Fort Morgan

This town really swings — especially if you're a Glenn Miller fan. The famous band leader spent his high-school years in this farm-ranch community on the eastern plains of Colorado.

Fort Morgan, which lies on the old Overland Trail, offers a good look at the agricultural history of the state. There's the Fort Morgan Museum, which tracks the area's history from the Pawnee and other Plains Indians to the settlement by farmers and ranchers who found the plains good for grazing and raising wheat. There's also the US Military Historical Museum, featuring items from every American war, open only by appointment (call 970-867-5520).

From town, take the Pioneer Trail Scenic and Historic Byway north to the Pawnee Buttes, which were the setting in James Michener's classic novel of Colorado, Centennial. Hike the trails of Pawnee National Grassland and marvel at the wide open spaces. Bring your fishing pole and try your luck at Jackson Lake State Park.

If you're a bridge buff, be sure to stop and admire the Rainbow Arch Bridge just north of town. It's a rare example of this style of bridge architecture, and spans the Platte River.