Make Your Travels
Whether you want to engage in exhilarating out-of-door conditioning or explore the culture, Colorado has an everlasting list of effects to do. See the 15 Amazing Places in Colorado You Can’t Miss. The capital megacity has commodities for everyone, from Denver’s busy Larimer Square to the conterminous Lookout Mountain.
The Centennial State features the Garden of the Gods, Pike’s Peak, the Arkansas River, and multitudinous hiking, rafting, and camping spots. Red Rocks National Park and Amphitheatre offers the finest of both nature and culture with its musicals.
1. Mount Evans
Mount Evans is a popular day trip destination from Denver, located 60 miles (95 kilometres) east. Those who do not wish to drive can take advantage of private and group tours to reach the summit of the mountain with ease. Travel along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which starts south of Idaho Springs. It is North America’s highest paved road, reaching elevations of more than 7,000 feet (2,000 meters).
The terrain changes as you ascend; depending on the season, keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and other wildlife among the wildflowers. At the summit, you will be rewarded with vistas of alpine lakes, valleys, and other mountain peaks.
2. Denver 16th Street Mall
On 16th Street in Denver, there are over 40 outdoor cafés and restaurants where you can have a leisurely snack, dinner, or drink while taking in the busy ambience of one of the city’s hot locations. Denver Pavilions, located at the mall’s south end, features a movie theatre and over 20 shops and eateries. The north end has a pedestrian route that crosses three bridges to connect downtown to Commons Park and the trendy LoHi neighbourhood.
Maximise your time in Denver by planning a trip that includes a stop on the 16th Street Mall and other attractions such as Larimer Square, the US Mint, and the Denver Art Museum.
3. Dinosaur Ridge
The feature of Dinosaur Ridge is a 2-mile (3-kilometer) paved trail with over 300 dinosaur tracks, fossilised bones, and prehistoric ocean ripple marks. Visitors can walk or bike along the path for free, or pay for a one-hour guided bus trip that stops at the most notable points. There is also a hop-on, hop-off shuttle for people who prefer to tour individually without walking the entire distance (see the website for shuttle operation hours).
The main visitor centre includes interactive exhibits that demonstrate how the area appeared during several prehistoric periods, as well as simulated dino-dig boxes for children.
4. Arkansas River
Adventurers from all across the western United States go to Colorado’s Arkansas River to traverse its rapids, which vary from relatively mild Class II to experienced Class V. The calm Browns Canyon and Bighorn Sheep Canyon are popular with families with children, but the churning rapids of Pine Creek and the Numbers and Narrows appeal to more experienced rafters searching for thrills.
The rapids are best encountered during a half or full-day Arkansas River tour. Rafting tours often involve transportation, equipment, and the services of a river guide. For those who prefer a more leisurely approach, the river is also a favourite fly-fishing destination.
5. Lookout Mountain
Most tourists to Lookout Mountain Park drive to the top of the mountain to explore the different paths that lead to and from the summit, but daring travellers can begin at the bottom and work their way up.
The Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mountain Trail is one of the park’s most popular, providing the sensation of backcountry hiking just minutes from downtown Golden. Once on the trails, seek for elk, deer, birds, and other animals. At the summit of the mountain, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where the famed performer Buffalo Bill was laid to rest.
Lookout Mountain can be visited as part of a half or full-day tour of Denver-area parks and foothills, with most tours including roundtrip transportation to and from Denver.
6. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Begin your day at the Colorado Springs Zoo with a chairlift Sky Ride, which transports you up the mountain and provides a bird’s-eye view of the animals below. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s exhibits include Encounter Africa, the Asian Highlands, the Australia Walkabout, and the African Rift Valley.
The Rocky Mountain Wild Area features indigenous fauna such as lynx, porcupines, moose, and bald eagles. You can pay a bit more to feed the giraffes. There is also a carousel that operates during the summer.
7. Colorado State Capitol Building
A guided tour of the capital building allows you to witness the government in action while also learning about the building’s architecture and history. Unconditionally it is the best of 15 Amazing Places in Colorado You Can’t Miss.
