We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. With days of sunshine annually, four national parks, 28 ski resorts, and over breweries, you can craft a tailor-made itinerary for families, couples, or friend groups chasing all manner of holiday escapades. Next up, book a night or two inside Mesa Verde National Park. The back-to-basics wooden cabins have an American summer sleep-away camp feel to them, and we even spotted some wild horses after sunset.
For more incredibly well-preserved evidence of Native American cultures, explore Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is filled with over 8, archeological sites. And even if you just make a pit-stop while driving, pull over at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for dizzyingly-high ravine views. My legs were actually shaking - the Painted Wall is twice as high as the Eiffel Tower, gulp.
One of my top trip highlights was taking the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge railroad journey from charming Silverton to Durango. The s train has clear-roof cars so you can soak up the sun, sip on a local craft beer from the bar cart, and take in the film-set views of the Animas River rolling through the San Juan National Forest. Seriously, I felt like an outlaw cowboy winding through the steep cliff drops; and it was perfect for a peaceful rest period in between hike days.
In the summer, you can raft many of the rivers with a guide as well. The Mile-High City is nicknamed as such for its height above sea level, but some folks might give you a wink when referring to the name, because of the legal access to marijuana there. Make sure to do your research on all the rules and regs first, though. Fuel up with a proper American diner breakfast at Snooze , then set out on a guided graffiti tour of the RiNo Art District with its conversation-starting political murals.
Spend the afternoon at the impressive Denver Art Museum , browsing everything from Monets to modern art pieces. Before dinner, stroll down the charming Dairy Block for an al fresco aperitif. The city is home to six professional league sports teams from American football to basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, so why not cheer on the Broncos or catch a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field?
