1. Denver
Couples
- Stay: Life House, Lower Highlands
Experience Victorian splendor in a Western-meets-Charlotte-Brontë-romance kind of way. - Morning: The Brown Palace Spa
Have all your aches lightly pummeled during a couple’s massage. - Dinner: Mizuna
The menu is ever changing and offers intimate tastings of things like Tokyo escargot. - Evening: Sunday Vinyl
Reserve a black-marble table and sample from an impressive array of wines.
Families
- Stay: The Curtis Hotel
Book the video-games-themed room and the kids will squeal with delight. - Morning: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Meet Egyptian mummies and glimpse glistening gems. - Mid-Afternoon: Sweet Sweetz
The fam deserves shakes — ice cream blended with a slice of apple pie. - Evening: EscapeWorks Denver
Can you solve the mystery? Your 60 minutes starts now!
Foodies
- Stay: The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block
Gourmands, delight — this place is set above a food hall with delights from burritos to hand-made bucatini. - Morning: Delicious Denver Food Tours
Five mouthwatering tastings later and you’ll have a lock on the city’s cuisine scene. - Lunch: Denver Milk Market
Taste test pillowy bao buns and creamy gelato. - Dinner: Beckon Chef’s-Counter Experience
Catch one of the “2019 Badass Colorado Women to Watch in the Food Industry” working her magic.
Adventurers
- Stay: Halcyon Hotel
The on-site Gear Garage is packed with rental bikes, surfboards, sleds, snowshoes and more. - Morning: Ruby Hill Rail Yard
Featuring 10 rails and boxes for varying skill levels, this wonderland is free — BYO-snowboard. In summer, hit the bike park for sweet jumps, berms, wall rides and more. - Afternoon: Raíces Brewing Company
Sip a Celebración while perusing vendors at Sabados Culturales (Cultural Saturdays). - Evening
Colorado Avalanche: Watch the home team put the biscuit in the basket at the chilly Ball Arena.
Art Lovers
- Stay: the ART, a hotel
See Leo Villareal’s sparkling overhead installation in the porte cochere. - Morning: Museo de Las Americas
Appreciate the museum’s ceramic artifacts from the Inca, Aztec and Maya peoples. - Lunch: Uchi
Have handmade rolls that are artistic creations in their own right. - Afternoon: Denver Art Museum
The Martin Building shows off the museum’s Indigenous Arts of North America collection. Make a dinner reservation for Ponti, named after the famed architect.
Eco-Tip: Guzzle a beer from 14er Brewing: 1 percent of its sales are donated to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
2. Colorado Springs
Couples
- Stay: Glen Eyrie Castle
The European palace-esque rolling grounds are ideal for roaming with your companion. - Morning: The Broadmoor Seven Falls
In summer, the tumbling falls are a mesmerizing delight. In winter, these frozen waters look like clumps of powdered sugar with their dusty covering of snow. - Afternoon: Painting with a Twist
Create a masterpiece together while sipping some full-bodied vino. - Dinner: Shuga’s
Indulge in za’atar-spiced beet dip and an adult juice box (vodka, white-grape juice and sangria).
Families
- Stay: The Mining Exchange
Little ones’ eyes will light up when they spot the old mining company’s massive vault in the lobby. - Morning: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Feed elephants, giraffes or sloths during a special encounter. - Afternoon: The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway
This cherry-colored train is the best way to get to the top of the 14,115-foot mountain. - Dessert: Colorado Sno-Balls
Treat yourselves to a red-velvet sno-ball stuffed with vanilla ice cream.
Foodies
- Stay: The Broadmoor
Not only is this historical hotel beautiful, but its Penrose Room has five AAA diamonds. - Morning: Pikes Peak Summit House
Sure, America’s Mountain offers incredible panoramas, but you’re here for the warm, high-altitude doughnuts. - Dinner: Four by Brother Luck
The head chef was featured on “Top Chef” seasons 15 and 16 — so, run, don’t walk. - Evening: Ivywild School
Visit the Principal’s Office for a Sazerac.
