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Hello !
It's time to start planning the ultimate Colorado summer vacation. Come watch the sun as it sets over the breathtaking Rockies, reconnect with your family while rafting on one of our many rippling rivers, uncover the past while camping and exploring our 10 national parks and monuments, or rekindle the flame with your sweetheart during a relaxing weekend in Colorado's wine country. Now it's easier than ever to experience Colorado's deep-rooted history, its ample natural beauty, its exciting urban scene as well as its quaint small-town life with our helpful trip-planning tools. Uncover hundreds of inspiring vacation deals and take advantage of this season's hot deals to make a well-deserved vacation a reality in Colorado.
We look forward to seeing you in Colorado soon.
"Top 10 Dream Town" by Sunset Magazine
The rest must be a nightmare! Pure & Simple Colorado Value Vacations are online now! E.g. Build Your Own Mountain Vacation $199+: 3 night/2 activities. |
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A Colorado Summer Escape
In the spring and summer, Colorado transforms from a winter wonderland to a vivid palette of color, showcasing everything from fields of wildflowers to the majestic mountain peaks that inspired “America the Beautiful.” Across Colorado, exciting summer vacation opportunities abound, including popular adventure activities, such as biking, paragliding and whitewater rafting; recreational pursuits, including golf and fishing; and much more.
• Pedal Through the Petals. Colorado offers some of the best mountain biking around, and across the state visitors will find trails winding along colorful fields of wildflowers, scenic road treks, as well as more advanced terrain.
• Adventure in the Water and the Sky. This spring and summer, the runoff from Colorado’s snowfall will result in fantastic whitewater rafting throughout the state’s many rivers. You can leisurely drift along calm waterways or traverse heart-pounding class IV, V or VI (expert) rapids. Outfitters throughout the state offer rafting excursions ranging from one-day to multi-day trips. Adventure-seekers wishing for a bird’s-eye view of the state can enjoy a paragliding experience that is second to none, while gliding high above scenic landscapes. Or, try hot-air ballooning over Colorado’s beautiful countryside and ziplining through the state’s pristine forests.
• Get Hooked on Colorado’s Recreational Sports. Colorado offers top golf and fishing opportunities. The state boasts outstanding golf almost every day of the year on more than 300 golf courses. The summer season offers sunny days, spectacular views, low humidity and cooler temperatures – especially in the mountains. Plus, the high-altitude environment helps drives fly farther. Anglers will enjoy Colorado’s wide variety of fishing areas, including 8,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 2,000 lakes. More than 35 species of both warm- and cold-water fish can be found throughout the state. Whether you’re fishing for rainbow trout in a cool Rocky Mountain stream or walleye on a sunny plains reservoir, Colorado fishing is first-rate and can be enjoyed by both beginners and advanced anglers alike. For more information, ideas and great travel deals, visit www.colorado.com/recreation.
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Colorado: Cultural Capital
Colorado has a cultural vibe all its own. From an outstanding collection of nationally acclaimed art museums and performance halls, to touted food, film and music festivals and one-of-a-kind historic celebrations and venues, Colorado’s art scene and cultural attractions offer a multitude of experiences. Below are just a few ideas:
A Medley of Museums: In Colorado’s museums, art is housed within art. The Denver Art Museum’s Frederic C. Hamilton wing, designed by celebrated architect Daniel Liebskind, houses an outstanding collection of contemporary fine art, American Western art and African art. Head south to Colorado Springs and experience the Fine Arts Center which features works by famed artists such as Georgia O’Keefe. FAC Modern, The Fine Arts Center’s satellite venue downtown, includes pieces from renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and original pieces from Pablo Picasso. The Aspen Art Museum is a globally preeminent non-collecting institution that presents the newest, most important evolutions in international contemporary art. And, the Smithsonian Institution has created an extensive Paleo-Indian exhibit at the Wray Museum in northeast Colorado, and is one of the only permanent Smithsonian exhibits outside of Washington D.C.
Art in Unexpected Places: Colorado is full of artist communities, including some very exciting, lesser-known towns. Loveland, which is located about one hour north of Denver, is home to the state’s first Art in Public Places program. In Delta County, Paonia has emerged as a great place for the performing arts and music. And, in recent years, Salida has developed a healthy gallery scene.
High Altitude Performances: Theatre and dance thrive in Colorado. Denver boasts the region’s largest resident professional theatre company, the Denver Center Theatre Company, which performs throughout the year at the celebrated Denver Center for Performing Arts. Proclaimed as one of the “10 best places to see the lights off Broadway” by USA Today, the Creede Repertory Theater in Creede presents a variety of performances throughout the summer and fall. The Colorado Ballet brings outstanding classical ballet performances to the state. And, amid the splendor of the Colorado Rockies, the Vail International Dance Festival is heralded as one of the world’s most treasured summer dance events.
The Rockies are Alive with the Sound of Music: Colorado is home to a number of celebrated music venues. Rock ‘n’ roll fans will enjoy a special experience at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Major music acts such as U2, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band and Sting have all graced the stage with unforgettable performances. The Central City Opera House in Central City is home to the nation’s fifth-oldest opera company, and the remodeled Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver is receiving national attention for its performances. Colorado’s spectacular summer season brings the state’s majestic mountains to life with a variety of music festivals. For a two-month celebration of primarily classical music, the Aspen Music Festival & School attracts some of the most prestigious musicians in the world. Promising students also play, practice and learn from musical masters at the festival. The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is considered one of the top in the country, and the Crested Butte Music Festival provides listeners with an eclectic musical menu in a laid-back mountain atmosphere.
