Top Things to do in Colorado
Top Hotels in Colorado
- 1. Best Western Plus Peak Vista Inn & Suites
- 2. Grand Hyatt Denver
- 3. Monarch Casino Resort Spa - Black Hawk
- 4. Le Meridien Denver Downtown
- 5. Best Western Plus Executive Residency Fillmore Inn
- 6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Trinidad
- 7. The Oxford Hotel
- 8. Origin Hotel Red Rocks
- 9. SCP Colorado Springs Hotel
- 10. Warwick Denver
What to do and see in Colorado, United States: The Best Free Things to do
Colorado is home to no less than twenty-six ski resorts such as those in Vail and Breckenridge; other winter activities include snowboarding, sledding, sleigh rides, snow hiking and snowmobiling. The state is blessed with national parks, grasslands and forests where in warmer weather you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking or rock climbing. Wildlife abounds, from bears to moose and raccoons to wolverines. More interested in local history? Head for either the Ute Indian Museum or the Koshare Indian Museum, and don't miss the forts such as Fort Garland and Bent's Old Fort. For a complete change, why not take a ride in a hot air balloon from South Park Valley or Boulder and admire Colorado's picturesque landscape from above?
Restaurants in Colorado
1. Grand Mesa
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 720 reviews
The world's largest flat-topped mountain is covered with stream fed lakes.
Reviewed By Flyer668926 - Grand Junction, United States
A gorgeous paradise 45 minutes from Grand Junction..The largest flat plateau in the world with over 200 lakes..The temperature is 25 to 30 degrees cooler in the summer than Grand Junction..Great hiking, horse back riding, fishing and camping.I have been going to this area for 50 years and still love it!
2. Garden of the Gods
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17,122 reviews
Located at the base of Pikes Peak, this National Natural Landmark and popular park features stunning geological formations, rock climbing, nature trails and the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.
Reviewed By BrooklynDodgers13 - Henderson, United States
This is a tourist attraction. It is a lovely natural Red rocked City Park with lots of hiking ???? trails, beautiful rock formations such as the Siamese Twins, Sentinel Spires, the Scotsman, Giant Footprints, Cathedral Spires and of course, Balanced Rock. There are many ways to explore the Park. There are Jeep ???? Tours, you can hike, climb rocks or take the 1909 Trolley ???? like we did. The driver told us a lot of interesting historical facts. The only problem was she didn’t stop for any photos so we had to take them on the go. The Gift Shop was large with lots of merchandise. I purchased Huckleberry tea!
3. San Juan National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 566 reviews
Wilderness area consisting of forested mountains, 14,000-foot peaks, scenic roads, geological formations, prehistoric communities and a narrow-gauge railroad.
Reviewed By 321MarkA - Larkspur, United States
The San Juan National Forest, alone or when combined with the Rio Grand National Forest (to the northeast) and the Uncompahgre (to the northwest), cover a lot of the San Juan Mountain range: very high, very rugged, very old mountains. If you like hiking (Ice Lake, Island Lake, Columbine, Piedra Falls, and more), camping (formal and dispersed), jeeping/ATVing (Alpine Loop, Black Bear, Red Mountain Pass, Ophir Pass, Engineer Pass, Corkscrew Gulch plus many many more) , skiing (Purgatory/Durango Mountain, Telluride, Wolf Creek) , hot springs (Pagosa Springs, Ouray, Ridgeway), native American history (Mesa Verde National Park, canyon of the Ancients) , steam trains (Durango Silverton RR), ghost towns (mining ruins, Animas Forks, Read Mountain mining district, Ironton, Eureka, Mineral Point and many many more), endless vistas and views, lively towns (especially Durango and Pagosa Springs), Old and active mining towns (Silverton and Creed), tubing/ float trips (Durango) and much much more. You can spend weeks in this area and only see a small portion of it. Highly highly recommended vacation spot.
4. Hanging Lake Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,186 reviews
Reviewed By debsA9982ZB
This is a very pleasant surprise when staying in Glenwood Springs CO. The location is an environmental protected area, allowing only specific numbers of visitors. Reservations are needed as bus takes you to the trailhead and from there your adventure begins. The trail winds and switchbacks up the cavern walls, the views are amazing and the quiet is covered by the running brook you criss cross over by small bridges as you ascend. The hike is strenuous at times, recommendation to take your time and breath in experience. Hanging Lake is peaceful, a place to reflect, the short detour to Sprouting Rock is well worth the effort brings a smile and gives a needed cooling spray.
5. Cache La Poudre River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 413 reviews
Colorado's only designated National Wild and Scenic River provides thrilling whitewater and paddling adventures.