Adventurers
- Stay: RAD Hostel
This basecamp for explorers offers shared and private lodgings with a communal feel that'll help you make new friends. - Morning: Front Range Climbing Company
Hook up with a guide to send craggy climbs with stunning views. Come winter, strap on those crampons and crawl up glistening ice structures. - Afternoon: Colorado Jeep Tours
Bump along mountain roads for insane spectacles of towering peaks and valleys. - Evening: Atrevida Beer Company
Feel magical flavors burst across your tongue with inventive flavors Fresas Con Crema ale.
Art Lovers
- Stay: Kinship Landing
Request a balcony room where a miniature garage door offers inspirational summit views. - Breakfast: The Wild Goose Meeting House
Pick a table near the huge, color-coded bookshelf to snack on your breakfast nachos. - Morning: Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute
Check their calendar for year-round events, like the Chinese New Year Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and more. - Afternoon: Gallery 113
Take in various art styles at this showcase on trendy Tejon Street.
Eco-Tip: Rent a purple PikeRide bike to pedal around downtown.
3. Fort Collins
Couples
- Stay: Edwards House
In-room fireplaces and a cozy porch make this perfectly romantic. - Breakfast: Rainbow Restaurant
Gobble down grilled bananas sitting atop thick slices of house-made pumpkin bread. - Afternoon: JAX Outdoor Gear
Kit your partner out in the warmest outside stuff for the day’s exploits. - Evening: Funkwerks, New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing Co.
Brewery hop the night away — this is Colorado’s craft-beer capital, after all.
Families
- Stay: Remington Flats
The FoCo studio comes with a full kitchen and adorable pig painting (it’s wearing glasses, y’all). - Breakfast: Silver Grill Cafe
The oldest restaurant in NoCo makes its giant cinnamon rolls fresh daily. - Afternoon: Colorado Carriage and Wagon
Old Town inspired Disneyland’s Main Street. Prearrange a horse-drawn carriage to spot the similarities. - Dessert: Retreat Bakery Bar
An afternoon pick-me-up of lattes and cake slices might just be necessary.
Foodies
- Stay: The Armstrong Hotel
How many hotels can you stay at with in-house butcher shops? - Morning: Little Bird Bakeshop
Gorge on baked oatmeal and Irish-cheddar toast. - Afternoon: The Teaching Kitchen at Ginger and Baker
Master how to make pasta from scratch on a lazy afternoon. - Dinner: The Exchange
This food hall, with a giant milk-churn ice-cream shop, will complete your trip.
Adventurers
- Stay: Fernweh Inn & Hostel's airbnb apartment
This spacious apartment with access to the Fernweh us the ultimate home base. - Morning: Akinz
Pick up handmade beanies for the outdoorsy folks back home at this local boutique. - Afternoon: Lory State Park
Rent cross-country skis or kayaks from a local outfitter and make your way across breathtaking scenery until dusk. - Drinks: Intersect Brewing
Before turning in, have a Girl You Know It’s True pineapple-raspberry hard seltzer.
Art Lovers
- Stay: The Elizabeth Hotel
Herringbone floors and a sweeping staircase meant for drama make the Elizabeth a work of art. - Morning: Museum of Art Fort Collins
Peruse cool exhibits — from inflatable contemporary art to studies on textile movements — at this cozy museum. - Afternoon: Fort Collins Mural Project
More than 30 vivid designs decorate the city’s nooks and crannies. - Evening: Jessup Farm Artisan Village
Stop by this old farmstead turned creator-and-maker space.
Eco-Tip: Get ahead of the disposable plastic-bag ban with reusable totes from Kansas City Kitty.
4. Boulder
Couples
- Stay: St. Julien Hotel & Spa
Choose the mini-moon package, which comes with a chilled bottle of Champagne. - Morning: Realization Point
Profess your love for one another on this trail with vistas of Boulder. - Afternoon: Piece, Love & Chocolate
Hand-craft truffles for your person with your person. - Dinner: Black Cat
Arrange a romantic cabana for a literal farm-to-table meal.
Families
- Stay: Basecamp Boulder
Four twin beds are sunk into the turf-covered ground in the Great Indoors camping-themed room. - Morning: Scott Carpenter Park
Grab a sled and rip down this steep hill in winter, giggling all the way. No snow? No problem. This is also an amazing kite-flying park. - Lunch: Avanti F&B
After an excitement-filled morning, tuck into New York-style pizza and mini-burgers for the kiddos. - Afternoon: Museum of Boulder
Play music by touching colors and build your own robots at the Google Garage.