For more information on Colorado’s cultural scene, visit www.colorado.com/artsandentertainment.
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Discover Colorado’s National Parks, Public Lands and Wildlife
Colorado is famous for its gorgeous landscapes and wide-open spaces. In fact, Colorado is home to four National Parks, six National Monuments, 42 State Parks, 15 National Forests and Grasslands, 231 State Wildlife Areas and seven National Wildlife Refugees. Put this all together and it adds up to a one-of-a-kind vacation experience full of adventure, history and memories in Colorado’s beautiful outdoors.
Go Jurassic in Dinosaur, Colorado at the Dinosaur National Monument, where you can explore land once roamed by dinosaurs. The Colorado National Monument in Fruita preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West and is a gateway to the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway. Prehistoric rock art is found along this route, as are many dinosaur excavation sites. Sheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful rock formations, bighorn sheep and soaring eagles can be spotted along this route.
In Cortez, learn about the lives of Ancestral Puebloan people who made this area their home at Mesa Verde National Park, a world heritage site. Today, the park boasts more than 4,000 archeological sites. Leading national media outlets have named the exceptional Mesa Verde National Park as the number-one historic monument in the world and one of the 50 places of a lifetime to visit.
Feel as if you’ve been transported to another land at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Alamosa. There's nowhere else in the United States where mountains of sand stand higher. The tallest dune towers 750 feet high, at an elevation of 8,700 feet above sea level. The entire dune field itself encompasses 30 square miles. Aside from the dunes, you'll find abundant hiking opportunities, sandboarding (snowboarding on the sand dunes), a great four-wheel-driving trail along the challenging Medano Pass and excellent camping.
All of Colorado’s National Parks provide visitors with exceptional bird and wildlife watching opportunities. Go for a hike and check out the bighorn sheep, elk, moose and marmots at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Speaking of cool Colorado wildlife, here are a few more great places to “get to know the locals.” Bird watchers will love exploring Bonny Lake State Park/The South Republican State Wildlife Area. Here you can catch a glimpse of 287 species not often found in Colorado. Near the Wagonwheel Campground, songbirds in woodlands are heard providing melodies through the trees. At the water’s edge, white pelicans and wading birds fish for their next meal. In the spring and summer, the area provides great opportunities for viewing newly hatched wood ducklings. Or, try the Pueblo Reservoir, site of both Lake Pueblo State Park and Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Bike along the park’s 21-mile path and watch for great blue herons and kingfishers angling for a meal. Ospreys, large raptor birds, are visible in spring and fall at the reservoir, and bald eagles can be seen in the winter.
For more information on Colorado’s open spaces and great wildlife viewing opportunities, visit www.colorado.com/naturalbeauty.
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Featured Event
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival (Vail) July 1-August 4, 2009: Celebrating 22 years in the Vail Valley, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival is a hallmark cultural attraction in Colorado. The six-week festival touts the highest-quality classical musicians in the world, bringing in three venerable ensembles, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. The summer festival includes intimate chamber music performances, lively jazz concerts and inspiring classics. This year, the Festival will feature 40 acclaimed soloists and chamber musicians, including world-renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, violinist Gil Shaham and pianists Yuja Wang, Orli Shaham and Garick Ohlsson. With more than 60 events spanning the month-long celebration, there is something for everybody. Pack a picnic and enjoy the concerts from the lawn or purchase reserved seating. www.vailmusicfestival.org
For more information on events and festivals happening across the state, visit http://www.colorado.com/DoEventsAndFestivals.
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TRIP GIVEAWAYS 
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In Vail, An Epic Summer Family Adventure Awaits.
Vail Resorts is introducing Epic Summer: three- and six-night all-inclusive family vacation adventure packages in Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek. Embark on locally guided family adventure experiences, including whitewater rafting, horseback riding, gondola rides, family-friendly naturalist hikes, mountaintop picnics, a gold mine tour, gold panning, a Wild West cowboy campfire dinner - complete with wagon rides and storytelling - and more. All meals are included and carefully planned to reflect the character and flavor of the Rocky Mountain West. Both itineraries include experienced guides, accommodations in nicely appointed condominiums or lodge rooms, all activities, transportation to and from all activities, ground transfers to and from Denver International Airport and all meals. Recommended for children ages 6 and older. Booking starts on April 1 for travel from June 26 through September 6, 2009. 888-538-EPIC (3742); www.epicsummer.com
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Hot Air and Cool Water.
Windracker Balloon Adventures and Mountain Whitewater Descents have teamed up to create a vacation experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Start with an early morning, scenic ride in the sky and experience complete serenity with Windracker Balloon Adventures as they take you on a hot-air balloon ride, which includes a Champagne toast. Then embark on a half-day AM Plunge rafting trip and spend the morning riding the rapids. Price is just $270 per person. 888-855-8874.
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A Gem of a Good Time at the Ruby.
The Ruby of Crested Butte, the newest and most posh bed and breakfast in Crested Butte, is offering a “Butterflies, Tots and Forget-Me-Nots” family vacation package for less than $80 per person, per night for a family of four. The nearby Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory offers a Kids Nature Camp in June and July, allowing kids to learn about their fascinating natural world through exploration of meadows, forests and mountains. Games, hikes, crafts and scavenger hunts make learning easy and fun in this spectacular mountain town. The package includes daily breakfast and a half-day Kids Nature Camp Program (based on program dates and availability). 800-390-1338; www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
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