Colorado Vacation

As you enter Colorado, quaint mountains treat your eyes with breathtaking scenery. Colorado isn't merely a favorite world-class skiing spot; it has much more to offer. Tourists throng Colorado during the year, especially in summer to be part of joyful atmosphere filled with enticing list of activities.

Family vacationers, honeymooners, adventure lovers, cultural tourists or those who wish to savor peace and tranquility, leaving Colorado after a wonderful vacation can be really sad. This land of cowboys and Indians promises unlimited fun for all. Use our comprehensive guide; take a look at the diverse attractions. Plan your vacation to Colorado.

Travel to Colorado

Colorado is located in southwestern United States of America. Named after the Colorado River, the word Colorado has its origin in the Spanish language. When translated it literally means 'color red', denoting the reddish-brown color of the river or presumably the red sandstone formations in the area. The state has lines of latitudes and longitudes as borders. Mountains in the Central and Western parts of the state surround Colorado with over 100,000 square miles of land. A canyon, plateaus, mesas, rolling hills and fertile farmland - Colorado is diversity personified.

Most tourists fly into Denver International Airport or Colorado Springs Airport. Tourists come by car, train or bus too. Union Station in Denver is the nearest rail station. Cars are best suited for inland exploration. Colorado boasts of number of springs. Relaxing in the naturally hot water has always been a big draw for the tourists. Bring along swimsuit, towels, and sunscreen to pamper your skin, not to forget the mosquito repellents especially in the summer months. With a host of hotels, motels, inns, individual retreats and resorts, finding accommodation in Colorado that suit your needs and budget is never difficult.

Colorado vacation

Colorado is a year-round vacation destination; the state has perfect weather all the time. Summer, spring, fall or snowy-winter, Colorado's weather makes for adventure, relaxation and serene relaxation evenly spread across the whole year. However, Colorado brims with tourists from July 4 through Labor Day - that time of the year when all the roads, attractions and museums are open.

This will be the ideal time for those who want to see the state's parks and indulge in scenic wonders like mountain hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, golf and kayaking. The winter season between December and March is cold. Winter snowstorms are quite common. The mountains entirely covered with a thick blanket of snow are ideal for winter sports and attract numerous skiers, snowboarders and snowmobiles in and around Colorado.

Colorado vacation guide

Rocky Mountain National Park: Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Moraine Park, Longs Peak and Timber Creek are the five camping facilities at Rocky Mountain National Park. The marked difference in the park as the elevation changes promises highly unique hiking experience. It's a hiking excursion amidst an array of exotic varieties of plants and flowers. Reservations for summer camping in Moraine Park and Glacier Basin are accepted in early January every year. Make early reservations for weekend getaways.

Pikes Peak is a mountain in the front range of Rocky Mountains. Pikes Peak is 10 miles west of Colorado Springs and 60 miles south of Denver, Colorado. The 14,000-foot peak amidst the alpine environment is a favorite hiking destination. Other attractions include whitewater rafting or the old west, mountain biking, trails, car racing, shopping in the gift shop and dining in the restaurant on the summit of the peak. Apart from outdoor attractions, the El Pomar Great Hall and Pikes Peak Center let you savor music and drama atop the hill. Performances include symphony, opera, musical theatre, drama, rock, country, variety and ballet.

Garden of Gods is a free city park in Colorado Springs. The garden is abundant in plant life and wild life. It is a spectacular view to watch the garden glow as the first rays of the sun fall on it. You can take a magnificent view of Pikes Peak from here and take in the red sandstone rock formations that are over 300 years old. A trip to Colorado Springs is incomplete without a stop at the Garden of the Gods. Hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and photography in the region are major attractions. Don't miss the balanced rock, a huge rock balancing on small layer of mud.

Denver Art Museum located in the capital city of Colorado Denver is home to priceless collections. The 55,000 works of art includes American Indian art, pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial art, as well as sculptures, paintings and other art works from around the world. The new design of the museum is by itself an internationally significant work of architecture. The museum is closed on Mondays and holidays; selected areas are open late on Wednesdays.

Denver Zoo spread across 80-acres is one of Colorado's most popular zoos. The zoo is open all days in the year, including Christmas. The Denver Zoo is home to 4,000 creatures including 155 endangered species. Conservation and environmental education is the motto of the zoo, which hosts 1.7 million visitors every year. Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited at the Denver Zoo.

Historic ghost towns of Colorado provide insight into the past. One can see restored mining gallows and ruins where once upon a time gold and silver discoveries were made. The historic mines show the crystals and caverns left behind from early mining activities. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado is yet another major tourist attraction. It is an institution for undergraduate officers who will be part of the US air force. The modern 18,000 acres sprawling campus consists of the Academy, Falcon Stadium, a chapel and Arnold Hall and a museum honoring Air Force personnel. The chapel that is 27-spired is considered a standing example of modern American Academic architecture.

You can catch snowmobiling, ice skating, sleigh rides, cross country skiing and hiking in the picturesque locales around Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain. You can sample innovative cuisine at Denver's many restaurants, shop at Cherry Creek or catch a concert or program at the second largest performing acts center in the US.

Whilst at Rocky Mountain, don't miss a trip to Silverthorne. The Butterfly Pavilion, the first stand-alone insect zoo in the US is spread over 16,000 sq. feet and houses specimens from scorpions and black widows to centipedes and giant African millipedes.