"Colorado" Colorado by traveldave

Colorado Travel Guide: 5,516 reviews and 11,597 photos

Even though I currently live in West Virginia, Colorado stills holds a special place in my heart. I lived in the state on two different occasions, and I still dream of eventually returning and settling permanently in Colorado.

When I was about three years old, my family moved to Boulder, where we lived for several years. Even after we left to live in Connecticut and then Vermont, I always remembered the beauty of Colorado and wanted to return.

We did return after about a ten-year absence when my father took a new job in Denver. We lived in the city of Arvada, which is a suburb northwest of Denver. I graduated from high school there and later went to college at the University of Colorado at Denver. It was during this time that I really came to love Denver and Colorado. I moved out of the state in 1991, but I try to visit Colorado about every three or four years.

Colorado is characterized by three major geographical areas: the high plains in the eastern half of the state, the Rocky Mountains, and the red-rock desert in the extreme western portion of the state.

Most visitors do not visit the high plains unless driving into Colorado from the east and in fact, there is little of interest to attract tourists to this area.

Most visitors go to Colorado to spend time in the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies provide some of the most spectacular and awesome beauty in the world. Colorado is the loftiest state in the union, with 53 peaks higher than 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). Many people travel to Colorado in the winter to ski at some of the best ski resorts in the world, such as Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin, to name but a few. However, visitors who go to the Rockies in the summer will be rewarded with almost perfect weather and a profusion of colorful wild flowers. In the autumn, the mountains are covered in gold when the aspen leaves turn.

A visit to the red-rock areas of the west can be rewarding as well. Mesa Verde National Park contains the most extensive and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the nation. A visit here will provide a glimpse of life as it was long before the Spanish and Anglos arrived in this part of the world.

Finally, travelers should not visit Colorado without spending some time in Denver. Situated one mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level, the "Mile High City," with 3,050,000 people in the metropolitan area, is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. The Denver area has pleasant weather with over 300 days of sunshine per year--more than such sunny cities as Miami and Los Angeles. A recent renaissance has brought about a vibrant streetlife to the downtown area, with many fashionable shops and boutiques, microbreweries, restaurants, and outdoor cafes. There are other attractions as well, such as the Denver Mint, where coins are minted; Coors Brewery in nearby Golden, where visitors can see beer being brewed (and then sample some of the beer after the tour); a new aquarium; and professional sports teams, such as the Denver Broncos (National Football League), the Denver Nuggets (National Basketball Association), the Colorado Avalanche (National Hockey League), the Colorado Rockies (Major League Baseball), and the Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer).

Last visit to Colorado: Jul 2005
Intro Updated Jul 3, 2012
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Reviews (26)

Longs Peak Things to Do (13)

This is a view of 14,255-foot (4,345-meter) Longs Peak as seen from the Forest Canyon Overlook, located high above... more travel advice

Alpine Tundra Things to Do (13)

Over one-third of Rocky Mountain National Park is above timberline, which is the primary reason the area was set aside... more travel advice

Central City Off The Beaten Path (1)

In 1859, Central City was founded when John Gregory discovered gold at his "Gregory Lode" mine. As a result of the... more travel advice

Coors Field Sports & Outdoors (2)

Home of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies, Coors Field opened in 1995 after Denver was awarded an expansion team.... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Sep 16, 2012

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Map of Colorado

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Comments (40)

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KiKitC Dec 16, 2009 at 3:11 AM

We keep returning to Colorado, and keep being amazed at the beauty. Thanks for sharing pieces I haven't seen...yet. Happy birthday from New Jersey.
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deecat Feb 6, 2008 at 7:42 PM

Central City history sounds fascinating. You've done a super job presenting Colorado...As I've never visited, your tips sure are incentives to go. You've taken wonderful photographs to accompany your fine narration.
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scottishvisitor Dec 2, 2007 at 3:31 AM

I just know I would enjoy all the nature around the mountains here Thanks for the virtual tour & I hope your recent trips went well!
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LoriPori Jan 8, 2007 at 5:38 PM

Hans and I had the pleasure of visiting Boulder, but unfortunately did not visit Denver, so thanks so much for this wonderful virtual tour.
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Nov 20, 2006 at 9:22 AM

Fantastic tips and pics about Rocky Mountain National Park. Dream to come there oneday. I'm fond of mountains, glaciers, wild and severe mauntain flora and fauna... Wonderful page! Thanks, David!
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easyoar Jul 22, 2006 at 12:55 PM

Central City sounds an interesting little place! Like you say, hard to believe nobody died in all that fighting!
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mary2u99 Apr 23, 2006 at 8:45 PM

Rocky Mountains and Grand Canyon is one of my top ten place to visit. Great info and wonderful pictures Dave.
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807Wheaton Nov 9, 2005 at 6:36 PM

Hi David. Thanks for visiting my new London page. Hope you have a great time. Nice stuff on Colorado; my husband's family lives there, so lucky us! We visit often. Marcia
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sim1 Jan 3, 2005 at 2:27 PM

Great page Dave! I only saw a tiny little corner of Colorado, but I would love to go back here. Especially the Rocky Mountains National Park sounds and looks so fantastic! I hope my dream to visit the park will come true some day :-))
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globetrott Dec 11, 2004 at 9:09 AM

excellent infos and wonderful pics ! ...What a great mountain scenery in the Rockies !