Hit the Road – Explore Colorado Beyond Denver

Denver isn’t the only must-visit  city in the gorgeous state of  Colorado. Here are some of  the other places you should  add to your itinerary.

BOULDER

Located a half-hour’s  drive north of Denver on Route 36, this  home of the University of Colorado has  been heralded by National Geographic  as the ‘happiest city’ in the USA. And  indeed there is much to smile about –  delightful Pearl Street with its sidewalk  cafés and shops; a farmers’ market  considered the best in the country by  USA Today readers; a scenic setting at the  foot of the Flatiron Mountains; and access  to 45,000 acres of pristine hiking and  biking trails.

Learn more at: https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/

FORT COLLINS

Drive one hour  farther north and you’ll discover that this  gateway to Rocky Mountain National  Park is also a great place to sample craft  beer – there are more than 20 breweries  in town. It also has a picturesque Old  Town encompassing 28 historical  buildings, a number of museums and art  galleries, and white-water rafting down  the swirling rapids of the Poudre River.

Learn more at: https://www.visitftcollins.com/

LOVELAND

Just 13 miles to the  south of Fort Collins, America’s selfproclaimed  ‘Sweetheart City’ is known  for its huge Valentine’s weekend festival –  at the last count around 200,000 people  sent Valentine’s greetings from there. It’s  also a visual and performing arts centre.  About 300 sculptures and other pieces  of art adorn its outdoor gardens and  parks, summer outdoor concerts are held  around its lagoon, and its 1920 Rialto  Theater is a performance hub.

Learn more at: http://www.visitlovelandco.org/

COLORADO SPRINGS

Colorado’s  second-largest city, only 70 miles down  Interstate 25 from Denver, combines  spectacular scenery with luxurious  accommodation. Soar by cog railway  to the top of 14,115ft Pikes Peak; marvel  at the fantastic rock formations in the  Garden of the Gods; visit the impressive  chapel at the US Air Force Academy  and take a tour of the US Olympic  Training Center; then check into the city’s  majestic, century-old landmark hotel, The  Broadmoor, or – if you want to really get  away from it all – the hotel’s Cloud Camp,  crowning Cheyenne Mountain, 3,000 ft  above the main resort.

Learn more at: https://www.visitcos.com/

DURANGO

Located 340 miles from  Denver in the south-western corner of  Colorado, this colourful Old West city not  only offers a wealth of shops, breweries,  restaurants and art galleries but is also  the gateway to two quite different scenic  wonders – Mesa Verde National Park,  known for its ancient Native American  cliff dwellings, and the awe-inspiring  Black Canyon of the Gunnison National  Park.

Learn more at: https://www.durango.org/

GRAND JUNCTION

The largest  city on Colorado’s Western Slope – 246  miles from Denver down Interstate 70  – is a magnet for wine-lovers; there are  dozens of wineries and tasting rooms  in the area. It’s also the gateway to  Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top  mountain, and hiking, mountain biking,  rafting and camping in the Colorado  National Monument.

Learn more at: https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/

SUMMERTIME IN THE SKI RESORTS

During the non-snow seasons, Colorado’s world-famous ski resorts don’t shut  up shop; they reinvent themselves by offering family-friendly hiking, mountain  biking, swimming, fishing and other activities … plus some fun-filled festivals. Take  chic Aspen for example. In June, it attracts music lovers for Jazz Aspen Snowmass;  throughout the summer there is a popular Saturday market; and, in September,  there’s hiking through the yellow-and-gold foliage of the surrounding woodlands.  Two picturesque former mining towns, now ski resorts, also host special summer  festivals – in June, it’s Telluride’s Bluegrass Festival and, in August, Breckenridge’s  International Festival of the Arts. In July, Crested Butte celebrates the beauty of its  surrounding slopes with a Wildflower Festival.