There may still be snow on the ground, but the warm weather is just around the corner! Here in Colorado, we’re used to seeing massive weather swings from sunny to snowy, so we start thinking about summer destinations early in the year.
Colorado has a huge number of great places to visit and things to do, but here are 5 pretty awesome options if you are considering a visit.
Buena Vista, CO (Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking)
You may not find Buena Vista on a lot of lists of top places to visit in CO, but that’s actually a good thing. It means less tourists. The town itself sits on the banks of the Arkansas River in the high plains of the Rocky Mountains.
Surrounded by 14ers, the town offers incredible hiking and mountain biking. The Arkansas River offers a fantastic variation of whitewater sections. There are literally options for every level of rafter or kayaker. Including nice float trips on tame sections, extremely challenging class IV and V sections to the north of town, and a variety of intermediate class III and IV sections in the middle.
It’s no surprise that there are tons of options when it comes to finding a rafting or river guide company. They'll help you make the most of the river for either a few hours or even a few days.
The town itself has also been growing and adding amenities. Such as a newer area near the river with a boutique hotel, restaurants, shops, and tons of vacation rentals. Be prepared for some debate on how to pronounce Buena Vista, as well. Locals prefer “B-you-na” Vista.
Steamboat Springs (Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park Festival)
During the winter, Steamboat Springs is one of the most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations that's sort of off the beaten path. But, when the snow melts, this wild west mountain town comes alive with summer activities.
From mountain biking, fly fishing, inner tubing or rafting on the Yampa River, and endless hiking trails, you will find a huge variety of activities. But, if you happen to come in late June/early July, you can also attend the annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park Festival. It boasts an incredible display of colorful hot air balloons, 50 or more artist vendors, live entertainment, fantastic food and drink options, and plenty of fun activities for the kids.
Steamboat Springs is also a true mountain town, rather than just a tourist town, so there is plenty of history and real old west charm to be found.
Durango (Ride the Rails)
Another true mountain town with a wealth of outdoor activities is Durango. Located toward the south end of Colorado, it is nestled in the mountains and sits on the banks of the Animas River.
The river provides some of the best kayaking in the state. You can literally walk directly from town onto one of a huge number of hiking or mountain biking trails. But, one of the major attractions is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
This steam train was built specifically to handle the narrow mountain routes. It chugs along at 18 miles per hour as it climbs the picturesque mountain passes between Durango and Silverton. It’s a great way to see the mountains and enjoy both mountain towns if you book a round trip tour.
Durango itself is basically one big historic district. The town offers a wide variety of historic buildings to visit.
It also happens to be the home to a bunch of great restaurants, microbreweries, and even a couple of distilleries. It’s another true old west mountain town, but with plenty to keep the modern crowd occupied and entertained.
Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National Park)
Estes Park boasts two huge attractions for locals and tourists alike.
First, the town sits at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park. It's literally one of the most incredible parks in the entire country. It offers incredible views, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, camping, and so much more.
Watch out for close encounters with wildlife like elk, black bears, bighorn sheep, moose, and mule deer, among others. Estes Park is also the home to the famous Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. It’s a fun place to stay or take a ghost tour.
Downtown Estes Park also offers plenty of restaurants, shops, and hotels to help make your stay fun and memorable.
Mesa Verde National Park
Last on our list is the unique Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado. The park includes over 4,000 archeological sites dating back to 550 A.D. It has an amazing variety of incredibly well-preserved ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.
The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum has a variety of exhibits on the ancient Native American culture, but perhaps the most amazing part of the park experience is the option to actually descend into several of the dwellings.
There are several park ranger-assisted tours of archaeological sites like Long House and Cliff House, among others. These hikes can be strenuous, involving ladders or roughly cut stairs into the faces of the cliffs, but offer a true up-close-and-personal view of the sites themselves.
If you aren’t up for the site tours (which aren’t for everyone, especially if you have a fear of heights) there are plenty of hiking trails throughout the park offering incredible views of the dwellings themselves.