Reviewed By pastorvanee
Our family enjoyed a 10.5 mile bike ride in Ft Collins. Our loop began near the beautiful flower gardens on the CSU campus and included other open areas and ovals on the campus before following the RR to catch the Poudre River trail heading east ,downstream. Around our 6-7 mile mark we followed a trail to connect to the Spring Creek trail and followed it back west, upstream to CSU again. What a great scenic and relaxing bike ride! Ft Collins is as "cool and hip" as Boulder and even more beautiful. CSU campus is a beautiful place to see and just be.....soak in the peace and beauty of the stunning gardens and be renewed in the strength and majesty of the magnificent Rocky Mountains!!!
6. New Belgium Brewing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,247 reviews
A 100% employee-owned brewery recently named the nation's best brewery tour by USA Today's 10Best. Full tap selection featuring year-round favorites and small-batch beauties. Free tours (book in advance to claim a spot) and a different food truck every day. Kids welcome, but must be 21+ to sample our delicious beers. Well-behaved dogs on a leash also welcome. Indoor bars, outdoor patio and lawn. Electric vehicle charging available.
Reviewed By Ozefish479 - Los Angeles, United States
The rating is solely for the beer, which is some of the most innovative and highest quality in the USA. They have so many styles you are sure to find one (likely many more) that you love. The bar and outside areas are excellent and sipping a great beer in the winter sun is a highlight of any trip to Fort Collins. Now for the tour, which had been on our bucket list since my son started attending CSU. He was finally 21 so we were good to go. Fear and trepidation entered my heart when the first announcement from the tour guide was that he spoke too fast. I think that’s what he said but he spoke so fast I could only catch every third word. So off we went. The beer samples were great but the information was mostly indecipherable.
7. Flatirons
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,107 reviews
Reviewed By kelshutch - Baltimore, United States
Beautiful area, great for walking. It's a big far/steep for toddler legs, so be prepared to carry little ones. But even if you don't get very far before turning around, the trip to see the park is worthwhile. Great couple of hours of sunshine, fresh air, and hiking for our family.
8. Cottonwood Pass
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By stijntailly - Waregem, Belgium
Just another gorgeous scenic byway in a State that seems to be littered with them. Cottonwood Pass Scenic Drive - its namesake is right on the Continental Divide - cuts from Buena Vista to Almont and offers a more visually pleasant alternative to driving US-50. The entire byway is paved now, contradicting information that I gathered before this trip. The first stretch of the highway passes through Aspen stands and spectacular mountain terrain. The second part of the trip is along the beautiful Taylor River, wich cuts a canyon trough its surrounding bedrock until it becomes the Taylor Park Reservoir. If you take this trip East to West, you'll actually see the reservoir first. There are plenty of hiking options along the way and plenty of vista points to get out of the car and take in the prime scenery too.
9. Telluride Mountain Village Gondola
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,916 reviews
One of the most unique forms of public transportation connects Mountain Village to Telluride offering stunning 360-degree views of the San Juan Mountains that extend as far away as Utah. The gondola, the first and only free public transportation of its kind in the United States opened in 1996 and was initially built to help improve air quality while expanding the ski area. It is entirely free to commuters and sightseers. Since then, it has become a popular attraction for residents and visitors alike, giving them a stunning ride that caps out at 10,540 feet above sea level. Approximately 3 million passenger rides annually – and safely – and more than 50 million passenger trips have been provided since opening day. The gondola operates roughly 287 days each year with routine maintenance scheduled during our shoulder season months. It takes about 12 minutes to get from the Town of Telluride to Mountain Village Village. It takes 3 minutes from Mountain Village Center to Market Plaza.
Reviewed By BestTravelsNow - Hereford, United States
Terrific way to get up and own the mountain for various activities. Whether going mid-mountain for coffee or all the way down for Telluride activities. Stayed at the top at Mountain Lodge and this was a terrific mode of transportation during our weeklong stay. Whether going out for drinks, food or hiking.
10. Mount Elbert
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By Tri_Girl22
We did this on Saturday, Sept 5, 2020. We did the south trail and specifically rented a Jeep four wheel drive to access the upper trailhead. We scouted the trailhead a couple of days in advance and found it was no problem for the Jeep. The trailhead area is small but it does fit about 8 vehicles. We got to the trailhead about 4am and starting hiking 4:15am. People were camped at the trailhead. Using headlamps we worked our way well above the treeline for the sunrise (took about 90 min to get above the trees). They was construction going on and that part was a bit rough with loose rocks, otherwise the trail is hard packed dirt almost all the way up. Many rocks and tree roots in parts, but not a lot of loose scree. I used my Salomon trail runners and they worked great. Used hiking poles, very helpful on the way down, had a day pack with 2 litres of water (husband had 3 litres) and we used 4 litres total of water. Temps were in the high 30's when we left, but since the trails takes you up right away, staying warm wasn't an issue until we got above the trees, where I ended up using my goretex rain coat for wind protection. We saw 3 dogs and a baby on the summit, along with MANY other dogs on the way down. Also many mountain bikers hauling their bikes up when we were descending. Distance was 11.6 miles from south trailhead, elevation gain 4,124 ft and our total time was 7 1/2 hours. it was pretty crowded going down, so I would recommend getting above the trees before sunrise.
