All Trips

By Kyle Wagner Published February 27th 2009

The splendor is echoed in high- end lodgings, and the sumptuousness carries over to the large percentage of upscale restaurants, chichi shops and the fact that everything looks like it was just cleaned by elves. But look beyond the ever-twinkling tree lights and the World Cup accolades, and this is one groovy spot where families are welcome and real people hang.

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By The Denver Post First Published August 4th 2008 Last Updated: August 3rd # of days to devote: 1

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By The Denver Post First Published July 14th 2008 Last Updated: July 8th

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By Dana Coffield Published June 23rd 2008 # of days to devote: 1

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 28th 2008 Last Updated: June 3rd # of days to devote: 1

Only an hour's drive from Denver, Summit County offers a plethora of activities, from the outdoor pursuits of hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, climbing and golfing to indoor ones such as shopping at the outlets in Silverthorne. Meanwhile, Breckenridge is a family-oriented mountain town that's also popular with the younger set, and so has a vibrant nightlife and more youthful feel. Another of Colorado's former mining towns, "Breck," as the locals call it, is the oldest continuously occupied town on the Western slope, and its still-standing historic core makes for a nice stroll into the past.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 27th 2008 Last Updated: May 23rd # of days to devote: 2-3

Remote and possessing a unique atmosphere that is at once casual and glamorous, Telluride has a colorful mining and Old West past that mixes wonderfully with its current status as a celeb magnet and popular ski resort and mountain biking mecca. The town hosts so many summer festivals &emdash; the most famous of which are probably the Bluegrass and the Film &emdash; that its nickname is "Festival City" and it makes fun of itself by hosting an annual Nothing Festival.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 23rd # of days to devote: 2-3

They are in constant flux, and if the wind is right, change before your very eyes, these sometimes 750-foot-high sand dunes located along the west side of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area. You can hike up onto the dunes, and even snowboard them, and the birding in the area is fantastic. Stop by the Visitor's Center to get a map of the dunes; High Dune is considered to be the best overall for views. Be sure to carry water, as temps can make the dunes themselves even hotter. Unless you camp, there is nowhere to stay inside the park; Alamosa is 35 mi southwest of the park via U.S. 160 and Colorado 150.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 2-3

In 1880, the Denver & Rio Grand Railway put Durango on the map, and the town has been associated with the railroad ever since. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad continues to thrill train fans with its daily runs, and all around the area can be found references to the area's railroading and mining history. But there's much more to Durango: it's a mountain biking and hiking mecca, offers plenty of fishing, climbing, golfing and other outdoor activities, and there's shopping and dining galore.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 2-3

Mount Crested Butte watches over the tree-lined town of the same name, widely acknowledged to be the birthplace of mountain biking, with a museum dedicated to the sport and plenty of places to practice it leaving right from the town's core. Laidback and known for its eateries and shops that celebrate the area's bounteous wildflower and wild mushroom crops, the town is famously friendly and likely to be celebrating something with a festival.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: June 25th # of days to devote: 2-3

In the shadow of Mount Sopris and situated at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, Carbondale and Basalt have long been considered the more easygoing, less expensive alternative to Aspen. With their gourmet eateries and local arts scenes, the increasingly hip towns have a happening vibe that make them popular with the under-40 crowd and families. Redstone has a castle, achingly beautiful cliffs and its own vibrant arts community as its draws, and a historic quarry gave the tiny town of Marble, where antiques shops and cafes sit near Beaver Lake, its name.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 27th # of days to devote: 2-3

Think glitzy, glamorous Colorado and think Aspen, the small town with the big appetite for all that is fancy and expensive. But to dismiss this popular resort area as little more than a playground for the rich and famous would be to miss out on one of the state's most beautiful old mining towns, rich in history, as evidenced by some of its beautifully preserved buildings, and lush with scenery, from wildflower-studded meadows to its world-famous Maroon Bells.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 2-3

The hot springs are among the many attractions of this scenic town, which sits somewhat more isolated from the other resort areas and thus appeals to folks looking for a less commercial and more rural setting. The drive itself is a draw, a mountainous route over several passes that run by large stands of aspen and wide-open, wildflower-covered meadows.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 2-3

With quite a few 14,000-foot peaks (Colorado's famous "14ers") in the Collegiate mountain range north — many of them named for famous universities — and the Sangre de Cristos south as its welcoming backdrops and the Arkansas River running through it, Salida is an ideal stop for outdoors enthusiasts. But this culturally hip town also attracts the arts community, with a plethora of galleries and shops focused on locally made crafts.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 1

A former silver mining town, Georgetown has maintained its sense of history through the upkeep of its original buildings and the popularity of the 1920s narrow-gauge steam train that continues to attract fans who ride the six-mile loop between the town and Silver Plume. Charming shops and a laid back feel make it a relaxing place to stop and meander.

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By Kyle Wagner First Published April 26th 2008 Last Updated: May 21st # of days to devote: 1

Pan for gold at the Phoenix Gold Mine and check out the Victorian buildings on Miner Street that remain intact even after 149 years in this gold rush town that now points visitors toward its relaxing hot springs as a way to pass the time and serves as a stopping point for folks on their way to try their fortunes in the equally uncertain gambling venues of Central City and Blackhawk.

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By Joe Murphy First Published March 24th 2010 Last Updated: May 8th

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