Join a guided sightseeing trip to include a visit to the Capitol as well as other Denver attractions. Make your city discovery more exciting by participating in a group scavenger hunt that reveals the city’s secret side and the capitol building.
8. Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo)
The 29-block LoDo neighbourhood, formerly famed for its saloons and brothels, has been fully restored and rebuilt while retaining its historic appeal. Travel by sites such as the 130-year-old Union Station, the historic Daniels & Fisher (D&F) Tower, and the Oxford Hotel on your way to chic bookshops, local hangouts, and breweries.
Explore the area’s boutiques and galleries with a Denver walking tour guide to learn about the area’s history and revitalisation, or choose a gourmet or craft beer tour for a unique sightseeing experience.
9. Historic Downtown Durango
Though Durango is more upmarket than it has ever been, some things haven’t changed since the 1890s—the Animas River flows through downtown, dim saloons sell pints, and the same railroad runs from here to picturesque Silverton, 45 miles (72.4 kilometres) north. (Don’t miss the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Museum, located on the railyard, to learn about the route’s fascinating history.)
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If possible, stay in the 1887 Strater Hotel, a true masterpiece of Durango history and a stunning specimen of American Victorian architecture. It also happens to be directly on Main Avenue, in the heart of Downtown Durango’s top restaurants, and only three blocks from the Animas River Trail & Greenway.
10. Pikes Peak
Every year, half a million people climb the summit of Pikes Peak, making it North America’s most visited peak. Because it is one of the 15 Amazing Places in Colorado You Can’t Miss.
Most visitors arrive on a day excursion from nearby Colorado Springs or Denver, combining their visit to the iconic fourteener with stops in the artistic town of Manitou Springs and the breathtaking sandstone formations of the Garden of the Gods.
11. Animas River
The stretch of the Animas River in and around downtown Durango is mostly quiet, with a few softer rapids like Smelter, Pinball, and Santa Rita Hole. Animas River is more beautiful in 15 Amazing Places in Colorado You Can’t Miss. From May to September, rafting companies accompany travellers aged 5 and up; during this period, you can also go tubing on your own.
Shuttles operated by the city go from the take-out on 9th Street at Schneider Park to the put-in at the Recreation Centre, which provides free tube airfills. For those who prefer rod and reel, the 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) stretch of river just south of town is well-known for its Gold Medal rainbow and brown trout, or you can try your luck in the San Juan’s high mountain creeks.
12. Larimer Square
Larimer Square, the point of the original 1858 colonist camp that came to Denver, preserves history through restored structures, charts and images, and educational displays.
It is the Best place to Visit in Colorado, Take a guided sightseeing stint of the megacity, or find secret corners of the galleria during a trivia game or scavenger quest. Volunteer docents also offer walking tenures through the forecourt.
13. Pikes Peak Highway
The paved 19-mile (30.5-kilometer) road, built in 1915, makes Pikes Peak accessible to those who might otherwise be unable to reach a high-altitude summit.
It is one of the Most Beautiful Roads in Colorado, The route also allows access to a variety of leisure activities, including fishing, hiking, riding, and boating.xa0 You can see the summit on a small group excursion that departs from Denver and includes stops at the Garden of the Gods and other local sights.
14. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Park is a convenient day excursion from Denver, and there’s much to do even when there’s no performance scheduled. Visitors can explore the museum and visitor centre, shop for souvenirs, and visit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, while hikers can take the 6-mile (9.6-kilometre) Red Rocks Loop Trail, which offers panoramic views of the performance site in all its magnificence.
To see more of the surrounding Rocky Mountains foothills, take a small-group or private excursion from Denver to Red Rocks Amphitheatre and explore adjacent attractions including Lookout Mountain, Bear Creek Canyon, and Evergreen, a picturesque mountain hamlet. Alternatively, combine your visit to Red Rocks with a city tour of Denver to get a taste of both.
15. Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods, located on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, is a handy and picturesque location for exploring Colorado’s red rock country. It is an Amazing Place in Colorado.
Tour choices include segway, jeep, strolling, and photo tours, as well as guided rock climbing trips. Visitors can extend their visit by taking a jeep tour of the Red Canyon Loop or visiting neighbouring Pikes Peak.
