5 things to do purely in Colorado

If you’re traveling to the state of Colorado for the first time and don’t want to spend hours trying to find the most fun things to do, here are five essential things you can focus on that are hard to duplicate in any other state. . Many of these activities don’t involve long lines or a lot of people, and they don’t have to cost a lot.

Visit a brewery

Move over Milwaukee and St. Louis, we are talking about small breweries located throughout the state of Colorado. You could make brewpubs your reason to visit and scour the state in search of the perfect beer or try attending Denver’s October beer festival, which sells out quickly each year. This is a great, relaxing way to see Colorado. Just don’t spend all your time indoors.

See Dinosaur Footprints or Bones

Many of the dinosaur skeletons you see in museums around the world originated in Colorado. Whether you go to the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver or the National Dinosaur Monument in the northwest corner of the state or see the 1,300 footprints in Picketwire Canyonlands south of La Junta, you can design your visit based on dinosaurs alone. There are also footprints west of Denver along Dinosaur Ridge. This is an experience that few other states can claim.

Spend time in the mountains

Find an outdoor music festival, local art, and a chili grill, 4WD over Engineer Pass for spectacular views of mountains and wildflowers, hike to waterfalls, hot air balloon ride, fish, kayak or raft, mountain bike down a mountain used for winter skiing, skiing, climbing a Fourteener or a sand dune. There is no better way to soak up the summer sun and appreciate the deep blue skies and puffy white clouds than to spend a day in the mountains. Don’t screw things up by forgetting your sunscreen, sunglasses, a rain cover, and lots of water. Even a drive up to Pikes Peak or Mount Evans is a great way to spend the day and see wildlife without wasting all your oxygen.

Do something western

Visit a ghost town, gold mine, take a ride on the Durango and Silverton steam train, go to a tourist ranch, visit Anasazi villages carved into the cliffs, see bison near Denver, taste authentic Mexican food, French fries Fresh and spicy salsa, visit Pawnee Buttes in tall shoes to protect yourself from rattlesnakes, go on a rodeo and enjoy lamb hunting, see the Red Rocks Amphitheater or the Red Rocks at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Just don’t try to do all of these things in one day. Colorado is the eighth largest state, and the mountains mean you don’t travel directly in a straight line.

Soak in hot springs

So, you exhausted yourself and you need a massage. There is nothing better than a soak in hot springs, many of which have accompanying spas. The best experience is an outdoor one with winter snow falling on your face or a summer breeze cooling the night with a sky full of bright stars. You’ve earned a nice hot bath and then you’ll sleep like a baby and be ready to start over tomorrow.