace you'd like to see and experience. It would take a few lifetimes to see, enjoy, experience, feel, and reach what Colorado offers. So, we're here to help you with your Colorado vacation planning and the best way to maximize your time while in Colorado.
With so much going on in Colorado, it’s best to identify your vacation passion and the passions of the group or other person you are traveling with. Here is a list of considerations to help you get the best Colorado vacation experience.
Perhaps your bucket list includes visiting an adventure park, a scenic train ride, a hot springs visit, zip lining, getting a hike or two in, and rafting. Wow, that’s ambitious but it can be done. Once again, staying in a region like the Royal Gorge area can serve this up. If you look closely, you will find companies that even sell combinations of experiences in one day.
Suppose you're planning a backpacking trip. You would want to select a region, such as Rocky Moutain National Park, and stay there.
If day hiking is more your thing, you will get the most hiking in by exploring a region rather than trying to travel all over the state, but some travel is realistic.
Summer tourist season in Colorado is popular. If you’re planning on camping, whether in a tent or RV, you will need to plan ahead. Reservations at public campgrounds are necessary, especially during “peak season.”
Check in with your travel companions and find out what activities they have in mind. You might find mutual interests or complete diversity. Knowing this will help you map your route and where to find lodging. Below are some activity suggestions.
Check the Colorado Events Calendar.
Consider a historical tour.
Find a Farmers Market.
Whitewater Rafting and Adventure Packages
There are 25 ski areas in Colorado and 32 Nordic Centers to choose from. First, understand your group's expectations. Then, explore the resort options for what they offer, the type of terrain, the expense, apres-ski activities, and more.
Suppose you’re vacationing with a mix of skiers, snowboarders, and ability level. It’s best to closely examine the resorts with terrain parks and a mix of blue and expert-level ski runs. The larger resorts will have the most options.
If you want to check out different resorts, staying in the Central part of Colorado is the most efficient option, as all these resorts can be reached by car in a few hours. Or, skip the winter driving around, stay at a designated resort, and focus on your fun there.
If budget-mindedness is part of your vacation, try planning your trip during the “off-season” or not “peak-season” times. Check out these every day, more affordable resorts. In either case, you should be able to find deals on lift tickets and lodging.
If your group needs alternative activities, the bigger resorts will have the most varied selection. However, popular attractions like winter scenic train rides, natural hot springs, and guided tours such as snowmobiling or sleigh rides are not necessarily at the resort. Check out “other attractions” first and then decide on the resort to stay at.
Colorado offers an almost endless list of vacation options. The first step is to understand if you want to tour around or stay in one place. Either has much to offer. However, touring the state will require more vacation planning. Please use our free vacation planning itinerary tool. This will help you keep track of the sights and experiences you don’t want to miss. Plus, organize your lodging and travel routes along the way.
Staying put at that special place in Colorado is also a good way to spend your vacation. With so much to explore in any given region of the State, it might make more sense for you just to find lodging in a favorite place and base all your activities on that location. In either case, feel free to request some of our free visitor guides, and use our free itinerary tool to help organize all the activities, keep the dates and times handy, and make your vacation more relaxing.
The first Colorado Midland passenger train from Colorado Springs reached the settlement of “Rocky” in 1887. A manufacturer from Boston named George Frost constructed a dam at the mouth of Granite Canyon (now Elevenmile Canyon) and platted the nearby town of Lake George.
County Road 96 now follows the old Colorado Midland Railway grade through Elevenmile Canyon where locomotive residue can still be seen around railroad tunnels that were blasted through solid granite. Along the way are public campgrounds, picnic areas, bird watching pullouts, rock climbing routes and world-class trout fishing.
The discovery of gold in 1859 brought thousands of prospectors to Fairplay, once South Park. Latecomers pushed west and established mining camps in the area called South Park. After several prosperous years, Fairplay became the county seat in 1867.
If your curious about how Fairplay relates to South Park and the modern-day sitcom cartoon South Park.
There are some interesting historical relationships and parallels that help shed light on the topic.
Today, Fairplay is the center of commerce for Park County, with a thriving business and vibrant local arts community. The many lodging, dining, and retail options reflect the unique character of this quaint mountain town. Surrounded by majestic peaks and pastoral beauty, Fairplay calls out to artists of all media, many of whom have made Fairplay home.
True to its quaint mountain character, a variety of fun and colorful events are hosted, such as the signature Burro Days race, the Bead & Fiber Show, the free summer concert series and the one-of-a-kind South Park Arts Celebration. This four-day open-air celebration of nature, history, and art, capitalizes on the unusual abundance of scenic and historic sites that make South Park, including Fairplay, so captivating.
At almost 10,000′, Fairplay is an outdoor enthusiast paradise in the winter. Embraced by the Mosquito Mountain Range and minutes to world-class skiing, boarders and skiers alike can explore pristine backcountry or groomed resort trails. Diverse and interesting ice climbing terrain welcomes beginners and challenges experts. Additionally, snowmobiling and snowshoeing provide travel access to remote back-bowls and rolling terrain. Hunters thrive on a nearly year-round season, as do anglers, with fly-fishing in summer and ice-fishing in winter. Named the “Fly-Fishing Capital of Colorado,” anglers can expect to experience a thrill a minute. Fairplay is home to the award-winning Fairplay Beach, where one can cast a line, pan for gold, and even camp overnight – all less than a minute from Main Street and historic Front Street, where dining, wine-tasting, local art galleries, South Park City Museum and shopping entice.
Summer comes alive with bright wildflowers, lush meadows, and snow-capped mountain peaks. Outdoor adventures abound, from mellow strolls through the forest to challenging climbs—beginner trails to extreme single-track calls out to mountain bikers of all levels. Rock climbers and hikers can summit a myriad of 14,000-foot peaks. Take a horseback ride, ATV or off-road vehicle along 100-year-old mining trails. In Town, a custom skate park puts even a seasoned skater to the test.
The settlement of Alma sprang up in 1873 when the Boston and Colorado Smelting Company built an operation there. At 10,578 feet, Alma currently is the highest incorporated town in the U.S. Listed on the State Register of Historic Properties, the 1925 Alma School is a rare local example of Mission-style buildings. It now serves as Alma’s Town Hall and is open to the public during regular business hours.
Also listed on the State Register, the 1936 Alma Community Church is a well-preserved stone church of the Rustic style. The 1871 Clesson Cabin was one of the first permanent residences in Alma. Contact Town Hall (719-836-2712) to arrange group tours of the town’s historic buildings.
Just 50 minutes north of Denver lies the charming foothills city of Loveland, famous among outdoor enthusiasts and for its ski area. Loveland is perfect base camp for adventures in the majestic Rocky Mountains backcountry and also as gateway to the recreation town of Estes Park and nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.
Postcard-perfect Loveland is also a great place for families, with activities and events tailored to all ages and interests. Known for its lively arts and shopping opportunities and for its many breweries and distilleries, Loveland also holds a very sweet distinction among American cities: Each year more than 200,000 people from around the globe send Valentines to the Loveland Chamber of Commerce to be remailed with a special return address and logo from the nation’s Sweetheart City.