Foodies
- Stay: Hotel Boulderado
In the historic foyer of this grand-dame hotel, you’ll find decadent prime-rib hash at Spruce Farm & Fish. - Morning: Food Lab
Learn how to cook like Julia Child at this community kitchen. - Dinner: Frasca Food and Wine
Consume refined northern Italian goodies like tagliatelle with asparagus and burrata. - Drinks: The Bitter Bar
This is potentially Boulder’s coolest bar with a great happy hour — $7.50 drinks, anyone?
Adventurers
- Stay: A-Lodge
Let the adventure concierge do all the work while you enjoy the Sunset Cabin. - Breakfast: Thrive
Begin bright and early with an energy-filled berry baobab smoothie. - Morning: Caribou Ranch Open Space
Lush, shaded trails are perfect for summer morning hikes past mining relics. In winter, rent snowshoes from Crystal Ski Shop and traverse the vast area in winter. - Afternoon: Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides Custom Adventure
This takes some advance planning, but experienced local guides will curate your dream outing — whether that's fishing, mountain biking or skiing.
Art Lovers
- Stay: Mary H. Galey Cottage at Chautauqua
Marble countertops, hexagon-tile floors and antique furniture make a stay here extra pretty. - Morning: Street Wise Boulder murals
These 35 flamboyant artworks are meant for your Instagram feed. - Afternoon: Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Constantly changing exhibits make docent-led tours different each time you visit. - Evening: 1000 Voices Project
Listen to African songs at one of these harmonious performances.
Eco-Tip: Finished with your tea bag? Throw it in a compost bin along Pearl Street Mall.
5. Aurora
Couples
- Stay: Woolley’s Classic Suites
Hang onto a glass of bubbly while you soak in the VIP suite’s marble tub. - Morning: Cherry Creek State Park 12 Mile Stables
Thunder across 27 miles of trails on horses like you’re on the set of “Bridgerton.” - Lunch: Pupusas Paradise
Split a plate of massive bean-and-cheese pupusas followed by plantain empanadas. - Evening: Stanley Marketplace
This bygone aviation warehouse boasts a Pilates studio, taco stand and more.
Families
- Stay: Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Hop in an ice-bumper car or on the snow merry-go-round at this massive resort ... or hit the lazy river at the on-site water park. - Breakfast: Cuba Bakery & Cafe
Vacation mornings call for Aurora’s best guava-and-cheese pastries. - Morning: Star K Ranch
Kiddos will love meeting the resident bull snake and box turtle. - Afternoon: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Head to the nearby wildlife refuge for a flat and easy hike where you can spot bison and cool wildlife exhibits.
Foodies
- Stay: The Westin Denver International Airport
A meal at on-site, farm-to-fork restaurant Grill & Vine is worth the stay. - Morning: Denver Biscuit Company
Flaky biscuits doused in thick, white gravy are a must-have breakfast. - Dinner: Annette
Dine on delights curated by a James Beard award-winning chef. - Drinks: Lady Justice Brewing Company
Get a flight of feminist-themed beers like Sandra Day IPA and I Dissent dark ale.
Adventurers
- Stay: Tru by Hilton Denver Airport Tower Road
Roast marshmallows with a Rocky Mountain backdrop before heading to bed. - Morning: Aurora Reservoir
Perfect for fishing year-round, Carve out a hole in the ice or make your cast to catch somethin’ good. - Afternoon: Übergrippen Indoor Climbing Crag (nearby in Denver)
Sky-high climbing walls are dotted with rainbow holds meant for all capabilities. - Dinner: Maandeeq Restaurant & Cafe
Sample tender halal goat with flavorful basmati rice and discs of chapati.
Art Lovers
- Stay: Aloft Denver Airport at Gateway Park
Head for the lobby bedecked in graffiti-art pillows and over-the-top patterns. - Morning: Aurora Cultural Arts District murals
A dozen eye-catching works line Colfax Avenue’s walls. - Dinner: The Madras Cafe
Light up your palate with authentic vegetarian South Indian fare. - Evening: Aurora Fox
Catch a play at a theater whose productions are part of the cultural and social conversation.
Eco-Tip: Refill your favorite household products at Zero Market in Stanley Marketplace.